Angie looked at the car out front. It was a classic Porsche Speedster, painted primer gray. The wheels shone with chrome and the tires were obviously new. "Thats some car. "
Lauren came up beside her. "I call him Speed Racer sometimes. You know, from the old cartoon. Cause he lives for that car. "
"Ah. A boy and his car. "
Lauren laughed. "If I have to see one more paint chip, I might scream. Of course I dont tell him that. "
Angie stared down at the girl. Never had she seen such purity of emotion, such blatant adoration. First love. All at once, she remembered how consuming it was. She almost said, You be careful, Lauren, but it wasnt her place. Such advice was for a mother to give.
"See you Tuesday," Lauren said, leaving.
Angie watched Lauren go outside. The girl ran across the sidewalk and disappeared into the sports car.
And suddenly she was thinking of a long time ago, back when shed been head-over-heels in love with Tommy Matucci. Hed driven an old, battered Ford Fairlane; rickety and temperamental as that car had been, hed loved it.
Funny.
She hadnt thought of that in years.
THEY PARKED IN FRONT OF LAURENS BUILDING, IN their usual spot. She gently eased herself into position. It wasnt easy in a car this small; the gear shift seemed to take up a lot of space. Still, theyd had years to perfect their technique.
David took her in his arms and kissed her. She felt herself falling into that familiar breathy darkness, that needing. Her heartbeat sped up. Within minutes the windows were fogged up and their privacy was complete.
"Lauren," he murmured, and she heard it in his voice, too; that needing of her. His hand slid beneath her blouse. She shivered at the touch.
Then his wristwatch started to bleat.
"Shit," he groaned, pulling his hand from her body. "I cant believe they make me come home this early. I know eighth graders who can stay out till midnight. " He crossed his arms with a dramatic flourish.
It was all Lauren could do not to smile. He had no idea how childish he looked right now. The great David Ryerson Haynes, pouting. "Youre lucky," she said, snuggling up to him. "It means they love you. "
"Yeah, right. "
Lauren felt his heartbeat; it fluttered beneath her palm. For a second, just that, she felt older than him by years.
"Your mom doesnt give a shit what time you get home. Or even if you come home. "
"My point exactly," she said, feeling a swell of the old bitterness. She and mom had tackled the issue of curfews a long time ago. I wont be your warden, Mom had said. My parents tried that and it only made me more wild. Now Lauren could come and go as she pleased.
David kissed her again, and then drew back with a sigh.
She knew instantly that something was wrong. "Whats the matter?"
He leaned across her, opened the glove box. "Here," he said, handing her some papers.
"What--" She looked down. "The Stanford application. "
"My dad wants me to go for early decision. Its due November fifteenth. "
"Oh," Lauren said, easing back into her own seat. She knew hed do anything to please his father.
"I thought you could do it, too. "
The eagerness in his voice made her want to cry. How could he drive her home, see her apartment, and not get it? "I cant afford to do that, David. I need a scholarship. And not a few vanity bucks. I need a full ride. "
His breath exhaled heavily. "I know. "
They sat that way for a few long minutes, each in a separate seat, not touching, staring at the foggy windshield.