Blame it on the Stars (The Blame Game) (9 page)

He shook his head.
“There were other kids from school there. But I didn’t know that there were some guys up there trying to get the girls drunk. That punch is really strong, and you can’t taste the alcohol.”

Catlin nodded
. “I remember grain alcohol punch.”

Clint continued
“After a while, I started looking for Dana. I found her in one of the bedrooms.”

Catlin sprung up
“Oh my God! Don’t tell me...”

“
No!” Clint shook his head. “There was a guy I didn’t know with her, though. He had ripped her shirt open and had further intentions, I’m sure.”

“
What did you do?” She sat back down.

“
I was so pissed. I pounded the little jackass.”

Catlin buried her face in her hands for a few moments,
and then looked up at Clint. “Looks like he got in a few shots.”

“
Yeah, but I won. I grabbed Dana and got the hell out of there.”

Catlin looked at Dana, who was sleeping in the tub. She looked back at Clint.
“Are you
sure
nothing else happened to her?”

He
nodded his head vigorously. “Sarah Michaels said Dana had only been gone for a minute. Her bra was still on, and she was still dressed below the waist. I’m positive nothing else happened.”

Catlin put her face in her hands again, and then growled as she shook her head and yanked at her hair.
“I am so damn pissed at you right now I can’t even think what to do. I can’t call Steve. He’d have a wreck racing to get back here. I can’t call Teresa, she doesn’t even know me.” Catlin glanced at the clock, eleven forty five. Dana was over an hour late. She had to do something fast, or Teresa would be calling Steve.

She dialed their home number, praying that David would answer.
Her mind buzzed, thinking what to say if he didn’t. Luckily, he answered.

“
Hello.”

“
David? It’s Catlin. Can you talk, or is Teresa right there?”

“
No.” He sounded sleepy and confused. “She’s downstairs waiting for the dingbat. Dana is late.”

“
Tell me about it.” Catlin looked at the girl lying in her tub. “She is here, and she is very drunk.”

David perked up and answered
, “You’re shitting me.”

Catlin hated that expression, but it seemed to fit the mood of the evening.
“I shit you not,” she replied. “Clint called me and I picked them up from a party. Your sister is a filthy, smelly mess.”

David laughed.
“Go Dana.”

“
No, no, no!” Catlin screeched at him. “This is not funny! What am I supposed to do with her? Your dad is going to have a cow.”

“
No, no, no!” David charged back at her. “You
cannot
tell my dad. We’ll both be grounded until age thirty. You have to take care of her.”

“
Well dammit, I’m going to take care of her, but what are we going to do? I’m surprised Teresa hasn’t called your dad by now.”

“
She wasn’t too worried, but she’s getting worse. I think you need to tell her Dana’s staying with you tonight.”

“
She doesn’t even know me! She’s not going to go for that!”

David formulated the plan.
“I’ll tell her that you are Dana’s friend’s mother... Mrs..... Robinson. You can get on the phone and tell her Dana and your little....Suzie...were studying so hard, and then they fell asleep. Tell her you’ll take the girls to school tomorrow. Really sell it.”

Catlin
’s heart pounded in tune with her mind. ‘Bad idea’ was now mixing in with ‘Oh, shit’ and flooding her thoughts. “David, I can’t do this.”

“
Catlin, you have to. Dana needs you. Please help us, Catlin.” David was practically begging.

Against whatever better judgment she had left, Catlin
agreed. “I hate this, David, but I guess I’ll do it. On one condition. You, Dana, Clint and I are going to talk about this tomorrow, after school.”

“
Okay. I’ll get Teresa.”

Catlin looked at Dana again, wondering if she was really doing the right thing.
Before she could decide, Teresa spoke into the phone.

“
Hello?”

“
Uh- Mrs. Naughton?” Catlin started.

“
No, Senora, this is Mrs. Rivera, the housekeeper. I am the guardian while Senor Naughton is away for a few days.”

“
Oh, I see. Well, this is, Mrs. Robinson, Cathy Robinson. Dana was here studying with my daughter, Suzie? Well, I’m sorry to call so late. I guess I fell asleep. And when I checked on the girls, they’re asleep, too. Since it’s a school night, I thought maybe we should just let them sleep. I can get them to school tomorrow. Dana can wear something of Suzie’s.” Catlin was rambling.

Teresa hesitated.
“I don’t know,” she sounded unsure.

“
Dana’s fine, really.” Catlin’s lie was sort of the truth. “I’ll take her to school in the morning.”

“
All right then.” Teresa agreed. “Thank you for calling. I was worried.”

“
We’re so sorry to worry you. But she’s just fine. Goodnight, then.” Catlin hung up, and turned to look at Clint.

He was suppressing a laugh.

“There’s nothing funny about this!” Catlin shook her finger at him.

“
I know, believe me, I know.” He shook his head.

“
Now give me your phone number, so I can call and get you a ride home.”

“
Do I have to?” He appeared horrified.

“
I’ll try to soften the blow as much as possible. But I’m not looking forward to lying to anyone else.”

He sullenly punched his number into the phone.

“Hello,” Catlin heard a sleepy male voice.

She spoke softly
. “Mr. Stewart? This is Catlin McCall, Clint’s teacher.”

“
Ye-yes? Is something wrong Miss McCall?”

“
Not really, no. Clint’s fine. He had some trouble with his truck tonight, it wouldn’t start. I think he flooded it really. Anyway, he had to get Dana home by curfew, and they called me for a lift.”

“
Why would they call you, Miss McCall? I don’t understand.”

“
I’m sorry, Mr. Stewart. I know it’s late. I guess I should tell you that I date Dana’s father, who is out of town this week. Dana considers me a friend, and she thought I could give them a ride. Frankly, Clint needs a ride home from here. I was hoping you could come get him.”

“
Why is he there?” Mr. Stewart was being painfully inquisitive.

Catlin could see visions running through this man
’s head of her and his son alone at her house. “I’m sure Clint can fill you in on all the details. Please let me assure you, I just wanted the kids to be safe. I just can’t get Clint home, and I need you to pick him up.”

“
What’s the address?” Clint’s father finally asked.

“
1428 Hazelnut,” Catlin replied. “Thank you so much. Sorry to wake you.” She hung up before Mr. Stewart could ask anything else, and looked at Clint. “He has
a lot
of questions.
You
better handle it. I could get in so much trouble having you here at this time of night.”

“
Oh geez, I’m sorry Miss M. I never thought of that. I just...didn’t know what to do.”

She wiggled his shoulder, and motioned for him to go to the front room. She followed.
“It’s okay. I’m glad I could help you. This is a heck of a mess, though, Clint. We’re going to have a lot of ‘splaining to do at some point.”

He looked out and saw headlights in her driveway.
“Maybe it’ll all blow over,” he said as he opened the front door.

“
Oh yeah!” She laughed sarcastically. “Now go before I have to talk to your father again. I don’t think I can do that tonight.”

“
Thanks, again.” Clint smiled at her.

Catlin shoved him out the door.
She closed and locked it behind him. She took a few deep breaths to try and calm down, and went out to the garage. She pulled the towels out of the car. “Whew!” she fanned the air. She rolled down all the windows in hopes of airing the car out overnight.

Catlin
finally went back into the bathroom, and looked at the sleeping girl in her tub. “Man, oh man.” She shook her head, and started peeling Dana’s clothes off.

Dana stirred.
She squinted her eyes open. “Catlin? What are you doing here?”

“
You’re at my house. Clint and I brought you here, remember?”

Dana looked around.
“No. I was with my mom. Gosh, I have a headache!”

Catlin chuckled
. “You were
not
with your mom. You were with Clint at a frat party, and you got really, really drunk. Is any of this coming back to you?”

Dana rubbed her face with her hands, and for a second Catlin
’s heart melted.
Just like her father.

“
Oh, my.” Dana looked down at herself. “I’m a mess.”

“
Yeah.” Catlin brushed Dana’s hair off her face. “Why don’t I help you get these clothes off, and you can take a shower. I’ll get you some of my pajamas and underwear. You’re staying here tonight.”

Dana nodded, still groggy, but getting more coherent.

Catlin showed her the shampoo, and set a towel out for her. “Can you manage?”

“
Yeah.” Dana nodded.

Catlin left her alone.

The shower ran for a long time. Once Catlin stuck her head in and asked “Are you okay?”

“
Yeah,” Dana answered again.

Catlin could tell she was crying. She didn
’t say anything else, just laid some clothing on the counter and pulled the door closed.

A while later, Dana came out dressed in Catlin
’s pajamas. Catlin was lying on the bed, still fully dressed. “Feel any better?” Catlin smiled at her.

“
Yes and no. I took a couple aspirin I found in the medicine cabinet.”

“
Good. Do you feel like you’re done getting sick?”

“
I think so. I just want to sleep.”

“
Well, I’ve only got the one bed. But I don’t mind sharing if you don’t.”

Dana nodded, and walked around the bed. She threw the covers back, and flopped down.
“This pillow smells like my dad,” she said softly.

“
Sorry.” Catlin didn’t know what to say.

“
It’s okay, I like it.”

Catlin reached over and shut the light off. She l
ay on the bed, fully clothed, on top of the covers. “I like it, too,” she said quietly.

“
G’night Catlin,” Dana murmured.

“
Goodnight Dana.” Catlin clutched at her stomach. She was fighting the urge to get sick herself.
What a night.

Dana was sleeping a few hours later when Catlin got up to get ready for school. She showered and dressed quietly, and Dana never stirred. Catlin reached down and felt her forehead, she was cool. Catlin found a pen and paper and left a note on the night stand.

Dana,

Thought you could use sleep more than school.
I’ll turn you in as sick.

I will call you at noon to check on you.
Don’t answer the phone other

than my call!!!

Get some rest.    

Catlin

She looked at the girl one last time,
and then left for school.

Catlin was relieved that Steve
’s car didn’t smell worse. She thought it would be aired out sufficiently by Friday. When she got to school, she turned Dana in as sick to the secretary, and went to her classroom. David came in her room shortly thereafter.

“
Hey.” He coughed.

“
How are you feeling?”

He nodded.
“Okay, just the cough. How’s my sister?”

“
Sleeping. I told them she won’t be in today.”

He looked around, and saw no one else.
“Catlin, what you did last night, well, thanks. It was really cool.”

“
It was really stupid.” She sat in her chair and shook her head. “I am going to be so busted.”

“
No you’re not. No one has to know. Teresa doesn’t suspect anything. I’ll go by your place after school and pick up Dana.”