I anticipated a great summer—I had my cute, sweet boyfriend back, was enrolled in the school’s driver’s education class in preparation for getting my own license, and would be doing a lot of cheer practice with the squad. We had to learn one hundred short action cheers and twenty-five longer routines before school resumed in September, plus go to camp, where we would compete against other squads and study the game of football so we understood what cheers to chant. Somewhere in there, I would find time to hang out with my friends.
Anthony gave me a ride, his generosity spurred by his impending graduation. This was his last day of public education, the lucky dog.
“How does it feel to be forever free from the bonds of required schooling?”
“Fan-fucking-tastic.” His grin said it all.
“How long do you think you have until the old man is on you about a job?”
He turned the radio volume down. “Are you kidding? He’s already on me. I’ve got it covered, though. I start at Lakeshore Seafood next week.”
“Cool. Doing what?”
“Busing tables and washing dishes. Gotta work my way up. It’ll be okay. Pop will be happy, and I’ll be making money.”
“I’m so jealous.”
“Of me working?” He shook his head like I was whacked.
I slapped him on the arm. “That you’re graduating. I can’t believe I have two more years of high school.” I glanced out the window, the scenery whizzing past.
“You’ll live. Besides, school’s easy for you. You and your good grades are what made my life hell.”
I smiled. Anthony still had one report card to face with our father. “They aren’t that great—you just make me look a Rhodes Scholar.”
“Ha. How’s that boyfriend treating you?”
My heart pinged thinking of Pete, just like the dogs in Pavlov’s psychological experiments we had learned about this semester. “Like gold. He’s a keeper.”
“Let me know if he steps out of line. A few brotherly threats can go a long way in helping correct that kind of thing. Got it?”
I laughed. “There won’t be any problems with Pete. We love each other.”
Anthony did a double take. “Seriously?”
I nodded. “It’s the real thing. We’re more legit than a Coca-Cola commercial.”
“Good for you, kid. But be careful. Guys only want one thing.”
“You’ve given me this lecture before.” I wish I had listened.
“You think I’m kidding, but I’m not. Be on guard, Anna.”
“I will,” I said as we pulled into a parking place. “Thanks for the ride, Ant.”
The day passed uneventfully. There was nothing left to teach, and no one paying enough attention to learn. At three o’clock when the final bell of the year rang, the entire student body streamed for the exits, reams of paper littering the hallway floors.
I took special care as I prepared for the party at Jaime’s house. I curled my hair and donned the new jeans and peasant blouse I’d purchased, slipping on my sandals and checking myself out in my mom’s full-length mirror. I wanted to look extra good for Pete as I planned to lock lips with him for the majority of the night.
My father drove me the short distance to Jaime’s for her party and a sleepover. “Have a good time, honey.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I leaned over and gave him an impromptu kiss on the cheek. “I’ll call you in the morning.”
Jaime greeted me at the door and after meeting her parents, I followed her down the hall to her bedroom. I set down my overnight bag and plopped on her bed. She finished applying her makeup, which she wore on the heavy side.
Having arrived early, nothing was happening yet aside from her mother hanging decorations and putting out food and drinks. Jaime offered me a glass of wine.
I accepted it, with shock. “You can drink at your house?”
She nodded. “The ’rents are pretty cool. They would rather have me drinking here where it’s safe than be out boozing it up and driving. We can party all we want tonight.” She topped off her glass with more red wine and lit a cigarette.
My parents never would have agreed to let me come over, much less spend the night, if they knew Jaime’s folks allowed her to drink and smoke in the house. If only my parents were that cool.
At ten, the party picked up momentum, the mood boisterous knowing we were out of Skyline Hell for the summer. I stared frequently at Pete in his fitted white jeans and a navy polo that hugged his muscular chest and arms. We stayed glued to each other’s sides.
“Hey,” he said, tugging on my belt loop halfway through the party. “Want to take a walk?”
“Sure.”
He took my hand in his, and we strolled out to the driveway, giving us distance from the noise and crowd. He stopped in front of someone’s car and pressed me against it, his hands holding my hips.
I gazed at him. “What’s up, handsome?”
He moved a wisp of hair off my cheek. “I want to kiss my girlfriend. In private.”
I grinned. “I like the way you think.”
Pete pushed through obvious nervousness, leaned in and kissed me. Brief but pleasant. I stayed close, and his lips found mine again, longer this time. His lips were warm, their pressure just right on mine. My arms encircled his shoulders and his tightened around my back, our bodies molding together. We made out in earnest, intoxicated by each other. The occasional driver hooted or whistled at us. We laughed, came up for air and dove back hungrily for more.
To be kissing the man I loved was like solving an intricate puzzle with the satisfaction of placing the final
