He looked back and then he guided me away from the dormitory and down the pathway that fanned out toward the main building.
"Where are we going?" I asked in a loud whisper.
"Where well be safe," he said. "My car."
It was like a small bird had woken suddenly in its nest and started to raise its wings to fly out just as a large, dark hand came down over it.
That's what my stomach felt like inside.
But I kept walking, excited and thrilled and yet so afraid and nervous. I didn't feel my legs taking me deeper and deeper into the shadows,
6
Deep into the Shadows
.
"Why are we going to your car?" I asked him. "It's just down here in the parking lot reserved
for guests," he replied as an answer, "I got it just before I came here so I didn't have much chance to show it off and besides," he said looking back and then around us. "it's better than taking a chance walking around here. I've got this great CD player in it with Bose speakers. Wait until you hear the great sound!"
"We'll attract more attention playing music, won't we?"
"Not if we play it low," he said. "You have your own car yet?"
"Just keep asking to use your parents' cars and soon enough you'll get your own," he advised.
"Is that how you got them to buy you yours?"
"Sorts,"
"Sorts`? What's that mean?"
He stopped and looked at me.
"Your father's not a lawyer, is he?"
"No, why?"
"Every girl I meet these days has a lawyer for a father," he replied.
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing's wrong with it." he said. "except sometimes they sound like lawyers the way they question every little thing I say or suggest and do."
"Oh." What a strange complaint, I thought.
"So, what does your father do?" he asked and started walking again.
"He owns and operates a chain of health clubs as well as a physical therapy business."
"No kidding. I figured you were in good shape for a reason." he said laughing. "Most of the girls here look like they're still growing out of puppy fat."
"They do not," I said. Suddenly he sounded so arrogant.
"There she is," he said, nodding at a spanking brand-new vehicle. I was surprised to see that it was a van. He reached into his pocket and produced a remote key.
"Watch this," he said and pushed a button on it.