"The Dickinson School would hardly qualify as the pits," I said, laughing. "You haven't ever attended a public school?"
"No, I went right from preschool to a private elementary school. I spent summers at a camp designed to turn us into preppy little men. Do I seem preppy to you?"
"I don't know what that means."
"Yeah, well, you're better off not knowing. Anyway, I called to see if you would like to attend a party with me this weekend. It will be a good opportunity to get to know some of the other students. Waverly is having a birthday party for himself."
"He's making a party for himself?"
"No one else will, including his parents. They believe birthday parties end after the age of five. Fortunately for us, and unfortunately for them, they are taking his ten-year-old sister to an audition for child television positions in New York City, and Waverly resisted going along. Since it's his birthday, they granted him his wish."
"They're leaving him on his birthday?"
"Like I said, they don't carry on much about birthdays, but we will. You'll have a great time. Can I pick you up about eight?"
"I'd like to go. I really would, but I can't," I said. "My . . . cousin has asked me not to socialize until I've settled into life here."
"How long does it take you to settle in?"
"Not long. I hope," I added.
"What a bummer. So until then, you have to sit at home with the cousin watching television or something?"
"I'm sure my cousin has activities planned for me."
"Activities? What are you, in a camp or a home?" he asked, making no attempt to hide his disappointment.
"I'm sorry. I'm at a. . . a disadvantage."
"Yeah," he said, and was silent. In a moment he calmed down, however. "I suppose you are. I don't mean to sound like such a dork about it."
"They're being very generous. My cousin arranged for me to have formal driving lessons. I had my first one today."
"You mean you've never driven a car?"
I bit my lower lip. Already I was putting my foot in my mouth. One lie always led to another, and as if you were weaving a web around yourself, you were suddenly trapped in deceptions of your own making. I had never strayed from the truth before I came here to live, I thought. I was never afraid of it.
"No. My mother is a very nervous person," I told him, quickly thinking of a way out.
"I'll say she is. Maybe you're better off living with your cousin."
"I hope so. I mean, they're nice people, and they have so much."
"Yeah, I know the company. Actually, the Emersons bought all their cars from my father's dealerships. If you need extra driving lessons, I'd be happy to give them to you," he added.
"For now I had better stick with the formal ones."
"Right," he said. "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes. And Trevor. . ."
"Yes?"
"At the risk of endangering myself with the incrowd, thanks for thinking of me."
He laughed.
"Drop the past tense," he said. "I am thinking of you. See ya."