Now, she would very seldom even kiss a man and men would only date her a few times before they went on to greener pastures.

What is wrong with me? Erica asked herself. She wanted to be loved. She was excited thinking about men, but she would start getting frightened when a man got too close. She just couldn't understand herself.

Erica picked up her copy of the TV Guide and thumbed through it, looking for something interesting.

She sighed. It looked like another boring evening at home. Nothing on television and no prospects for the entire weekend. She went to her cabinet and fixed herself a drink. It seemed like she was drinking more and more lately. Alcohol was the only thing that would allow her to really relax.

She finished her drink quickly and made herself another. She was already having a slight buzz in her head.

The doorbell rang.

"Damn," Erica said. "Who could that be?"

She brushed her skirt down and tucked her white blouse back in. She took a quick look in the mirror. Her dark black hair was tangled as it usually was.

She opened the door. Any other time she would have kept the chain on the door and only cracked it. But tonight she was feeling impatient and wanted to get rid of her uninvited guest quickly.

The first person she saw was Tim Douglas.

"What do you want?" she asked, and then she noticed the four boys behind him. All of them were seniors and all were wearing the same stupid grins.

"You turned me in," Tim accused, "and you got Susan into trouble. I don't care about me, but you had no business getting Susan into trouble."

"Get out of here!" Erica demanded.

"No," Tim my said. "Not until we talk."

"Then I'm going to call the police," Erica said. "I won't have you here."