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“Sorry,” I said, returning to planet earth “I think I just need to get some air”

“Mind if I join you?” He pushed back the elass and tapped his jacket pocket I heard the dull sound of a cigarette box

“Not at all Company is always nice,” I replied

Dennis threw a couple of bills down on the bar and then guided me out of the bar area and out of the restaurant Audrey waved as I left, her face darkening slightly as she saho I was leaving with I waved back, but didn't stop

Outside it was freezing Even with ht out of me I could seein the pale streetla away fro lot

“Where are you going?” I called out He turned, half his facelot was burned out

“To my car We can sit in there so we don't freeze”

I pursedand I wasn’t adverse to the idea of feeling his lips onbothered me, and I hesitated

“Or we could just go back inside,” he offered lamely I hated the way he said it Like I wasn't worth the effort This was ue uneasiness ive it up “You probably don't smoke anyway”

“No, lets go to your car” The last thing I wanted was to get my old reputation back

But once I got sat down in the passenger seat, Dennisup His hand knockedup under my dress before I could even yell at him to stop I had only had a couple of sips of beer and was no where close to being ready for thatout,a little to his friends and I wouldn't be the pariah anyo all the way in the back seat of Dennis' car in the dark parking lot “Hey!”

“What?” he said, grinning He leaned in and kissed arettes “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” I said, pushing his hand out froined “Just, take it easy It’s not a race”

His eyes darkened and his body stiffened I had e I wanted to do This was races and lose my awful reputation I wouldn't have to be a social pariah if Dennis gave me his approval

“All right,” he huffed, leaning back in his seat He turned on the car to fire up the heater, then reached in his breast pocket for his cigarettes He offered me one