Class of '59 (American Journey Book 4) (20 page)

"You and Sally have at least one thing in common," Ben said.

"What's that?" Piper asked.

"You're impetuous."

Piper offered a seductive grin.

"There's nothing wrong with that."

Ben pondered the comment for a moment and then turned his attention to a speaker that hung from the top of the passenger's side window. James Garner, playing U.S. Navy Lieutenant Kenneth Braden in
Up Periscope
, barked an order to a subordinate.

"Do you want to listen to the movie?" Ben asked.

Piper laughed.

"We haven't yet. Why start now?"

Ben chuckled and shook his head. He wondered if it were even possible to tire of her wit. He moved toward the passenger door, rolled down the window about a third of the way, and pushed the bulky gray speaker out of the car. He looked back at Piper.

"Do you want some music?"

Piper nodded.

Ben rolled up the window, leaned toward the dash, and turned on the radio. He punched a few buttons and fiddled with a knob until he settled on an AM station playing "The Book of Love," a recent top-five hit by a doo-wop group called the Monotones.

"Is this better?" Ben asked.

"It's much better," Piper said.

Ben returned to the back seat, put his hands around Piper's face, and gently kissed her lips. A moment later, he kissed her a second time, brushed back her hair, and met her gaze.

"I'm nuts about you."

"Are you nuts about me or just nuts?" Piper asked.

Ben smiled.

"Both."

Piper giggled.

Ben took a deep breath, kissed her again, and then lowered her onto a back seat that had lost none of its warmth. This, he thought, was heaven.

For the next fifteen minutes, Ben and Piper made heaven a little warmer. They twisted and turned on the narrow seat, changed places as frequently as the songs on the radio, and explored each other's mouths and bodies until they approached the point of no return.

Ben unbuttoned Piper's ruffled blouse, unhooked her bra, and moved his hands in places they didn't belong. He moved freely and recklessly for several more minutes until Piper stiffened a bit and offered resistance for the first time.

"Maybe we should slow down," Piper said.

"I don't know if I can," Ben said.

Piper sighed.

"You can."

The two continued grappling on the seat. They continued eagerly and enthusiastically until Piper again took a breath and tapped the brakes.

"Ben?"

"Don't you want to?"

"I want to," Piper said in a whisper.

"Then let's—"

"Not here, Ben. Not now."

"Come on."

"No, Ben. Not now."

"Come on, Vick."

Piper shot up from the seat.

"
What
did you say?"

"What?" Ben asked.

"You just called me Vick."

Ben sat up and looked at Piper with bewildered eyes. He could see he had stepped in it even before she refastened her bra and started buttoning her blouse.

"I didn't call you anything."

"Yes, you did."

"Piper, don't—"

"Don't what, Ben? Don't stop? Be more like Vicki Cole?"

"That's not what I meant."

"Then what
did
you mean?" Piper asked.

"I don't know. Just calm down a minute."

Piper glared at Ben.

"I
am
calm. I'm so calm I'm going to calmly step out for some air."

Piper pushed the driver's seat forward, reached for the door handle, and pulled. She pushed the door open, slid past the seat, and quickly moved out of the vehicle.

"Piper?"

"Stay put, Ben. Don't follow me."

Piper slammed the door and walked to the back of the T-Bird. She paused for a moment, as if considering her options, and then marched toward a building that contained the concessions and the restrooms. The structure was the only indoor facility at the outdoor theater.

Ben tucked his shirt in his slacks, tightened his belt, and slid toward a door that Piper had inconveniently locked. Angry, frustrated, and more than a little flustered, he unlocked the door, exited the vehicle, and ran to the open space between rows one and two. He glanced at the building just as an angry woman turned left and stepped through a door.

"Piper!"

Ben asked himself several questions as he walked toward the building. Why had he felt the need to push things? Why had he opened his mouth? Why had Piper not given him a chance to explain or apologize or even talk? Had he somehow botched things for good?

He did not know. He knew only that he had to catch Piper and at least try to make amends before a wonderful evening turned into a disaster.

Several peers called out as Ben strode toward the building. Some offered condolences. Two offered a beer. At least one jeered and laughed. All seemed to take great interest in watching a big man on campus struggle with a conspicuous setback and potential humiliation.

Ben reached the building a few seconds later. He stepped inside, scanned about forty faces in the dining area, and zeroed in on a group by the far wall. He walked briskly toward Wayne, Sally, Piper, and several other members of the Class of '59.

"Don't come near me," Piper said as Ben approached. "I've had enough for tonight."

"Look," Ben said. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

"It doesn't matter. I want to go home."

"Then let me take you home."

"No. I'm going with Wayne and Sally."

Ben looked at Wayne and saw indecision. Then he looked at Sally and saw judgment. He knew in two glances he would not win this battle publicly.

"Can we at least talk before you go?" Ben asked.

"No," Piper said. "I just want to leave."

Ben looked again at the assembled masses and saw everything from sympathy to glee. He wondered what he had done to deserve any of the judgment. Then he glanced at the faces of a few former girlfriends and answered his own question.

He stared at Piper and tried to find meaning in her suddenly hostile eyes. He could not believe the evening had deteriorated so rapidly.

"Please, Piper. Let's just talk."

"No, Ben. We're done talking."

Ben started to offer one last plea but stopped when he saw a familiar blonde approach from the side. He knew what she was going to say even before she opened her mouth.

"What seems to be the problem?" Vicki Cole asked.

"It's nothing," Ben said.

"It doesn't look like nothing."

Ben turned his head.

"Can we talk about this later, Vicki?"

"We can. Or we can talk about it now."

Ben returned to Piper.

"Let's just go for a walk. That's all I'm asking."

Piper stiffened.

"I don't want to walk. I don't want to talk. I just want to
go
."

Ben huffed.

"Then go. Leave. Run off. Just don't come knocking on my door again."

Piper stared at him with sad eyes.

"I won't."

Ben turned to Vicki and grabbed her hand.

"Let's go."

Vicki did not reply. She just held on to Ben's hand, gave Piper an I-told-you-so grin, and followed her old boyfriend out the door before forty jaws could drop.

CHAPTER 33: MARY BETH

South Pasadena, California – Sunday, April 12, 1959

Mary Beth counted the socks and shook her head. She had put five pairs in the dryer at nine o'clock and pulled out two at ten. Someone in need of footwear had helped herself to plenty in the laundry room of the Chaparral Motel.

She folded her remaining laundry on a table, loaded it into a basket, and then carried it through a door, down a narrow hallway, and up some steps. As she ascended the stairs and worked her way toward Room 212, she pondered the coming week, her feelings toward Mark, and her brief but unsettling encounter with her sister Saturday night.

Piper had come home at ten, crawled into bed, and quietly cried herself to sleep. She did not explain her early return from her date with Ben or the reason for her unhappiness. She said only that she wanted to sleep and would say more the next day.

Mary Beth did not anticipate a morning discussion. She had found Piper's bed made and unoccupied when she had risen at eight. She assumed her sister had gone for a morning walk.

Mary Beth reached Room 212 a minute later, lowered her basket to the floor, and pulled out her key. She listened for signs of Piper's presence as she put the key in the door and turned the knob, but she heard nothing new. No television. No radio. No anything.

She pushed the door open, peeked inside the dimly lit room, and frowned when she saw closed drapes and two unoccupied beds. Piper, she concluded, was still out and about.

Mary Beth returned to the empty hallway, picked up the basket with both hands, and laughed when she looked at the laundry. Who would steal six socks and leave four? Who would spare her
newest
pairs? She wondered if the thoughtful thief was still in the building.

Mary Beth turned around, walked through the door, and pondered where to put the basket. She didn't ponder for long. She knew the second the door closed and someone grabbed her from behind that she had far more pressing matters to consider.

"Don't scream," a man said.

Mary Beth froze.

"I won't. Please don't hurt me."

The man chuckled as he brought a knife to her neck.

"I'll do my best. I would hate to cut such a lovely throat."

Mary Beth closed her eyes when the man tightened his hold on her and nudged her to the middle of the room. She opened them when he lowered the knife.

"What do you want?" Mary Beth asked.

The man spoke into her ear.

"I think you know what I want."

"Do you want money? I can give you money."

"I don't want your money. I want something far more valuable."

"What?" Mary Beth asked. "What do you want?"

"I want the book. I want the special book you used to make a special bet."

Mary Beth felt her stomach drop.

"I don't have it here. I put it in a safe deposit box."

The man sneered.

"I don't believe you."

"Just give me a day," Mary Beth said. "I can get it tomorrow."

"Tomorrow is too late."

"No. It's not. I can get it. Please don't—"

Mary Beth stopped when she heard someone stick a key in the door and panicked when that someone turned the knob and opened the door. She turned around and screamed when she saw Piper stand in the doorway with her mouth agape and her eyes open wide.

"Run, Piper! Run!"

Piper did not run. She did not hide. She instead entered the room and joined the fight. She charged the assailant with the fury of a linebacker pursing a quarterback.

The man released Mary Beth, pushed her aside, and then turned to face the new threat. He stepped toward Piper and raised his knife. Mary Beth screamed when he brought it down.

"Mary Beth?" Piper asked. "Mary Beth? Are you all right?"

Mary Beth shot up, opened her eyes, and turned toward the sound of the voice. She saw Piper sitting on the edge of her bed.

"What?"

"I asked if you were all right," Piper said.

Mary Beth looked around the room and sighed as the truth set in. She was still alive. So was her sister. The man was gone. The threat was gone. She had survived a dream.

"I think I had a nightmare," Mary Beth said.

Piper tilted her head.

"You screamed my name. You told me to run."

"I had a nightmare," Mary Beth said. "I dreamed of the man with the deformed ear. He had a knife. He wanted the book. You came in the room."

"It's OK. I'm here. We're both here," Piper said. "We're both all right."

Mary Beth smiled faintly.

"I guess we are."

"Can I get you anything?" Piper asked.

Mary Beth shook her head.

"No. Just stay here. Stay here and talk to me."

Piper nodded. She climbed into the bed, fluffed a pillow, and scooted up next to her sister. Like Mary Beth, she wore the pajamas she had slept in. She had not gone for a morning walk.

"What do you want to talk about?" Piper asked.

Mary Beth smiled.

"How about something light and pleasant?"

Piper offered a sad laugh.

"I'll do what I can."

Mary Beth turned to face Piper. She saw a girl with heavy eyes, a frown, and obviously a lot on her mind. She patted her sister's hand.

"What's the matter? You don't look happy."

"I'm not," Piper said.

"What happened last night? Did you and Ben quarrel?"

"You might say that."

Mary Beth fixed her gaze.

"Care to elaborate?"

"No," Piper said. "It doesn't matter anyway."

"What do you mean it doesn't matter?"

"I mean it doesn't
matter
. Ben and I are done."

"Don't you like him?" Mary Beth asked.

"Of course I like him."

"I don't understand. If you still like Ben, then why are you 'done'?"

Piper stared at her sister.

"We're done because we can't possibly go any further. We can't possibly make a relationship work. Don't you understand? None of this is real, Mary Beth. We're just visitors here."

"I know," Mary Beth said. She looked away for a moment. "I think the same thing whenever I'm with Mark. I guess I'm just better at putting off the inevitable."

Piper sighed.

"I almost made a mistake last night. Ben and I got a little crazy in his car – and I almost gave in. I
wanted
to give in. I wanted to show him how much I like him. Then he said something that snapped me out of a daze. He reminded me that he has a life here – and a past and a future. I don't. I'm just a time traveler who is quickly getting in over her head. You are too."

Mary Beth frowned.

"Do you want to leave? Do you want to return to 2017?"

"Yes," Piper said. "I think we should go back before we do something stupid. I know you like Mark. I know you want to stay. I know you want to enjoy all this as long as you can, but I think we should leave. We don't belong here."