Double Date (5 page)

“Sorry!” Bobby called back, and started running again.

He lost Samantha for a moment, then spotted her magenta top in a crowd in front of a CD store.

“Stop them! Hey—stop them!” The two salespeople were still in pursuit.

“Samantha!” Bobby called breathlessly.

She didn't seem to hear. He watched her disappear around a corner.

Bobby stopped short to avoid stumbling over two little girls carrying ice-cream cones. Then he plunged around the corner.

He felt a sharp stab of pain in his side as he caught up with Samantha. “Ow. Wait up!”

To his surprise, she was laughing. Laughing excitedly, gleefully.

They cut across the near end of the food court, ducked through a line at the McDonald's, ran between two rows of yellow plastic tables.

The pain in Bobby's side grew sharper. He took a deep breath and tried to
will
it away.

“Whoa—Samantha! Wait!”

Past a Gap store. Then a Waldenbooks.

The pain in his side faded. He was breathing hard. Running fast. Right behind her now.

Her black hair flew out behind her like a pennant on a windy day. He caught up, passed her, saw her green eyes glowing with excitement. She was still laughing.

He glanced behind them. No sign of the salespeople.

Had he and Samantha managed to lose them? Had they gotten away safely?

“Whoa! Samantha—why?” he asked breathlessly. “Why'd you do it?”

“For fun!” she shouted.

She kept running, her dark hair flying behind her, and he ran with her.

People backed out of their way. Bobby ignored their angry, surprised shouts.

They turned a corner past a doughnut shop. They darted in front of a group of teenagers heading into Pete's Pizza.

Bobby gasped as a gray-uniformed security guard stepped forward. The man blocked their path, his eyes narrowed in anger.

“Oh, no. We're caught!” Bobby murmured aloud.

B
obby stopped so quickly, he bumped into Samantha. He was breathing hard, and his side ached again. Then he realized he still had the two gold hoops in his fist.

“Not so fast,” the security guard said. He pushed his gray cap back on his head and stared from one to the other with bloodshot eyes.

Caught, Bobby thought. We're caught.

Of all the dumb stunts, he told himself, still struggling to catch his breath. Why did Samantha do that? And why did she drag me into it?

“What's your hurry?” the guard asked in a slow drawl.

“We-we're late,” Samantha managed to stammer.

Pretty lame, Bobby thought.

The guard narrowed his eyes at Samantha.

Bobby squeezed the gold hoops in his fist. He saw that Samantha's hair was hanging around her face.

He heard shouting behind him. The salespeople from the Gold Barn?

He glanced back to see. No. Just a bickering middle-aged couple.

Then he turned back to face the stern security guard. Would Samantha confess she had taken the earrings? he wondered. Did she have an excuse ready for the guard?

“You really shouldn't run,” the guard told them. “You could get hurt.”

“Sorry,” Samantha told him, lowering her eyes.

“These floors can be slippery,” the guard warned. “So take it easy, hear?”

“Yes, we will,” Samantha said solemnly. “Sorry.”

The guard made a gesture with one hand, dismissing them. “Young people. Always in a hurry,” he muttered to himself as he turned and headed off.

Bobby and Samantha managed to keep straight faces until they reached the parking garage. Then they fell apart, laughing and congratulating each other, howling jubilantly over their close call.

“That was
outstanding!
” Samantha declared gleefully.
“Outstanding!”

Secretly, Bobby didn't think the earrings were worth the risk Samantha had taken. His heart was still racing, and he felt shaky. But he didn't want to look like a wimp. “Hey, that was better than a movie!” he told her.

“Those floors can be slippery. So take it easy.” Samantha did a pretty good imitation of the guard's slow drawl.

They both burst out laughing again. Bobby slapped her a high-five.

“When that guard stopped us, I nearly had a cow!” Bobby admitted.

“He was old. We could've taken him,” Samantha replied casually.

Bobby stared at her. What did she mean by that? Was she just joking?

“Let's get out of here!” she cried, her eyes flashing with excitement.

They jogged across the garage to his red Bonneville, their sneakers loud on the concrete.

“I'll drive!” Samantha cried breathlessly. She held out her hand for Bobby's car keys.

He hesitated.

“I want to drive!” she insisted. She grabbed the keys from his hand.

“Used to getting your way a lot?” he teased.

“Always!” she replied. She dropped into the driver seat and had the car started and the lights on before Bobby had opened his door. The engine roared as she pressed her foot down all the way on the gas pedal.

“Are you used to a V-six?” Bobby asked warily. “This car has a lot of pickup.”

She squeezed his hand. “I can handle it,” she replied dryly.

Bobby grabbed the door handle as she backed out of the parking space without looking. The tires squealed as she went forward and roared around the corner toward the exit.

She bolted through the exit without slowing to turn into the traffic on Division Street. She ignored the honking horns.

Bobby swallowed hard and slumped low in the passenger seat.

Samantha tossed her head back, laughing loudly.

“What's so funny?” Bobby demanded as she cut off a pizza van to get into the middle lane.

“The look on your face,” she replied. “Don't worry, Bobby. I'm a good driver.” She cut back into the right lane. More horns honked angrily behind them.

Bobby glanced at the speedometer. She was going too fast.

He started to tell her to slow down, but stopped himself. He was supposed to be cool, he told himself. So how cool would it be to scold her for driving too fast?

“I love speed, don't you?” she asked, making a sharp, squealing turn onto River Road. “I love going fast! It gets me so—pumped.” She glanced at him coyly.

“Me too,” Bobby replied, trying to sound as if he meant it. “Where are we going?”

“You'll see.” She rolled down her window. The cool wind made her hair flutter wildly behind her. “This is great! This is
great!
” she cried, shouting over the roar of the wind.

Houses with streetlights gave way to dark woods. They were driving along the river now, Bobby knew. He saw Samantha floor the gas pedal as the road began to climb to the rock cliffs that overlooked the riverbank.

I don't
believe
this! he thought. Is she driving to River Ridge?

River Ridge, the high cliff overlooking the Conononka River and the town, was the big makeout spot for Shadyside teenagers.

Wow! She doesn't waste any time! Bobby thought happily.

Finally she slowed the car as they reached the top. She guided it past a couple of parked cars and pulled to a stop at the cliff edge beside a clump of tall shrubs.

Samantha cut the engine and the lights, then pulled her disheveled hair back with both hands. “Well, look where we are,” she whispered, staring out through the windshield.

“Nice driving,” Bobby said with a grin.

“You haven't been up here before, have you?” she teased.

“Maybe a few times,” he replied, leaning toward her.

“I think I like you,” she murmured.

As they kissed, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. The kiss lasted a long time.

I don't
believe
these twins! Bobby thought. He remembered Bree's kisses, so hungry, so
needy.

I can't
wait
to tell Arnie! Bobby thought as they stopped to catch their breath. Arnie will totally freak out!

He kissed her again. Bobby the Man will be the talk of Shadyside High on Monday! he told himself. No one will believe I made out with
both
Wade twins in one weekend!

What was it Samantha had said to him when they met at the mall? “You have quite a reputation.” Yeah. That's what she said.

Well, you ain't seen nothin' yet! Bobby thought.

When word gets out about this weekend—the all-Wade
weekend!—everyone will know who's the coolest guy in school!

I am the king! Bobby thought, kissing her again.

The king of rock ‘n' roll!

Samantha pulled back and stared at him, her eyes half shut. “I told you I like to go fast,” she whispered.

Bobby settled back in the passenger seat. This girl was just so
hot,
so
hot!
He wondered if it would be too late to call Arnie that night.

“What are you thinking about?” Samantha demanded dreamily.

“I'm just thinking how great you are,” Bobby lied.

Smooth. Very smooth, he congratulated himself.

She opened her eyes wide. “Do you like me better than Bree?”

The blunt question startled him. “Yeah. Sure, I do.”

She smiled. The wind fluttered her hair. She settled back on the car seat and stared out the windshield.

Bobby followed her gaze. The black sky was dotted with a million tiny white stars. A hazy sliver of cloud cut the pale full moon in half.

“I'm a little different from my sister,” Samantha said softly, staring up at the sky.

“Yeah,” Bobby agreed. Then he added, “But you two
look
so much alike. You really do. How do people tell you apart?”

Samantha turned to him with a sly smile. “There's a way to tell us apart,” she said coyly.

“How?” Bobby demanded.

She brought her face close to his and whispered in his ear, “When we get to know each other better, I'll show you.” Her soft breath tickled his ear, made a chill run down the back of his neck.

Wow, he thought. Wow.

“I think Bree really likes you,” she told him, her smile fading.

“I think I like you better,” Bobby replied.

“You'd better be careful,” she said, avoiding his eyes.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Well …” She hesitated. “Bree is kind of fragile,”

“Fragile?”

“You'd better be careful not to hurt her,” Samantha warned, raising her eyes to Bobby's. “Bree can be a little—strange when she's hurt.”

Bobby stared hard at Samantha. A cloud drifted over the moon, and her face darkened. “Samantha, what do you mean?” he asked.

“I really don't want to talk about it,” she told him. Her eyes narrowed. “Just be careful with Bree, Bobby. Be very careful.”

B
obby slammed his locker shut and headed down the hall. The final bell had rung. The school was emptying quickly.

A riff from an old Chuck Berry song kept repeating in his head. As he made his way to the music room, he was thinking about trying it on the guitar.

The band was really starting to
cook,
Bobby thought, waving to some kids heading out the door. Bright afternoon sunlight burst into the hall as they pushed the double doors open.

Too bad Paul was threatening to quit. Just when they were starting to play so well together. Paul had given an excuse about having to get an after-school job.

But Bobby thought he knew the real reason—Paul was jealous of him. He's a good, dependable player. But he doesn't have my style, and he knows it.

Turning a corner, waving to a group of girls from his
class, he decided to have a talk with Paul. I'll tell him how much we need him, Bobby decided. I'll make him think he's the leader, make him feel like a big man. He'll stay.

Spotting Kimmy Bass at her locker, Bobby crept up behind her and gave her hair a hard tug.

Kimmy shrieked angrily and spun around. “Bobby—you creep!” She sneered at him. “Get your disgusting paws off me!”

“You love it!” Bobby shot back, grinning.

“Creep,” Kimmy repeated in a low voice.

“Are you doing anything Saturday night?” Bobby asked her.

She stared at him suspiciously. “Why?”

“Just asking,” Bobby said, his blue eyes returning the stare.

“No, I'm not doing anything,” Kimmy told him.

“Then why not take a bath?” Bobby let out a high-pitched hyena laugh.

“Aaaaagh!” Kimmy let out a disgusted cry and punched him in the chest. “You really are a pig, Bobby!”

“Oink-oink. Takes one to know one.” He backed away from another flying fist, and chuckling to himself, hurried down the hall.

She's nuts about me, he told himself confidently. Totally nuts about me.

But I don't have time for her now. I've got enough to handle. Twins!

Arnie and Melanie were standing by the music room window, talking quietly. Paul was noodling at his keyboard. “Hey—what's up?” Bobby called.

Arnie called out a greeting. But Melanie only acted
disgusted, narrowing her dark eyes and then turning toward the window.

“I
see
you're having a bad hair day, Melanie. But why take it out on me?” Bobby demanded.

Melanie didn't turn around. She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Are you still dating both Wade twins?” she asked through clenched teeth.

“Yeah. Maybe,” Bobby replied. “What's it to you?”

Melanie didn't reply. Arnie shrugged.

“Are we going to rehearse or not?” Paul called impatiently from behind his keyboard.

Melanie turned to face Bobby, her features tight. “I don't believe you,” she said sharply.

Bobby grinned back at her. “I don't believe it either!” he exclaimed. “Two at once. Even
I'm
impressed!”