Getting the Boot by Peggy Guthart Strauss Page B

please have until tomorrow to get it to you?”
    Andrea looked at Kelly for a long moment, then sighed. “Tomorrow morning, eight A.M.”
    Kelly brightened. “Thank you so much! I’ll get started on it right away!”
    Andrea nodded. “I’ve heard you’ve been late to several classes recently. If you’re soaking up all of the wonderful opportunities that Italy has to offer, that’s great, but please keep in mind that you’re here to learn, too. You have too much talent to let it go to waste.”
    â€œI’ll try harder, Andrea,” Kelly said, flipping to a fresh page to begin her drawing assignment. “I promise.”
    Kelly watched Andrea head down the beach. Then she turned back to her sketch pad, thinking. She had some serious work to do, and not a whole lot of time.
    Later on, they were going to visit the ruins of Lido di Ostia’s forum. She’d definitely be able to start a drawing then, and snap some digital photos as well. She could put the finishing touches on it after dinner. She’d stay up as late as she needed to.
    â€œWhat up, Brandt?” The voice was right in her ear, and it scared her silly.
    She gave Joe a playful poke in the ribs. “Where did you sneak up from?”
    â€œRod and I are chillin’ farther down the beach. This place blows, man. There’s not a wave to be caught.” Joe put his arm around Kelly’s shoulders. “If you weren’t here in that bikini, the trip would be a total waste.”
    Kelly finally had a chance to check out the tattoo on his arm—it was a band of bright blue waves, with foamy whitecaps on top. She noticed that Joe’s blue-green eyes looked a little glassy.
    â€œAre you high?”
    He laughed. “Maybe a little bit. Rod and I hooked up with a guy in Ostiense last night and scored some decent weed. We just fired one up. You want some? There’s a delightfully private alley just across the highway.”
    â€œNot for me, thanks. Anyway, I’m happy to watch the seagulls. God, have you ever seen such a bunch of stiffs in your life? I can’t believe Dr. W got them out of the library for a whole afternoon. I bet kids in Malibu aren’t allowed to be this pasty.”
    Joe didn’t seem to be listening to her. He looked around furtively. “Wanna see something?” He took her hand and slid a warm piece of metal into her palm.
    â€œThrilling. A key.”
    â€œNot just any key, babe. This is the front-door key to the PIR. With this miraculous item in my possession, curfew means nothing to me.”
    â€œWhere did you get this?”
    â€œI’m tricky that way. Let’s just say I’m real good at getting what I want.” He gazed at her meaningfully. “After dinner tonight, I’m going to take you dancing. How about it?”
    Kelly’s heart leaped, but then she hesitated. “I really shouldn’t. I have to finish an assignment for Andrea’s class. It’s already late.”
    Joe snorted. “It’s not due today, is it?”
    â€œWell, no, but—”
    â€œSo finish it tomorrow morning.” He smiled at her. “You know you’re dying to check out the club scene here.”
    What could Kelly say? What Joe Leahy wanted, Joe Leahy got.
    â€œI’ll be there,” she said.
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    Joe took her to Testaccio, the neighborhood right next to Aventino. It was a pretty grim-looking area, kind of industrial and blah. “Some of the hottest clubs in the city are here,” Joe told her. “Rod and I scouted out a whole bunch of ’em.”
    Dr. Wainwright had already taken them to Testaccio for an ancient-history class. Back in ancient times, it was the city dump. Later on, it became the part of town where all the city’s slaughterhouses were located. Kelly was relieved to know they were long gone.
    One of the highlights of the neighborhood was a pyramid where some big-shot