off. . . Ever thought of doing something like that?"
Why was she feeling so dizzy? "You're crazy, Nick. I don't even know
you.
He looked at her very gravely. "One of these days you will. That's a
promise." the Christmas play is coming up," Nick mumbled, not quite
sure whether to mention it or not.
Primo was lounging on the unmade bed, scratching his beer belly.
"What?" he said, dragging his eyes away from "All in the Family" for a
brief moment.
"I said the school play's coming up," Nick repeated. "And . . . uh
one of the actors got the mumps, so I'm playing the lead." He
hesitated for a moment. "I dunno. . . thought you might wanna come.
"I wanna come," piped up Harlan. "Me and Luke."
"No, you don't," said Aretha Mae, busy at the stove.
"Sure they do," Nick said. "I get em seats."
"Wanna go. Wanna take Luke," Harlan chanted.
"No," Aretha Mae said sharply.
"Why not?" Nick asked.
"Because we don't belong with those people. We ain't gonna sit in no
fancy theater watchin' you make a damn fool of yourself."
"I don't make a fool of myself," he objected. "I'm good."
"Good?" Aretha Mae arched her eyebrows and curled her lip. "You be
good for nothin', boy."
What was she bitching about? He gave her money every week, which was
more than anybody else in the family did. How come she didn't pick on
Primo? The lazy slob hadn't even attempted to get a job.
"I'm going into town," he said, as though anybody cared.
He left the trailer, got on his bike and started the long ride. God,
it was freezing. He didn't know why he was going into town anyway,
considering it was Sunday and there was never anything to do. Everyone
went to church in the morning and then retired into their houses all
day. The drugstore was closed. The gas station was closed. The movie
house was closed. What was he planning? A fast ride up and down Main
Street? Very exciting.
He decided that maybe he'd pay Dawn a visit, seeing as they hadn't been
together lately and he was feeling decidedly horny. Since he'd been
rehearsing for the play he hadn't seen much of anybody except Lauren.
And there was no way he could make a move on her.
Ah, Lauren . He couldn't figure her out. One moment she was his best
friend, the next cool and businesslike-as if the play was the only
important thing. They met at rehearsal and went through their
scenes.
The moment they finished she hurried off to meet Stock, who was always
outside waiting to take her home.
He'd imagined things would be different after their one night together
sharing cheeseburgers and a few home truths. But no. Everything was
back to the way it was before.
He was mad that he'd opened up and told her about Aretha Mae and his
father. It wasn't her business. She was just some rich girl, stuck-up
like all the rest.
When he reached Dawn's house, her mother told him she was away for the
weekend. Great, now he didn't even have Dawn to take his mind off
things.
"When's she comin' back?" he asked.
"Tomorrow," Mrs. Novak replied, clutching a scarlet cardigan across
her scraggy breasts. She was one of those rail-thin women with bulging
eyes and a nervous tongue that kept darting in and out, licking her
thin dry lips. She smelled of whiskey and stale cigarette smoke.
"Why don't you come in anyway and have a lemonade," she suggested.
Jeer, Nick thought, if she and Primo ever met they'd make a perfect
couple. Fat and thin and both zonked out of their minds.
He declined Mrs. Novak's invitation and got out of there fast.
"How are you feeling, Dennis?" Lauren asked over the phone.
Dennis told her he was depressed about not being able to appear in the
play with her.
"Don't worry," she said comfortingly. "We'll manage without you, but
it won't be the same.
Liar, she thought as soon as she hung up. It'll be even better because
Nick Angelo is playing your part.
She felt disloyal and confused, and yet she was savvy enough to know
that Nick meant trouble. She also knew she couldn't stop watching him
at every opportunity, and she loved acting with him.
But there was such a thing as self-preservation, and she was aware that
it was essential to stay away from him, which wasn't easy, because
every time they did the opening scene between Maggie and Brick she
sensed a great surge of electricity between them.
Now it was almost time to perform the play on the stage with half the
town watching. She shivered. Would everyone be able to spot the
chemistry between them?
Stock was back in her life with a vengeance. Big and bossy and full of
himself because he'd taken delivery on his new car-a super-fast
Corvette. She stuck by his side whenever she could. It was safer than
allowing Nick to get close.
"You don't have to come to the play if you don't want to," she told
Stock.
"Il be there," he said. "You're my girl-wouldn't miss it. I'm sittin'
with my parents in the front row.
Oh, great. That's all I need.
"I'm just saying you shouldn't feel obligated. I'm perfecfly okay with
the fact that you you might be bored." She was almost stammering.
He didn't get it. "Is Dennis back yet?"
"Uh no. That new guy's playing the role."
"That jerk, you mean," he said sourly.
It seemed that both Stock and Nick were programmed to insult each other
whenever they could.
Sometimes she felt as if she was going to explode. There was nobody
she could confide in. Not her parents, and certainly not Meg, who'd
kill her if she knew she had these feelings for Nick.
Bury them, she told herself. And Nick Angelo will go away. He's the
kind ofboy who comes to town, causes trouble and then takes off There
was plenty of activity in Bosewell at Christmas. First there was the
play, followed by the school dance on New Year's Eve. Naturally, Stock
had plans. "After the dance," he informed her, "some of the guys have
booked rooms over at the motel. We'll have a party."
"What kind of party?"
"Oh, you know, music, good times an' a few strong blasts Relax,
Lauren.
You're such a square sometimes."
She hated being told to relax-it was so patronizing. "Remember what
happened last time," she said, to her horror sounding just like her
mother. "Your allowance was cut off and you told me I should've warned
you about inviting all those extra people."
"This'll be different," he promised. "Oh, and ask your girlfriend Meg
if she wants to go with Mack Ryan."
Mack was Stock's best friend. Bigger than Stock. Blonder than
Stock.
But not as rich.
"Why doesn't he ask her himself?"
"Maybe he doesn't want to. Guys don't dig the idea of getting
rejected."
Meg was delighted, she said yes immediately. At least we'll be a
foursome, Lauren thought. Anything was better than being alone with
Stock.
As the play drew nearer Betty
insisted on more rehearsals. Lauren
didn't mind, in fact she loved it.
Nick grabbed her arm one day on her way out. "Hey," he said. "Do I
have to wait until my next birthday for you to talk to me like a human
being?"
"I'm talking to you now," she said, trying to remain calm.
"Ha!" His laugh had a bitter ring. "You're back in the same old
groove. You've got your rich boyfriend, your nice organized life, an'
no time for me.
"We're working together," she said. "What gave you the impression it
was more than that?"
He stared at her so intently she thought she might dissolve.
"You know it's more than that," he said.
"I . . . I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Yes, you do," he said. "Only you won't admit it."
She pulled free and rushed outside. To her relief Stock was waiting.
Stock was always waiting.
The night of the play there was a blizzard. Betty Harris was in a bad
mood because Harrington, whom she'd planned to show off, was still
sequestered away with a bad case of the mumps.
Lauren was shaking. Why had she agreed to play the lead? Did she
really want to stand up in front of the whole town in a skimpy silk
slip and play Maggie the Cat, a sexy older woman? God, everybody would
laugh her off the stage.
Nick was nervous too-he couldn't figure out how he'd got conned into
this.
Before going on they wished each other luck. "Break a leg," Lauren
said.
He looked at her incredulously. "Break a leg?"
"That's what they say in the theater for good luck."
"I always figured actors were a crazy bunch," he said, shaking his
head.
She grinned. "I guess they are."
His throat was dry and he had a strong desire to run. "Well, anyway
-we're gonna kill em. Right?"
"Right!"
Lauren made her entrance first. Nick waited in the wings, his heart
thumping. But once he made it onto the stage he lost all fear and
became the character. Shit! he thought. I can do this-I can really
do this. And he was right, because the play was a smash. Cat was
shocking and risque' for a small town like Bosewell; Betty had taken a
risk putting it on. And the audience loved it.
As they were taking their bows, Lauren spotted a scowling Stock sitting
in the front row with his parents. She couldn't care less, she ton
h1sv eniovn the applause.
cast mingled backstage. She "You were great," she said After five
curtain calls the elated looked around for Nick and hurried over.
warmly.
"So were you." He broke into a grin. "Hey, we both were."
Betty Harris approached them, beads and gold chains jangling.
"We're a hit!" she gushed. "You were all wonderful. If only my
brother were here to enjoy our triumph."
"I'm sorry he's still sick," Lauren said.
"His balls probably look like an elephant's on a bad day," Nick
whispered in her ear.
"What?" She couldn't believe what he'd just said.
"It's the mumps," he replied straight-faced. "Gets em every time!"
She choked back a giggle as a vivid picture of Harrington Harris with
swollen elephant balls flashed before her eyes. Fortunately her
parents appeared before she burst out laughing. She turned to
introduce Nick, but he'd taken off.
A glowering Stock hovered behind them. "You never told me you were
going to be up on stage half naked for everyone to get an eyeful," he
complained.
Wasn't he supposed to be congratulating her?
"You never asked," she replied.
"We'll see you later, dear," her mother said, wandering off with Phil
in tow.
"How does it make me look?" Stock demanded. "You up there with that
creep playing opposite you. You made a fool of me tonight, Lauren."
"I did not," she said heatedly.
"Yes, you did."
She sighed. "Don't spoil it, Stock. This is a special night for
me."
"It isn't for me."
"Then maybe you should go home."
"And what will you do?"
"I'll stay here and celebrate with the rest of the cast."
"Without me?"
"Yes, without you.
"You do that," he said, storming off.
Too bad. She wasn't exactly heartbroken.
Betty Harris had arranged dinner in one of the adjoining rooms for the
cast. They were high with excitement, milling around congratulating
each other. When they sat down Lauren found herself next to Nick.
"So I guess that's it," he said, picking at a roll. "I won't get to
see you until school starts next year.
She sipped a glass of water. "Next year sounds like forever, and we
see each other at the New Year's dance. You are going, aren't you?"
"Nah. . . don't think so.
"Why not?"
"I can't get into all that organized crap where everybody's supposed to
have a good time."
She bit her lip and tried not to say it, but out it came anyway.
"Surely Dawn will want you to take her?"
He gave her a quizzical look. "I thought I told you, me and Dawn,
we're not a couple."
"That's not what she says." Oh God, Roberts. Shut up!
"How come you're so concerned anyway? You've hardly talked to me
lately."
"I'm talking to you now."
He stared at her. "Maybe I'd like to do more than talk."
She looked away. She should have known he'd want to jump her, just
like he'd done to Meg. Why were boys so interested in sex? Didn't
feelings or getting to know someone ever come into it?
"Excuse me," she said, pushing her chair away from the table and
getting up.
"Where are you going?"
"I've got a present for Betty in my car.
Leave me alone, Nick Angelo. I am not interested.
Oh, yes, you are, Roberts. Oh, yes, you are.
She hurried outside to the station wagon and reached inside for the
brightly wrapped gift.
"Hey-" He was right behind her.
She turned around, feeling weak and vulnerable.
Without saying a word he moved very close and kissed her.
It was not like any kiss she'd ever felt before. His lips were
insistent and yet soft. His tongue was exploring, and yet not in a
conquering way. Without thinkin she began kissing him back.
"I've wanted to do this ever since I first saw you," he murmured,
pulling her closer.
She took a deep breath. "Blakely's hardware store. I was scrambling
around on the floor-" "Yeah, an' you looked pretty good that day."
She was about to say "So did you," but before she could he kissed her
again, and the second time was so incredible that she succumbed, losing
herself in it. She'd kissed boys before-Sammy Pilsner, Stock, several
boys she'd dated-but it had never been like this. Never.
He pushed his hands through her long hair. "You're so beautiful."
Nobody had ever called her beautiful before. Pretty-yes.
Nicenaturally. Beautiful was something else. But even so. . . she
mustn't get carried away. "We can't do this," she protested softly.
"I'm not forcin' you," he replied, pressing close.
to go." Without waiting for a reply she turned around and rushed back
inside.
For the rest of the evening she tried not to look in his direction or
even think about him.
Betty Harris made a speech praising all her students, and when it was
time to leave Nick was right behind her. "Can I drive you home?" he
asked.
"No. I'm the one with the car, remember?" Lauren replied.
He grinned. "You're right."
"Good night, Nick," she said politely.
"Good night, beautiful."
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