Chapter 19

"Here." Tim said, giving an envelope each to Beth and Bobbie. Looking
inside, there were two crisp hundred dollar bills in each. "It's your
share of the profit. Wouldn't be fair if you didn't get something."

"Oh, Heather and I can go shopping..."Beth asked, peering into the
envelope. She looked back at Tim "What did you do with your share?"

"I bought Bobbie's gift, and a couple of pizzas." He smiled at her. "The
rest I'm putting back into the bakery. I wanna open the day after
graduation. Well, two days."

"Well, then. That settles it." Bobbie said, returning the envelope."Keep
it. If we're going to do this, let's do it right."

Beth thought about it, and handed hers back. Tim took one of the bills
out and gave it back to her. "Go ahead, go shopping. You deserve it." He
said. Glancing back at Bobbie, "Are you sure?"

"Not this time. Let's just keep focused on that Daily Grind order.
Thanksgiving's coming up. That means shopping season, that means bigger
orders."

Tim hadn't thought about that. That was one of the things he liked about
her the most, the way she sometimes seemed to solve problems that hadn't
arisen, or effortlessly being there at the precise moment. "You're
right. Got any holiday themed ones yet?"

"Hmm, let me get back to you." Bobbie said, noticing a slight twitch at
the corners of his mouth.

"You've always got something cookin'. See ya later."

Bobbie's mind started turning. Several ideas were bubbling. As she went
through her day, she did her tasks on autopilot. Fruitcake? No real
schoolwork was getting done with the Thanksgiving holiday coming up, she
made absentminded notes and doodles in her notebook. Candy cane? Looking
down she had not only written Tim's name, but also her own, with tiny
smiley faces dotting the 'i's. Shocked, she turned the page, somehow not
feeling right. Cranberry Orange? Her mind wandered.

Later that evening, Sylvia and was having dinner with Bobbie.

"Mom, would it be okay if Beth and her dad came for Thanksgiving? It's
just the two of them. I think I can take care of everything. I just
think it would be nice, they could use the company." Bobbie asked.

"I don't see why not. We haven't had a real Thanksgiving here since..."
Sylvia trailed off, remembering that last 'real' Thanksgiving.

Bobbie inwardly winced, she remembered. Was that the really the last
one?

"Sure." Sylvia smiled. "It'll be nice to have some adult company for a
change."

The door opened, it was Kim, she was wearing sunglasses even though it
had begun getting dark. "Hey, guys. Roxx and I grabbed a burger. I've
got homework. G'night." She had disappeared up the stairs, the sound of
her door heard off in the distance.

"Kim?" Sylvia said, raising her voice a little.

"It's okay, Mom," Bobbie said. "You did okay with her, she's pretty
smart."

Sylvia smiled. "Just like her brother."

* * * * *

It was that time all students dread, finals. There was a palpable
darkness as students succumbed to sleeplessness, and endless cups of
coffee from Daily Grind. Bobbie had been right about the increase in
the order. Mortal Choklate was suffering fatality after fatality, and
Great White North was turning into desolate, white wrappers.

Bobbie was showing Beth and Tim her notes for the new holiday flavors.
There was a general friendliness in the air. Working with them had
become a high point of the week. Every week, Bobbie got her own 80s
movie montage, complete with music.

"So we're going to need the candied fruit, pecans, cranberries and candy
canes added to the shopping list for next week." Bobbie told them. "With
the increase in the order , we should be able to add more flavors with
no problem, might just take us a little longer." She spend the next
twenty minutes explaining the new flavors. A fruitcake(The Royal
Tannenbaum), a chocolate candy cane(The Clark Griswold), and a cranberry
orange custard filled cupcake(The John McClane).

"Bobbie, how are you so good at this? We better get started. I have an
appointment tomorrow." Tim said, turning to the mixers.

"Oh," Bobbie said. "Okay. No problem. Beth."

"Hmm," Beth said, looking at the recipes.

"Tell your dad that you're coming to have Thanksgiving with Kim and I.
Just can't the thought of you two by yourselves."

"R...really?" Beth smiled broadly. "Of course. I'll tell him"

Time passed quickly. With songs in their hearts and batter crusted under
their fingernails all the prep work was laid out to make the next day's
work go smoothly. Roy came to pick up Beth. She bounded out to the car,
Bobbie followed. It was obvious that Beth was breaking the news from the
way she got animated. Bobbie knocked on the window.

Beth rolled the window down.

Roy offered his knuckles again, Bobbie bumped smiling.

"So, Thanksgiving at your house, huh? Looking forward to it."

"See ya at school, Bobbie." She turned and waved. "Bye, Tim."

"Later, Beth." Tim said. He watched them drive away." So, Bobbie, that
just leaves us. Want me to walk with you?"

"Something wrong with the Vespa?" Bobbie asked.

"No," Tim said. "Just a nice night is all." He offered her a hand.

"It'll be fun, I promise." Bobbie took his hand and felt a rush of
warmth. His touch felt good, reassuring. Bobbie lifted her right foot
and took the first step. Tim didn't let go. They started walking. Bobbie
realized that she and Tim were still holding hands two blocks later.
They talked of many things. Of spaceships and sponge cake, of music and
meringue, love and lemons. Bobbie felt so comfortable opening up to him,
like she could tell him almost anything. When they finally reached
Bobbie's house, she was wearing Tim's jacket. He insisted, she
protested, secretly wanting to be surrounded by his smell.

"See you tomorrow, Tim." Bobbie said with grinning eyes.

"On the flip side," he said. Bobbie realized that she hadn't let go of
his hand as he started to walk away, stretching out the touch as long as
she could.

She watched him walk away until he turned the corner.

Entering the house, there was yelling.

"Kim, get back here. You don't walk away from me when I'm talking to
you," Sylvia yelled, receiving a slam in reply

"What's going on?" Bobbie asked.

"Kim is in big trouble. I found this in her room." She held up a
cigarette butt. Sylvia stomped upstairs and more yelling was heard.
Bobbie stayed downstairs until Sylvia returned.

"Dammit, Bobbie," Sylvia began, exasperated. "I don't want the same
thing to happen to her..."

"I know, but... she's going to make mistakes. All you can do is hope they
realize what they're doing."

"I hope for her sake that she does. I'm starting to dislike this Roxx
the way I disliked Melanie." Sylvia looked like she tasted something
rotten. Maybe she did.

Bobbie winced at the mention of her name, and realized she had a point.

Chapter 21

Roxx was getting impatient. "Can't we just do it now? It would be so
easy to..."

"Patience, pet. We could. But it would be so much better if it was
closer to the finish line. Don't you think?" Lust stroked the back of
Roxx's neck

"It's just a matter of time." And if there's one thing Lust had, it was
time.

Knock, knock.

Bobbie looked up from the pile of potatoes she was peeling. "Mom, can
you get that?"

Sylvia was up and at the door quickly. She opened it to reveal Beth and
her father. Bobbie could see that someone insisted that Mr. Rivers
visited Heather. His hair had been cut, giving him a less slovenly
appearance, and he was wearing a suit and tie. Bobbie could see that he
wasn't comfortable in it, but smiled he had made the effort.

"Hi, you must be Sylvia. Roy," Roy said, shaking her hand. Bobbie
thought he looked nervous.

"Here. Wasn't sure what kind to get." He flourished a bottle of wine.

"Thank you, Roy. Hi Beth."

"Hi Miz Pointe. Bobbieeee!" Beth ran past Sylvia into the kitchen. "Need
any help? I can get those potatoes. How much longer does the turkey
have? When..." She asked all the right questions, and was up to speed in
no time."

Kim came downstairs wearing the same sunglasses she'd been seen in a lot
lately. "Takin' off, Mom."

Sylvia looked at her. "Where are you going?"

"Roxx doesn't have anybody. I'm gonna spend it with her, watch some
Twilight Zone. Don't freak out, it's casual.Just..."

"I don't like her, Kim. Why can't you..." Kim coiled, eyes becoming
nuclear cooling vents

"Why can't I what, Mom?" When Sylvia opened her mouth to answer...
"Whatever." Kim slammed the door behind her. Beth looked after her
shocked. Bobbie was a little stunned. Sylvia was the most surprised of
all, her ashen face saying everything that needed to be said. But no one
understood it.

Bobbie understood. All too well, she'd seen this all happen before. It
seemed to be playing out the same way. She wouldn't, couldn't let that
happen. But how to stop it?

"Sorry," Sylvia apologized to Roy. "I don't like her girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?" Roy asked.

"Daddy," Beth said, selecting a new potato to peel. "She's, she's..."

"Gay," she whispered.

"Oh?" Roy looked at Sylvia.

Sylvia looked at the wine. "Bobbie, could you get out the corkscrew and
bring some glasses?"

"So, we were eating the contest entries. We could have eaten the million
dollar winner. Wouldn't have known." Sylvia finished. Roy laughed.

Dinner had been amazing. Bobbie's stuffing made with ground pork,
cilantro and water chestnuts was a hit. The turkey was perfectly juicy.
All the extras could have come from a professional caterer. Even the
sweet potato pie was a hit. Roy and Sylvia had talked until the bottle
of wine was gone. There was relief in both of their voices, the relief
borne of adult conversation. Today, for the first time in an
interminably long time, they could talk and not worry or care what they
might say. The wine loosened their tongues. Beth and Bobbie retreated to
Bobbie's room to discuss the bakery, the Winter Ball...

...and Tim.

Beth absently looked at the DVDs on the shelf. "You sure watch a lot of
movies. I've never even heard of half of these. But I love this one.
Lloyd really loved her. I always thought that huge radio would be
heavy." A picture fell from between ...Say Anything and Sword of
Vengeance. Beth picked it up and laughed.

"That's Kim?" Beth asked seeing a younger version of the badass bass
player for Grrl Army, one with her hair in pigtails and wearing a bright
yellow dress. Bobbie came over and looked at the picture.

It was one of the old family pictures. Sylvia stood there with out of
date clothing and a much shorter haircut, Kim in a state of girlish
glee. Jeff also stood there, smiling, and finally Robb, a Robb that had
yet to know how bad things could get.

"That's Robb isn't it?" Beth asked. "What was he like?"

Bobbie stared at picture. It was Robb alright, hair askew and standing
at odd angles. "Afraid, I guess." She saw his life objectively now. "He
was afraid of almost everything." It was weird to hear it out loud.
"After his dad died, " She pointed to everything. "He came home and read
books and watched movies. He got brave at the wrong moment. He met a
girl who... was bad for him."

"Oh, I bet he was nice. He was wasn't he?"

"You would have liked him." Bobbie looked at Beth, she looked so
innocent. She was such a nice girl."He would have liked you, too"

"You'll find someone. And they'll deserve you."

Beth smiled, "I know. I just wish I had someone."

"You have me," Bobbie said.

Chapter 22

Tensions strained at the house as Kim became more and more scarce.
Bobbie only really saw her for band practice. Sylvia was at wit's end
with Kim. Bobbie couldn't help, either. Kim seemed to be unfindable. An
awkward conversation with Mary yielded no other information. She was
showing up for school, with Roxx, or closed up in her room. Bobbie saw
what was happening. She knew this is what it looked like when Robb had
started dating Melanie. What could she do? Everything seemed to only
serve to push her further. She only hoped she could help Kim see reason
soon.

Cupcake sales at Daily Grind had been, stupendous. There was talk of a
second order, The new holiday cupcakes disappearing like the season's
hottest toy on Black Friday. Tim had finally insisted that Bobbie take
some of the money. The signs were due to be delivered just before the
start of the winter break. Talk of the ball overtook nearly all of the
social circles, and preparations had begun in earnest. There were
banners and posters, photo packages and meal selections, corsages and
boutonnieres.

Semester finals breezed by, Bobbie doing quite well. Out of boredom, she
often doodled in her pad, or stared around the room blankly. Some found
her spacy, but she displayed a level of awareness that bordered on
prescience. Kim hadn't done so well, her grades dipping into 'D's
territory. The weather started to turn cold and snow began to fall.
However; that wasn't the only chill Bobbie felt.

It was an overcast Saturday in mid December and the morning of the
Winter Ball. The members of Grrl Army decided to have their own pre
party. Heather, Beth, and Amber helping Bobbie and Bella, preparations
took hours. Bobbie and heather walked around with their hair in curlers
for at least half the day. Bobbie chafed at the notion, but Heather
insisted that this was going to be a special moment in her life, and she
was going to look spectacular, even if it killed her. They talked at
length about it after Bella and Amber left to finish preparations at
home.

"Think of it as a renewal. Where were you last year? Six months ago?"
Heather asked, sipping Diet Coke from a can through a straw. "You've had
a rough year. Leaving your family, losing Robb." She put her hand on
Bobbie's. "But look at the other side. Since you came to Delacroix... well
you helped Kim for what that's worth. You met us and Beth. I wouldn't
have met Beth. Tim would still be... blecch." Heather stuck out her
tongue. Bobbie laughed. "And the cupcakes, and the bake sale. The
bakery..." She saw Bobbie's nails. "Bobbie, when's the last time you had a
manicure?"

As the sun began to sink in the west, the dying light cast beautiful,
irreproducible colors against the newly fallen snow. Bobbie sipped cocoa
with a candy cane stir. Her hair was curly for the second time in her
life. Bobbie had to admit that Heather had done it better. The curls
cascaded over her shoulders, her bangs framed her face. It was tacky to
the touch, but Heather assured that it would hold for the night. Her
makeup was flawless, Bobbie's blue eyes nearly glowed, her fingertips
lacquered azure. Blue teardrop earrings dangled from each lobe, a string
of blue gemstones ringed her slender neck.

And the dress did the rest. It looked positively ethereal on. The
strapless dress was a floor length gown made of ice blue satin and
tulle. Tiny gems decorated the bodice. It hugged every inch of her
waist. This is my power armor now, she mused. She was in Heather's
living room waiting with her and Beth. They were all dressed. A limo had
been ordered and they were just waiting.

Beth was similarly made up and also dressed in a gown. "You're going,
period." Heather had told her, Beth had acquiesced.

"You know, Bobbie. I screwed up royally," Heather said absently.

"What do you mean? I have listened to you haven't I?"

"My point exactly. You look better than I do. Have to admit I was right
about the color though," Heather said, her voice tinged with mock
jealousy.

The limo pulled up, crunching small errant rocks on Heather's driveway.
The girls left the confines of Heather's house , light jackets covering
their shoulders. Tim jumped out of the back of the vehicle. He was
wearing black slacks, shiny dress shoes. A grey, tailored jacket covered
his arms, his shirt was white with an ice blue tie and pocket square.
Bobbie saw him, he looked... well, grown up. She couldn't see the shoe
gazing Tim she had first met.

Tim's face fell upon seeing her. Here she was again, proving that she
was an angel. The first thing he saw was how her eyes glowed. "Hey
there, Bobbie Blue." He said, an almost imperceptible shakiness in his
voice. He hugged her carefully. "You look amazing." He whispered.

Turning back to the car, Tim waved at someone. An overweight guy stepped
out of the car wearing a recent suit. A shriek from behind her called
her back to the present.

"STEEEVE!" Beth said, nearly knocking Bobbie and tripping on the hem of
her dress. They collided as Steve lifted Beth off the ground slightly.

"I know it's a little late, but. Beth, would you go to the dance with
me?" He said.

"YES!" Beth cried. "Oh, you're gonna mess up my makeup." She sniffled.

Heather was walking out to the limo. Bobbie and Tim met up with her.

"Heather?" Bobbie began. "What just happened?"

Heather smiled her evil smile. "Remember that party we played?"

"Of course." Bobbie and Tim both said, their different experiences
causing vivid memories.

"That guy," Bobbie said. "But he's in college. How..."

"He graduated last year, he's 18. I got the paperwork in early. They hit
it off so well at the party... She needs this just as much as you do. I
paid him to keep an eye on her at that party" She giggled a little

"Heather!" Bobbie looked at her. She's only 15. Isn't that..."

"He's not going to do anything wrong." Heather said, waving her hand
nonchalantly.

"He is my cousin after all."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Bobbie asked.

"She might have found out. The three of you spend a lot of time at the
bakery. I thought it would do her good. I'm going to make a woman out of
her yet." Heather smiled. "You kids have a good time."

"Aren't you coming?" Beth asked.

"I'm Bella and Amber's ride. We're going stag." She laughed. "Now go on,
shoo."

They piled into the spacious back of the limo; Beth and Bobbie, Steve
and Kim. The long, black vehicle cruised at a medium speed around
Delacroix. Bobbie looked at the town where Robb grew up. It had changed.
Some of the old fast food places were still there, boarded up. Bobbie
recognized where they were...

His and Melanie's old apartment, it had been four months since she'd
left and hadn't looked back. The area around their old window had been
blackened. She could see from the lack of duct tape that the glass had
been replaced. Bobbie wondered who lived there now.

They arrived at The Shelton and stood with the throng of other girls in
their multicolored gowns and dresses, complimenting each other. The boys
stood around in their suits, trying their best to be adults and spend
time with a special someone. Bobbie looked around. It was a little
overwhelming. So many people, even everyone's combined darkness couldn't
pierce the brightness of everyone's mood.

The banquet hall seated the attendees of the ball as they were served
their beef or chicken dishes (Tim and Bobbie agreed it was overcooked
and under seasoned.) When the dance floor opened up and the lighting was
turned on, the hall became bathed in white, tiny specks of light dancing
along the walls. The music started, couples taking to the floor
immediately. There was an enjoyable chaos, Bobbie noticed, everyone
nervous about everyone else. It was recent dance music, and top 40
standards. The first slow dance was announced as the throbbing music
faded out, the synthesized strains overtaking the formerly loud hall.
The dancers stopped their modern dances, breaking off into couples. The
girls stepped forward, the boys slid arms around the smalls of the
girls' backs.

Bobbie and Tim were no exception. Every movement in the dress caused a
torrent of sensations as the satin and tulle brushed against her bare
legs. She looked at Tim, who was staring into her eyes, lost.

Let's dance in style/ let's dance for a while...

The warmth of Tim's hand made the nerves in Bobbie's back dance. The
contact of their bodies was nuclear. She felt close, protected...safe.

Let us die young or let us live forever....

He held onto Bobbie, rocking from one foot to the other, keeping pace.
He saw the whole universe in her eyes. He could smell lilacs and brown
sugar under her perfume. This girl had come out of nowhere and now here
she was, slow dancing with him. He couldn't imagine anyone he'd rather
be doing this with right now. Or ever.

Can you imagine when this race is won?

Turn our golden faces into the sun...

Bobbie felt Tim's closeness, smelled his wood and leather smell. Looked
up into that smile, and his soulful brown eyes....

Forever young, I want to be forever young

Do you really want to live forever? Forever or never?

Tim's body pressed lightly against Bobbie, she felt his torso against
hers. Her breasts responded and a tingling tightness began to spread out
from her center.

Some are like water and some are like heat.

Some are the melody and some are the beat.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Beth and Steve, locked together
and dancing awkwardly. Together, they looked like they were having such
a good time. Even in the lowered light, Bobbie could make out Beth's
smile. Tim noticed as well. "That's my cue, I guess." He smiled.

Bobbie looked at Tim, wondering what it was he meant.

So many adventures couldn't happen today.

So many songs we forgot to play.

"I like you, Bobbie Sharpe," Tim said, she could feel the thudding of
his heart. "Like you that way."

So many dreams are swinging out of the blue

We let 'em come true.

Tim started to lean his head forward, his lips parting. Bobbie was
struck, the smell, the heat, his closeness coherent thought was a jumble
of mismatched threads. She tilted her head up, parted her lips and
closed her eyes.

Forever young, I want to be forever young

Do you really want to live forever? Forever or never?

She let his tongue touch hers, it wasn't weird at all. This moment
completely unlike how she had thought it would be. Their tongues writhed
against each other, their mouths pressed tightly together. Swaying and
kissing, the song ended. The dj said something and the song changed to
something a little more uptempo.

With Bobbie and Tim still dancing to the beat of the song in their
heads, eyes locked, lips occasionally touching.

Tim went to go get some punch while Bobbie looked around at the scene.
The other couples were dancing in a display of sound and color. With a
feeling of such lightness that she felt she must be levitating, it was
almost like she couldn't breathe in enough. Bobbie stood there, drinking
it all in. Robb was only a memory, and Bobbie thought of her new life
and...

"Bobbie." There was a hand on her shoulder. With a start, she realized
it was Amber.

"Oh," Bobbie smiled distractedly. "Amber, hey." She looked around.
"Where's your date?"

"Bella and I came together. We're lending support to Heather. We did
this last year." She pointed at Beth and Steve." We decided it's her
turn."

"You mean you didn't get dates because..? Why?"

Bella walked up. "Because, you silly bitch. You fuckin' deserve this.
You just fuckin' rock" She held up her hand in the devil horns and stuck
her tongue out, looking highly incongruous in her peach taffeta dress.

Tim returned with the punch. He offered Bobbie a cup. She sipped at it
pensively.

"But," Bella continued, grabbing Tim by an arm. "I'm borrowing him."
Tim's punch sloshed in the cup, narrowly keeping it all in. Amber
grabbed his cup from him as he was led helplessly away by the tomboyish
Bella. Bobbie giggled, still intoxicated by the dance.

"Bobbie," Amber started, brushing an errant red hair from her forehead.
"I've been meaning to ask you. What's wrong with Kim? I mean, you live
with her..."

Bobbie's mood was darkened at the thought of her sister. "I don't know,
teen rebellion? She's been practically joined to Roxx's hip for weeks.
Mom's mad at her a lot lately, too."

"There you guys are." Heather walked up, cup in her hand. "I was
wondering where you all got to, where's..."She scanned the crowd for
Bella. "Oh, there she is."

"Speaking of Kim, anyone see her?" Bobbie asked, suddenly worried. If
they saw something wrong...

"Oh, yeah. She's off in a dark corner making out with Roxx." Heather
said. "I don't know what she sees in her."She lowered her voice "could
do better". She brightened quickly "With my mom coming home next week,
though, I've got too much on my plate to think about it."

"You're mom's coming home?" Amber asked.

"Yeah, she'll be here for a week, There's a break in the shooting. So,
Christmas." Heather said. The song ended and Tim and Bella returned.

"You were fuckin' great, kid," Bella said, kissing Tim on the cheek. He
blushed as he realized that some of her lipstick stuck to him.

"Bobbie," Amber said, handing Tim's cup to Bella."I'm sorry, but I need
to borrow him, too." Amber captured Tim's arm and back out to the dance
floor he went.

"He's either really fuckin' nervous, or he's a fucking awful dancer."
Bella said smiling. "But he's yours, and he fuckin' likes you." Bella
seemed like she was just giving Bobbie a hard time. Bobbie smiled.

When the next song ended, Amber and Tim returned to the group. They were
all smiling and laughing. Bobbie felt....high. Is that the right word? She
smiled at Tim, he smiled back. Everything

They chatted, sipping their punch. When the next slow dance came, Tim
offered his hand to Bobbie. "May I have this dance?" Tim offered his
hand. Smiling and nodding, Bobbie went out there silently. Welded
together, they slowly swayed.

There is freedom within

there is freedom without

Try to catch a deluge in a paper cup

There's a battle ahead

many battles are lost

But you'll never see the end of the road

While you're travelling with me

"I'm fuckin' jealous. How is it she just shows up, finds the right
fuckin' guy, and we all still fuckin' like her?" Bella sipped at Tim's
forgotten punch. Amber nodded.

"There's somebody for everyone." The redhead said. "My luck, he lives in
Zimbabwe." Heather laughed.

Hey now, hey now, Don't dream it's over...

"Sometimes, they're closer than you think." Said the singer; eyeing Kim
in her dark suit with white tie. She was latched to Roxx's painted on
dress. The unlikely pair disappeared out of the hall and into the night.

Hey now, hey now, when the world comes in

They come, they come to build a wall between us...

After the last dance of the evening, the young revelers spilled out of
the Shelton and broke off into groups, each heading for the
afterparties. Beth and Steve arrived at the limo, smiling and giggling
and holding hands. They had a good time, that much was readily apparent.
They were starry eyed, Bobbie noticed. So was Tim, she concluded that
she must be too. Steve helped Beth into the Limo, followed by Bobbie.
Steve entered, then Tim, finally closing the door.

They didn't go to any of the parties, but elected to drive around with
the sun roof open and take turns standing out of it and staring up at
the night sky. Tim stood there with his arm around Bobbie, his touch
blocking the chill rush of air that hissed past the car. Bobbie
remembered seeing the stars before, but never like this. It was
wonderful.

Beth got dropped off at home just a few minutes past her midnight
curfew. From the glow of the light, it was obvious that Roy had stayed
up late. Their silhouettes merged as they hugged. The Limo pulled up to
the bakery. "Last stop, everybody out," Steve said.

"Bobbie, I'll give you a ride. C'mon." Tim handed Bobbie her purse and
led her out of the limo.

"What about Steve?" Bobbie asked.

"I'll be fine, he'll just drop me off last." Steve said, waving and
closing the door, his smile still glowing. The limo drove off, leaving
Bobbie and Tim standing outside the bakery.

Tim opened the locks, entered the building and hit the breakers. Only
this time, the overhead fluorescent lights didn't come on. Yet the room
glowed dimly. Looking around, Bobbie realized that the light came from
all of the ovens. She smiled.

"I just wanted one more dance with you before I took you home. I didn't
think you'd mind, and I picked this song especially for this. I knew
they wouldn't play it at the dance. He walked over and switched on the
small cd player. Slow, sparse guitars began to play. "So," He stretched
out his hand. "One more dance, Bobbie Blue?" The light glinted over his
eyes and teeth.

Bobbie swelled; he had done all this for her. Granted, it wasn't much,
but the gesture touched her. She took his hand and moved in close. Bella
was right about one thing, he was a terrible dancer. But the feeling she
had when she stood that close to him more than made up for it.

They will see us swinging from such great heights

'Come down now' they'll say

But everything looks perfect from far away

'Come down now', but we'll stay

They danced in the dim glow of the oven lights. "Always wanted to dance
with a girl to this song," Tim said.

Bobbie smiled. "I liked Garden State, too." This time, she kissed first.
She didn't want the night to end. Everything seemed so... right. Bobbie's
life was heading in the right direction.

Shame I had to cause so much trouble to find this.