Page 83 of The Cheerleader is Off Limits

Okay, so she’s this kind of drunk.“You are not alone, sweetheart,” I tell her, trying to bring her back from the headspace that alcohol can easily put you in when you’re already upset. “You have your cousin.”

“Not right now. She’s with her boyfriend.”

“How are you getting home?”

“I’m going to call an Uber… I was just trying to sober up some. I don’t feel super comfortable taking an Uber by myself in this state.”

Absolutely not. I would go get her before I let her do that. Rules be damned.

I don’t know any teacher who wouldn’t go get a student that they knew was in trouble. It was messy and could get complicated, but there was an unspoken rule among the teachers at Westlake that we would always help a student get home safely if they couldn’t do so on their own. “I don’t either. Where is Mack?”

“Not sure… I left him inside when he was playing beer pong with some girl.”

“I see.”Well, that didn’t last long. Not that I’m surprised.

“I don’t care! And he realizes that now, and I think he’s mad at me too, honestly. I told him I just wanted to be friends.”

“You did?”

“Yes! I don’t want him, River. I never wanted him,” she cries, and I know she probably has no spatial awareness right now, and who knows how close she is to anyone.

“Sloane, honey, volume.” I can’t exactly tell how drunk she is, and I don’t know if she’s close to crossing into hysteria, so I am placating her a little.

“No one is around!”

“Okay! Okay. You’re just drunk, and you’re screaming my name.” I sigh, knowing that there was only one way I could ensure that she’s safe and also might calm down. “I’m coming to get you,” I tell her, before opening my garage door and climbing in my car.

“What? Don’t be silly! I wouldn’t ask you to do that.”

“I don’t want you taking an Uber by yourself. I imagine everyone at that house is drunk or has had something to drink and can’t drive.I don’t know who is there and if there is a party that big… I don’t want you getting in trouble.”

“Just me? What about your guys?”

“I’m going to text them once I pick you up and we’re on the way back. With that many people there, anyone could have narced on them.”

“How long till you get here?”

“Twenty minutes.”

“There are a lot of people from Westlake here, but also from other schools.”She explains.

“Once I’m here, I’m going to drive down the block so I can still see you, but yes, it won’t be smart for me to pick you up right out front.”

“Okay.”

“I’m going to stay with you on the phone till I get there.”

“Okay,” she repeats, and I chuckle.

“Can you say anything else?”

“I thought you said we shouldn’t be talking.”

“We shouldn’t be. But you’re in trouble or at very least in an inconvenient situation, and I can help. Are you okay with leaving Delaney?”

“Shit, let me text her. Oh wait, she texted me already!” I can hear her mumbling the message, then, “Oh! Okay, cool,” she says aloud, and I assume she’s responding to it.“She said she wantsto stay here with Cole. I haven’t told her I’m leaving yet, but I will once I’m gone.”

“Cole is one of Sam’s best friends,” I tell her. “I imagine he was probably always planning to stay.”