Night Sky by Jolene Perry Page A

my
head already. The problem is I know how Dad begged Mom to change
her work schedule so they’d be home at the same time. So far this
week, they’ve had opposite schedules. And the last time they were
in the same room, I heard them arguing. The whole thing sucks.
    “Got homework.” And I need to get out of this room before I can’t
breathe anymore. Crap, I’m hungry. I grab
another small peanut butter package and a box of crackers to take
to my room.
    “If you decide you want the car, you’re
welcome to it.”
    “Thanks.”
    Right now I need to get my homework done and
make sure I have enough planned for my date tomorrow night. I
really don’t want to let Sky down. And I’d rather think about
that—than anything else.

EIGHT
     
     
     
     
     
    At ten minutes to six, I’m standing in her
driveway wearing my most expensive jeans, a button-up shirt with
the sleeves rolled up, and tennis shoes. I’m early, but I don’t
care. I step up to the door and knock.
    She opens it two seconds later, making me
hope she’s just as anxious to begin our night together. She
seriously takes my breath away. Her hair is down, long and straight
like always, but it looks like liquid, like something I want to run
my fingers through and bury my face in. Her eyes are glowing and
her top is almost non-existent. She’s in another tiny skirt and
shoes that are almost the same as mine. Her necklace is thick with
tiny beads in intricate patterns, covering most of her
collarbone.
    All I can say is…“Wow.”
    “Thanks.” Her smile fills her face.
    “Happy Birthday.”
    “Thank you,” she says, while stepping
outside.
    I reach out and touch her
necklace. It’s broad and has a white background with black designs
and red along the edges. Normally, I don’t notice stuff like girl’s
jewelry. “This is incredible.”
    “It’s from my mom, and you’re using it as an
excuse to touch me.” She smirks.
    “Maybe,” I agree. “You look…I mean, you’ve
pretty much answered one of my two questions.” I’m going to have to
find a way not to stare at her all night. I’m just not exactly sure
how.
    “What two questions?” She grabs a bag from
the floor by the door and follows me outside.
    “We’re still doing the honesty thing,
right?” I can’t believe how normal and relaxed I sound standing
next to someone like her.
    “Always.” Her eyes meet mine.
    “Okay, first I need to
apologize.” I want to get this out of the
way.
    “For?”
    “I told a guy at my school that I had a
college girl in her panties in my pool on Friday night,” I say as
we walk up her grandparents’ driveway.
    “You did have a college girl in her panties
in your pool.” She’s getting a kick out of me. It’s all over her
face. Her smile, her eyes…
    “Well, he was insinuating
that I knew nothing about girls while at the same time trying to
get me to ask a girl out for him, or…” What am I trying to say?
    “So…you’re apologizing to me…for lying to
him?”
    “Did I lie to him?”
    “You made it sound like you know things
about girls.” She bumps my arm with hers.
    “Oh, thanks.” I take a dramatic breath. “No
added pressure for tonight or anything. It’s cool.”
    She laughs. “And what’s the second
question?”
    “Well, I was offered the Porsche, but I was
worried it would set the bar too high. But now, looking at you and
all your hotness…”
    “I think the Golf is cute, I really do. But
did you even have to even ask?” Her eyes narrow and her dimples
grow deeper.
    “Porsche, it is.”
    “You look good, too. But you’re one of those
guys who will always look better with his shirt off.” It comes out
of her mouth nice and smooth. Like she just said something about my
lawn.
    But it stops me in my tracks.
    She looks over her shoulder at me. “Come on.
Since you didn’t pick me up in a car, we need to find one.”
    “Right.” Yeah, there’s no way I’m keeping up with her
tonight.
    ***
    “We could just walk