Secrets in the Attic (Secrets 1)

and marry. I'm a virgin!" I moaned. "Karen didn't tell

you the truth about me."

I felt his body soften and his grip on me loosen,

but he kept the side of his head against mine and

fought to slow his breathing. After another moment, he rose and backed out of the car. He slammed the door closed. I fixed my clothing and sat back to catch

my own breath. Would he return, or was this over? I heard him come around to the driver's side

and open the door. He got in and started the engine.

He didn't say anything, and neither did I. I just sat

there until he pulled around and drove out to the road

and back to the village, stopping at the post office. "I don't know where she is," he said, without

looking back at me. "But you tell her if she calls me

again, I'll go to the police. And don't you talk to me or

even look at me in school. I want to pretend this never

happened, understand?"

"Not any more than I do," I said.

I got out, and he pulled away quickly, his tires

squealing as he rounded the turn in the center of the

village and then disappeared. I got on my bike and

started for home.

And I cried all the way.

15 Harry Pearsons at Heart

As I approached the house, I saw it was dimly lit, just

as I had left it, which meant my father was not home yet. My legs were tight from my frantic pedaling, and my heart felt as if it were flopping about madly under my breast. I had to stop and just stand a moment to catch my breath. I suddenly noticed all the stars and the moon. It had been as if I had ridden with blinders on, my head down, fleeing from the disaster with Dana. I didn't know how I had made it home without going off the road. I took some more deep breaths and then walked my bike up the driveway and pulled up the garage door.

After I put on the garage lights, I stowed my bike and closed the garage door behind me. I was happy my father was not home yet, because I knew I looked a mess, and there was just no way to avoid some kind of explosion if he ever found out what had just happened to me. I entered the house, half expecting to see Karen standing there anxiously waiting to greet me. She wasn't, and it was quiet, so quiet that for a moment I wondered if she had gone off again to stay in Harry's mother's apartment or someplace else.

I glanced at my watch. I had been gone a little less than an hour. There was probably still plenty of time before my father would be home. I started up the attic stairway and slowly opened the door. Of course, it was pitch dark; but the moonlight was still bright enough to illuminate the large room and at least silhouette most of the furniture.

"Karen?" I called in a loud whisper.

"Back so soon?" I heard her respond.

At first, I didn't see her, so I opened the door a

little wider to let in more light and saw her lying on the sofa, naked.

"What are you doing?" I asked.