American Star

by Jackie Collins

  happier than she'd ever been.

  Joey was revving up his bike in the parking lot, ready to go. "Come

  on," he said. "Jump aboard an' let's get the fuck outta here."

  At first it was awkward-the trailer being such a dump and all. Nick

  had tried to clean it up-shoving all the clothes into a corner,

  smoothing out the worn blanket on his mattress, but there wasn't much

  he could do to improve twelve square feet of space shared by three

  untidy people.

  He could see Lauren was shocked by the shabby conditions, but she

  covered it well.

  "Okay, so it's a pisshole," he said with a cocky grin. "But who

  promised you the White House?"

  She pretended to look solemn. "I'll have to leave then."

  "Yeah?"

  "Maybe."

  "Oh, really?"

  "I think so.

  "Come here."

  "Why?"

  "You know why.

  He fell on the mattress, pulling her down beside him. They started to

  kiss, slowly at first-savoring each other's lips-and then faster until

  they both wanted more.

  He moved his hands under her sweater, feeling her breasts. "I've

  missed you so much," he murmured, working his way under her bra, trying

  to concentrate on something other than the feeling he was

  experiencing.

  "You too," she managed.

  He pulled her sweater over her head and unhooked her bra, bending to

  kiss her breasts-his tongue moving slowly from nipple to nipple.

  She sighed-a long-drawn-out sound.

  It was too much. The moment of no return was upon them before either

  of them had time to stop and think, and even though she'd planned to

  ask him to wear a rubber. . . who cared? It didn't matter.

  Nothing mattered except the fusing of their two bodies.

  He was more aggressive than the time before-entering her with a burst

  of energy, riding her like his life depended on it. And now that she

  knew what to expect, she responded with a wildness and abandon she had

  not known she possessed.

  Together they rocked the world-riding the roller coaster until it

  peaked on the highest point of all, pausing for several mind-blowing

  seconds before cruising smoothly all the way to stop.

  "Oh . . . jeer!" he exclaimed. "That was the best ever."

  "It was?"

  "It was."

  "Me too."

  "C'mere, me too."

  And she curled into his arms wet and sticky and fell into a blissful

  sleep.

  When she awoke it was afternoon and he was lying on his back beside

  her, hands behind his neck. Slowly she traced the contours of his

  chest with her tongue-tentatively at first because she wasn't sure if

  he'd like it. He obviously loved it-so she really got into it, licking

  and sucking, teasing him with little love bites.

  "Where'd you learn t'do this?" he asked, groaning.

  "Hmm . wouldn't you like to know?"

  "Yeah." He reached for her breasts but she brushed his hand away.

  "I think I would."

  "Lie back and enjoy it," she said, leisurely traveling down his body

  until she reached his hard penis.

  "Lauren, you don't have to-" "Yes, I do," she whispered, teasing him

  with her tongue. "Because I want to."

  By late afternoon they both knew they had to make a move. "You'd

  better get dressed," he said, wishing they could stay in bed forever.

  "Uh . . . where's the bathroom?"

  "I don't know how t'break this to you, but we ain t got one.

  She thought he was joking and laughed.

  "No, seriously-we don't."

  "No bathroom?"

  "Sorry."

  "Where do you shower?"

  "Down at the gas station. It's not exactly a shower-but I don't think

  you want the details."

  She felt bad that she'd asked, she didn't want to embarrass him.

  "Maybe we can come here every week," he said, getting up and pulling on

  his jeans. "Just you an' me-shut out the world."

  "I can't take too many days off school."

  "Yeah. An' I suppose George wouldn't be too happy if I ducked work on

  a regular" "Nick . . ." She stared at him, her face composed and

  serious.

  "What if I got-" "Whoa-no way! I pulled out in time."

  She was relieved. "You did?"

  Course I did. Wouldn't risk it."

  "Thank goodness."

  "Hey, you gotta learn to trust me. You know that I . . . uh . .

  "Say it!"

  He grinned. "Love ya.

  She smiled and softly touched his face. "Yes, I know" "How was school

  today?"

  "Huh?" Lauren tried to squeeze past her mother, who was standing in

  the front hall blocking the stairs.

  "School," Jane Roberts repeated.

  If Lauren wasn't so intent on getting upstairs she would have noticed a

  tenseness in her mother's voice.

  "Oh, the usual-boring math, dull history. And P.E. I hate P.E. In fact

  the showers were out of order-I feel all sweaty. Maybe I'll take a

  shower now.

  Jane did not budge. "Anything unusual happen?"

  Warning bells rang in Lauren's head. Something had gone on at school

  that she didn't know about.

  Gotta play it smart, Roberts. Wouldn't do to get busted.

  "The thing is, Mother," she said quickly, "I wasn't going to worry

  you-but after P.E. I didn't feel so good. The nurse suggested I lie

  down for a while."

  "Really?" Jane's tone did not warm up. Usually she would have been

  full of concern.

  There was a short uncomfortable silence. Since her mother didn't seem

  inclined to move, she decided to head for the kitchen. But Jane

  followed her in-there was no escape.

  Opening the refrigerator she grabbed a carton of milk and turned around

  to find her mother staring at her with cold accusing eyes.

  She couldn't take it anymore. "Is something wrong?"

  "Why do you ask?"

  She shrugged, reaching for a glass. "I don't know. You seem kind

  of.

  . . funny."

  She wondered if she could make a dash past Jane and get upstairs

  without further questioning.

  "Lauren," her mother said in slow, measured tones. "We've always

  brought you up to be a good girl. Truthful at all times."

  Oh, God, something was definitely up.

  She tried to look innocent. "Yes, Mother?"

  "You weren't at school today, were you?"

  Now she had a choice. Did she continue to lie and take a chance?

  Or did she tell the truth?

  Dear Mother, I spent the day in bed having sex with Nick Angelo.

  bid you, dear? How nice.

  Gee, thanks, Mom, you're so understanding.

  She bit her bottom lip-there was only one way to go. "I told you, I

  was at school, but I didn't feel good."

  "The school secretary phoned to inform me you have probably been

  playing truant on and off for the last few months."

  She managed to look amazed. "What?"

  "Apparently you've been absent on several occasions with various

  excuses. A sore throat, a cold, a visit to the dentist. And all your

  excuse notes were supposedly signed by me. Miss Adams is no fool.

  Eventually she became suspicious-especially as this morning you were

 
; seen leaving on the back of a motorcycle."

  Oh, God, here it comes. She was in deep trouble.

  "We've always trusted you, Lauren, and now this. Your father is on his

  way home."

  Naturally.

  "It's your fault," she blurted out, her cheeks reddening. "You can't

  stop me from seeing Nick. We're in love."

  "In love?" Jane laughed derisively. "You're sixteen years old, what

  do you know about love?"

  More than you think, she wanted to yell out. More than you'll ever

  know.

  Words came tumbling out. "Don't you understand? Nick doesn't have

  anybody except me. I can't turn my back on him like everyone else. I

  can't do it."

  "You'll do exactly what your father and I say you will."

  Dread swept over her. This was no idle threat. Somehow she was going

  to have to deal with it.

  e're outta here," Joey said.

  "Huh?" Nick slid from under the Lincoln he was servicing.

  "Whatcha talkin' about?"

  "I mean we're leavin' town, me and Cyndra."

  "You don't have enough money," Nick said, wiping oil off his hands.

  "Sure we do," Joey replied. "I been workin' two jobs, remember?

  And Cyndra's been doin' time at the factory. We've had it with this

  town."

  Joey and Cyndra-the two people he was closest to were taking off.

  Wasn't it bad enough that he couldn't see Lauren anymore?

  "Anyway," Joey said, lighting up a butt. "We did some talkin', an' we

  figured if you wanted to come with us it's okay."

  "Where you plannin' on going'?"

  Joey shrugged. "Chicago. I got relatives there, friends, people who'd

  put us up until we find a place."

  "You told your mother?"

  Joey dragged on the butt, inhaling every last bit of smoke into his

  lungs. "Are you shittin' me? I'll leave her a note. She'll freak

  whatever I say."

  "How about Cyndra?"

  "She ain't tellin' nobody, only you." He dropped the butt on the

  ground, crushing it underfoot. "We're going' tomorrow."

  Nick shook his head. "Jeer! Tomorrow! Like how about givin' me

  notice?"

  "I know it's kinda sudden, but if we don't do it now we'll never make

  the move. You comin' with us or not?"

  He was torn. Sure he wanted to go, but how could he leave Lauren?

  Even though he hadn't seen her for six weeks he still loved her. It

  wasn't her fault she'd been grounded, it was his-he should have made

  certain they were more careful.

  Things were a mess. They'd really blown it. Her parents had gone

  crazy. Phil Roberts had even turned up at the trailer. He'd listened

  as Phil attempted to confront Primo-like the fat slob gave a shit.

  Some fucking joke.

  "I want your assurance your son will have nothing more to do with my

  daughter," Phil Roberts had said, standing stiffly at the door.

  "What in hell ya talkin' about? Get the fuck outta here," Primo had

  replied, a true gentleman.

  Phil Roberts had retreated fast.

  Nick unbuttoned his greasy overalls. "I dunno what t'say, Joey. I'm

  real tempted."

  "Look . . . I understand it ain't easy."

  "I can't run out on Lauren without seein' her."

  "Whyn't you write her a letter? Tell her you'll be back for her when

  you got the bucks."

  "Like when?"

  "What am I, a fortune-teller? Who knows? But you're sure not securin'

  any future for the two of you hangin' around here."

  Joey was right. If he took off he could do anything he wanted, start a

  new life-anything-and when Lauren was eighteen she could tell her

  parents to screw off and they'd be together.

  "Let me think about it," he said, peeling off his overalls.

  "Don't think-do," Joey encouraged. "Cause I ain't' on endin' up

  here-an' neither is Cyndra. We're on our way, Nick-an' if you're smart

  you'll come with us."

  He thought about it all day, and the more he thought, the more

  appealing the prospect became. Take off. Say goodbye to Primo,

  Bosewell, all the shit that plagued his life. Jeer, it was tempting.

  Then he began thinking about Harlan. How could he dump the kid?

  Especially with Cyndra leaving too.

  Hey, man, what are you, a baby-sitter? Think about yourself for a

  change.

  He needed to see Lauren, but that wasn't possible. Writing her a

  letter seemed like a good idea. He could explain everything so she'd

  understand. That way she wouldn't think he'd run off without her.

  After work he stopped by the drugstore. Louise greeted him, her usual

  cheery self, "What's up, Nick?"

  "I need a big favor."

  "What else is new?"

  "Can you see Lauren gets a letter if I leave it with you?"

  "You mean hand it to her when she comes in?"

  "Yeah. Only not if she's with her mother."

  "No problem."

  "Lend me a pen an' paper, I gotta write it."

  As obliging as ever, Louise set him up with paper and pen and he

  hunched in a corner booth trying to figure out what to write.

  Dear Lauren, I'm going, but I'll be back for you. It's dumb for me to

  hang around since we can't see each other anyway, so I'll keep in touch

  and you'll always know where I am.

  That didn't exactly cut it. He tried again.

  Dearest Lauren.

  Too flowery. And once more Lauren-I miss you so much that every night

  when I go to sleep all I can think about is you. I see your face. I

  feel your body. I smell you.

  Nah, that sounded rude. He started again, and finally got the words

  right. Then he sealed the note in an envelope and wrote her name on

  it, adding a large PRIVATE! and URGENT! on the front. Now all he had

  to do was tell Joey he was going with them.

  As he left the drugstore, Stock Browning drove up and got out of his

  car with a couple of his cronies. He swaggered past Nick, seeing this

  as a perfect opportunity to show off-his favorite sport. "Smell

  something, guys?" Stock said with a rude snigger. "Like an open

  garbage can?"

  His friends guffawed.

  Nick had been waiting for this ever since his broken nose. "Hey, man,"

  he countered. "How come y'always travel with bodyguards?

  Scared shitless you might run into me, huh?"

  "Into you?" Stock smirked, showing off for his pals. "I squash white

  trash like you under my feet."

  "Yeah . . . well, they're sure big enough."

  "What did you say, terk?"

  "You heard me, asshole."

  Stock thought he'd be a big man in front of his friends. Since he'd

  creamed Nick once, he figured it was easy. He turned toward him, his

  hefty right arm raised, ready to throw a punch.

  This time Nick was ready. "Fuck you," he spat out, kneeing Stock in

  the balls, following up with a sharp kick in the shin.

  Stock let out a roar of pain.

  Nick chopped him across the neck, and before anyone knew what was

  happening Stock was sprawled on the ground.

  "Hey," Nick said, prodding him with the tip of his sneaker, "I guess I

  owed you that." Turning his back he walked away.

  Cyndra was in the trailer when he got home, busy cramming everything

  she owned
into a small backpack.

  "Joey told you, huh?" she said, rolling up her favorite sweater and

  squeezing it in.

  "Yeah."

  "What have you decided?"

  "I'm gonna come.

  She jumped up, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.

  "I'm real happy, Nick."