Chapter Fourteen

Dalen and Perry were waiting in Dalen's Porsche, and he was pleased when the kid showed up promptly, though he had to battle his natural instinct to get Rory and bring her along.

Ricky climbed in the back, and they drove to Moriah's house to pick her up. Moriah's parents insisted on meeting everyone, so they had to come in the house. Korith took one look at Dalen and disappeared upstairs. To be perverse, he took her seat on the couch and looked at the coffee table. A pink fluorescent flyer was lying there, announcing Rabid would be performing at the Midnight Club in Los Angeles the following night. His eyes narrowed when he saw Carson's name listed as a member of the band.

Moriah's parents seemed satisfied, and they piled back into the Porsche, with Ricky and Moriah pressed together in the back. She smiled at him shyly and he smiled back, blushing. Dalen watched them and decided tonight would be a good time to introduce Ricky to the “game”. He wasn't playing anymore, but he could still have fun.

***

They went to a club that had no restriction of age. At the door, people were stamped with a pink logo that said “Under 21” or a red one that said “Over 21”, depending on what their identification said. Ricky watched as Dalen slipped the door guy a folded hundred and got a red stamp. He frowned and moved closer to Moriah.

They had a great evening. He and Moriah danced most of the dances, and Ricky was grateful Rory had made him be her practice partner when she took some of her first dance classes. When the group decided to leave a little before eleven, Moriah seemed relieved. “If I miss curfew, my parents will kill me,” she confided to him. “I was worried for a while.”

Ricky nodded. “I know, but Dalen promised we'd be back in town by eleven-thirty.” They sat in the back seat of the Porsche, legs touching and holding hands. They were deep in conversation when the car stopped. “What's going on?” Moriah asked nervously. It was eleven twenty-eight, and Ricky knew she had to be home at midnight.

“Oh no big deal,” Dalen answered. “I just wanted to show you guys my new stereo system. We'll have you home by midnight.” Moriah reluctantly got out of the car, following Ricky.

Dalen led them in the house and up to his room. He showed them a sound system that filled one wall, then showed them the cleverly hidden speakers. While he was giving them a detailed tour, Perry slipped downstairs and came back shortly with a tray of drinks. “Beer,” he said, handing one to Dalen and taking one for himself. “Grape juice,” he informed Ricky and Moriah. “You guys are too young to drink.”

Ricky and Moriah sipped the juice as Dalen finished showing them the features. “You should have your dad buy you one, Ricky,” he was saying. “They're real babe magnets.”

Ricky laughed uncomfortably. “Uh...yeah,” he said inanely and looked at Moriah. He saw the clock on the wall. “We have twenty minutes to get Moriah home,” he pointed out, setting down his grape juice. Moriah put hers beside his, still about half-full.

When she stood up, she stumbled against Ricky and he caught her. “What's going on, Ricky?” she asked in a strange voice.

Ricky looked at her. “Moriah, are you okay?” He shook her. “Moriah?” he asked. Looking at Dalen and Perry, he said. “She’s sick or something. I think we should call her parents.”

Perry laughed. “She’s not sick, Ricky. She's just getting ready for you.”

“What are you talking about?” Ricky asked, confused.

Dalen rolled his eyes and walked forward. “It's all part of the game, Rick. If you're going to hang with us, you have to play the game.”

“What's the game?” Ricky asked suspiciously as he continued to hold Moriah against him. She was out cold.

Perry launched into an explanation. “We drug girls and score with them. Whoever has the most scores by the end of their senior year is the winner. Dalen came up with the game, but this is our last year. It's time to pass the torch. She's your first score. Just don't forget to keep track,” he warned. “I'm up to eight,” Perry bragged, rubbing his hands together gleefully.

Dalen laughed and shoved Perry playfully. “That’s pathetic, man. Before I stopped playing, I was up to twenty-two.”

Perry shook his head. “But you can't count the girls that aren't at our high school, or the ones you dated afterwards.”

Dalen scrunched his face, thinking. “You’re right. Okay...seventeen.”

Ricky curled his lip. “That’s disgusting,” he pronounced. “I think you should take us back to Moriah's house now. I'll deal with her parents.” He lifted Moriah into his arms and glared at Dalen and Perry.

“What a wimp,” Perry scathed. “Well, no sense wasting one though. I'll take her for my score.”

Ricky's face turned beet red. “I don't think so,” he said evenly. Turning to Dalen, he said. “Take us home, Dalen.”

Dalen studied Ricky, seeing for the first time a strength of character he hadn't given him credit for. The kid was willing to risk getting his ass kicked to protect the girl he liked. It reminded him of someone, but he couldn't think whom. If Ricky didn't want to play the game, that was fine. He was still worthy of being Dalen's friend because he was willing to stand up for what he believed in. “Okay,” Dalen complied, digging the keys out of his pocket. “Let's go,” he suggested. Turning to Perry, he said firmly, “You stay here. Ricky will feel more comfortable that way. You know you have to score yourself, not steal from someone else.”

Ricky followed Dalen down the stairs, awkwardly carrying Moriah. He climbed into the front seat of the Porsche, holding her on his lap. It was eleven-fifty and her parents would expect her home soon. He sat in frozen silence as Dalen spoke to him. “It's okay if you don't want to play the game,” Dalen assured him. “I misjudged you in that respect. I should have realized you wouldn't be into that kind of thing. Don't worry, Ricky my man, we're still friends.”

When they pulled up in front of Moriah's house, Dalen opened the door for him. “I'll see you after the game tomorrow night,” Dalen said. “Don't forget the victory party.” Ricky glared at him and walked down the sidewalk. Dalen got in the Porsche and roared away as Ricky rang the bell.

Dottie opened the door and gasped when she saw Moriah cradled in Ricky's arms. He pushed past her and laid Moriah on the couch. Thomas came down the stairs in pajamas and a robe. “What's going on?” he thundered. “Has she been drinking?” He looked at Ricky. “Have you been drinking?”

Ricky shook his head and launched into an explanation of what had happened. He told them about the game, and they looked skeptical.

Thomas shook his head. “I just can't believe you, Rick,” he said forcefully. “Dalen's too fine a young man for such shenanigans. I want you out of my house, and I don't want you to see Moriah again.”

Ricky jumped to his feet. “That’s not fair,” he protested. “I'm telling you the truth.” He continued to plead his case as Thomas herded him to the door. “I'm telling you, it's Dalen and Perry you can't trust!” he shouted as Thomas opened the front door.

“It's true, Uncle Thomas,” Korith said quietly, standing behind him. “Everyone at school knows about Dalen's game. He's been playing it for four years.”

Thomas whirled around and looked at his niece in disbelief.

“He's not the god everyone thinks he is,” Korith said bitterly. “Don't punish Ricky for what he's done. It sounds to me like Ricky protected Moriah tonight.”

Dottie came to stand by Thomas, taking his arm. Thomas closed the door, and Ricky stood there uncertainly. “I'm sorry,” Thomas said slowly, as if choking. “It's just so hard to believe—”

“I know,” Ricky agreed. “I can't believe it either. He seems like such a great guy.” Ricky stayed with the Kelleys until Moriah woke up an hour later. She was frightened at first and a bit confused, but she threw herself into Ricky's arms and sobbed all over him. “It's okay,” he soothed. “Nothing else will happen,” he promised her.

“I think we should call the police,” Dottie interjected. “They can't just get away with this.”

Korith shook her head. “Dalen's uncle is the chief. Everyone who has filed a report got in trouble themselves and he never even gets a tongue-lashing. This one girl even had to take a blood test and they found pot in her blood, plus supposedly, she'd been drinking. She was told the charges against her would never materialize if she withdrew her complaint. I know this girl, and there was no way she was drinking or using pot.”

Thomas and Dottie sat in silence. “He shouldn't be allowed to get away with it,” Dottie whispered. Then she looked at Thomas. “But we both work for Hudson Industries...” They hung their heads in shame. Dalen had gotten off again, but at least this time the girl wasn't raped.

***

When Ricky came home later after Korith dropped him off Rory was sleeping soundly. He wanted to confide in her and warn her about her boyfriend but he could do that tomorrow. He was having brunch with the Kelleys and he might take Moriah out for a movie later but he would have time to talk to Rory after that. After all, she was grounded and wouldn't be going anywhere.