Read Online The First Time by Joy Fielding - Free Book Online Page B

complexion betrayed his fondness for booze, turned from the chalkboard on which he was writing and stared toward the back of the class. “Problem?” he asked, as Kim scrambled to pick up her notebook, knocking over her copy of
Romeo and Juliet
.
    “No, sir,” Kim said quickly, reaching for the book.
    Caroline Smith, who sat in the row beside her, and whose big mouth was inversely proportionate to the size of her brain, leaned sideways, reaching for the slender text at the same time as Kim. “Thinking about Teddy?” she asked. She slid the index finger of her right hand into the hole created by the index finger and thumb of her left and waggled it in and out suggestively.
    “Get a life,” Kim said under her breath.
    “Get laid,” came the instant retort.
    “Something you want to share with the rest of the class?” Mr. Loewi asked.
    Caroline Smith giggled. “No, sir.”
    “No, sir,” Kim concurred, returning the book to her desk, and her eyes to the front of the room.
    “Why don’t we read a few lines from the text,” Mr. Loewi suggested. “Page thirty-four. Romeo declaring his love for Juliet. Kim,” he said to Kim’s breasts, “why don’t you be Juliet.”
    Teddy was waiting for her after class, slouching beside her locker when she went to retrieve her lunch. “I thought we could eat outside,” he suggested, unfolding his lanky frame and stretching to his full height, aninch or two above six feet. He took Kim’s hand, leading her down the locker-lined hallway, pretending to ignore the looks and whispers of the other kids. He was used to the attention. It came with being athletic, rich, and “so gorgeous you could die,” according to the caption under his picture in the latest school yearbook. “It’s really nice out,” he was saying.
    “Then leave it out,” Caroline Smith volunteered from somewhere beside them. Annie Turofsky and Jodi Bates laughed uproariously by Caroline’s side.
    The Three Muskatits, Kim sneered. They dressed identically, in tight jeans and tighter scoop-necked sweaters, wore their long brown hair straight and parted to one side, and their noses had all been bobbed by the same plastic surgeon, although Caroline insisted her nose job was because of a deviated septum.
    “You girls are a class act,” Teddy said.
    “Try us—” Annie Turofsky began.
    “You’ll like us,” Jodi finished.
    “Not likely,” Teddy said under his breath, picking up the pace, ushering Kim toward the side door.
    “Party on Saturday night,” Caroline called after them. “Sabrina Hollander’s house. Her parents are away for the weekend. Bring your own whatever.”
    “A party full of stoned fifteen-year-old girls,” Teddy said, his voice dripping sarcasm, as he pushed open the heavy door to the outside world. “Can’t wait.”
    “I’m a fifteen-year-old girl,” Kim reminded him, as a cold gust of wind slapped her in the face.
    “You’re not like the others,” Teddy said.
    “I’m not?”
    “You’re more mature.”
    A C cup, Kim thought, but didn’t say. She didn’t want to scare Teddy away by being too clever, too knowing, too
mature
.
    “How about over there?” Teddy pointed toward the students’ parking lot.
    “What’s over there?” Kim asked.
    “My car.”
    “Oh.” She dropped her lunchbag to the ground, listened as the can of Coke she’d packed that morning began to fizz, and wondered if it was about to explode. “I thought you wanted to eat outside.”
    “It’s colder than I realized.” He scooped up her lunchbag from the pavement without any obvious concern and took hold of her elbow, leading her toward the dark green, late-model Chevrolet at the farthest corner of the lot.
    Had he parked it there deliberately? Kim wondered, feeling her heartbeat quicken and her breathing become short, almost painful.
    Teddy pointed a remote control unit toward the car, and it squealed like a frightened pig, signaling that the doors were now open. “Let’s get in the