Chapter 2

"Atta-girl. A little beer won't hurt you," Nena heard Mark say.

Over the course of time, Nena became aware that Mark and Doug had subtly pressed in closer to her, their legs firmly paralleling hers. She could feel their jeans pressed against her bare legs. She sucked her breath in nervously. Doug leaned in close to her and whispered, "Come on Nena are you trying to tell us that you have ever drunk beer before?" He was close enough for her to smell his breath and catch his eyes as they quickly scanned her breasts, which jutted out firmly from the front of her blouse.

She drew back from him as he continued leering at her. From the other side of her, Mark caught Doug's eye and said good-naturedly, "Come on Doug, Cool it. Keep things cool okay?" nudging his friend under the table with his foot.

Nena glanced up, her eyes furtively scanning the room for Constancia, but didn't see her anywhere. She took a deep breath. 'Where could she be, ' she wondered.

"I have an idea," Mark said, interrupting Nena's train of thought as he took another long pull of his beer, "Why don't we play a little language game before the band comes on?"

The others around the table nodded their agreement. Nena said in her broken English, "I don't do well in language games. I don't speak English really well."

Mark leaned in and said to her with a lopsided smile, "There are only two words you need to know in this game, truth or dare. Just watch, you'll learn fast."

The waiter brought over another round of beers. Nena had never drank alcohol before and declined the second beer. Mark gently, but firmly grasped her upper arm with his hand, "Nena, we're your new friends. You don't want to hurt our feelings do you?" "Come on," he pressed, "have another swig."

He pushed the bottle towards her.

The rest of the men watched intently, waiting for Nena's reaction. She slightly flinched at Mark's touch. "I'm sorry ... I just don't drink ... I only drink Coke. She felt Mark's hand tighten subtlety on her arm. He continued to smile at her, but she saw his eyes harden slightly.

She felt light headed from the beers and out of her element. She knew that she should just get up and leave, but... 'Your being ridiculous, ' she thought to herself, 'what could these gringos do to you in a bar with all these people around.' Nena slowly exhaled and said slowly, with conviction, "O.K. but this is going to be my last one. I have to find my friend. She was supposed to be hear more than an hour ago and I'm worried about her"

Doug grinned and pushed the beer into her hand. "Well, is everyone ready to start the game?"

Mark said, "O.K. Nena. You first. Truth or dare."

Nena looked up at Mark nervously, perplexed at the game and not sure what to do. She was aware her hands were damp and clammy and the back of her peasont blouse was sticking slightly to her back. She clenched her fists to relax and put them on her lap. She didn't know what to say.

Mark said, with thinly disguised impatience, "Nena, what do you want Truth or dare?"

Nena took a nervous gulp of her beer. While she was thinking of what to say, she heard one of the men belch loudly. 'Pigs, ' she thought to herself. She stared down at the table avoiding eye contact with everyone. She said in a soft voice, "I'll take truth."

Mark turned slowly and said in a voice barely above a whisper, "Do you ever go without wearing a bra?"

Nena turned bright red with embarrassment. She had never had anyone ever ask her something so shameful, so personal. Mark pressed on. "Well have you?"