As soon as Heidi arrived at Kim’s condo, she suggested they go meet LisaParsonsTwo, Kim’s online crush. Usually Kim was the rule-breaker, the wild girl whose mom let her do whatever she wanted, but Heidi hadn’t been able to stop thinking about LisaParsonsTwo since Kim had told her about their messages last week. When Heidi found out Kim’s mom would be out for the evening, she’d invited herself to sleep over.
“You don’t want to make hot dogs?” Kim brandished the package. She’d let it sit out way too long—the protective ice had dissolved and the meat was pale and clammy. Kim pinched a puckered end and winked.
“What’s wrong with you? She’s your crush. Of course you want to go.” Heidi would fluff Kim back up to her normal self, that cool, slouchy tomboy. “You never cook.”
“I thought it was a nice night to stay in and enjoy dogs. I have mayonnaise.”
“Kim. Come on. We have to meet her. There’s so much buildup.”
“I thought you wanted a fun night in.” Kim flapped the hot dogs, puffing meaty air toward Heidi. “Just me and you. Like old times.”
Heidi smoothed her flyaway hair. She was fourteen but looked twelve, and had always been pushed around at school. She liked this new feeling of freaking out someone else—especially Kim, who was the daring one. Who’d found this mysterious online woman in the first place. Heidi needed to go to Boston tonight, to watch Kim bravely charm an adult woman, so that, down the line, she could flirt with one herself. She took a breath. “You mean you’re chicken.”
“Not really.” Kim’s head tilted back, her bottom lip popping out.
“You think you’re so tough,” Heidi said. “But you’re not, are you?”
Though they’d been best friends for nearly a year, Heidi had never spoken to Kim so boldly. She stepped forward, molding a face of intimidation. Kim rolled her eyes, but said, “Fine, whatever you want,” and shuffled into the shadows to make arrangements on AIM. Heidi loomed over her as Kim typed with one hand, massaging hot dogs with the other.
HEIDI COULDN’T STILL HER HEART as they stepped into the snowy night, passing the decorative rock engraved with the name of the apartment complex—Stony Court—and crossing the parking lot toward Mass Ave. Ever since Kim had first mentioned LisaParsonsTwo, Heidi had lain in bed each night imagining their correspondence: the bleak white dialogue box, filled alternatingly with Kim’s blue screen name and Lisa’s red screen name. Kim had been vague about what they discussed, but Heidi was sure their chats brimmed with eroticism and romance. She’d begged Kim to let her see, but Kim had called her a certified perv and only shared choice quotes. Tonight Kim’s seduction skills would finally be on view. Heidi was sick of her dreary life, mildewing into old rugs at her dad’s house, laboring over math worksheets.
“Don’t let that woman drive you anywhere,” Heidi’s father had said of Kim’s mom, Nancy. “Not even to the corner store. And if she starts in on the marijuana, tell her your father doesn’t like funny business. If she doesn’t listen, step into another room. Then call 911.”
Kim and Heidi trudged through the snow, which was stale, yellow foam under the fresh marshmallow layer. Heidi glanced back up at the light in Kim’s living room on the second floor. If Heidi hadn’t pressed for the trip, they’d be in there, her finger filling a burn hole in the couch, hearing secrets from Kim’s old school: how she’d masturbated under her desk during social studies; how she’d seduced her resource room teacher; how she’d skimmed her mother’s marijuana, a speck at a time, and secured it in the rubber belly of her Pillsbury Doughboy. Heidi was sick of hearing about Kim’s experiences.
She was ready to be out in the world
