first appearance of the day, strolling by on his way to math. Clinging
to his arm as if she owned him was Dawn Kovak.
He winked at Meg, greeting her with a cavalier, "Hey, how're ya
doin'?"
"Fine," she managed, her cheeks burning with rage and humiliation.
"They're putting up a tent in the garden," Stock said, flexing his
muscles.
"Isn't it too cold?" Lauren asked.
He smirked. "They've got those heater things."
"Why the garden? Your house is so large, they could have everyone
inside."
He proceeded to do a series of knee bends. "Beats me."
"Stock " she began tentatively.
"Yes?"
"Maybe we don't need a big party."
He continued doing knee bends. "Sure we do. Once we get rid of the
old farts itl be a blast."
"But everyone's making such a fuss. I'm not certain it's what I
want.
I-" "Listen, lion," he interrupted, standing up straight. "We're
talkin' a good time here. Relax, you'll love it."
"I will?" she said unsurely.
Course you will."
"Okay," she said, still not convinced, watching her mother pull into
the driveway in the family station wagon. "I have to go. We're going
shopping."
"Buy something sexy," he leered, unexpectedly pinching her on the
ass.
She swatted his hand away. "Don't do that!"
He chuckled. "Why not? We're engaged. I soon be doin' a lot more
than pinchin' your butt!"
Oh, no, you won't, she thought angrily. I'm putting a stop to this as
soon as I summon up the courage to tell my parents.
"Okay, babe, see ya. I got football practice anyway." He swiped a
kiss on her cheek and loped off.
"Lucky thing!" sighed Suzi Harden, coming up behind her.
Lucky thing indeed! Lauren didn't feel lucky. She felt like a
cornered rat waiting for the trap to snap shut.
Sex with Stock was unthinkable. His big sweaty hands all over her.
Crushed beneath his enormous bulk. No way!
"Where's Meg?" Suzi asked. "You two are always together."
"She didn't feel well-went home early."
And who could blame her? She was broken up over Nick's appearance with
Dawn Kovak. One moment he was all over her, and the next he was
consorting with "Anything Goes Kovak." Boys! Who could understand
them? Who wanted to?
Her mother swerved the station wagon over to the curb and she got in.
"Where's Meg?" Jane asked, adjusting her rearview mirror. "I thought
she was coming with us."
Maybe she should have a little card printed: Meg is not coming.
Meg is humiliated and heartbroken.
All humans of the male species are sex-crazed animals.
Lauren shrugged. "She didn't feel up to it."
Jane looked concerned. "Is she sick? I hope not. We don't want you
catching anything."
"She's sick of boys."
Jane laughed. "You girls!"
"Ha-ha!" Lauren thought sourly, catching a glimpse of Nick Angelo -she
knew his name-sauntering out of school with Dawn Kovak clinging to his
arm. Obviously Dawn was now a permanent fixture.
He was real moody-looking, a regular bad boy. She'd warned Meg, told
her not to get involved. Meg should have listened.
Nick Angelo. Hmm Meg had said he was a great kisser .
So what?
One thing he'd learned in life-if you're going to dump a girl do it
quickly. No excuses. No hanging around. One sharp cut and it's
over.
Blondie was a mistake. Dawn was definitely more his speed.
him on the way into school.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he'd replied, checking her out.
She'd touched his cheek with a long red fingernail. "I've been waiting
for a guy like you all my life."
Soul mates. She was even using his lines!
"So," he'd said. "Here I am."
"So," she'd said, with a provocative wink. "I'm ready."
Dawn Kovak lived with her alcoholic mother on the wrong side of town.
Not quite as bad as the trailer park, but getting there. She didn't
have much going for her except her curvaceous figure and sultry looks,
so she used them to full advantage. She might be the school screw, but
at least her assets made her popular. During the day she filled him in
about Bosewell. Small town. Small thinkers. No fun. No action. The
nearest place where anything happened was fifty miles away-a town
called Ripley-where there were bars and places to dance and a cool
bikers' hangout.
"You got a car?" was one of the first questions she asked.
"I can get hold of one," he'd replied, thinking of taking the van one
night when Primo was out cold.
"You an' me-we make our own good times," she'd promised seductively.
For now, Nick had thought. While it suits me.
But don't get too close, I'm only passing through.
him.
"Put it on," he urged. "See if it fits."
She did so-imagining the day she would give it back.
He took her hand, pressing it on his tuxedo-clad crotch. "Feel this,"
he said with another proud smirk. "This is what you do to me."
She jerked her hand away. Their engagement was going to be shorter
than anyone could possibly imagine.
Dawn Kovak was the girl of his wet dreams-ready, willing and always
able. He knew her reputation-not that it came as any surprise, be She
held it gingerly.
"Go on, open it," he said.
Easy for him to say. But when she opened it the net would tighten, for
any fool knew it was an engagement ring.
"I always dreamt of going to New York," she blurted out, postponing the
inevitable.
"We will," he assured her. "On our honeymoon if you like."
When was that going to be? Next week? Things were moving so fast she
could hardly breathe.
"I figure wel get married after I finish college," he said, as if
reading her thoughts. "I know that sounds a long time-but when we're
officially engaged it'll almost be like being married, won't it?"
Reprieve! Reprieve!
Course, if you get pregnant we can do it earlier," he added.
Pregnant! Was he kidding? You had to have sex to get pregnant, and
there was no way she was doing anything with him. No way.
With a feeling of relief she realized this was the answer to all her
problems. No sex, no engagement. When she refused to put out, he'd
break the engagement. He'd break it off. She'd be the injured party,
and her parents couldn't be mad at her. Whew! What an escape.
With renewed vigor she sprung the box open and stared at a heartshaped
sapphire surrounded by more than a dozen diamond baguettes. "Wow!"
she exclaimed. "This is beautiful."
"I knew you'd like it," he said, smirking proudly. "My mother picked
it out."
"How romantic," she said dryly. As usual her sarcasm was lost on hen
the Brownings did something they did it big. The garden was tented. A
three-piece group played what was supposed to be dance music. The food
was catered. And the tables set with fancy pink linen and fine
silverware. After all, the Brownings were the richest family in town
and once in a while they liked to show it.
Stock collected Lauren early and drove her straight to his house,
proudly showing off the party preparations.
"When the old folks hit the sack we've got a disco all set up," he
boasted. "And plenty of beer. I mean we're talking plenty."
He was telling her like she was a big beer drinker or something.
"Great," she managed, tugging at the bodice of the pale yellow dress
her mother had talked her into buying. She hated the dress, itmade her
look like a flower girl at somebody's wedding.
"Right now I have something just for you," he said, grabbing her hand
and pulling her over to the corner of the garden.
Oh, no! Was this the big moment? Was this the great attack?
"What?" she mumbled, praying he wasn't going to jump her-although it
was highly unlikely in his parents' garden with sixty guests due any
minute.
"This," he said, proudly pushing a small leather box into her reluctant
hand.
cause Joey Pearson had already filled him in. Joey was a good
guyfunny, clever, a touch offbeat. They'd become instant pals when it
turned out they were both doing Saturday night shifts at the gas
station.
"Look," he'd explained to Joey, "I won't be stayin' long. What do I
care if she's screwed every guy in town? She's just the way I like em
-experienced."
Joey had laughed. "Yeah, there's nothin' like a girl who knows what
she's doin'."
Both of them had been recruited to park cars at the Brownings'
party-anything to earn a few extra bucks.
A maroon Cadillac made its way up the circular driveway. Nick ran
around to the driver's side and opened the door. A man got out. His
wife was in the passenger seat. Meg emerged from the back and made a
quick dash into the house.
"What happened with you an' her?" Joey asked. "Didn't you take her to
the movies or something'?"
"Nothin' happened," Nick lied easily. He wasn't about to tell tales.
"My mistake. Picked the wrong girl. It was my first week in town,
y'know how it is."
Yes, Joey knew how it was. His mother and he had arrived in Bosewell
from Chicago a year ago. His father, a cop, had been killed in a bank
holdup, and his mother immediately decided they should move to the
safety of a small town.
"When we first came here my ma said it was for my protection," Joey
said, grimacing. "Like the minute I'm eighteen I'm outta here.
It's back to Chicago for me. I'm gonna do stand-up."
Nick looked vague. "Stand-up?"
"Y'know, like tell jokes an' stuff. Make people laugh."
"Sounds good to me.
Joey searched through his pockets and produced a battered cigarette.
He snapped it in two and handed Nick half. They shared a match.
"So . ." Joey said, taking a deep drag. "I know what I'm doin'
here.
What brings you to this pisshole?"
Nick sucked on his half of the cigarette. "My old man," he said.
"What does he do?"
Nick laughed bitterly. "Fuck-all."
"That's nice."
"Very nice. Like he was married to this woman . . . this black
woman.
. ." He paused. Joey didn't need to know this, nobody did.
"Aw, shit. It's a bummer, it doesn't matter."
"Tell me about it," Joey urged.
Nick wasn't in the mood to reveal himselœ "Some other time," he said,
dropping the subject.
Joey shrugged. "I'm not going' anywhere."
More cars arrived and they got busy.
"Y'know, Stock Browning is the asshole of the world," Joey said,
running back from parking a Buick. "The schmuck tried to beat me up
once-I kicked him in the nuts an' got myself a knife."
Nick laughed. "I knew we'd get along."
"The funny thing is," Joey continued, "when I was going' to school in
Chicago I never got beat up once."
"Maybe cause your dad was a cop."
"Bullshit. There weren't any jerks like Stock Browning around."
"You really love the guy, don'tcha?"
"He's a prick. I'd sure like to know why Lauren's getting' engaged to
him. Dumb move."
"You ever take her out?"
"No way, man. She and Meg-it's virgin city."
"Maybe she's changed."
"Yeah," Joey said disgustedly. "That can happen. Girls! Show em a
wad of money an' it's legs in the air an' let's party!"
Another car entered the driveway and pulled up in front of the house.
"I toss ya for it," Nick said.
"What's the difference?" Joey replied. "We're splittin' all the tips
anyway.
Nick nodded. "Right."
Meg was furious. "He's outside!" she complained to Lauren.
"Who?"
"Don't ask me who!" Meg snapped. "You know who. It's him. Nick.
Isn't it enough that I have to see him at school? Now he's here,
parking cars. I'm so humiliated. I arrived with my parents! How
could you do this to me??
"Calm down, Meg. I had no idea he'd be here."
"Oh, no, sure. You're too busy getting engaged to notice anything or
anybody. How do you think I feel?"
"Meg," Lauren said patiently. "Your date with him was three weeks
ago.
Forget it."
"Easy for you to say. Try putting yourself in my place." Her voice
rose hysterically. "He practically raped me!"
Lauren looked concerned. "You didn't tell me that. You said he got
your bra off and ruined your skirt. You certainly didn't tell me he
tried to rape you. If he did, you should report him to the police."
"It's too late."
"If that's what happened, it's never too late."
Meg's face crumpled. "I hate him!" she cried out.
"So do I," agreed Lauren, ever the supportive friend. Although
truthfully she couldn't say that she hated him, because she didn't even
know him.
Of course, she knew he had green eyes. And black curly hair. And a
great chin. And a James Dean slouch.
She also knew he was working part-time at the gas station, and that he
and Joey Pearson were friends, and that most nights he saw Dawn
Kovak.
She certainly found him intriguing, although she couldn't tell Meg, had
to keep a tightly buttoned lip on that little piece of info.
"Are you enjoying the party?" she asked, moving the conversation
along.
Meg narrowed her eyes and reached for a glass of watered-down punch.
"Will you have to call your firstborn Stock junior?" she asked in a
mean volce.
"Not if it's a girl." Lauren smiled sweetly and moved over to join her
parents, who seemed to be having a perfectly fine time sucking up to
the entire Browning clan.
"Surprise!" she greeted Nick, arriving just before midnight in a car
full of leather-clad friends who looked like they'd strayed out of West
Side Story. "Stock told me to get here late."
This was not the rich kids' group. These were the tougher, older kids
who smoked pot, drank alcohol and blasted Joplin and Hendrix day and
night.
Nick hadn't exactly fallen in with the
m-but thanks to Dawn he knew most
of them, and they'd accepted him as a cool guy.
Behind the car were six or seven motorcycles. Dawn had recruited more
friends from Ripley.
"Hiya, Nicky." She licked his ear, suggestively sticking her tongue
deep. "Now the party can really get going'. Dump this gig an' let's
go inside."
"Yeah, go on, man," Joey encouraged. "There's only a few more cars.
Il take care of em."