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they had always shared an uncommonly close bond,
    and he was unusual for a prickly fourteen-year-old boy, because he'd never become self-
    conscious about physical displays of affection. If anything, Tim hovered too much. .
    Look at how he'd barged out onto the porch earlier that evening, for example. The memory
    boiled out of the mud in her head, and she groaned. She tried her mouth again, and this time it
    worked a little better. "I've got to shower. I'll never wake up, Timmy, if I don't get a shower."
    "I'll get the shower going, so the water's nice and hot for you," he crooned, and her bed bounced
    as he leaped up to lope away.
    He was so excited. Mary sat up, stretched, and yawned so hard it felt like her jaw cracked. Last
    year Tim had gone to the fireworks celebration with his best friend's family, put this year the
    Thompsons were on vacation in Florida, and he had nobody else to go with but her. And he was
    too young to go by himself.
    Tim bounced back into her bedroom. "It's ready! And Victor's going to be here in half an hour."
    She winced at his too-loud voice. "Okay, Tim. Thank you. Go on now, let me get ready-and
    remember, we're only going to stay until midnight. Victor's only had a nap, and mine wasn't
    long enough-"
    "I know, I know," he interrupted. "A couple of hours'll be great. Just get moving, or we'll miss the
    beginning."
    He left, and Mary shuffled around her large, comfortable bedroom, feeling like an old woman.
    Rescue workers could go weeks on five-minute naps every three or four hours-she could surely
    make it through the evening after her hour nap. After several minutes in a refreshing cool
    shower, she was feeling more like herself again. It wouldn't be for long, and it was going to be-
    fun.
    As a graduation present from her grandfather, Mary had her bathroom and bedroom redecorated.
    She stepped out of the shower into a pretty collection of greens and peaches. -She quickly made
    up her face, applying blusher, -eye shadow and mascara lightly, and then she dithered over which
    perfume she wanted to use.
    Why are you going to so much trouble? she asked herself suddenly. She stared hard at her bright-
    eyed -reflection, Victor's seen you at your worst many times. You know why, Mary, and it's not
    for Victor.
    It was because of that kiss, because of a "maybe see you later" kind of arrangement with a man
    you hardly know, a man who's way out of your league, you've' admitted that much. A man
    probably just playing around-what if he kisses everybody like that? A man who is just-flirting.
    And what's more, if you'd had your wits about you earlier when you had Victor on the phone,
    you would have called off the evening with him and gone ahead to the fireworks with Tim.
    Alone.
    Have you gone insane?
    The lecture wasn't working. No matter how sternly she talked to herself, the excited young
    woman in the mirror didn't calm down. She selected at random a perfume bottle from her
    collection on a nearby shelf, and sprayed some on her neck and wrists. Then she waltzed into her
    bedroom, humming-what to wear?
    Oh, a soft, flowered linen skirt with a matching rose sleeveless top, delicate sandals and a plain
    gold necklace. And the hair, oh, leave it loose and fluff it out, all nice and pretty, there.
    You should be wearing shorts, fool.
    I don't care, I don't care.
    What if he's not there? She stopped in mid waltz and her shoulders drooped. Two long hours, and
    Victor's going to think you dressed up for him. Oh my. Both hands crept up to her face. And what
    if he wants to kiss you?
    Tim. Tim will be there. Victor wouldn't want to embarrass him. That'll be all right.
    What if he does show up? She started to dance again, then stopped dead in her tracks.
    How are you going to explain Chance to Victor, Mary? How are you going to explain Victor to
    Chance?
    She caught sight of another reflection from the full length closet mirror, and she scowled. How,
    in God's name, did a shy, gawky thing like you find herself in