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me tonight. I promise not to try to hold your hand or kiss you while we’re in public.” Some of the other students appeared in the parking lot. Eli looked around nervously.
    “We’re just talking,” Dimitri said. “There’s nothing to get nervous about. Please go with me. You’ll hear some great music and eat seafood.”
    He knew the ball was in his court. “Will you remove the tattoos if I go with you?”
    “Yes,” Dimitri said.
    Eli raised an eyebrow. Dimitri had answered too quickly and he didn’t really trust him.
    “You’re hesitating. Are you afraid your parents won’t let you go?”
    “They’re out of town for the weekend,” Eli said. “And I don’t need their permission.”
    “Good. Then I’ll pick you up around six.” Dimitri leaned off the car.
    “But you don’t know where I live.”
    Dimitri smiled sheepishly. “I found you here, didn’t I?” Eli frowned. Yes, he had. “Then I better give you my number.
    Call me when you get to the gate so I can let you in.”
    “You have a gate? I suppose you have guards too.” Eli didn’t confirm or deny the statement.
    “Wow. Do your parents expect some big bad wolf to come and steal away their precious baby?” he teased.
    “Yes,” Eli answered walking around to the driver’s side and opening the door. “Be on time. I hate to be kept waiting.” Dimitri bowed gallantly. “Wear something comfortable, like jeans,” he said once Eli was safely in the car and rolled down the window. “I hate slacks.”
    Eli started the engine, glared at him, and drove off.

    * * * *

    Luck was with him, and he didn’t have to make an excuse for not getting into the pool. The coach had left a message on his phone that class had been cancelled. This gave Eli a couple of hours to relax and prepare for his date. He groaned at the thought. He couldn’t nice this up any way he looked at it. He and Dimitri weren’t friends. So what were they?
    Eli couldn’t believe that he was wasting his time trying to put a label on their relationship, because they weren’t in one. He’d accompany Dimitri to the festival, hear some music, eat some food, and then have the tattoos removed. After that he planned never to see him again. He sighed. Why didn’t he believe himself? And why did his heart gallop whenever Dimitri came near?
    Eli walked into his bedroom. It was still early, so he had enough time to pick out something suitable to wear. He smirked, looking over the assortment of dress slacks in his closet. He had entertained the idea of wearing his high school uniform just to irritate Dimitri. That would probably get him a lot of strange looks from the tourists. The two of them would surely stick out like a sore thumb by their vast differences. He was Cartier and Versace, and Dimitri was Levi’s and Gap. No doubt the two of them had absolutely nothing in common except the violin.
    He still wondered why Dimitri had given it up. Mr. Dubisson hadn’t elaborated and it would have been rude to come out and just ask.
    Eli turned on the stereo in his room. A hip-hop beat from his favorite group filled the room. He danced around while he put an outfit together. Stupid Dimitri had no right to tell him how dress.
    Sandals would be out since they’d be doing a lot of walking, so he pulled out a pair of sneakers, just in case he’d have to run. It was hot already, so short sleeves were definitely in order. His eyes landed on the perfect shirt. He looked at his watch. Five . He’d better hop into the shower. Eli continued to listen to the music while he washed. A few minutes later he exited and dressed.
    The telephone rang five minutes to six.
    “Hello?”
    “I’m here.”
    So rude . “Give me a second.” Eli walked over to the security pad in his room and punched in the code.
    “I’m impressed,” Dimitri told him through the phone.
    Eli watched the camera as Dimitri drove through the gates. They closed as soon as Dimitri passed the sensors.
    “So this is how the