saw Autumn's father, but whenever I did he barely acknowledged me with a nod. Whatever I knew about Autumn now I found out through Mommy, who tried to develop a friendship with her mother. It wasn't easy because her mother had become quite withdrawn after Autumn's attempted suicide and avoided company and being with the other women at any social occasion. Caitlin wouldn't even look my way if we were close to each other, especially at school. I think she was afraid I would ask about her sister and she would have to say something that was embarrassing. It did seem to me as though Autumn's father and Caitlin especially would rather pretend she didn't exist. The Sullivans were all invited to a barbecue Daddy and Mommy had in honor of my fifteenth birthday. but none of them appeared.
The school year was coming to a rapid ending, and with the work I had to make up and my new assignments. I was too busy to involve myself in much more. However, one afternoon as I was leaving history class. Trent Ralston came up beside me and started a conversation. I couldn't help looking at him from time to time and even listening to him talk to other students. Autumn's infatuation with him had drawn my interest. The truth was, she was right about him. He was one of the handsomest boys in school, if not the handsomest, and what interested me about him just from watching him at a distance was his apparent oblivious attitude about himself. It was as if he had never looked into a mirror or received a compliment. I wasn't sure if it was aloof arrogance or simple innocence.
"How do you remember all those kings and queens and what happened under each one's reign like that?" he asked as if we had known each other for ages, 'Mr. Caswell never catches you with your notebook down." he added, his voice full of
admiration. He widened his eyes and twisted his torso. "While I shiver in the back, afraid he'll remember I'm in his class, too."
I laughed. Out of the corner of my eyes. I could see Wendi and Penny looking our way. They never miss a beat, I thought, and turned to Trent almost as much to spite them as to please myself
"I have a secret," I told him. He raised one eyebrow. His good looks didn't sit only in his near-perfect facial features. He had a unique shade of blue-aray eyes. I had seen him in his physical education class and knew he had one of those sleek, muscular male bodies that models have in fashion magazines.
"I'll pay you." he said.
"How do you know what it will cost?" "I don't care. I'll even give you one of my
vintage Mickey Mantle bubble gum cards." I laughed again. "Right, it will complete my own collection."
"So, what's your secret?"
"I study," I said. He started to grimace. "No. I mean it. I really study. I concentrate and don't let anything distract me. I don't
listen to the radio. a CD, let a television blare on in the background, interrupt with phone calls. I just set down a period of time and make it sacrosanct."
"You make it what?" he asked, grimacing as if he had bitten into a rotten peach.
It means untouchable, inviolate, holy."
He shook his head. "No wonder you can transfer from one school to another nine times a year and still get A's," he said.
"I don't transfer nine times a year."
"Yeah, well, you and some of the others from naval families move around quite a bit, don't you?"
"Our fathers get transferred often. It can't be helped, but after a while you get used to it."
"I guess some can take it and some can't. I heard about Autumn Sullivan," he said, lowering his voice. Some people talk a little too loud on purpose, if you know what I mean." he added, gazing at Wendi and Penny.
I nodded. "I know exactly what you mean." They turned away from my glaring eyes.
"Maybe we could get together and study for the history final." he said. "I promise I won't turn on any music or television." he added when I didn't respond.
I had never thought much of studying with any of my classmates. It always turned into a gab session. There were just too many opportunities to interrupt or take breaks that went on and on. In the end it was always what I did on my own that made a difference. but I was tempted to break my own rules for Trent.
A part of me was hesitant, however, for another reason. I remembered how much Autumn liked Trent. and I couldn't help feeling like someone who was getting too involved with her friend's boyfriend, even though he was far, far from that. She had barely spoken to him. It was ridiculous to feel that way. I knew it and put it aside.
"All right," I said.
'How about tonight?" he fired back at me before I could even think of taking another step. "We shouldn't waste any time!" he added with a look of exaggerated panic. At least. I shouldn't."
I stopped myself from laughing again. I was beginning to feel like one of those girls who giggled after practically every word said to them, especially when they are standing in the glow of some goodlooking boy.
"Okay," I said. "Come to my house at seven."
"Your house?"
"I'll leave your name at the gate. Here's my address." I tore a sheet of paper from my notebook. He spoke as I scribbled and made a little map of the street.
"I was thinking I could maybe come get you and take you to my house. It's going to be very quiet there. My parents are going to a charity event, and my sister is sleeping over at a friend's house."