"So do it on a second." Raspberry told him.
"She thinks you don't like her," Nikki said.
"I like her. I said she's cute."
"Prove it." Raspberry told him.
He turned back to me. I started to lean away, but he moved quickly, holding my head even firmer, and kissed me again, this time jetting his tongue into my mouth so hard that I nearly gagged. I started to push him away. He held on to me and then let me go. and Nikki and Raspberry cheered.
"Very good. Stuart," Nikki told him and pulled him up to his feet. She started dancing with him again. I gasped for breath.
"Hey," Raspberry told me as I wiped my mouth with the back of my right hand. "Don't look so worried. You're one of the girls now. We look out for each other. He gets too nasty with you, we'll smash in his face."
She got up and danced with Stuart, too. Alanis paused, looked at me, saw the terrified expression on my face, then turned off the music. They all groaned. Stuart, his eyes closed, kept moving anyway.
"It's getting late." Alanis said. "We'd better end before my Granddad comes looking around:" Stuart continued to dance, as though he was in his own world, "Stuart!" she screamed, and he stopped and opened his eyes. "Party's over. Tomorrow's school. remember?"
"Yeah.' he said. "It was a great party."
"If you behave yourself, you can come to the next one."
"Good. When is it?"
"We'll tell you. Stand by," she said. and Nikki laughed.
"Stuart, can you drop Nikki and me at the gas station?'" Raspberry asked him.
"Sure," he said. Then he batted his eyelashes and asked. "What gas station?'
"The one on the corner of Main and Lake," Nikki said.
"That's out of my way, but okay," he said.
"C'mon."" Alanis urged them, and they started toward the door. I rose and followed, feeling dazed and confused. The music seemed to still be echoing in my head.
We stepped outside. and Nikki and Raspberry turned to say good night to me.
"Welcome. We're going to have some great times together," Nikki told me and hugged me,
"Yeah," Raspberry said. 'Glad you're here. girl. Boy," she told Stuart, who seemed to wobble. "say good night properly to your date. boy."
He turned back to me, smiled, then stepped over to kiss me again. I recoiled when his lips touched mine.
"Whew," Nikki cried. "you're too much for her too soon." They laughed. Stuart smiled and blew out his chest.
"I'll see you in the morning." he told me.
/> "We'll be waiting." Alanis told him.
"Remember, come before the bus. hear?"
"Yes, ma'am," he said, saluting her.
"Go on home, you idiot." she said and pushed him toward the truck.
Nikki and Raspberry got in, and he climbed in behind the steering wheel.
"Thanks." he called back to us. He started the engine, and then he shut it off.