“That was embarrassing,” Vixen complained as she and Jack rode away from her house in the Jeep. “I never dreamed that I’d have my mother teasing us about sleeping together.”

“Well, we were sleeping together,” Jack shrugged. “I mean, not like that. I guess I needed the sleep though. I guess your dad may have the right idea about NASCAR. It sure put me to sleep quick, and at that I think he beat me.”

“Yeah, me too, I guess,” Vixen shook her head. “I have to admit, though, it felt real good to fall asleep snuggled up next to you. It felt so cuddly and warm and fuzzy and nice, I couldn’t help myself.”

“My feelings exactly,” Jack admitted. “In spite of your mother’s sense of humor, it really was kind of nice to get a nap with you up next to me. A person could get addicted to that.”

“I know I could,” Vixen giggled, then changed the subject. “So do you want to go out looking for birds, or over to Alan’s?”

“To tell the truth, it’s a little hot out here,” Jack commented. “There may be birds out and around, but I’m not all that sure I want to spend time out in the heat looking for them. What do you say we head over to Alan’s and hang out until it gets cooler? It looks like it might be a nice evening.”

“You might not have a bad idea there,” she agreed. “Do you want me to call Summer?”

“Yeah, why don’t you?” Jack said. “If she’s not ready to go yet, maybe we can go find a shady spot to sit around and look for birds a little.”

“We could do that,” Vixen said, slipping open her phone, “but in this heat it wouldn’t surprise me if we wound up falling asleep again.”

Jack concentrated on his driving, not that it took very much concentration, while Vixen called Summer. He heard one side of the conversation and didn’t pay much attention to it; he was thinking of several things – places to go birding this afternoon, this evening, tomorrow morning. Actually, he was thinking more about how nice it had felt to fall asleep on the couch at Vixen’s with her snuggling up close. Yeah, they had been sleeping together, and it had involved just about everything but sex.

“She’s ready,” Vixen announced as she closed her phone. “In fact, if anything, she’s more than ready. I heard the sounds of the race in the background and I think she wants to get away from the noise. I can sure understand that. It took being comfortable in your arms to fall asleep with that in the background.”

“Yeah, that’s a real compliment,” Jack laughed as he turned a corner that would take them to Summer’s house. “I’m so exciting that it makes you fall asleep.”

“That’s not what I mean and you know it,” she snickered. “The thing that surprises me is that Mom was so good natured about it. She was almost happy that we’d fallen asleep on the couch, and she proved it by the way she teased us. Really, that’s not what I would have expected out of her. In fact, she’s been very friendly and nice since the first time we went out birding together. That worries me a little.”

“Maybe she’s just being nice to a guest,” Jack offered.

“No, she wouldn’t be that nice if she didn’t want to be,” Vixen said. “Darn it, Jack, I think she likes you and she likes the idea of me being with you. After all the snarky comments she’s made about me and wanting a boyfriend, to have her not get snarky when I find one, well, it’s not what I expect out of her.”

“Beats me,” Jack shrugged. “You remember I said a little while ago that I’m having a little trouble getting used to the idea of actually having a girlfriend? Maybe she’s having a little trouble getting used to the fact that you now have a boyfriend, and that times have changed a little.”

“You might be right,” Vixen replied. “Boy, things sure have changed in a couple of days, haven’t they?

“Yeah, a lot,” Jack agreed. “Like I said, I’m having a little trouble getting used to the idea that it’s really happening to me.”

“Well, me too,” she said. “I sure wish we’d worked it out sooner.” She let out a sigh and changed the subject. “Have you been able to think of any reason why Summer would want to talk to you?”

“Beats me,” Jack said. “I’m pretty sure it will be something that will make sense when she tells me what it is, but I have no idea of what it could be now. The thing that makes me wonder is that she didn’t want to talk about it on the phone.”

“Did you call her on her cell? There are people in this town with scanners that work on cell phone frequencies. Maybe it was something that she didn’t want one of them to hear.”

“Could be,” Jack said. “But boy, doesn’t that just go to show you what lengths people in this town will go to go get their entertainment, doesn’t it? There’s nothing better to do than to snoop on other people’s cell phone conversations and then talk about it to someone else. That’s part of the reason why I don’t have a cell phone even though there are times it would be handy. Alan’s right, you know. I am a misfit in this town, so that makes me juicy meat to gossip about, even though all I’m doing is birding. I tell you what, Vixen, while I like this town, between the Frenchys and their buddies wandering around and the fact that it’s like living in a fishbowl, I won’t be sorry to go to college and leave all this stuff behind.”

“Yeah,” she sighed. “It does get a little old after a while.”

Jack swung around the corner and into Summer’s driveway. Once again the thought crossed his mind of the sight he’d seen Friday, of Summer nude in that group of women, and once again he wondered what that was all about. Whatever it was, though, it was her business. Much as he wanted to ask her about it, he’s resolved that he wouldn’t and wasn’t going to break that promise to himself.

He no more than braked to a stop when the front door opened and Summer came out. “Here, I’ll get in back,” Vixen offered when she saw that Summer was wearing black shorts. “All the dog hair won’t show as much.”

“Dog hair?” Summer asked as Vixen stood up and slipped between the seats, stepping around all the stuff that was lying on the floor of the back seat.

“Stas sleeps in the back seat a lot when we’re out birding,” Jack explained. “If I’d been thinking I would have cleaned it up a little, or gotten a blanket or something.”

“For a dog that has as little hair as he does,” Vixen grinned as she brushed at the seat, an obvious hopeless cause, “he sure leaves enough of it back here. But he’s a cool dog.”

“So, Summer,” Jack said, “how’s your day been going?”

“Dull,” she said. “Dull and frustrating. I’m really glad you asked me to come along with you two. It’ll be nice to hang out a little with some people I know.”

Frenchy’s last punch didn’t knock Howie out, but it left him a little dazed. He struggled, trying to get to his feet and not doing too well at it. He wasn’t sure about how much time had passed. He really became aware of what was happening when he realized that Misty was bending over him, asking, “Howie, are you all right? ”

That made things focus a little. “Yeah, I think I am,” he said. “The fucker hurt me some, but I think I’ll be all right. Are you all right?”

“Yes, I am,” she said. “While you and he were pissing at each other, I managed to get away.”

“Good,” he said, closing his eyes for a moment to gain a little strength, then opening them again to see her staring at him from inches away. “I could never have forgiven myself if I’d let him hurt you.”

“Oh, Howie,” she said, nearly crying, as she touched his face, which hurt more than he thought it would. “That was . . . oh, God, Howie, you’re bleeding pretty bad.”

“I am?” he said. He reached up to touch his face where it hurt the most, and his fingers came back covered with blood. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

“Here,” she said, peeling off her T-shirt. “Use this to press against it so you don’t bleed so bad. I’ll go see if I can get some help.”

“All right,” he said, taking the T-shirt and not being really aware of the fact that she was down to her bikini again. He pushed the shirt up against the bloody spot on his cheek. “It’s going to mess it up, you realize.”

“I know,” she said. “It doesn’t matter. You just stay here, I’ll go get some real help.” He noticed her heading away quickly, but didn’t even check out the bikini that had fascinated him so much earlier. He rolled onto his side and tried to sit up one-handed, but it made him a little lightheaded. Still, it felt a little better to be sitting up. Fuck it all, anyhow! This had the makings of a damn fine day, and that fuckwad Frenchy had to come along and fuck it up! At least Misty hadn’t been hurt, and maybe he’d actually managed to hurt that asshole a little with the knee kick. But damn it all anyhow!

He was shaking, as much from the release of the adrenaline as anything, when Misty came hurrying back with an older couple, college age by the looks of them. “Here,” the girl said. “Why don’t you lie down so I can get a better look at you? Cody, get me the first aid kit in the truck please.”

“Right, Jan, I’ll run and get it,” he heard the college guy say.

“OK, let’s just lay you down,” the older girl – Jan? – said. “Now, how are you feeling?”

“Weak. Dizzy,” he said. “My face hurts.”

“Well, it has reason to,” the girl said. Howie took a look at her, and realized that she was the babe in the hot thong bikini he’d been ogling a couple hours before. She was leaning over him now, and he had a hell of a view down the crack of her cleavage and beyond. Hell of a note, he thought, and I’m too woozy to appreciate it. “We saw what happened but were too far away to do anything about it. That was a very brave thing you did, facing that guy down so your girl could get away. Now, just relax, and let me have a look at that cut or whatever it is.”

Howie willed himself to relax, his head on the grass, as the girl pulled his hand and the bloody T-shirt from his face, and felt around a little. “Well, that’s not anywhere as bad as it could be,” she said. Just an abrasion, it looks like he didn’t hit you square. Your skin is torn a little, but the bleeding seems to be slowing down. We’ll take care of that as soon as Cody gets back with the first aid kit. I don’t think anything is broken, but you’re going to hurt for a bit. Don’t worry, kid, you’ll live.”

“Are you sure?” he said in an effort to take things lightly.

“I’ll have you know I’m a EMT and an LPN, and I’m working on my RN,” she told him. “We’re a long way from pulling a sheet over your face. In fact, we’re a long way from calling an ambulance. Now, does your head hurt? Not your face, but your head?”

“Yeah,” he said. “It hurts some, now that you mention it. I’m just dizzy and weak. I don’t think I could stand up if I had to.”

“You might have a mild concussion,” she smiled. “I didn’t see what happened, but I think you hit your head when you went down. It was a little hard, but at least it was on the grass. If you’d hit like that on the sidewalk I don’t think you’d be talking to me yet. The dizziness, the weakness, that’s probably just an adrenaline dump. You get excited, your adrenaline gets pumped up, and when you don’t need it anymore it’ll just about knock you on your butt.”

The guy – Cody – came running up carrying a first aid kit. “Yeah, that’s what we need,” the girl said. “Just a nice big gauze pad and some surgical tape.” He handed her the box, and she turned back to Howie as she opened it. “This shouldn’t hurt much,” she said, “but it will a little. By the way, I know Misty, but I don’t think I know you.”

“Howie Erikson,” he said. “Pleased to meet you – ow!”

“I’m Jan. Jack’s your brother, right?” she smiled, ignoring his protest as she applied disinfectant. “The bird guy?”

“Yeah, that’s him.”

“I remember him from high school a little,” the babe said. “I don’t think we had classes together or anything, but I knew who he was.”

“I’m sure he must have known who you were,” Howie tried a compliment. “You’d be hard to forget.”

“I was very forgettable when I was in high school,” she told him. “Cody helped me with that some. You must be what, a sophomore?”

“Sophomore this fall, same as Misty.”

“Well, Misty’s got herself a very brave boyfriend, and I think one who’ll treat her right. Like I told you earlier, that was a brave thing you did, and I’m sure she’ll owe you a kiss or something to reward her knight in shining armor. There, all done. That dressing will probably hold you tonight, but you’ll want to change it in the morning. Now, when you get home, you probably ought to lie down for a while. You’ll feel better once your adrenaline quits affecting you. If you still have a headache in the morning, or if you’re still dizzy, you probably ought to have your folks take you to a doctor.”

“I’ll help you get home, Howie,” Misty said; she’d been leaning over him too, although not as close as Jan. “If you’re dizzy, you probably shouldn’t ride your bike.”

Cody spoke up. “You don’t live real close, do you? Over near Fifth and Grove, if I recall.”

“328 Grove,” Howie said.

“Thought so,” Cody said. “I was your paper boy when you were real little. That’s a little far to walk while you’re feeling that bad. I’ll just throw your bike and your girlfriend’s in the back of the truck, and Jan and I will take you home.”

“Good idea, Cody,” Jan said. “That way I can tell his folks what to look out for, and maybe tell them that their son did something really brave to keep his girlfriend from being beat up by that lowlife. That might get him out of trouble for fighting.”

“I can make it,” Howie protested as he sat up. Immediately, he began to feel weak and dizzy again. “But I think I’ll take you up on it.”

“Wow, Summer,” Alan said as he met his visitors at his front door. “I didn’t expect to see you here!”

“I hope you don’t mind,” she smiled at him. “Jack explained what was happening, and I decided to come along. It’s been a dull summer for me, too. I decided that hanging out with some friends for a while would take the edge off of it.”

“Well, you’re more than welcome,” he smiled. “I figure I can only take so much of watching Jack and Vixen hold hands and make goo-goo eyes at each other.”

“Come on, Alan,” Jack snorted. “It’s not that bad.”

“Yes it is,” Alan teased. “Summer, watch them for a while and see if it doesn’t start getting sweet in here. Come on in, you guys, it’s good to see all of you.”

Jack, Vixen and Summer filed into the house. Jack and Vixen immediately found space on the couch. They weren’t actually snuggling up, but they were close to each other, and yes, holding hands.

Summer eyed them and caught it instantly. “You know, Alan,” she smiled, “you might have a point at that.”

“Oh, they’re just getting warmed up,” Alan smiled. “You should have seen them this morning.” He was feeling a lot better just at the sight of them. He’d figured Jack’s idea that they could get together and hang out for a while was just so much bullshit, but here they were, just like they’d promised – and bringing Summer along with them was an extra bonus. Although he didn’t know Summer real well, he liked her. She was pretty smart, although not in his league, and wasn’t bad looking, either. For years he’d dreamed of getting a little closer to her – which with him was true for a lot of girls – but the words were never quite there, or he never quite dared to say them. Now, she was in the living room with them, wearing black shorts and a shiny blue top that caught his eye. In a way, it was like a dream had come true.

Now, what could he do about it?

“Alan,” she said as she found a seat in what was normally his mother’s living room chair, “I heard about the trouble you had with Frenchy. Are you all right?”

“Mostly,” he said, his elation sinking a little. “I still hurt some, but I guess they weren’t out to kill me.”

“No, that might possibly stand a chance of them getting into trouble,” Jack snorted. “You know the football players in this town, Summer. They get away with almost everything.”

“The cheerleaders are almost as bad,” Summer shook her head. “I try to ignore them since I know in a year I’ll be going away.”

“Yeah, that’s true for all of us, isn’t it?” Alan said. “A year, or a little more. I can’t wait to get away from all the jocks in this town. Do any of you have any idea where you’re going to college?”

“Not really,” Jack spoke up. “In fact, the three of us were talking about it last night. We want to spend some time looking around and see if we can find a good college where they don’t have a football team.”

“Yeah,” Summer piped up. “We agreed to share information on it, too. One of the other things that we pretty well agreed on is that we don’t want a school with any religious affiliation.”

“Well, maybe not that,” Vixen pointed out. “That cuts out a lot of private schools, after all. But there are some where they don’t shove religion down your throat that still have some religious affiliation. I have a cousin who’s an outright atheist who went to a Catholic-related school in Southern Michigan. They even have nuns teaching some of the classes. She said that the nuns are pretty cool and hardly ever wore their nun clothes, but that nobody pushed religion at them. If I recall correctly, they don’t have a football team, either.”

“How’s their program in the sciences, especially biology?” Jack asked. “That sounds like it might be a possibility.”

“Don’t know,” Vixen shrugged. “In fact, I don’t remember the name of the place, either. Maybe Mom knows. If not, I can e-mail her and ask.”

“It does sound interesting,” Alan agreed, “but I’m with Jack, I’ve got to find a place with a strong math and computer science program. If you guys would like to include me in your information sharing group, I’d be pleased.”

“Consider yourself in,” Vixen smiled. “It’s nothing formal or anything. Going back to what you said this morning, it’s just a way us smart misfits can stick together a little.”

“I’m afraid I was ranting a little when I said that,” Alan said sheepishly.

Jack shook his head. “You may have been ranting, but the more I think about it, the more I think you had something there. Let’s face it, people. We are misfits in Spearfish Lake High School, and the jocks and people like Frenchy and Mary Lou have dumped on us for years. The rumor mill in this town doesn’t help one damn bit, either. I think we’re going to win in the end, but the end may be a while coming. We need to work a little harder at supporting each other or our senior year is going to suck as bad as any other we’ve had, and maybe worse.”

Alan’s father came into the room. “You kids doing all right?” he asked. “You’re here a little earlier than I expected.”

“Too hot to enjoy birding for once,” Jack said. “So we thought we’d take advantage of your air conditioner.”

“Glad you’re here,” Mr. Jahnke said, with a smile for Jack that seemed to say that he appreciated that Jack had listened to him the day before. “If you kids think things are going to be all right, I think Lisa and I are going to run over to the Inn for a drink or two and a little dinner. Alan, if you want to order in a couple of pizzas, there’s some money on the breakfast bar.”

“Great, Dad,” he replied. “I think things should be fine. We’re just going to talk and mess around with some games and stuff. You and Mom have fun.”

“We won’t be real long, maybe a couple of hours.”

“Take your time and have fun. You need the break.”

“Yeah, I guess we do, you kids enjoy yourselves.”

Jack waited until Tom Jahnke was out of the room before he asked in a low voice, “I presume that has something to do with your not going out of the house for a while.”

“Yeah, and it may last for a while,” Alan shook his head. “Actually, I think I’d be pretty safe for right now since it doesn’t look like the cops are going to do anything about what happened Friday night. Like you said, the football players in this town get away with everything. But we’re going to go over tomorrow and see our lawyer about a civil suit and personal protection order, and when Frenchy finds out about it is when we expect something to explode. I’ll tell you now in case anyone wants to freak about it, there’s a loaded 12-gauge automatic shotgun in the closet by the front door, just in case.”

“Probably a good idea,” Summer nodded. “Maybe it’ll blow over in a few days.”

“I have to ask,” Jack said, “how’s that personal protection order going to work around school? There’s not going to be much avoiding Frenchy there.”

“I don’t know,” Alan shrugged. “Until we talk to the lawyer, I don’t really have any idea of how it works. In fact, Jack, Vixen, that might be something the two of you ought to look into. After all, it was Vixen fighting back against Mary Lou’s assault that set this whole thing off in the first place.”

“We’ve been all right so far,” Jack replied hopefully. “We’ve been trying to lay a little low anyway. In a few days he’ll be pissed off at someone else and we ought to be all right.”

“Maybe less than a few days,” Summer snickered. “The word around town today is that someone slashed Frenchy’s tires last night, and he’s about fit to be tied. I sure wouldn’t want to be whoever it was that did it if he finds out who it was, but I have to say that it serves Frenchy right.”

“Oh, yeah, it’s true,” Alan smiled, more to himself than he dared to his visitors. “Someone even put a picture of his car on the Spearfish Lake message board. The last I looked, there were twenty or thirty comments about what a jerk he is and how he deserved it. But, hey, let’s see if we can forget about Frenchy for a while. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I kind of like role playing games and I don’t get a chance to play them very often. I’ve got this vampire game that looks pretty cool.”

“I love RPGs,” Summer smiled. “I don’t get a chance to play them very often, either. That game sounds neat, but if it’s like most vampire games I’ve seen it’ll take a while to build a playable character, and we really don’t have that much time tonight.”

“Yeah,” Vixen said. “I’ve played with them a little, and they can be a little cool, but maybe not tonight. Maybe we can find some time this week and put together some real good characters to play.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Jack stated. “I’ve wanted to check them out, but never have.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” Alan smiled. “Tell you what. I’ll rough in some character sheets in the next couple of days, and maybe along in the week we can show Jack what they’re like.”

“Sounds like it would work,” Summer said. “If you’d like any help, I’d be glad to work with you. If there’s a role for a witch in the game, I’ve got dibs on it, though. I love playing witches.”

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