After the party, interrupted by Pearl.

--

Pearl's mood improves a good deal when you lend her black hoodie back to her, and steadily climbs the rest of the night. Yu has a good time as well, even if parties aren't her usual thing. She's happy to be out. Jane's more at ease than the other girls (and you) and continues being a good example of how to relax and enjoy yourselves.

Sullivan and Indigo stay locked in the master bedroom for the rest of the party. You suppose they've got a lot of 'reacquainting' to do with one another and the new dynamics you gave them for their relationship. Sullivan's got a lot to work out with how pent-up he's been lately, especially now that you've removed his girlfriend's barriers.

But you're not thinking about them after a while. The drinks and company are good, and the music's not too bad.

By the time the party winds down and you and your friends call it quits, you've all but forgotten the mysterious black card in your pocket promising you the world and more.

That is, until Yu and Jane get into Yu's car and drive off. When you walk over to your own car in the darkness, you're surprised (and nearly scared to ****) when hear silent footsteps coming up behind you.

You spring back against the body of your decrepitly old green truck and reel around. Pearl's standing on the sidewalk not five feet away, hands in her pockets. Her hood is up, and her hands are buried in her jacket pockets.

"God damn, you gave me a heart attack," you say. "Do you need a ride?"

Pearl makes a distasteful face and shrugs.

"What is it?" you ask.

Pearl gives you a disbelieving look. "You seriously don't remember?"

"Remember what?"

Your gothy friend glares at you. "You told me to stay with Yu till you were done," she says. "You're done. With the party, I assumed. And before that you told me to, and I quote, 'come with you'."

It all comes back to you. That's right - you own where Pearl goes. That doesn't explain her sneaking around though. "Why didn't you say anything earlier? Were you just going to follow me till you wound up on my doorstep?"

"Like I want to give you the satisfaction of asking for permission to go home," says Pearl, brooding. "Do you have any idea how humiliating it is that my dorky friend owns the intangible concept of where I go?"

"I am not a dork," you say. "You're a dork."

Pearl groans. "Real mature, Chase. This sucks. Video games are so off tomorrow."

"Unless I tell you to come over anyway," you counter, swelling with power.

"If you make me come over, I am not so much as touching a controller," Pearl threatens. "Let me go home. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

You consider it, and finally, acquiesce. It'd be too complicated explaining to your parents why Pearl's staying the night. She doesn't even have anything packed. "I'll give you a ride," you say, unlocking the passenger side door. "Hop in."

While you circle around to the driver's side, Pearl begrudgingly does just that - not that she has a choice in the matter.