Thats enough, she whispered. Come on. Weve got to pick up the others.
Yeah, okay. Shit.
You promised to be nice, she reminded him.
I know. Just watch. Ill be great. I love you so much, Lane.
Or at least my boobs, huh?
A mean thing to say, she realized. Jim couldnt help it if they turned him into a sex maniac. After all, she thought, hes just a horny teenager.
I love everything about you, he said, not sounding offended by her remark. And Id like to kiss you everywhere.
Oh, man. Cool off, huh?
Im cool, Im cool, he said, and started the car.
Lane scooted across the seat and fastened her safety harness. As he drove, she gave him directions to Bettys house. Henryll be there, too, she added.
I can hardly wait.
You promised.
Im a man of my word, he said. Do we have to sit with them at the movies?
Yep.
God, the things I do for you.
Im worth it, right?
You know it. He reached over and squeezed her thigh. His hand stayed there, rubbing her through the denim. It felt good. But when he moved it higher, she guided the hand down to her knee.
Behave, she said. And make a left.
He made the turn onto Bettys street, and Lane saw her two friends standing together in front of the mobile home.
Here goes nothing, Jim muttered. He stopped.
Lane twisted around in her seat and unlocked the back door for them. Greetings, good folks, Henry said as he scurried in. James, Lane. Sounds like a picturesque London Road. James Lane.
Hiya, guys, Betty said, squeezing into the car.
Hello, Jim said. He sounded pleasant enough.
Hows it going? Lane asked, looking back at them.
Were fine, Betty said. What about you?
Great.
Really?
Yeah, she insisted.
Why wouldnt she be? Jim asked, sounding a little annoyed as he made a U-turn.
Oh, I dont know. Unless maybe it has a tad to do with a certain Riley Benson.
Lane felt her skin go hot.
What about Benson? Jim asked.
Oh, nothing. Just that he jerked Lane out of her seat in English class today and hocked on her face.
What? Jim blurted.
Christ, Betty.
Thats what Heidi told me, and she was there.
Did he really spit on you? Henry asked. He sounded concerned.
Yeah.
Benson spit on you?
Its no big deal, Lane said. She had realized everyone would find out about it, sooner or later. But she wished it hadnt happened this soon.
Ill kill the cocksucker!
Ill help, Henry said.
Mr. Kramer already punched him out, Lane explained. And hes being sent to Pratt.
Illsend the fucker to Hell.
Take it easy, Jim. Okay? My God, his girlfriend was just murdered. Hes having a tough time.
Itll get a lot tougher...
Its no reason to take it out on you, Henry told her. That guys such a rectum. He always has been.
Thats right, Betty said. He was a shit chute long before Jessica got her ticket canceled.
Look, Lane said, Im the one he messed with. Id like to just forget about it, all right? Its over. Its finished. Now, why dont we talk about something else and enjoy ourselves?
Im gonna kill him, Jim said.
Shut up about it! Lane snapped.
He did.
There was a long silence.
Finally Lane said, I guess Im lucky to have friends like you guys. I dont want anyone trying to nail Riley Benson because of me, but its nice to know you care enough to be pissed at him.
Ill piss onhim, Jim said.
Hey!
Okay, okay, I wont.
Besides, Henry put in, Benson would probably enjoy it. Hed be right in his element.
Hen, Jim said, Im starting to like you.
Youre not so bad yourself.
The jock and the nerd, Betty said. What a pair.
You got a nifty pair yourself there, Henry said, and Betty squealed as he did something to her.
Jim glanced back and grinned.
Keep your eyes on the road, Lane warned.
Betty cried out, Dont you!.. Ow!
Oh, that didnt hurt.
Did, too.
But this might.
Dont you dare! She shrieked, then giggled.
Are we having fun yet?
No! Yes! No, stopthat!
Hope they dont act like this in the movies, Lane said. Theyll get us all kicked out.
Oh, Ill be a model of decorum, Henry assured her.
Betty yelped. It was followed by a smack, and Henry said, Ow! You didnt have to slug me.
Want another one, four-eyes?
Jim looked at Lane and shook his head.
It was Henrys idea that they sit in the last row of the movie theater. That way, he explained, you dont have to worry about whos behind you.
The dink wont sit anywhere else, Betty said, following Lane into the row. As they sat down she added, Hes paranoid.
Leaning forward, Henry looked past Betty and said, Did you read Curtains?
Dads book? Yeah.
Remember he had that lunatic sitting behind people in the movies and slashing their throats? Makes a person think, you know?
Makes methink you shouldnt read that kind of book, Lane told him.
Better a wall at your back than a stranger. You just never know. Until its too late.
Spare me, Betty muttered.
I may be sparing us all. Youll thank me for it when nobody rips open your jugular.
The theater darkened and Previews of Coming Attractions started. Want some? Betty whispered, lifting her tub of popcorn toward Lane.
No thanks. Though it smelled good, the popcorn would make her thirsty and she had no drink. She and Jim had decided to wait for the intermission before getting snacks.
Jim stretched an arm across her shoulders. As he caressed her upper arm, she leaned closer to him. He tried to push his hand under her arm, but she pressed it tight against her side. No funny stuff, she whispered, or Ill trade places with Betty.
Anything but that, he said. He brushed his lips against the side of her forehead, then turned his face toward the screen.
About ten minutes into the feature attraction, he stopped stroking Lanes arm. The film was Night Hunt, about a young woman being stalked through the woods by a heavily armed killer. Jim seemed engrossed by it. The heroine was beautiful and running around in torn clothes. Lane suspected that had something to do with grabbing his attention. But the suspense was terrific. Soon Jim took his arm away and sat up straight. As Lane shifted in her seat, she noticed that Betty had stopped eating, though her tub of popcorn was still half full. She glanced past Betty at Henry. The boys eyes were fixed on the screen, the lenses of his glasses reflecting the light. Betty gasped, and Lane jerked her eyes back to the film.
It seemed to be over very fast. When the lights came up, Jim gave her a look as if hed been blown away.
Pretty decent, she said.
Man.
Henry said, Was that totally awesome, or what?
Mustve been, Lane told him. Betty couldnt even finish her popcorn.
Small oversight, Betty said, and stuffed a handful into her mouth. She said to Henry in a muffled voice, I could go for a hot dog.
Henry and Jim headed for the lobby to pick up refreshments. They returned with loaded arms just as the lights dimmed. Lane took her Pepsi and nachos from Jim. He sat down beside her.
Leaning close to him, she whispered, How are you and Henry getting along?
Hes not so bad for a twerp.
She elbowed Jim gently in the ribs. The wrapper of a straw shot past her face and landed on Jims far shoulder. She grinned at Henry.