Beach party

Chapter 1

Karen Mandell drove the way she did everything else in life — foot down hard on the gas, full speed ahead, never look behind. The gray morning haze was lifting, and a hot, white sun came burning through as Karen squealed around the curve, roared past a line of slow-moving cars and vans, and slipped her navy-blue Mustang convertible into a narrow space in Lot C at LAX.

Before climbing out of the car, she stopped to examine herself in the rearview mirror and straighten the blue, sleeveless T-shirt she wore over white tennis shorts.

I look okay, she thought. Not as pretty as Ann-Marie, but okay.

Karen's oval face was framed by straight, black hair that rested comfortably on her shoulders. She had dark skin that always looked tan, and shocking blue eyes, shocking because they were so wide, so blue, and so unexpected. They were eyes that belonged on a fair-skinned blonde. On Karen's dark face beneath her black eyebrows, they looked so

dramatic, so mysterious, it was impossible not to stare into them.

She smoothed her hair, jumped out of the car, searching for some way to remember this parking spot, and hurried to meet Ann-Marie.

"Good timing!" Karen cried. Ann-Marie was just coming out of the gate as Karen arrived. Dressed in hip-hugging designer jeans and a heavy brown sweater, she was carrying a large, red canvas bag and a tennis racket. She dropped everything when she saw Karen, and the two friends rushed forward with beaming smiles to hug each other.

"Putting on a little weight, aren't you?" Karen said, stepping back. It was a running joke. Ann-Marie was as thin as ever. She looked like a fashion model with her slight figure, her straight blonde hair cut fashionably short, her emerald eyes, and her high cheekbones and pale, creamy skin.

"Don't mention weight," Ann-Marie groaned, picking up her bag, which appeared to weigh as much as she did. "They served the worst meal on the plane."

"What was it?"

"I'm not sure. It was bright yellow, burning hot on the outside and frozen solid on the inside."

"Must have been lasagna," Karen said. "How did it taste?"

Ann-Marie rolled her eyes. "Fabulous. I had to have seconds." They followed the signs to the baggage pickup. "I can't believe I'm here, Karen." They walked past a large window. "Oh, look. The sky is

yellow from all the pollution. I guess I can believe Fm here!"

Karen looked at her watch. "You've been here fifteen seconds, and you've already put down L.A."

'That's a record for me," Ann-Marie said, shifting the red bag to her other hand, and dropping the tennis racket. "I must be slowing down."

Karen laughed. "I'm just so glad to see you." She flung an arm around Ann-Marie, forgetting the weight of the canvas bag, and nearly knocked her over. "Oops. Hey — what have you got in there — presents for me, I hope?"

"Nope. I brought Sandy." She shook the bag and called into it, "Hold still in there, Sandy." Then she looked back at Karen. "He insisted on coming. He's madly in love with you, you know."

"How is your little brother?" Karen asked, laughing.

"Compared to what?" Ann-Marie joked. "Compared to Freddy Krueger, he's okay, I guess. He's at that sarcastic age. You know. Everything you say to him, he's got a sarcastic remark."

"Aw, he'll grow out of it," Karen assured her.

"He mill! I never did!"

They went down an escalator and followed the signs down another endless corridor. Suddenly Ann-Marie stopped. "Karen — what's that around your neck?"

"This?" Karen's hand went up to the crystal she wore on a chain.

"Oh, no. I knew it," Ann-Marie wailed. "Get me

S

back on the plane. I can*t stand it out here. That*s a crystal, right? You do weird things with crystals, right? You think they have magic powers, and you talk to them and — "

"Stop! Come on, stop!" Karen protested. "I just wear it because it's pretty," Karen said, not meaning to sound quite so defensive.

"For sure," Ann-Marie said. "Like gag me with a spoon."

"Ann-Marie, nobody says that anymore. Not even valley girls," Karen said, making a face. "Actually, Mike gave me this crystal, before I broke up with him."

"I know. I know. The astrology counselor at school told you to break up with Mike, right?"

"Hey — you really haven't outgrown your sarcastic phase," Karen said. "Breaking up with Mike was really a bummer, you know."

Ann-Marie apologized quickly, her cheeks coloring. "Sorry. It always takes me a while to lose my New York edge. Really. I'm sorry. I — I just feel Hke such an alien out here. Like I'm from Mars or something."

"No problem." Karen gave her a warm smile. "I think you'll feel right at home in a little while. Wait till you see where we're staying."

They stopped in front of the baggage conveyor belt. Ann-Marie dropped her bag to the floor and placed the tennis racket on top of it. Two small yellow cases were going round and around, looking very lonesome on the long, winding belt.

"You mean we're not staying at your house?" Ann-Marie asked.

"In Westwood Village? No way."

"Then where?"

"It's a surprise." Karen gave her a mysterious smile. •

"Say — how's your mom doing?" Ann-Marie asked.

'Tretty good. It took her a while, after the divorce. I mean, I think she took it a lot more personally than Daddy."

"Divorce is pretty personal," Ann-Marie cracked.

"You know what I mean. Anyway, it took her a while to get going again. I mean, she was like a zombie for months. She'd sit around playing her old Beatles records and cry."

"That's too bad. But she's better now?"

"Yeah. A httle. I think she went out on a date last week. Some guy who sells real estate in the vaUey."

"And your dad?"

Karen shrugged. "He's definitely weirded out."

"Huh?"

"He's driving a red Corvette, for one thing. And he's blow-drying his hair."

'Weird."

"Actually, I don't see him that much. Of course, I never did. He bought me a car. A Mustang convertible. Do you believe it?"

"Is that good?" Ann-Marie asked, not being sarcastic.

"Yeah. It's what you might call an awesome car."

"You might. I wouldn't. I don't drive."

"You don't drive? You're seventeen, and you don't drive?" Karen looked positively shocked.

"No. I take the subway, usually. It's a lot faster."

"The subway? Don't you get mugged and killed if you take the subway?"

"Not everyone," Ann-Marie said, staring past Karen as more suitcases began to magically appear on the conveyor belt.

About fifteen minutes later, they were out in the hazy sunshine looking for where Karen had parked the car. "This is an awesome car," Ann-Marie said when they finally found it. "I love the white leather seats. How do you keep them clean?" Karen helped her load her suitcase and bag into the trunk.

"Daddy got me a new wet suit and new skis, too," Karen said, sliding behind the wheel. The seat was hot against the back of her legs.

"He buys you a lot of presents, huh?"

"Yeah. He's definitely trying to buy my love. And you know what? It's working!"

Both girls laughed as Karen backed out. It took a while — even for Karen — to get out of the vast airport. Then Karen headed the car northwest along Lincoln Boulevard. The bright sun had burned away most of the haze, and the air was getting warmer.

**Where are we going?" Ann-Marie asked.

Karen shook her head mysteriously. "You'll see." They squealed to a stop because of some construction up ahead. "Hey — I've been doing all the talking. What's new with you? Did you have a good year?"

Ann-Marie looked away. "Not really."

Karen was more than a little surprised. Ann-Marie was flip and sarcastic, but she always had a lot of enthusiasm. "How come?"

"I don't know. It was sort of a wasted year, I guess. It's hard to explain. My high school is so big, and — well, everyone's so immature. I — "

"And how's Clay?"

"I meant to write — I broke up with Clay. Or maybe he broke up with me. I'm not sure." Her normally pale face was bright crimson.

"Gee, I'm sorry."

"Me, too," Ann-Marie said in a near-whisper. Then she added wistfully, "Maybe it isn't all over. Everything was sort of up in the air when I left."

Karen could see that Ann-Marie was really upset. She and Clay had been going together for two years. Karen wondered what had happened. She probably would never find out. Ann-Marie seldom liked talking about herself.

The girls had been friends since about the age of nine, growing up as neighbors in Westwood Village. When they had started high school, the friendship had seen some hard times. In fact, Ann-Marie didn't speak to Karen for six months after Karen started to date a boy Ann-Marie was interested in.

"You're always making me jealous of you," Ann-Marie had said one day during an angry exchange. And Karen had never forgotten it. It seemed such a sad, reveaUng thing to say.

But then, Ann-Marie had moved with her family to New York, and the friendship was revived

through letters. The anger, the jealousy, the hurt feelmgs seemed to dissolve over the miles.

Now Ami-Marie was back in L.A. for the first time since she'd moved, and Karen was so happy to see her, she thought she might burst.

The traffic started moving again. "Good old Highway 1," Ann-Marie said, forcing a smile. "Yeah, it's great to be back."

It was nearly an hour later when they pulled up to the low, three-story gray shingled apartment building. "Here we are," Karen said, squeezing the Mustang into a narrow parking space. *What do you think?"

"Speedway?" Ann-Marie asked, reading the street sign. ^Where are we?"

**Venice." Karen started to roll the top up.

"Venice? You mean the place with all the weirdos and the roller skaters?"

Karen grinned. "Wait till you see the apartment."

*Whose apartment?"

"Ours. Well, actually, my dad's." Karen locked up the car and walked around to open the trunk.

**Your dad has an apartment in Venice?"

"I told you he's weirded out. He's even rented this apartment right across from the beach. He's having a second adolescence, I guess. I think he wants to bring back the sixties. I mean, he's got psychedeUc posters on the walls — and you should see his girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?" Ann-Marie looked positively appalled.

"Yeah. She looks almost old enough to be my younger sister."

"Wow."

Karen laughed. "You're not from California anymore, Ann-Marie. You're not allowed to say wow."

'Wow. Is your dad's girlfriend staying with us, too?"

"No. They're both gone. They went to some spa in the Springs. The apartment is all ours until the weekend. Daddy won't be back until late on Saturday. Isn't this great? Our own apartment right across from the beach!"

Karen helped Ann-Marie lug her suitcase out of the trunk. Ann-Marie looked up uncertainly at the low, gray building, which looked more like a motel than an apartment house.

"Your mom was always so strict," Ann-Marie said, carrying her bag and following Karen up the steps. "I can't believe she's letting us stay here on our own — even for a few days."

"She doesn't know," Karen said, her blue eyes glowing.

"Huh?"

"She thinks Daddy is here with us. I didn't tell her he was going away. It's our little secret."

"But, Karen — " Ann-Marie hung back. "Do you really think this is such a good idea?"

Karen unlocked the door and pushed it open. She tossed Ann-Marie's bag in, then stood back to let her friend inside the apartment first. "Of course it is," Karen said, with a mischievous smile. "What could happen?"

Chapter 2

*The beach is so beautiful at night," Karen said, kicking off her sandals and stepping into the cool sand.

"It — it's not very crowded," Ann-Marie said, looking around warily.

*Teople don't know what they're missing," Karen said, ignoring her friend's reluctance. "Come on. What's there to be afraid of? When's the last time you smelled the Pacific?"

"Two years, I guess," Ann-Marie said, stepping off the boardwalk and following her Mend onto the beach. "Hey — wait up. Do you always have to walk so fast?"

'Tou're the New Yorker," Karen called back, not slowing her stride. "You're supposed to be used to a fast pace."

**No one could get used to you," Ann-Marie said, jogging to catch up. She heard a noise behind her and turned to see two boys in T-shirts and black spandex bicycle shorts roller-skating at full speed down the boardwalk. "Aren't they cold?" she asked

Karen, shivering. The air grew cooler as they approached the water. The wet sand felt clammy under her bare feet.

"It's a little chilly," Karen admitted. "But who cares? Here we are, Ann-Marie. It's summer, and you're back, and we're on the beach, and we're going to have nonstop fun for the next month!"

*When does the nonstop fan begin?" Ann-Marie grumbled.

"Come on. Just look around," Karen enthused, refusing to acknowledge her friend's sarcasm.

Ann-Marie had to admit that it was a beautiful night. The sun had just fallen, and the sky was pale evening purple, with tiny white dots of stars beginning to pop out and sparkle. The steady, rhythmic rush of the low waves, splashing lightly on the smooth shore, drowned out all other sounds. Against the darkening sky, the water was as blue as an afternoon sky. It sparkled and shone, as if holding the sunlight, refusing to allow the light to slip away.

*Tretty," Ann-Marie said, smiling at Karen. They walked silently along the shore. The water seemed to grow darker with every step they took.

Ann-Marie shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. She was wearing cutoffs and a light wool poncho, but the cold ocean air made her wish she'd worn something heavier. She couldn't believe Karen, who was wearing short shorts and a T-shirt and didn't seem the least bit cold. "Wow. I feel a long way from home," she said quietly.

"Ann-Marie, you lived here in L.A. most of your

life," Karen reminded her, bending down to pick up a shell, then quickly tossing it into the water.

"But I guess two years is a long time. It all seems so different." She turned and looked back at the boardwalk, also known as Ocean Front Walk, which was dark and nearly deserted. The shops had all closed before sunset. The summer season, with its influx of tourists and young people and crazies from all over, hadn't really begun. The Venice Pavihon across from Market Street stood dark and deserted, a low concrete bunker covered with graffiti.

Karen dug her feet deep into the wet sand. "Oh, that feels so good! I love it!" she shouted happily. She lifted her face toward the water to better feel the cold spray. "It's really good for your skin," she told Ann-Marie.

"Too salty," her friend grumbled. "Listen, I'm freezing to death. Could we go back and get changed?"

"Yeah. I guess." Karen couldn't hide her disappointment that Ann-Marie wasn't being more adventurous, more enthusiastic.

"Where is everyone, anyway?" Ann-Marie asked, pulling her light poncho tighter around her shoulders.

"Main Street mostly. That's where everyone in Venice goes at night."

"Aren't there parties on the beach or anything?"

"No. Most people are kind of afraid," Karen admitted reluctantly.

"Afraid? Of what? Afraid of the dark?"

"Oh, you know. Gangs, I guess."

"Oh."

Karen began jogging toward the boardwalk, her bare feet slapping the wet sand. Ann-Marie followed close behind. "Hey — where did we leave our shoes?"

"Up this way, I think," Karen called back to her. "Just past the Pavilion."

It was very dark now. The purples and grays of the night sky had darkened to black, broken only by tiny pinpoints of white starlight. The ocean behind them was even darker than the sky.

They located their sandals and were slipping them onto their wet, sandy feet when the five boys appeared, five tall shadows that seemed to materialize like dark, grinning ghosts.

They wore denim and leather, angry-looking T-shirts with the names of heavy metal groups emblazoned across the fronts, visible even in the dim light. Their hair was short and spiked, or scraggly, down to their shoulders. A couple of them had diamond studs in one ear. They all wore the same amused expression.

They're trying so hard to look dangerous, Karen thought.

The five of them shuffled closer, sneakers scraping against the asphalt of the boardwalk, their hands in their jeans pockets or jammed into the pockets of their open jackets.

Karen was the first to speak. "Hey — how's it gom7"

This seemed to strike some of them fimny. They laughed, short, high-pitched laughter.

"Real fine," one of them said. He was tall and lanky with short, blond hair, spiked straight up. His smile revealed two deep dimples on his narrow cheeks.

He's kind of cute, Karen thought.

He raised his hand to scratch his jaw, and Karen could make out a tattoo of an eight ball on the back of his wrist.

Karen thought she recognized him from school. His name was Vince Something-or-other. He had bumped into her once in the hallway, causing her to drop all her books. When he'd stooped to help her pick them up, he'd seemed very embarrassed. She remembered he hadn't said a word.

"How are you doing?" one of Vince's friends, a tall, dark-haired boy with a serious skin problem, asked, leering at the two girls. He took a deep drag from the cigarette between his lips, then tossed it onto the asphalt and stamped it out beneath the toe of his black boot.

"We were just leaving," Ann-Marie said, pulling Karen's arm.

"Hey, it's early," one of the boys said, moving to block their way.

"Yeah. We just got here," the dark-haired one said, staring hard at Ann-Marie.

Karen glanced at Vince, who hadn't said anything. He was standing back, a few feet from his buddies, his face expressionless.

"You guys better not go for a swim," Karen said. "You forgot your rubber ducky inner tubes."

They all laughed sarcastic, phony laughs, every-

U

one except Vince, who stood frozen, watching silently.

*We heard there was going to be a party," the dark-haired one said, looking Ann-Marie up and down. "Isn't that right, Vince?"

Vince shrugged in reply.

"Yeah. A beach party," one of the others said, nervously fiddling with the zipper of his denim jacket.

"Have fun, guys," Karen said, starting to walk past them.

"Hey, wait. You're invited."

"Yeah. In fact, you're the party," the tall one said, his voice filled with menace.

Karen caught Vince's eye. He quickly looked away. He swept a large hand back through his close-cropped hair, his face twisted in a frown.

He looks a httle like Sting, Karen thought.

"Isn't it past your bedtime, boys?" Karen asked. "You don't want your mommies to worry about you, do you?"

"You can tuck me in anytime," one of them said.

They all laughed and slapped each other high fives. This time, Vince got into the act, too.

"Come on — let's go," Ann-Marie whispered to Karen.

Karen nodded and tried to step past two of them who looked enough alike to be twin brothers, but they moved to block her path. **Which one do you want, Vince?" one of the twins called.

"He wants you,'' Karen cracked to the twin who had asked the question.

"I like the one with the mouth," Vince said softly.

'Which one do you like?" Karen asked Ann-Marie loudly, ignoring Vince.

"I — just want to go," Ann-Marie said, looking very scared.

"I like the one with the brain," Karen said. **Which one of you is using the brain tonight?"

This time, no one laughed.

"Hey, we're not bad guys," Vince said, staring into Karen's eyes. He took a couple of steps toward her, his hands in his jacket pockets.

"Not bad compared to whxitT Karen snapped.

He didn't smile. His dark eyes burned into hers.

The five boys formed a loose circle around Karen and Ann-Marie.

"Are you going to let us go?" Karen demanded.

No one replied.

Ann-Marie gripped Karen's arm. Her hand was freezing cold.

The circle tightened as the silent boys moved in on them.

Chapter 3

"Hey — what's going on?"

"Whoa!"

The circle opened wide as Vince and his buddies turned to see who was caUing out to them.

Two boys stood on the boardwalk, one carrying a skateboard. The other one, tall and powerfully built, wearing jeans and a dark-hooded sweatshirt, stepped forward, taking long, confident strides.

"Hey, you girls — I've been looking all over for you," he said, ignoring the five startled-looking boys.

"Huh?" Karen stared at the boy as he approached. I've never seen him before in my life, she thought.

"Yeah. We thought you were going to wait with the others," the other boy said in a hoarse, scratchy voice. He was wearing a white windbreaker, which flapped noisily in the wind.

"Sorry," Karen said, catching on quickly. ^We were looking for you." She glanced at Ann-Marie

to make sure her friend understood what was happening.

Ann-Marie looked frightened and totally confused. The wind off the ocean had blown her short, blonde hair straight back. She looked like a little girl, a frightened little girl.

"Well, come on. We're late," the tall boy said impatiently. He grabbed Karen's hand and began to pull her away. "You coming or not?"

Vince and his friends had watched this scene in startled silence. But now Vince moved quickly to block their way. "Hold it right there, buddy," he said in a low, menacing growl.

"My name's Jerry, not Buddy."

Vince smiled for some reason, a thin, slow smile that revealed the deep dimples in his cheeks. 'Well, Jerry," he said slowly, "where you going with our girlfriends?"

Vince's buddies all laughed at this and closed ranks behind the two girls.

We're caught in the middle, Karen thought. This could get pretty ugly.

"Girlfriends?" Jerry looked Vince up and down. His friend moved quickly to his side. "Hold on a minute, man," Jerry said. "You're talking about my sister." He motioned to Karen.

Vince sneered. "She's your sister?"

We do look a little aUke, Karen thought, looking closely at Jerry. He had straight, dark hair like hers, and light eyes, and a perfect, straight nose.

Vince took a step back.

Elaren took that as a good sign.

Jerry is bigger than Vince, she realized. Jerry probably works out. He has such powerful-looking arms, such a broad chest. His friend looked as if he was in pretty good shape, too.

"If she's your sister, I don't want her," Vince cracked, holding up his hands as if surrendering, and stepping back onto the sand.

"Yeah, she's contaminated!" one of Vince's buddies shouted.

"Don't touch her, Vince. You don't know where she's been!"

They all laughed, except for Vince, who seemed to be thinking hard.

He's backing down, Karen thought. He's going to let us go.

To her surprise, she felt a little disappointed. Not disappointed that a fight had been avoided, but disappointed that she had to leave Vince. She realized that she was attracted to him, the way she was always attracted to danger, to excitement, the way she often was driven to pursue things she knew might not be good for her.

Vince was staring into Karen's eyes. 'We didn't mean any harm," he said to her quietly. "Just messing around."

He gave Jerry a threatening look, then turned quickly and motioned for his friends to follow him. They walked off down the boardwalk quickly, laughing about something, slapping each other on the shoulders.

"That was close," Ann-Marie said, sighing. She looked pale in the dim light, but very relieved.

*Where'd you come from, anyway?" Karen asked Jerry.

"Marty left his skateboard over by the rec center this afternoon. We went back to look for it and saw you and your friends."

"They weren't exactly friendly," Ann-Marie said, looking down the dark boardwalk as if expecting Vince and his friends to return.

"No. They were too friendly," Karen corrected her. She turned to Jerry. "Listen, it was really nice of you to rescue us."

"Yeah, it was, wasn't it!" Marty said. "I sort of couldn't beheve it myself. It was Jerry's idea, really. He's into being macho."

"And what are you into?" Jerry asked Marty.

"I'm into running away!" Marty replied. His windbreaker flapped in the strong breeze. He grabbed at it, trying to pull it tighter, but it flapped out of his grasp. He had curly, brown hair over a round face, small, black eyes and round puffs of cheeks.

He looks like a squirrel, Karen thought. A fat little squirrel storing up nuts for winter. Jerry, on the other hand, was a great-looking guy. A little too straight, too preppy for her taste, maybe. But she might be able to make an exception this time — especially since he had rescued her from those toughs.

"It's kind of cold, don't you think?" Ann-Marie said, looking toward the houses across from the beach.

"Yeah. Let's get warmed up," Jerry said, rub-

bing his hands together. He looked at Karen. "You two have plans?"

"No," Karen answered quickly. "We were just going for a walk and — "

"Well, do you know RayJay's on Main Street? A bunch of us sort of hang out there. It's not a bad place — "

"We've got to get changed first,'* Ann-Marie said.

"Yeah. Right," Karen agreed. "We'll meet you there. RayJay's. I think I know where it is. On Main Street near Park?"

"Don't meet us. We'll walk you home and wait for you," Jerry said, giving her a warm smile.

"Okay. Sounds good," Karen said, returning his smile. "And it'll be our treat — since you were so brave."

"Well, you're pretty brave to be seen with us,'' Marty said in his hoarse, scratchy voice, and then laughed as if he'd made a truly hilarious joke.

RayJay's was a small, bustling coffee shop and pizza restaurant in the basement of a two-story house on Main Street between Park and Brooks. Karen found a parking place a few doors past the restaurant, parked the Mustang, and cut the engine.

"It's only a few blocks from the apartment," Ann-Marie protested. '*We could've walked."

Marty looked at her curiously from his position beside her in the backseat. "Walk? What's thati You're not from around here, are you!"

"Some people out here don't walk to the bathroom," Karen joked.

They climbed out of the car and looked up and down Main Street, which was crowded with people window-shopping, on their way to dinner, or to the many clubs and bars that lined the narrow street.

"Looks like Greenwich Village," Ann-Marie said. "Only everyone looks a lot healthier."

"Don't let looks fool you," Karen said. She hopped down the concrete stairs to the open entrance of RayJay's, the others following behind.

The restaurant was a long, low rectangle with two rows of red vinyl booths going straight back to a mirrored back wall. A rainbow-colored jukebox beside the bar against the near wall was playing a Willie Nelson record. Two waitresses scurried back and forth down the wide aisle. They wore long, red aprons over black T-shirts and red short shorts, and little red plastic baseball caps with RayJay's in black on the front.

The restaurant was smoky and hot, filled, for the most part, with loud, laughing young people. Karen spotted an empty booth about halfway to the back. She started to lead Ann-Marie and the two boys to it when they were stopped by an angry-looking girl in tight-fitting black slacks and a pale green Esprit sweater.

*WhereVe you been?" she asked Jerry, pushing past Karen.

"Oh, hi, Renee." Jerry looked at Karen, embarrassed.

Renee was about a foot shorter than Jerry. She

had a pretty, oval face with big, dark brown eyes, and piles of frizzy brown hair that she swept straight back and kept in place with a long, pearl-white hairband.

'Where were you?" she repeated. She had a high-pitched voice. Karen thought she sounded like a little mouse. "Stephanie and I have been waiting forever."

'Well..." Jerry's face grew bright crimson. He gestured to Karen and Ann-Marie.

Renee looked at them suspiciously. "Hi," she said, and quickly turned back to Jerry.

"We met Karen and Ann-Marie," Jerry said. "They were having trouble and — "

"They rescued us," Karen interrupted, jumping right in to help Jerry, who seemed to be very flustered.

"Rescued you from what? From boredom?" Renee snapped.

I don't think I like her, Karen thought.

"These boys were giving us a hard time on the beach." Ann-Marie stepped in. "Jerry and Marty got rid of them for us."

A girl with long blonde hair was waving frantically at them from the first booth near the bar. "Hi, Stephanie," Marty waved back.

"Come on," Jerry said, putting an arm around Renee's shoulders. "We can all squeeze into the booth. Then we'll tell you the whole story."

"It sounds fascinating," Renee said drily. But she allowed Jerry to guide her to the booth. Marty quickly squeezed in next to Stephanie, and Renee

and Jerry slid in on the other side. Karen and Ann-Marie were left to sit uncomfortably on the outside edge.

"Don't they have any bigger booths?" Karen complained.

"No. Guys usually only bring one date," Renee said pointedly, glaring at Jerry.

"This isn't a date," Karen said quickly. "Jerry said a whole bunch of kids hang out here and — "

"Oh, is that what Jerry said?" Renee snapped, her little mouse voice rising.

Karen glanced at Ann-Marie. She wondered if her friend felt as uncomfortable as she did. Jerry could have at least told us that he and Marty ah-eady had dates, she thought. From the looks of things, Jerry and Renee and Marty and Stephanie had been couples for quite a while.

**This is my treat," Karen announced, trying to remove some of the tension from around the table. "I promised I'd treat since Jerry and Marty were so brave."

"Them??" Both Renee and Stephanie cried in unison.

Everyone laughed.

Karen realized that Jerry was staring at her. He had the nicest smile on his face.

He looks a little hke Tom Cruise, Karen decided. She returned his smile, but cut it short when she saw that Renee was watching.

**We already had dinner," Renee said.

"Me, too. But I'm still hungry," Marty said, his arm carelessly around Stephanie's shoulder.

"I'm starving," Karen said, ignoring the dirty looks she was getting from Renee. "How's the pizza here?"

"It's round," Renee said helpfully.

"Sounds good," ICaren said. "Let's get a pizza."

"I just want an iced coffee or something," Renee said unhappily.

Jerry continued to smile at Karen. She began to worry that his face was frozen in that position. When he and Marty got up and went to the back of the restaurant to talk to some guys they knew, Karen actually felt a little relieved.

The four girls talked, awkwardly at first, but then more comfortably. Stephanie had a cousin who lived in New Jersey but worked in Manhattan, so she and Ann-Marie found something to talk about. Renee and Karen talked about what a weird place Venice was. Then Renee bragged about her parents' house in Bel Air and about all of the celebrities she'd met because her dad was "in the business."

Karen was grateful when the pizza finally arrived. It meant she could concentrate on eating instead of talking.

The boys returned when they saw the pizza. Karen drifted in and out of the conversation. Her mind wandered back a few hours, back to the deserted boardwalk. She found herself thinking about Vince, about how he tried to look so tough but how those deep dimples of his betrayed him. She tried to recreate the scared feeling she had had back on the dark beach, the creeping feehng of terror when the boys circled them and started to move in, like

vultures to their prey. It was scary but thrilling at the same time.

How far would those boys have gone? she wondered.

What would have happened if Jerry and Marty hadn't happened by?

". . . the best beach parties at Malibu," Jerry was saying when Karen's attention drifted back to the table. She looked up and realized that he was talking to her. "You'll have to come sometime," he said. "You, too," he added quickly, looking across the booth at Ann-Marie.

"Sounds like fun," Ann-Marie said, wiping pizza sauce off her chin with a napkin. **Where is this party beach?"

"It's a secret," Jerry told her. **We slide down these cliffs and onto the beach. It's really great. Especially at night."

"Malibu is so beautiful," Ann-Marie said.

"It's pretentious," Renee said, sighing. She didn't bother to amplify her opinion.

^TVIaybe we'll all go Friday night," Jerry said, doubling his enthusiasm in an attempt to cover for Renee's definite lack of it.

"Maybe," Karen said, grabbing another slice of pizza off the tray.

The rest of the evening went by quickly and pleasantly. Even Renee seemed to pick up and get into a better mood.

It was nearly midnight when they decided to call it a night. "I can drive everyone," Karen offered, stifling a yawn.

"No. I have my car," Renee said, waving a set of BMW keys under Karen*s nose.

As they slid out of the booth, Jerry leaned forward and whispered into Karen's ear, "You have great eyes."

She smiled and started to thank him for the compliment, but stopped when she saw Renee watching them from the restaurant doorway. "So does Renee," Karen said pointedly.

Jerry blushed and hurried back to Renee.

As they stepped out of the restaurant into a surprisingly cool evening for June, the street was still filled with people. On the comer an old man wearing a Dodgers cap over sunglasses was seated on an overturned trash can, playing a funky blues tune on a harmonica. Several couples were clustered outside an after-hours club across the street. Car horns honked. The street was still filled with traffic.

Karen had to pay the cashier, so she was the last one out of the restaurant. As she stepped up onto the sidewalk, she was surprised to find Renee waiting for her, the others having gone ahead.

"It's busier now than it was at eight," Karen said, looking down the street.

"Listen, Karen." Renee grabbed Karen's arm. Her hand was cold. Her fingers tightened around Karen's wrist imtil Karen felt like crying out. "Stay away from Jerry," Renee said in a flat, low tone, pressing her face close to Karen's, so close Karen could feel Renee's breath on the side of her face.

"I really mean it. Stay away from Jerry."

Then Renee let go, and hurried to join the others.

Chapter 4

"Just watch it, man."

"You watch it, man."

The two boys faced each other, their faces alive with anger. Suddenly they both groaned in recognition.

"Not you again!"

"You!"

"You following me or something?"

Vince kicked at the sand with a bony foot. Jerry moved his surfboard in front of him like a shield.

They tried to stare each other down, then Vince spoke first without changing his expression. "Hey — you bumped me, man."

"You're a hard guy. You can take it." The slight tremble in Jerry's voice indicated that his heart wasn't entirely in this fight.

"Maybe you should stick to a boogie board," Vince said, staring with distaste at Jerry's green Day-Glo baggies. Vince scratched his neck. Jerry could see the tattoo on the back of his wrist, a small, black eight ball. "Maybe you should go play with

your sistery" Vince said, sneering, balling his big hands into fists.

Vince kicked his own surfboard angrily. "There's a whole ocean out there, man. Why*d you have to bump me?"

"There's no surf anyway," Jerry muttered, feeling a little calmer. Vince obviously didn't want to fight, either. Jerry had never seen Vince without the other members of his gang around. Vince probably felt insecure on his own, Jerry figured. "The undertow is real strong, but there's no surf."

"You gonna give me a weather report, too?" Vince snapped. He kicked at the sand a little harder, sending a wet clump onto Jerry's surfboard.

Jerry took a step back. He stared past Vince, watching the low waves splash onto the shore. Out in the ocean, two white sailboats glided slowly by. He heard laughing voices behind him and turned to see two guys bombing down the boardwalk on uni-cycles, their arms waving above their heads.

"Just watch it, man. You've got two strikes against you now." Vince ran a hand back through his short, blond hair and shook his head, as if dismissing Jerry from his thoughts. He walked past Jerry, dragging his board behind him, heading to where his gang buddies were waiting on the edge of the beach near the boardwalk.

Two ^Is in tight, pink bicycle shorts and white midriff tops skateboarded along the blacktop, looking self-consciously sexy. Vince called out something to them as they passed. They laughed but didn't slow down.

Jerry watched them disappear around the curve of the boardwalk, then started back to the blanket. "Hey — what was that all about?" Renee called.

She sat up on the blanket, her skin pink from the sun. She was wearing a small gold bikini. Her frizzy brown hair was tied behind her head with a rubber band.

"So? What's with you and that punk?" she repeated, shielding her eyes with her hand.

"Oh, nothing," Jerry said, sliding beside her on the blanket. "Mmmmm. Coconut." He inhaled deeply. He loved the smell of coconut suntan lotion. "What number are you using, Renee? A hundred and thirty?"

"No. Eight." She didn't laugh at his joke. She never did.

He inhaled again, then licked her arm. "Mmmmmmm. I love coconut!"

She pulled away from him. "Don't get kinky, Jerry." She laughed, finally.

"Yucccch! It tastes terrible!" He pulled up the top of the cooler and pulled out a Coke.

"I didn't know you and Vince were friends," Renee said, lying back down, stretching out until she was comfortable. A large, high cloud rolled over the sun, covering the beach in sudden shadow.

"Vince? Is that his name? We're not friends. He and his gang were the ones who were giving Karen and Ann-Marie a hard time Monday night."

Renee frowned at the sound of Karen's name. "So why were you talking with him?"

"I accidentally bumped him with my board, and he got mad."

^Tou shouldn't bump him," Renee said, frowning up at the dark cloud. "He's bigger than you."

"Next time I'll bump someone small," Jerry said, sitting up straight, staring out at the water. "Anyway, he decided to let me live this time."

"That's lucky." The cloud rolled on, and the shadow moved down the beach. Renee pulled her sunglasses down from her forehead and over her eyes. "It's lucky the rest of his gang wasn't there. They'd eat you alive."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"They're bad dudes" Renee said, laughing for some reason. She had the strangest sense of humor. Jerry never could figure out what she would laugh at and what she wouldn't — or why.

Jerry sat silently for a while, looking around the beach, which was pretty empty considering what a nice day it was. Of course, some schools hadn't let out yet. It was only the second week of June. But still, Jerry thought, the beach and the boardwalk were pretty empty.

"The water's pretty warm for June," he said. "I saw some jellyfish. It's awfully early for jellyfish."

"I'm bored," Renee said, with an exaggerated yawn.

Oh, no. Here we go again, he thought.

This was the way their arguments had been starting lately, with Renee saying she was bored. Bored with what? She usually couldn't say. Jerry began

to realize that she most likely was bored with him but was just afraid to come right out and say it.

Was he bored with her? Maybe. He couldn't really decide. He knew he'd been thinking about Karen an awful lot since Monday night. In fact, he'd been thinking about Karen nonstop.

**What do you mean you're bored?" he said, sighing.

"Bored. B-o-r-e-d. Do I have to spell it for you?"

"You just did."

"Being sarcastic doesn't help, Jerry. Being sarcastic is really boring."

"Look, Renee, I really don't want to start with you. Sunmier has just started. We're here on the beach, and — "

"But it's boring for me to lie here while you're off surfing all afternoon."

"I wasn't" He slapped the blanket angrily. She could get him exasperated so quickly these days. "I wasn't surfing. There's no surf. I was just testing the water a bit."

"You were just bouncing into that creep, trying to get yourself killed."

"That's not funny."

"I didn't mean it to be. What am I supposed to do all summer while you're running from Catalina to Malibu with your surfboard? Sit and watch?"

"I thought you were working on your tan, Renee." He knew that was pretty lame the instant he said it. Why did he always say the first thing that popped into his head? It was such a bad habit.

"Oh, that's real stimulating. Working on my tan."

"Well, you brought your wet suit and that new snorkeling gear. Why don't you try it out?"

She sat up and made a face. "Fm too bored."

"You're always bored lately," Jerry said, challenging her to say what was really on her mind, knowing that he was venturing out into dangerous waters, but annoyed enough not to care.

"Yeah. So? I want a little excitement this sum-

mer."

"That's why I think you should try surfing."

"That's not the kind of excitement I had in mind." She flashed him a devihsh grin, but remembering she was angry, quickly turned it off.

He picked up the suntan lotion, squirted a white blob of it into his palm, reached over, and started to rub it onto her shoulders. Her pink skin felt soft and tender, like a baby's skin. "I wouldn't mind a little excitement, either," he said softly, leaning over to breathe into her ear.

She quickly rolled away from him. "Don't be a pig."

"Hey — " He reached for her, disappointed, insulted. "You didn't think I was a pig the other night in the back of Marty's van."

She angrily picked up the bottle of suntan lotion and heaved it at him. "Don't talk about it like that! You really are a pig!"

She started to gather her things together and throw them into her yellow-and-white-striped Giorgio beach bag. "I don't know what your problem is, Jerry. I saw the way you looked at that girl Karen at RayJay's Monday night. And I saw you staring

at those two girls on skateboards just now."

"What are you talking about?"

"You were panting, and your tongue was practically down to your knees."

*What do you care?" Jerry snapped. "You just said you were so bored with me."

She grabbed his arm. It wasn't a friendly touch. She was trying to hurt him. "I just said I was bored," she said, pronouncing each word slowly and distinctly. "I didn't say I was bored with you" When she let go, his arm was red. "Don't get any funny ideas, Jerry."

He rubbed his arm. "You hurt me."

"I'll do worse than that if I catch you staring at another girl like that."

Her words gave him a sudden chill.

Then she laughed and gave him a playful shove. "Hey — lighten up," she said, shoving him again.

"Renee, listen. Maybe you and I should talk."

"Talk? What about?" She glared at him suspiciously.

*Well, it's just that — "

He was interrupted by a girl's voice calling from several yards down the beach.

"Jerry — hi!"

"Oh, great," Renee muttered sarcastically.

Jerry had quite a different reaction. "Hey!" he called, jumping to his feet and waving.

It was Karen and Ann-Marie.

SA

Chapter 5

"Maybe we shouldn't go over there," Ann-Marie said, trying to hold her friend back.

"Oh, why not?" Karen replied in typical fashion, and strode quickly across the sand, her wet suit under her arm.

Ann-Marie, carrying the heavy beach bag, struggled to catch up. "Maybe they want to be alone," she argued.

But it was too late. Karen was already calling to Jerry, and Jerry had jumped up and was calling back. As Karen and Jerry greeted each other, Ann-Marie caught the look on Renee's face. It was not a happy one.

"Have you been in the water?" Jerry asked them eagerly, as K^en dumped her wet suit on the sand next to Jerry's blanket.

"Just for a httle while," Karen told him.

"The water's so warm," Jerry said.

"Warm? I didn't think so!" Ann-Marie cried. "I was frozen."

"That's because you don't have a wet suit," Karen

said. 'We've got to get you one today."

"Oh, right. Just what I need," Ann-Marie laughed. "I'll get a lot of wear out of it. It'll look really great on Madison Avenue!"

So far, Renee hadn't said a word. She was lying on her back, her eyes closed under her sunglasses. Karen looked down at her, wondering where she got the gold bathing suit, and remembered the threat Renee had made to her outside the restaurant on Main Street.

Such a strange thing to do. Karen couldn't imagine why Renee would threaten a total stranger. It was almost unreal, like something out of a TV soap. Was she so insecure about hanging onto Jerry?

Maybe Renee should be insecure, Karen thought. Karen had been thinking about Jerry ever since Monday night. She couldn't believe her good luck when she spotted him on the beach just now.

Yes, maybe Renee should be insecure, Karen thought. Jerry just might be worth fighting for. And Karen was never one to back away from a fight.

"Hey — whose snorkeling gear is that?" Karen asked, seeing the mask and fins on the blanket and hoping they were Jerry's.

"Mine," Renee said, without opening her eyes.

"Do you snorkel? I've always wanted to try," Karen said enthusiastically.

Renee suddenly sat up and looked at her. "Really? You've never tried it?"

"No. Never," Karen told her. "May I?" She walked over and picked up the mask to examine it.

"My parents are taking me to Cozumel in a few

weeks," Renee said. "They scuba, but my ears aren't good for it. So I just snorkel. They brought me this new gear, and I brought it down here to try out, but — "

"You can't see anything in this water!" Jerry exclaimed, standing very close to Karen, pretending to examine the mask along with her. "It's so polluted."

*Well, there's a sandbar over by those rocks out there," Renee said pointing. "The water isn't too chopped up there because of the sandbar. You can probably see a little."

"Oh, I'd love to try it!" Karen cried, fitting the mask over her face and fiddling with the snorkel. "Do you think you could teach me sometime?"

"How about right now?" Renee asked, surprising everyone by springing to her feet. "You've got a wet suit, too, right?"

"Yes, but I don't have a mask or fins or a snorkel," Karen said.

Ann-Marie looked at Karen as if she were crazy, as if to say, 'Why are you being so friendly with Renee? Isn't it obvious that Renee hates your guts?"

But Karen seldom thought that way. She always plunged right into an activity no matter who or what was involved. If she wanted to try snorkeling, she would try snorkeling.

"Jerry brought some gear — a snorkel and mask," Renee said. She turned to Jerry, who was still standing very close to Karen. "Let her try on your fins."

"I don't think they'll fit," Jerry said, obediently walking around the blanket to get them.

"Karen has really big feet," Renee said. "They'll probably be okay."

That was an obvious dig, but Karen let it pass. She was too excited to be offended by a crack about her feet. Her feet were pretty big, anyway, she realized.

She sat down on the blanket and let Jerry help her into the black rubber fins. "Stand up," Renee said. "How do they feel?"

"I think they'll stay on," Karen said, unsteady on the sand in the big flippers, which were heavier than she'd imagined.

"Okay. Let's get into our wet suits and go down to the water," Renee said.

"This is so exciting!" Karen exclaimed, ignoring Ann-Marie's doubtful looks.

"You're going over by the rocks?" Jerry asked Renee, sounding concerned.

"Yeah. It's the only place we might see a fish or two. Don't worry. We'll be careful."

"What do you mean?" Karen asked.

**Well, the current is funny over there," Renee said, pulling on her wet suit. "It's very calm because of the sandbar. But once you get close to the rocks, the current swirls around and gets pretty powerful. If you're not careful, it can push you into the rocks and make it really hard to get back."

Karen looked out at the blue-green water. She found the line of tall, brown rocks Renee was talking

about. They jutted out into the ocean like a natural jetty.

"Maybe you shouldn't go out there," Jerry said. Karen finished zipping the wet suit and turned around to look at him. His face was filled with concern. His eyes darted nervously out to the water.

Renee put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll be okay. Really." She was talking to him softly, soothingly. "You and Ann-Marie can watch us from here. It'll be okay."

That's odd, Karen thought. Jerry seems like such an easy-going, relaxed kind of guy. Why did he get so uptight all of a sudden?

"Come on, let's go," Renee said, motioning to Karen to follow her. They walked down toward the water, carrying their masks and fins. The beach was a little more crowded, Karen noticed, sunbathers taking advantage of the really beautiful afternoon. But there was no one in the water.

**Where are all the swimmers?" she asked, catching up to Renee.

"People don't swim here that much," Renee said. "They come for the freak show on the boardwalk or just to chill out and catch some rays."

They sat down at the edge of the water and pulled on their fins. "So the breathing part isn't hard?" Karen asked.

"No. It just takes a httle getting used to," Renee said. "I'll show you. Here. Step into the water." She turned around and started to back in. "That's right. Turn around. It's a lot easier to walk back-

up

wards in fins when you're stepping in and out of the water."

Karen followed Renee in. She backed up until the lapping waves were a little above her knees. "The waves are breaking in close today," she said.

"Let's swim out past them," Renee suggested. "I think we can still stand out there."

They swam out a few yards to calm, rolling water.

"Now for the mask," Renee said, holding hers in front of her. "Spit into it."

"What?" Karen wasn't sure she'd heard right.

"Spit into it. On the glass. And rub it around with your fingers. It keeps the glass from fogging

up.'\par Ksiren obediently spit into the mask and rubbed it around as instructed. "You're a good teacher," she told Renee.

Renee ignored the compliment. "Slip the mask on like this." She pulled it carefully over her hair and slid it into place.

Karen watched her adjust the air hose. Then she did the same. Renee showed her how to bite down on the mouthpiece, and how to clear the hose by blowing really hard if water got inside. "Got it?"

"I think so," Karen said, eager to try it out.

"The important thing is to breathe slowly, normally," Renee said. "If you have trouble, if the mask gets water in it or the snorkel slips out or something, just raise your head out of the water and breathe. It's simple."

"Great. Let's go," Karen said.

Jl^O

"And if you have any problem at all, I'll be there," Renee said. "I'll be right with you the whole time.'* She gave Karen a reassuring smile.

She's not so bad, Karen thought. Maybe she was just nervous Monday night or something. She's actually really nice.

"Ready?" Renee asked, pushing the mouthpiece between her teeth.

"Ready," Karen said.

"Okay. Remember to kick your whole leg," Renee instructed. "Don't bend your knees. And keep your hands down at your sides."

"Got it," Karen said. This might be a little more complicated than she had thought. Oh, well, too late to back down now. Besides, this was exciting. There was nothing Karen liked better than trying something new for the very first time.

The mask was in place. The straps were tight against her head. She adjusted the mouthpiece and blew hard to clear the hose.

Here goes, she thought.

She watched Renee raise her legs, lower her head, and spread out over the water, and she copied her, breathing hard and fast as she first started to float, then remembering to slow down and breathe normally.

The water was dark and cloudy. She could barely see two feet in front of her.

She raised her head out of the water and was surprised to see that Renee had gotten several yards ahead of her. Her head down, Renee was floating quickly over the rolling water, her legs scis-

soring rhythmically, swimming straight toward the line of tall brown rocks.

Karen lowered her head again, still breathing rapidly and hard, largely from the excitement of this new experience. She kicked faster, the fins pushing her forward, her arms to her sides. She didn't want Renee to get too far ahead.

The water was a little clearer now. To her delight, Karen saw dozens of small, silver-gray fish, minnows probably. Dark tangles of seaweed bobbed and floated just beneath the surface.

Her breathing slowed. She began to get the rhythm, to feel calm and comfortable.

It was so quiet, so peaceful, so hypnotic. She began to see other fish. A large white fish with yellow markings swam right past her mask.

This is amazing, she thought. Why didn't I ever try this before? In clear water, it must be breathtaking, like descending on another world.

She floated along for a while. The water became cloudy again, green like pea soup. Water tickled her face. She realized the mask was leaking.

She pulled her head out of the water and lowered her legs, allowing the current to take her. Pulling down the mask, she emptied it, then looked for Renee.

Where was she?

Karen had a momentary shock of panic until she realized that she was no longer facing the rocks. She was facing the beach. She must have gotten turned around while watching the fish. With her

face in the water, it was so hard to keep track of where she was going.

She spun herself around and was reheved to see Renee just a few yards ahead of her, floating slowly now, her head down, her legs moving smoothly, rhythmically.

She*s getting awfully close to the rocks, Karen thought. But I guess she knows what she*s doing.

Karen looked back to the shore. They had swum out pretty far. The sunbathers were small dots of color on the yellow strip of beach. Beyond the beach, the boardwalk was just a blur. She wondered if Jerry and Ann-Marie were watching.

Eager to see more, she pulled the mask back up, adjusted the mouthpiece, and ducked her face in once again. She moved toward Renee, and the water cleared as she floated, revealing more and more of its colorful, silent inhabitants.

Renee was right, Karen thought. You can see better here. The water isn*t thick and churned up.

A bright blue fish swam up to her, seemed to stare into her mask, then sped away. What an amazing color, she thought. You never see that shade of blue out of the water.

The water felt warmer now. She moved forward, the only sound the steady whoosh of her breath through the hose.

Suddenly she felt a jolt, as if she were being pushed.

She ignored it, but another one followed, a little harder, propelling her forward.

JI^S

She raised her head out of the water. To her shock, a large rock loomed right in front of her. A wall of smooth, brown rocks jutted before her. She spit out the mouthpiece and turned to find Renee.

"Hey!"

The current was surprisingly strong. It was pushing her, forcing her toward the rocks.

I've gone too far, she thought.

I'm too close.

Where's Renee?

She turned and started to swim away from the rocks. But she was lifted high, as if riding on a wave, and thrown crashing back.

Frightened, she tore off the mask, letting it hang around her neck, and tried swimming again.

But again the current pushed her back.

"Hey! Ouch!"

She was slammed into the side of the rock. Her shoulder hit hard. She bounced off, the pain running down her arm.

I've got to get away from here. I've got to swim, got to move!

"Renee!" she shouted.

Another thrust of the powerful current sent her slamming against the rock again.

"Hey!"

A jagged shard of rock tore through her wet suit. Water poured in, so cold, such a shock.

She was really frightened now.

Where was Renee?

There. She saw her. Renee was only a few yards away, back from the rocks, back from the treach-

erous current. She was floating tranquilly, her face in the water, the snorkel standing straight up.

"Renee! Help!"

Renee kept floating, her legs kicking slowly.

"Ouch!" Karen slammed hard into the rock.

"Renee — please!"

I know Renee can hear me, Karen thought. She^s only a dozen yards away. How can she not hear me? How can she not see me?

"Renee! Help me!"

The freezing water filled her suit, weighing her down. Karen struggled to swim. But her shoulder ached. She couldn't make any headway against the powerful, swirling current.

"Renee -— can't you hear me?! Renee!"

She watched Renee paddle along, not lifting her head.

She's ignoring me.

"Renee!" Karen screamed as the current battered her, shoved her against the jutting rocks.

Renee didn't react, didn't look up, didn't turn around.

She did this to me. Deliberately.

She led me out here. She led me to the rocks.

She can hear me. She has to be hearing me.

She's deliberately ignoring me.

"Ouch!" Karen couldn't help but cry out as she hit hard against solid rock again.

I'

Date: 2015-04-20; view: 734