If the arrangement hadn’t already been made with Gregg, Summer decided, she would have just gone to Regina’s party alone. So what if Ann gloated. Ann was Ann, and the sooner Summer recognized that fact, the better. But Gregg had already broken his date with Amy to go with her, so Summer would have to go through this one last deception. Tonight would be the last time she would trap herself. No more lies!
When she finished with her bath, she felt just as clean on the inside as she did on the outside, for she had resolved to be herself. All those silly deceptions—they were just walls she had built so that people couldn’t get a glimpse of the real her. If she acted like someone else or told stories about herself that weren’t true, then the rejections could always be excused. “Guess I am growing wise in my old age,” she told Michael. He was sitting on her bed, scratching, while Summer blew her hair dry.
“You look pretty,” Michael praised.
“Thank you, Michael,” she replied. She twirled in front of the mirror and smiled.
Chapter 17
She was combing her hair again when her grandfather’s voice called. “Summer? Your escort is here.”
Gregg looked a little embarrassed. He wasn’t even dressed up. Just wearing a pair of clean jeans and an Ohio University sweatshirt, but his hair was combed. That ought to count for something, she concluded.
“I hate to ask,” Gregg said immediately, “but do you have the ten dollars?”
“Better,” Summer replied. “I’ve got the entire amount.”
“That’s great,” Gregg said. “And that entitles you to the full treatment.”
“What does that mean?”
“I won’t leave your side. I promise. Look Summer, I’m kind of…Well, I’m a little embarrassed to take your money.”
“In that case…” She reached to take back the money, but Gregg quickly snatched his hand away.
“Not that embarrassed,” he qualified. “But don’t worry. You’ll get your money’s worth, kid.”
The one bright spot in an otherwise horrible evening was Regina. It was, without a doubt, her finest hour! She was absolutely gorgeous. The boys were divided into two camps. Ann had her following, and Regina was surrounded by the others. Best of all, several of the faithful-to-Ann boys deserted her in favor of Regina’s ready smile.
Summer was proud of herself. She wasn’t jealous at all. Her friendship overruled such a reaction—Regina deserved to be the belle of the ball, as her grandfather would say. And she really did look beautiful. The most amazing thing was that her tall friend was standing straight. Her slouching seemed to be a thing of the past.
Summer stayed as far away from David and Ann as she could. It would be difficult to keep the pain of David’s abandonment from showing in her eyes. At one point, Ann was on her way toward Summer when Regina “accidentally” nudged Carl Benson into the pool. The timing was superb, and Ann forgot all about Summer.
Regina had her little streak of revenge. Summer had no doubt that the little push was her way of getting even for Carl’s past deception.
“Shame on you, Regina,” Summer said with a sparkle in her eyes. “That wasn’t very nice.”
“But it was an accident,” she replied. “A splendid accident.” Both girls giggled hysterically.
“Remember who you’re talking to, Regina. And I have a new rule, one you should adopt. No more lies. No matter how insignificant.”
“You’re kidding?” Regina seemed astonished.
“No, I mean it. From now on I tell the truth.”
“Won’t that be boring?”
“Boring? Telling the truth will be refreshing. Lies get too confusing.”
“Bet you can’t do it,” Regina challenged.
“Bet you can’t,” Summer responded.
“Oh, yeah? I can do anything you can do.”
“Starting when?”
“Right now. By the way,” Regina said, “David was looking for you a few minutes ago. He doesn’t seem all that interested in Ann.”
“I don’t know how you can say that. She’s always hanging on him.”
“Exactly my point. Have you ever seen David hanging on her?”
“You’re just being technical, Regina. He must like it, or he wouldn’t keep going out with her.”
“Maybe she’s always asking him. Ever think of that angle?”
“No way. You’re just grasping at straws,” Summer said pessimistically.
“Here comes Luke. Doesn’t he look fantastic?” Regina sighed.
“Yes, he does,” Summer replied. “I’ll fade into the crowd so you can be alone with him for a few minutes.”
“David really did ask me about you,” Regina called softly. “Go and see what he wants.”
Telling David that Regina had said he wanted to see her would be a good excuse to talk to him, Summer decided. She thought she saw Ann go into the house, alone, so she hurried to find David. She would talk to him about the race, and then her grandfather’s latest project and what he was going to do with his bingo money. She felt very confident.
When she spotted David, the confidence, like a balloon, burst. He wasn’t alone. Ann was with him, her arms wrapped around his neck—and they were kissing!
Summer turned and started back toward the crowd. But she couldn’t help taking one more peek, and her gaze clashed with David’s. Did time stop? They glanced at each other for the barest of seconds, yet it seemed an eternity. Did he see the hurt in her eyes? Summer hoped not.
Marching back toward the group, she muttered to herself, “A lost cause.”
Waterlogged Carl Benson heard her. “You lost something?” he asked.
“No.” For a fleeting second she considered pushing Carl back into the pool, but quickly squelched that uncharitable thought. “Want to dance?” she asked, feeling sorry for the dripping mass in front of her.
“Sure, if you don’t mind getting a little wet,” Carl replied.
They danced to a slow song, one of Summer’s favorites, but the melody was ruined by the persistent squish of Carl’s soggy shoes.
“May I cut in?” The formal request came from behind, and Summer turned.
David didn’t wait for an answer from Carl. He just took hold of Summer’s hand and pulled her into his arms.
The music took on a whole new feeling. She tried to remain stiff and formal in David’s arms, but she wanted to just melt against him and put her head on his shoulder. The picture of David and Ann kissing kept her from making a fool of herself.
“Where’s Ann? Repairing her lipstick?” Summer asked.
“It was just a little kiss.…”
“Could have fooled me. I thought she had fainted and you were giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.”
“It wasn’t like that,” he said. “She was kissing me, and I was just being…passive.”
“If that was passive, you must be a crazed maniac when you actively kiss someone.”
“Well, I kissed you. Was I a maniac?”
“No,” she muttered. “But you shouldn’t bring that up. It’s old business.”
“No, it isn’t, unless you’re really serious about Gregg.”
The music ended before Summer could answer him.
Carl joined them. “Are you guys all set for next Saturday?”
“Next Saturday?” she asked, puzzled.
“The race, Summer,” David explained.
“Oh, yes, the race,” she mumbled. “I don’t know if I’m all set or not.”
“You’re set,” Luke said, coming to stand beside her. “David, have you ever run with Summer?”
“No.”
“Well, she’s really something. I think she has a real chance to win.”
“I don’t know. David, I’ve never run in a race before, and I don’t know what to expect. I’m a little nervous,” she said with complete, utterly refreshing honesty.
“Why are you so nervous about the race?” David whispered when Luke was talking to Carl.
“I just don
’t know how fast everyone else is going to be. I might be left at the starting line. That would be embarrassing.”
“Run with me! I think I’m a pretty good judge, and I’ve been in several races.”
“I’d like that,” she replied.
“How about tomorrow?” David asked. “I could pick you up or meet you at the park.” He sounded shy. Was he unsure of her answer? Impossible, she told herself.
“Why don’t you pick me up around eight. Okay?”
“Great,” David said.
Summer hoped that the “great” was because he wanted to be with her, but that idea was stopped with his next sentence.
“How about asking your grandfather to come along. I’ve got a stopwatch, and if he wouldn’t mind, he could pace us.”
“Pace us?”
“You know, sit on a bench at the starting point and time us, help us with our pace.”
“I still don’t understand,” she said. “How can he help us with our pace?”
“By figuring out when we need to push, when to put the spurt on,” he explained patiently.
“I don’t think I have a spurt. I just run.”
“You keep the pace the entire time?” He was genuinely surprised. “Everyone knows how to pace themselves, when to put the push on.”
“I don’t,” she said, grinning. “David, I’ve made a pact with myself. I’m never telling another lie, no matter what.”
“Why did you lie to me about running?” he asked.
She took a deep breath and then plunged in. “I was jealous of Ann. She was hanging all over you and I wanted to impress you.”
David seemed shocked but also happy with her admission. He opened his mouth to say something and then closed it. This telling the truth business wasn’t all that bad.
“The funny thing is that I hated running at first, and now I can’t seem to get through a day unless I put in six to eight miles,” she told him.
“It gets in your blood.” He understood, but then, he was a runner, too.
“There you are, David.” Ann ran and stood next to him.
Summer sighed.
“Did you need something, Ann?” David asked.
“You promised me this dance,” Ann said with a forced pout.
She must practice before a mirror, Summer thought. Ann glared at Summer, and she wondered if Ann could read her mind. Mount Olympus just might be trembling, and if it was, Ann would soon be toppled from her position. Regina had started the tremors in her competitive bid to match Ann, and Summer was going to do the same.
“A promise is a promise,” Summer said to David. “Thank you for the dance,” she added before slowly walking away.
Gregg found Summer and told her they were supposed to dance. “Orders from the boss.”
“Regina?” Summer asked.
“Who else. She told me I should kiss you when David’s looking, but that will cost you an extra ten.”
“Thanks anyway,” she said. “Don’t drool over me anymore. Just one dance and you can split.”
“How will you get home?” Gregg looked like a man who had just received a stay of execution.
“Maybe Luke or Carl will give me a ride.”
“No, I better drive you home. Otherwise you might want some of your money back.”
“Always the gentleman,” she replied. “I don’t want to dance. Come on,” she said linking her arm through his in a sisterly fashion, “let’s go inside. I’ll watch you eat for a while.”
Summer witnessed Gregg devour three huge slices of pizza before the party ended. She helped Regina clean up while she listened to her friend tell her all about Luke. When Regina finally wound down, Summer told her about her talk with David.
“So you have a date tomorrow, then?” Regina asked.
“Not a date, Regina,” she corrected. “And Grandpa is coming along. Besides, Ann told Carl that she and David were going together.”
“I don’t believe it.” Regina snorted. “That’s all in her mind. She’s feeling threatened…just like we’ve felt in the past because of her.”
“I don’t think she was making it up. I saw David kissing her earlier. Regina, I just have to accept the fact that David doesn’t care for me other than as a friend. That’s why he’s going to run with me tomorrow. He’s just a nice person.”
“I think you’re wrong. Oh, David is nice enough. But I think he really cares about you.”
“You’re just saying that because you have to. It goes with being my friend.”
“If you feel it’s all a lost cause, then why are you running in the race?”
“Two reasons,” Summer explained. “One, because I want to win. I love running. I know you can’t understand that, but I do love the challenge.”
“And the second reason?”
“Because of Ann. She still thinks I’ll back out before the race. Guess I want to show her.”
“Did Luke tell you what she said?”
“No, what?”
“He said that Ann told Carl and some other kids that you haven’t done any running at all and that she just knew you would find an excuse on the day of the race not to show up.”
“Did Luke tell her he’s seen me running almost every day?”
“No, he was too surprised by what she was saying. And then, he said, he decided to let her find out for herself how good you are. Those were his exact words.” Regina glowed, her infatuation with Luke obvious.
“Nothing will keep me from showing up.”
“That’s the spirit.”
“Except…”
“Don’t say it. Don’t even think it…”
“What?” Gregg asked from the doorway.
“Chicken pox,” both girls replied at the same time.
Chapter 18
Excitement, rather than the alarm clock, woke Summer the next morning. Soon she would be seeing David, and even if it was only because of friendship on his part, she was thrilled just the same.
Michael threw another tantrum when he was informed that he couldn’t go to the park, but his mother held fast.
Summer wore a pair of white shorts and a new navy-blue tank top. She didn’t have a matching cap, so she settled on a bright red one. “I look like the flag,” she told her mother.
David looked great, too. He had on a pair of gray running shorts and a black top. The colors looked good against his tanned skin, and if Summer had been a bold person, she would have complimented him on his good-looking legs.
Grandpa fiddled with the stopwatch David insisted he use, until he felt confident with the dials.
Summer climbed into the backseat of David’s car so Grandpa could sit in the front, and listened while David explained pacing to him.
When Grandpa was settled on the bench next to the entrance of the park and David and Summer were ready to start, she turned to David and squared her shoulders.
“I’m not into lies anymore,” she said, “so get this good and clear. I’m going to do my best to beat you. I’m not going to hold back because I’m a girl and you’re a boy. If you have a problem with that, tell me now.” Her hands were settled on her hips during her lecture, and she waited impatiently for his answer.
David started laughing. “I was going to tell you how I’ve been running a lot longer than you have and not to be too upset when I beat you. Think you’re that good, huh?”
“Yes,” Summer answered.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah! Winner throws the loser in the pool?”
“You got it,” David said, grinning. “And the loser can take her running shoes off before she gets all wet, okay?”
“We’ll see,” she said, turning back to Grandpa. “Guess we’re ready when you are, Grandpa.”
Grandpa yelled, “Go,” and both David and Summer took off in a flash of speed. She stayed right beside him until they had gone four miles. David’s pace began to slacken then, and she flashed him a smile as she sailed in front of him. She could hear him behind her until that last mile
began, and then suddenly she saw him gain on her out of the corner of her eye. She increased her speed accordingly, matching him stride for stride, until Grandpa’s form came into sight. Then David really put a spurt on, and she understood in that instant what pacing was all about. She pulled from her hidden reserve all the extra energy she could muster, winning by several yards.
“Did you hold back, or did I win fair and square?” she asked David when she could get her breath.
“No, you really did keep me pushing,” he answered. “I tried to save a little something for that last mile, but I guess you saved a little more. Race you to the pool?”
“You’re on,” she answered, charging ahead of him.
When he caught up with her at the edge of the pool, he was panting for breath. His hands were on his hips, and his body was covered with a film of perspiration, proving that he had run as fast and as hard as he could.
She watched as he kicked off his shoes. He walked to the deep end of the pool and positioned himself on the edge facing her. His arms were folded across his chest and he had a silly expression on his face.
Summer slipped off her own shoes, intent on getting just her feet wet in the shallow end of the pool. Then she nonchalantly strolled up to stand directly in front of David. “Ah, poor David,” she teased. “The agony of defeat,” she said, placing her index finger on his chest. She was savoring her victory and gloating, all at the same time. Still, she did notice a wicked gleam in his eyes, but before she could figure out just what he was thinking, he grabbed hold of her shoulders and pulled her toward him.
She squealed when he lost his balance, and she just had time to close her mouth and take a deep breath before they both hit the water. She came up sputtering. Talk about sore losers! She would certainly tell him a thing or two—when he quit laughing, that is.