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I looked at Wade, expecting him to get over his surprise and be happy for me, but he looked darkly pensive and troubled instead.

"What's all this?" he asked, nodding at the clothing on the bed.

"We have to get her winter wardrobe started," Ami replied, as if it were obvious.

He nodded.

"I'm happy for you, Celeste," he said. "Just be careful."

"Careful?" Ami challenged.

"Driving the car," he explained, nodded, and left us.

"Told you that man is a worrywart," Ami said, waving him off. "Don't let him ruin this wonderful day for you."

Despite the look on Wade's face and the tone in his voice, I didn't lose my elation and buoyancy. Ami's flighty, carefree manner carried over to me. Actually, I relished it. I wanted to ignore the dark faces, the looks I got from Mrs. Cukor, the

unhappiness and sourness in Mrs. McAlister's visage, and the stoic intensity and foreboding in Wade's demeanor even at dinner. Ami and I continued to laugh and giggle. I let her woo me with her plans for our trips. We were going to drive to New York City to see the Christmas decorations this year, and it would be up to us to plan a vacation trip during the holidays. She warned Wade not to come up with any business reasons for delays or postponements. I was so excited that evening, I knew I would have trouble sleeping. Later, I called Trevor and told him my good news.

"He really gave you the car? I can't believe it," he said.

"Neither can I."

"But it's great. How about taking me home from school tomorrow?"

"Sure," I said quickly.

I described some of the plans Arai was making for us and told him about my new clothes. I'd never rattled on so over a telephone. Of course, I'd never had anyone like Trevor to speak to on a phone before either. We began to make plans for the future as well, talked about upcoming school events, parties, and trips we might make together.

"For a while," I said, sobering a bit, "we have to be discreet. I still have to work on Ami and convince her you're not Jack the Raper."

He laughed.

"What if I am?"

"I don't care," I said recklessly, and we laughed again. I was in that kind of mood, and I didn't want it to end. It was a natural high that I was positive was as good as any drug or alcoholic high.

By the time I was tired enough to go to sleep, I realized I had neglected some of my homework, and I hadn't even begun the new assignment for the newspaper.

"I'll get by somehow," I told myself. Perhaps I would borrow one of the many excuses the other students had for their failure to do their work at school. Our teachers, for the most part, let them slip through.

Money talks, I thought, and then thought, so what?

I'll let it talk for me as well.

I was disappointed to see it raining in the morning. It was a hard, cold rain, too, pounding the windows with drops that were only a few degrees from being hail. Wade immediately insisted that he drive me to school.

"The streets will be slick as hell," he said.

"But I have to learn how to drive in all weathers," I whined.

"Not immediately. With your little driving experience, it would be irresponsible of me to permit it," he insisted. He was so adamant, I dared not oppose him. Ami was still in bed, so I didn't have her beside me to argue on my behalf.

Trevor was disappointed, of course. He had to go home with Waverly again. The rain stopped by midday, but the sky remained gray and oppressive. Ami was there to pick me up. She saw me say goodbye to Trevor, giving him a quick kiss, but she didn't say anything about it. Instead she complained about Wade's worrywart ways.

"You're probably a better driver than he is," she said.

"It's all right. He was only worried for me."


Tags: V.C. Andrews Gemini Horror