Spring Fire by Vin Packer Read Free Book Online Page B

wide, sensuous mouth and the nose and the eyes and the chin and they were like pieces of the puzzle that was Leda's face that had not been put together. Mitch felt cold and hard, as though this room and this house and this whole new life were a dream and tomorrow she would wake up and her father would say, "What a sleepy-head you are, black-eyed Susan!"
    The room was still except for a slight knocking sound that the blinds made in the wind. Leda stood up.
    "Sometimes I drink too much," she said now because it was over, "and I talk like a fool late at night I'm sorry, Mitch. Forget it, kid, will you?"
    Mitch said yes but she knew no. She knew no she would never forget it, not the loneliness that gnawed away at Leda and the way she had said it.
    "Tomorrow you go over for your course cards," Leda said. "Better get some sleep."
    "What do you think they'll do about what happened?"
    "I don't know, kid. They'll think of something. Don't worry about it."
    Mitch pulled her slip over her head and jerked off her brassiere. She stepped into the pants of her pajamas and buttoned the coat.
    "I'" get the light, Leda," she said, but Leda only looked at her and did not answer. When the room was dark, Leda said, "Mitch, come over and rub my back, will you?"
    She sighed then when the large hands came on her body and gently ran over her back. "Mitch," she said, "I like you. From the first day. You knew that. . . . Do you hear me, Mitch?"
    The room was black and the wind blew and drops of rain fell on the roof and it was tin. "I hear you, Leda."
    "You looked at me when I was standing by the piano. I'll never forget that look."
    "I thought you were —beautiful."
    "Now what do you think of me, Mitch? Honestly."
    "I've never known anyone like you. I've had friends before, you know, school friends. You're different, though."
    "Do you like to touch me?"
    "Yes. I —used to be timid about touching people. I don't know. When the kids asked me to scratch their backs, I used to dislike it Now — I like it With you."
    "The rain sounds good, doesn't it?"
    "Yes."
    "Want to crawl in with me?"
    Mitch didn't answer. She pulled the covers back and lay beside Leda, taking her hand from her back and turning over to face the other way. When Leda's arms came around her to hold her, she felt a warm aching that eased into peace and she slept until the rain stopped and the sun came through the blinds in the morning.
    * * *
    Marsha said, "So you see, Mitch, it's up to you. I know it's a ridiculous request, but we've got to save the reputation of Tri Ep."
    Mitch backed the car into a space in front of the library. Outside it was hot, and even now in the early morning, near ten, the people passing in the streets had a tired, damp look about them. A bespectacled young man dropped his books and stooped to gather them.
    "But why?" Mitch turned to Marsha. "Why would Bud Roberts want me to ask him to our housewarming ? It doesn't make sense."
    "All I know is what he told me on the phone. He said, 'If Susan Mitchell asks me to your housewarming, I'll forget it.' That's what he said."
    "I don't trust him."
    "Listen, Mitch, it's three weeks away and you won't have to be alone with him. It's right at the house, and we'll all be around. Try to believe me, I know how you feel. I'd never ask you to do it except that we-can't afford an enemy like Sig Delt. If they black-list us, the other fraternities will be too proud to date us too. And after all, Mitch, you did make it pretty messy when you ran to another sorority for help."
    The car was hot and Mitch opened the door. She said, "O.K., I'll ask him. I better get my course cards. The line's getting longer by the minute."
    "Thanks, Mitch." Marsha smiled and touched her hand. "Thank you very much"
    Marsha waited to cross the street while Mitch joined the line, standing behind a tall, angular blond boy. A warm buzz began in Mitch's stomach when she thought of Leda. She traced an L in the dirt with her foot, and shielded her eyes from