that truck back at the school flashed across my mind. I saw her crunched over the steering wheel and glaring out at me.
"I have a load of work to do, Trevor," I said. "Maybe next time."
"My parents aren't home, if that's what you're worried about. My dad's at work, and my mother's gone with some of her friends to a fashion show. C'mon in. At least let me show you my room. It's not as big as yours, of course, and I merely have a queensize bed."
"I really should go," I said.
"Fifteen minutes can't make that much difference," he insisted.
I was tempted to tell him about Ami, but the sight of her spying on me was so weird to me, I thought it would spook him as well. My nerve endings were twitching like broken electric wires. For all I knew, she had followed us and was keeping track of how long I spent here.
"I can't," I said, looking away from him.
"You can't? I'll tell you what you can't do. You can't leave a helpless person out here on his own like this," he moaned.
I smiled at him.
"You're not helpless, Trevor."
"Well, one thing's for sure. I can't take advantage of you. Not in the condition I'm in. You'll have to take advantage of me. C'mon," he insisted, reaching for my hand. "Just a little while. We really haven't spent any time together since I returned to school. Everywhere we go in that school, we're being watched. It's no fun being famous," he joked.
I didn't say anything, but inside, I was pulled in two directions.
"I'm right-handed, you know, and I've lost the use of it in this cast," he added, now trying to play on my sympathies. "I have to carry in these books, open my door, struggle to change clothes. Even Waverly helps me get into the house!" he cried.
"All right," I relented. "I'll help you get into your house, but I'm not staying," I warned.
"Hey," he said, putting up his left band like someone about to take an oath, "I won't ask for much more."
"You won't get much more," I retorted, and turned off the engine.
Then I got out, walked around the car, and opened his door.
"Your Majesty," I said bowing.
"Thank you, my lady."
I took his left hand and helped him up and out of the car, He pretended to stumble into my arms and kissed me.
"Consider that a tip," he said.
"Thanks for being so generous."
"Hey!" he said, pretending to be insulted. "There are a lot of girls who would be grateful. I hope."
I moved him aside gently and reached in for his books. He smiled and walked to the front door, reaching into his left pocket for the keys. I looked back down the driveway for signs of Ami's car on the street, but I didn't see it.
"Could you do this?" he asked, holding up the keys.
I shook my head at his obvious pretense at helplessness, but took the keys and opened the door. He pushed it and we entered h
is house. I heard music. "Someone's home," I said.
"No, no. My mother always leaves music on. She thinks that would discourage would-be burglars. Unless, of course, they're music lovers. You want something cold to drink?"
"No, Trevor, I'm leaving. I told you."
"All right, all right. Just take a look at my room. It's right down here," he said, walking through the entryway.