“He is so freaking smooth,” remarks Cabel. “He knows tomorrow is
Valentine’s Day, and there’s not only a big basketball game, but also the pep rally after school and the Valentine’s dance from seven to ten.
He’s not expecting you to make it then.” Cabel thinks for a moment.
“When you write him back, call him Dave. He’s begging for it.”
With that, Cabel walks away.
Janie purses her lips, and hits Reply.
Dave, How’s Wednesday around 8? I know right where you live. Thanks!
J.
She hits Send, and waits less than a minute before she has a reply.
Looking forward to it.
Dave
Janie shuts down the computer and finds Cabel in the living room, watching some old western on the movie channel. She slides in next to him.
“I’m going to his house Wednesday at eight,” she says. “Will you spot me?”
He snakes his arm around her neck and tugs gently. “Of course,” he says. “I’m going to alert Captain to it, too.”
“’Kay,” Janie says, snuggling close.
After a while of watching TV, the volume on too low to actually hear the story line, Cabe says, “I wish we could go out tomorrow night. I’m so tired of this routine, hiding out all the time. Our biggest excitement is lifting weights or deciding between green beans and broccoli.”
Janie sighs. “Me too. Do you think we’ll ever be able to go out on a date?”
“Yeah. Maybe this summer. For sure in the fall. Once we rid ourselves of the web of lies we leave behind at Fieldridge High.”
It’s a sober moment.
Janie nods.
Rests her head on his shoulder.
He tousles her hair.
“Hey Cabe?” she asks as they climb into bed.
“Yeah, baby?”
“Do you mind if I practice on your dreams tonight?”
“Of course not. You don’t have to ask me.”
“I feel weird about not asking you if I’m planning it in advance,” she says.
“It’s cool. You working on something in particular?”
“Yeah…I’m trying to TiVo.”
He laughs. “What, you mean pause, rewind—that sort of thing?”
“Exactly.”
“That’ll be interesting. I hope you pull it off. You don’t want to take me with you, do you?”
“Not this time. I need all the concentration I can muster. Once I get it, I’ll gladly show you, though.”
He turns off the light and lets his arm rest around her midsection. He strokes her belly with his thumb, like he’s strumming guitar. “You know,” he says, “you could really have fun with a good dream once you learn how to do that.”
“Guess why I want to practice on you,” she says with a smile in the darkness.
“Be careful or you might go to school tomorrow flushed with sex.”
She chuckles softly. “All part of the plan, babycakes.”
“Well, that oughta turn Durbin on.” Cabel’s voice turns bitter.
Janie turns toward Cabel. “Have you figured out yet why nobody narcs on Durbin?”
“I think so,” Cabel says. “It’s because he’s only a few years older and good-looking and athletic, and he really acts as if he likes the sciencetype kids. He accepts their geek minds and praises them for it. He’s the epitome of a cool, popular kid, whose groupies have never been popular in their lives. They lap it up.”
Janie clears her throat.
Waits.
Clears it again.
“I—I mean,” stutters Cabel, “ah, I mean, some of them are like that, and some, you know, some others, like you, for example, see right through the facade and…uh…shit like that.”
“Mmm hmm,” Janie says.
“And…I love you so much? And now I’m going to shut up and go to sleep, so you can manipulate my mind in a dozen ways and more?”
“Weak,” she says. “But it’ll do.”
Cabel dreams.
Janie slides into the darkness, and then into the computer room.