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Authors: Karen Rose Smith
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Ms. Piccard runs it." Noah said to Francie, "There's a message for you on the rink's answering machine. It must have come in over the dinner break."
"Is it urgent?"
"It can probably wait, but you're the best judge of that."
Jake slid toward the edge of the booth. "We don't want to keep you. Gina and I are meeting some friends in Biglerville."
Gina looked surprised as if it was the first she'd heard about it. "Yeah, that's right."
Noah moved away so Jake could get out. "It's a shame you aren't going to stay. We play a mix of music on Thursdays."
"I'm into rap," Jake muttered as he slid out and stood.
"What about you, Gina?" Noah asked.
"I like lots of different music–and I'm into rap."
Francie knew better. Gina liked rock and had never been ashamed to admit it before.
Jake curved his arm around Gina's waist and led her to the lobby. But Gina stopped and looked at Francie over her shoulder. "Thanks for the offer of free passes. Maybe another time."
Francie picked up her milkshake and slid out of the booth. Another time and another boy. She had a feeling Jake wouldn't be caught dead on roller skates. But she wouldn't give up trying. "Saturday's teen night. If you and Jake would like to come then..."
Jake turned and tossed over his shoulder, "We'll let you know."
His attitude annoyed Francie, and more for his sake than Gina's, she said, "Remember, this is a school night."
The corners of Gina's mouth turned down and she shot Francie a dark look. "I know my curfew, Francie. I remembered it just fine when you weren't around." Without a backward glance, Gina let Jake lead her out of the snack bar toward the exit.
"I shouldn't have said that," Francie mumbled to herself.
"I would have said more than that. You were more tactful than I could have been."
It seemed the most natural thing in the world for Francie to turn to Noah and say, "I'm worried about her."
"With good reason. I didn't hear much, but I overheard enough to know he's not good for her."
Francie smiled because Noah sounded just like a disapproving father. "Maybe we formed a judgment too soon."
"She races with him in one of those cars and you'll wish we'd formed it even sooner."
"She has too much sense. She'd never--"
"She's seventeen and trying her wings."
Francie shook her head. "I know Gina. She's too level-headed to do something that stupid."
"She's under his influence. You could see she didn't know about his plans for tonight. If she thinks she's in love, if she thinks he can do no wrong, anything can happen."
Noah's words held truth. At one time Francie thought Brent could do no wrong. "We like to think the people we love are perfect."
"Experience teaches us differently. Gina's not old enough to realize that yet." Noah examined Francie closely. "I didn't mean to upset you. Are you going to talk to your parents about him?"
"Not yet. I want Gina to know she can come to me if she needs to. As long as she's in by her curfew, I'll know she's not racing on a deserted highway. I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't say anything, either."
Noah's tone became distant, removed. "It's your business, not mine. I'm on the outside looking in. I'm not about to meddle."
Francie wondered why he'd suddenly backed off. He had been concerned. But as he said, Gina was her business. He'd be leaving in a few weeks. Maybe he'd remembered that, too.
Noah stopped in the program room while Francie went to the office. The little red light on the answering machine blinked. Francie pressed the button for it to play.
"Francie, it's Brent. You didn't give me your cell number. The old one didn't work. And I know your mom doesn't think the best of me right now. I hope you're thinking about my offer, about that gold medal that would look so beautiful around your neck. We can capture the dream. I know we can. I've missed you over the past year, and together I know we can win.
"Is it urgent?"
"It can probably wait, but you're the best judge of that."
Jake slid toward the edge of the booth. "We don't want to keep you. Gina and I are meeting some friends in Biglerville."
Gina looked surprised as if it was the first she'd heard about it. "Yeah, that's right."
Noah moved away so Jake could get out. "It's a shame you aren't going to stay. We play a mix of music on Thursdays."
"I'm into rap," Jake muttered as he slid out and stood.
"What about you, Gina?" Noah asked.
"I like lots of different music–and I'm into rap."
Francie knew better. Gina liked rock and had never been ashamed to admit it before.
Jake curved his arm around Gina's waist and led her to the lobby. But Gina stopped and looked at Francie over her shoulder. "Thanks for the offer of free passes. Maybe another time."
Francie picked up her milkshake and slid out of the booth. Another time and another boy. She had a feeling Jake wouldn't be caught dead on roller skates. But she wouldn't give up trying. "Saturday's teen night. If you and Jake would like to come then..."
Jake turned and tossed over his shoulder, "We'll let you know."
His attitude annoyed Francie, and more for his sake than Gina's, she said, "Remember, this is a school night."
The corners of Gina's mouth turned down and she shot Francie a dark look. "I know my curfew, Francie. I remembered it just fine when you weren't around." Without a backward glance, Gina let Jake lead her out of the snack bar toward the exit.
"I shouldn't have said that," Francie mumbled to herself.
"I would have said more than that. You were more tactful than I could have been."
It seemed the most natural thing in the world for Francie to turn to Noah and say, "I'm worried about her."
"With good reason. I didn't hear much, but I overheard enough to know he's not good for her."
Francie smiled because Noah sounded just like a disapproving father. "Maybe we formed a judgment too soon."
"She races with him in one of those cars and you'll wish we'd formed it even sooner."
"She has too much sense. She'd never--"
"She's seventeen and trying her wings."
Francie shook her head. "I know Gina. She's too level-headed to do something that stupid."
"She's under his influence. You could see she didn't know about his plans for tonight. If she thinks she's in love, if she thinks he can do no wrong, anything can happen."
Noah's words held truth. At one time Francie thought Brent could do no wrong. "We like to think the people we love are perfect."
"Experience teaches us differently. Gina's not old enough to realize that yet." Noah examined Francie closely. "I didn't mean to upset you. Are you going to talk to your parents about him?"
"Not yet. I want Gina to know she can come to me if she needs to. As long as she's in by her curfew, I'll know she's not racing on a deserted highway. I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't say anything, either."
Noah's tone became distant, removed. "It's your business, not mine. I'm on the outside looking in. I'm not about to meddle."
Francie wondered why he'd suddenly backed off. He had been concerned. But as he said, Gina was her business. He'd be leaving in a few weeks. Maybe he'd remembered that, too.
Noah stopped in the program room while Francie went to the office. The little red light on the answering machine blinked. Francie pressed the button for it to play.
"Francie, it's Brent. You didn't give me your cell number. The old one didn't work. And I know your mom doesn't think the best of me right now. I hope you're thinking about my offer, about that gold medal that would look so beautiful around your neck. We can capture the dream. I know we can. I've missed you over the past year, and together I know we can win.
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