14.

Sam rapped on the locked front door of the Greenhouse. A translucent green curtain had been lowered behind the glass door. John came to the door and said, "We're closed."
"I'm with Peg. I'm staying at her house."
"Well I guess I better let you in then." He unlocked the door. Sam walked around to the the dance floor. Most of the people he knew on the island were
together, talking loudly: Rebecca, Dex, Jammer with his arm around Bette, Alec next to Rhin, and Peg. He sat abruptly between Rebecca and Bette. There
was a drink in front of him. The ice had melted.
"Hey Sam dude!" said Jammer. "Where've you been?"
"Sammy!" said Peg.
"I was shanghai'd by this Greek guy," said Sam. "We went to Jimmy'z."
"Jym-ays," said Alec.
"Well you just caught us," said Peg. "We're going to my mountain."
"To drink and make wild with the furniture," said Alec.
Sam shook his head, resting his forehead on two long fingers. He picked up the drink in front of him and asked, "Does this belong to anyone?"
"It's yours," said Bette. "We just knew you were coming."
"No really, go for it," said Peg. "Jill was here and left."
He took a quick swig. "Jeez hell, what is that?"
"Sloe gin something," said Bette.
"Fizz," said Peg.
"Fizz, fuzz, fun, fuck," said Bette.
"Fun's fucked," said Sam.
"Rough night Sam?" asked Kelly. His hand was on Peg's knee.
"Strike outs back to back," said Sam.
"Well, there's still several innings left."
"I don't know," said Sam. He exhaled and sighed. "I'm about ready for the showers." He blinked his eyes and took another sip from his drink.
"Or the bathroom?" asked Jammer.
"Yeah" said Sam. He stood up with Jammer and they left the room.
Rhin said to the others, "Could we please get a move on?"
"What are we waiting on?" asked Kelly.
"A friend," said Dex. "For a friend." He pointed at Alec.
"Ah," said Kelly. Peg looked between Dex and Kelly, then at Alec.
"We need tunes," said Bette.
"Yes," said Rhin.
"Play us something Rhin," said Alec.
"No way, not now," she said. "I'm done. Maybe later."
"We're almost ready to leave," said Dex. He was watching the door to the kitchen.
"So's this place where we're going got a swimming pool?" asked Bette.
"No," said Alec.
"It's got a jacuzzi though," said Peg.
Sam and Jammer came back. Jammer took Bette's arm and pulled her to her feet. "Wanna dance, m'lady?"
"Good Lord you are sloshed," said Bette. She put her arms around him and Jammer lost his balance. They both fell to the floor.
Peg watched Sam slowing stroke his eyebrow, looking past Bette and Jammer at the stage. She squeezed his shoulder. "What's up?"
"Oh, I don't know. Just thinking about things."
"That could be dangerous," she said.
Alec said, "In Sam's case it could be . . ."
Peg said, "It could be what Alec?"
He shrugged.
Sam smiled. "It could be very dangerous," he said.
"It could be damned dangerous. You know there's one thing I've always believed, after all the bullshit I hear around me all the time, the day in day out tripe I'm forced to stomach, and it's this: it's okay to be dangerous. It's a damned important thing because half of the world, more than half, are fucking asleep." Everyone was listening to him. "We're all so afraid to find out how miserable our lives are so we hide and hide and stay asleep."
"Oh that's no fun," said Bette.
Sam laughed loudly with his head back. "No," he said. "You're right Bette." He leaned over with his drink and they clicked glasses. "Cheers."
"We're ready," said Dex.
Peg said, "Alright then. Let's motivate." She finished her drink. "Sam you drive some people cause you know where we're going. I'll go with Kelly
and crew so they don't get lost."
"I know where we're going," said Alec.
"I can ride with Alec," said Jammer. "Me and Dex." He looked at Peg.
"Is that a problem?"
"No. Of course not," she said. "Not at all."