Chapter TwentySeven
Friday
"Do you have any idea what's going on?" Lisa demanded as soon as she walked through Lara's door.
"Nothing. All Howie said was that I should dress down.something I was really comfortable in, and that I didn't mind getting dirty in."
"Getting dirty with Howie.hmmm." Lucky's voice trailed off and Lara smacked her. They had both been dying of curiosity all week, but the men refused to give them a hint.
"Well, I dressed down, like he said. Do I look okay?" Lara turned around in front of Lara.
"You look so damn cute when you wear those little blouses that tie in the front," Lisa observed. Lara wore a sleeveless button-down denim shirt that tied at the waist, with matching short denim shorts. Both were blue, of course. The shirt was unbuttoned to the knot at the waist revealing a dark blue sports bra. Lisa arched an eyebrow. "However, you don't normally show that much skin while wearing those little blouses."
Lara blushed. "Well, I noticed that Howie seems to have a problem glancing at my cleavage, if there is cleavage showing. I figured I'd help him out a little."
"Tease," Lisa replied.
"YOU'RE one to talk," Lara replied, glancing at Lisa's short shorts and tight tank top. Lisa stuck her tongue out.
"Finally!" Lisa exclaimed twenty minutes later when someone knocked at the door.
"If that's another driver, I will freak," Lara said, following her to the door.
"Ladies! Your chariot awaits," Kevin announced, waving his hand at the jeep parked in the driveway. Lisa took one look at him and almost fainted. He wore tight blue jeans and a button-down short sleeved dark green shirt. Three buttons were unbuttoned, and she wanted to rip them all off.
"A jeep!" Lara squealed, running past them. "I've always wanted to cruise around in one of these.weird fantasy, I know, but it's the truth."
"Well, then I'm glad I bought this little baby today," Howie said, getting out of the driver's seat. "I'll have to teach you to drive it.I know you can't drive stick."
"It's yours! Cool." Lara tried not to stare at him. If she and Lisa had dressed carefully, it looked like Howie had done the same. His legs were poured into his black jeans, and his tight black tshirt was stretched across his muscular chest and stomach.
"Let's plow." Kevin helped Lisa into the back, and took his place beside her. Lara climbed into the front next to Howie.
"Where are we going?" Lisa yelled as Howie turned up the CD player.
"You know that tiny town up on the coast? We passed it the other night and you commented on that huge hotel."
Lara swallowed deeply, remembering her date there with Nick. She swallowed deeply and looked out at the road.
"Yes, I remember," Lisa replied.
"The town is having a huge carnival tonight, and I thought it would be fun if we just bummed around there. You did say you preferred that kind of thing to a fancy dinner every night," Kevin said, praying he had been right. Lisa's beaming smile rewarded him.
"That sounds GREAT! Thanks so much, Kevin."
"Okay with you?" Howie asked Lara, concerned with her sudden quietness.
"Yes, it sounds fun," she said, smiling at him.
"Think we can get away with no disguises tonight?" Howie asked Kevin in a low voice as they walked from the car to the carnival.
"I hope so. It's dark out, and it's not like anyone would expect us to be here," Kevin replied. He took Lisa's hand and swung it once more. She sighed happily, trotting along beside him. Howie looked at Lara, then took her hand in his.
"This okay?" He gently rubbed her knuckles with his thumb and she could hardly nod.
"S-sure."
They walked around for a while, looking at the games and rides, then the men decided it was dinnertime. "Sit here," Kevin ordered, finding an empty picnic table. "We'll bring dinner." He and Howie took off.
"Do you feel a caveman vibe here?" Lisa asked Lara.
"Definitely." She rolled her eyes. "You.woman.stay. Me go hunt and gather. Grr." Lisa burst out laughing. She jumped when she felt a tug on her arm.
"Lucky? Can I have your autograph?" A little girl asked shyly. Lisa smiled down at her.
"Of course." She quickly scribbled her name on the napkin offered to her. "I can get you some Backstreet Boy autographs, too, if you'd like."
"No, thank you. I like NSYNC. Thanks!" She skipped away and Lara and Lisa laughed.
Kevin and Howie soon returned with hot dogs, pierogies, french fries and gyros. The girls gaped at all the food. Kevin came back with a second armful of drinks. "How hungry do you think we are?" Lisa asked Kevin.
"Oh.this is OUR dinner," Kevin said with a straight face. Howie laughed at the shocked look on Lisa's face. "Just kidding." He fed her a french fry.
"Anything special you want to do?" Howie asked Lara as Kevin and Lisa teased each other.
"Not really. I enjoy just walking around, really, and watching everyone." Lara looked around. "Mostly kid rides, it looks like."
"We could go on that?" Howie pointed at the Ferris wheel. Lara turned white.
"No way. Wheel of Death? No, thank you." She took a long drink of soda.
"Wheel of Death? It's only." Howie stopped when he realized she was serious. "No problem. Walking is good." He finished the rest of his hot dog and jumped up. "Let's walk. Talk to you two later." He grabbed Lara and they disappeared into the crowd.
"Up for the Ferris wheel?" Kevin asked Lisa as he threw away their trash.
"Sure," Lisa said, trying to keep up with his long legs. Kevin paid for two tickets and they plopped into the first available car. Kevin sighed and looked out over the carnival as they rose into the air. The wind was slightly tousling his hair, and he grabbed her hand slightly as the car jerked to a stop.
"Having fun?" He asked her. She nodded.
"I'm more relaxed than I've been in a while. We're out in public and not getting mobbed, doing things that regular people do."
"Things that regular people do.hmm." Kevin looked at her, his eyes sparkling in the colored lights that ran along the spokes of the Ferris wheel. "Do regular people kiss on the Ferris wheel?"
"Yes, I think regular people do that a lot," Lisa said softly, sighing with pleasure as his lips met hers.
"When can we see each other again?" Howie asked Lara, then blushed. "I mean, I know you want to move slow, but I'd really enjoy spending time together just the two of us."
"I like spending time with you, too, Howie," Lara said, feeling suddenly shy. They stopped in front of a cotton candy stand.
"Want some?" He didn't wait for her to answer, but bought a large bag of blue cotton candy.
"Jeez, I haven't had this in ages," Lara said, laughing as she tried to pull some off the big puff of sugar.
"Here. Let me." Howie pulled some out and started to hand it to her. Lara moved her hand away and opened her mouth. He paused and then carefully fed her the candy. She licked her lips, laughing again as some of the sugary cotton stuck to her mouth. "You look like you ate a Smurf," Howie remarked, laughing as well.
"Do you like Smurf?" Lara asked softly.
"I don't know.let me see." he leaned forward and softly kissed her. When he finally pulled back, his lips were blue as well. "Delicious."
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By: Lara
© 2000
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Chapter TwentySix
Chapter TwentyEight