Double Date (7 page)

“I bet you!” she screamed. “I bet you I can drive to the mall without stopping once!”

“You're crazy!” Bobby told her, shutting his eyes.

Horns honked. Bobby thought he heard a police siren start up behind them.

“My car!” he cried. “You're going to wreck my car!”

She laughed and swerved into the left lane, cutting
off an enormous truck. She swept a hand back through her wild, tangled hair.

“Please!” Bobby begged.

“I love it when you're frightened!” she cried, pressing her foot harder on the gas pedal. The red Bonneville shot forward, bursting up to a stop sign. Bobby heard a squeal of tires as a car in the intersection swerved to avoid them.

“I thought you were supposed to be so cool!” Samantha taunted him, her eyes glowing excitedly.

“You—you're crazy!” he cried.

She hit the brake hard to turn into the mall. The car nearly spun all the way around. Bobby heard another car squeal to a stop. Horns blared.

Samantha tossed her head back again in triumphant laughter. “We made it! All the way without stopping! I win the bet!”

Bobby swallowed hard. His heart felt as if it were clogging his throat. His stomach was knotted into a hard, tight rock.

Her windblown hair wild about her face, Samantha pulled Bobby's car into a narrow parking space and cut the engine. She turned to him and grinned. “Well? Are you impressed?”

Bobby uttered an angry cry. “What if we had crashed into something?” he demanded shrilly. “What if the police had stopped us? Do you have any idea of how much trouble you'd be in? They'd take your driver's license away!”

“No, they wouldn't,” Samantha assured him calmly, pushing open the car door. “I don't have a driver's license.”

*   *   *

Bobby calmed down a bit as he and Samantha made their usual Saturday night tour of the mall. He realized he had blown his image by shrieking at her in the car.

But he didn't care. After all, it
was
his car she was trying to wreck, he decided. And she could've easily gotten them both killed.

Didn't she care about her own life? he wondered. Was excitement so important to Samantha that she'd risk her life—and his—to get it?

Heavy thoughts, Bobby told himself.

She's just totally nuts, he decided. Maybe I should break up with Samantha and keep going with Bree. It would certainly be a lot safer.

“Did you break up with Bree last night?” Samantha asked as if reading his thoughts.

The question caught him by surprise. “Uh—well …”

They were sitting across from each other in a red vinyl booth at Pete's Pizza. The waitress had just set a pie down on their table, and Bobby was reaching for a slice.

Samantha liked peppers, mushrooms, onions, and pepperoni on her pizza. Bobby liked his plain. So they had ordered the pizza half and half.

She's even weird about pizza, Bobby thought, studying her as she picked the mushroom pieces off her slice and popped them into her mouth.

“Bree said you took her to a party at Suki Thomas's,” Samantha said, dabbing the top of her pizza slice with a napkin to soak up the excess oil.

“Yeah,” Bobby mumbled, lowering his eyes. “Suki's parents were out of town, so she had a party.”

“You didn't have a serious talk with Bree?” Samantha demanded. “You didn't tell her you weren't going to see her anymore?” She took a large bite of pizza. “Ow! Hot!”

“I always burn my mouth on the first bite,” Bobby said, eager to change the subject. “Always. No matter how long I wait for it to cool, the first bite—”

“Can I drive home?” she interrupted and lowered her slice.

“No way!” Bobby cried.

They both laughed. She gazed at him coyly and grabbed his hand on the table. “Don't I make your life exciting?”

“Yeah. Too exciting!” he replied, rolling his eyes.

“More than Bree, right?” she demanded, her eyes locked on his. “More than Bree?”

“Your sister is—quieter,” Bobby replied uneasily.

“You don't know anything about her,” Samantha snapped, startling him. She raised the pizza to her mouth and bit off a large section.

They talked about school for a while. Bobby talked about his monkeys, Wayne and Garth. She said she wanted to show him
her
science project. “How about after chorus practice on Monday?”

He shook his head. “I've got band practice. We're playing in front of the whole school next week.”

He told her he was thinking of dumping Arnie and Paul and finding new band members. “They just can't keep up with me,” he explained.

“But Arnie is your best friend,” Samantha protested.

“That's show biz!” Bobby replied.

They both laughed.

Samantha is totally crazy, but she has a great sense of humor, Bobby decided. Bree is so serious all the time, he realized.

How can twins be so totally different?

They left the restaurant without finishing their pizza. Samantha could never sit still for more than a few minutes.

Bobby asked if she wanted to see a movie. But she chose to cruise the mall. She took his hand. “I like walking with you,” she whispered in his ear. “I just like being with you.”

Her soft breath made the back of Bobby's neck tingle. He put his arm around her shoulders, and they began to walk slowly, window-shopping.

Samantha stopped at the entrance to a department store. “Let's go in for just a moment,” she said, tugging his hand.

When she started eyeing the earrings in the jewelry department, Bobby felt his stomach tighten. “I don't like your smile right now,” he told her.

Her green eyes flashed. Her smile grew wider.

“You're not going to shoplift again—are you?” Bobby demanded warily.

Samantha shook her head. “No, I'm not,” she said. “
You
are!”

“Whoa! No way!” Bobby threw up his hands like a shield and started to back away.

“Come back here,” Samantha ordered. “You dared
me to drive here without stopping, right? So now it's your turn. Come
here,
Bobby!”

“I'm not doing it, Sam. No way,” Bobby insisted. But he stepped up to the glass display case.

“See that silver charm bracelet?” She pointed to it, tapping her pink fingernail on the glass. “I need it.”

“No way. Unh-unh.” Bobby shook his head. He grabbed her hand. “Let's go.”

She pulled her hand free. Her smile faded. “We'll go—as soon as you get the charm bracelet for me. I'm
daring
you, Bobby. You can't wimp out on me.”

He stared into her eyes, trying to see if she was serious or playing with him.

She was serious.

“Just take it from the case, and let's go,” she urged, leaning close to him. Again her breath tickled his neck, exciting him. “You saw how easy it is. Now it's your turn.”

He hesitated, lowering his eyes to the glass case.

“You're not a wimp, are you?” Samantha demanded softly. “You're not a chicken-livered wimp, are you?”

“No one
ever
calls me a wimp,” Bobby replied seriously, his eyes on the silvery charm bracelet.

“Wimp!” Samantha teased. “Wimp wimp wimp!”

“Shut up,” Bobby said sharply.

“Wimp wimp.”

“Shut up. I'll get you your stupid bracelet,” he told her.

He glanced toward the back of the jewelry department. There were two salesclerks, both helping customers.

He turned to check out the store exit. No security guard in sight.

He swallowed hard, took a deep breath. “Here goes,” he whispered.

He grabbed the lid of the glass case with both hands, lifted it—and set off a loud alarm.

“
O
hh!” Bobby let out a startled cry as the loud bell rang out over the store.

“Grab it! Grab it!” he heard Samantha shout.

He grabbed the charm bracelet with a trembling hand. Dropped it. Grabbed it again.

He pulled his arm back, letting the glass lid slam shut.

The alarm bell rose over the sounds of the store.

Before Bobby realized it, he was running. Running through the bright blur of colors and lights. Running through the deafening
clang.

His heart thudding in his chest, he held the bracelet in front of him—and ran.

Where was Samantha?

He didn't see her.

He saw only the open doorway. A woman bending over a kid in a stroller. A teenage couple behind her.

“Hey—stop! Somebody stop him!”

He was out of the store now, running through the crowded walkway.

Samantha?

He turned and made his way toward the food court.

“Watch out!”

He stopped short to avoid colliding with two little girls walking with their arms around each other's waists.

He spun around. Anyone chasing him? Any sign of Samantha?

“Oh. There!” he uttered breathlessly. “Whew!”

Samantha stood right behind him, not even out of breath. She reached out and motioned for him to hand over the bracelet.

Still gasping for breath, Bobby dropped it into her hand.

“Bobby, what a beautiful gift!” she cried with mock surprise. She gazed at the bracelet, then threw her arms around his neck and kissed him enthusiastically on the cheek. “I love it! You're so thoughtful!”

She slid it over her hand, onto her wrist, and jangled it in his face. “You have such good taste, Bobby. It must have been really expensive!” She burst out laughing.

“You really crack yourself up, don't you!” Bobby said, shaking his head.

“Yeah, I do,” she admitted, grinning as she examined the shiny charms.

“You're going to get us killed or arrested or both,” Bobby muttered, still struggling for his heart to stop racing.

“Just trying to have some fun,” Samantha replied. She jangled the bracelet. “I really love it.”

“We'd better get going,” Bobby urged. “They're going to be looking for us.”

“Can we get a milk shake first?” Samantha asked. “I have such a craving for a milk shake.”

“No way,” Bobby replied, nervously glancing over her shoulder. “The security guards—”

He stopped in midsentence and let out a choked cry.

Samantha turned to follow his gaze.

“Oh, wow,” Bobby whispered. “It's Bree!”

Bree stood at a store window, a few feet in front of them, staring at them in wide-eyed shock.

“We're caught,” Samantha murmured.

B
ree stared at Bobby coldly. She wore a white T-shirt over faded denim cutoffs. Her hands were balled into tight fists, held awkwardly at her sides.

His mind racing, Bobby frantically struggled to think up an explanation. He glanced quickly at Samantha.

To his surprise, Samantha's expression was fearful. Her mouth had dropped open and she appeared to be trembling.

Why does she look so terrified?
raced through Bobby's mind. Why does Samantha look so terrified of her own sister?

Bobby realized he was going to have to be the one to get them out of this embarrassing spot. Samantha was too frightened to be helpful.

He took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Bree—hi!” he called, waving and stepping over to her.

She nodded but didn't say anything. Her eyes were fixed coldly on his.

“Samantha and I—we were just talking about you,” Bobby said cheerfully, ignoring her hard expression.

“You were?” Bree asked in a dull, lifeless voice.

“Well, it was so funny,” Bobby said, thinking fast. “I mean, Samantha and I—we bumped into each other. Just a minute ago. And I thought it was you! Do you believe it? I started talking with her, and I called her
Bree.
I thought it was you.”

Bree's eyes traveled to her sister. “I didn't know you were coming here tonight, Sam,” Bree said suspiciously.

“I—I was shopping,” Samantha stammered. “I didn't have a date or anything. So—you know me. When in doubt, shop.” She let out an awkward laugh.

Why isn't Samantha better at lying? Bobby wondered. Why is she trembling? She can't be
that
frightened of Bree—can she?

“I—I was just explaining to Bobby that I wasn't you, that I'm me,” Samantha continued, stammering awkwardly.

Bree appeared to relax a little. She unballed her fists and lowered her hands. Her hair was tied tightly behind her head with a blue band. She wore no eye makeup or lipstick.

She looks really outstanding, Bobby thought.

They both do. Maybe I could talk them
both
into hanging out with me tonight. A two-for-one deal. Give them both a break.

I could handle it, he thought, chuckling to himself.

“I didn't know you were coming here tonight,”
Samantha told her sister. “We could have come together.”

“I was bored,” Bree replied. “So I thought I'd get some new jeans. I ruined that pair, sliding in the grass at the family picnic last week, remember?”

Samantha nodded. “Well, come on. I'll help you.” She took Bree's arm and started to lead her away.

“Hey, uh—” Bobby didn't know what to say. “I could come along and—”

“Bye, Bobby,” Samantha called back to him. “Great running into you.”

“Call me, okay?” Bree asked.

“I don't
believe
this,” Bobby muttered, watching the sisters hurry away.

I came up with a perfect explanation. I got Samantha and me out of that jam.

And then they both run away like I've got a
disease
or something!

What was
that
about? Why was Samantha so eager to take Bree away?

He scratched his head, trying to puzzle it out.