Chapter Fifteen

After a wile Lucky looked down at Erin, she had fallen asleep.  Lucky smiled to him self, Devon was right she did look like an angle, even more when she slept.  Lucky could hear that the movie downstairs had ended.  There was loud talking and he could hear Devon’s voice plainly.  “Were is Lucky?  I thought this was his party?”  Lucky could tell that Devon was joking but he knew that he would come looking for him anyway.

“I saw him go outside maybe half and hour ago.  Maybe he’s still out there,” Lucky could hear Emily say. A few minutes latter Lucky heard a soft knocking at his door. 

When no one was looking Emily had slipped upstairs to Lucky’s room.  She knew it would be best if Devon didn’t walk in on Lucky and Erin.  Emily and Devon had been sitting together during the movie and he spent most of the time talking to her about Erin and how he was going to hook up with her.  She knew by the way that Erin had talked to Devon earlier that evening that she had no intention of becoming then next object of Devon’s affection (More like obsession Emily thought).

Lucky didn’t know it but she had seen him and Erin go upstairs. Emily poked her head in, she saw Erin asleep next to Lucky so she kept her voice down.  “Lucky, you better get downstairs, the natives are getting a little restless.”  Lucky thought he detected a hint of jealousy in her voice when she looked at Erin.

“Thanx, I’ll be down in a minute.”  Lucky said in a whisper so not to wake up Erin.  Emily closed the door and slipped back down the stairs before anyone noticed her missing.

“Erin, wake up.”  Lucky said softly shaking her shoulder.

Erin blinked her eyes sleepily and slowly sat up.  “I’m sorry, did I fall asleep?”

“That’s okay.  Silent movies are easy to fall asleep during.  The movie downstairs is done.  Do you want to go join the rest of the group?”

“Sure,” Erin got up and stretched. “You know the funny thing?  I’m not the least bit tired any more.”

“That’s good, usually after the movie we head down to my dad’s cub and play pool.  But sense it’s closed tonight we can have the whole place to ourselves.”  They walked into the living room where everyone was getting ready to head down to the club.

“Well, the elusive duo have returned!” Tom joked. 

Devon looked up and felt a little disappointed.  No wonder he had invited her to come to the party.  ‘Well,’ he thought, ‘I’ll let Lucky win this round but I’ll win the next one.’  “Okay who’s ridding with me?”  Devon said as if he didn’t care that they were together.  “Em, do you want to ride with me?”

“Sure, just as long as I drive.  Last time I was in a car that you drove you nearly flipped it.”

“Hey, that wasn’t my fault.  A guy cut me off and I had to swerve to keep from hitting him.”  Devon said in mock in defense.  Everyone looked at each other and laughed.

“Devon you are one of the craziest drivers I’ve ever met.  I would only feel safe if I drove,” Emily joked.  “Besides I want to try driving your car.  Mom and Dad never let me drive any of the sports cars,” Emily paused.  “Please?” She gave him the sad pouting face she always used to get what she wanted.

“How can I resist you when you make that face.  You can drive,” Devon put his arm around her as if to comfort her.  Then he started to tickle her.  Emily fell to the floor laughing.  “Now what so you say?”  Devon joked.

“Mercy, you win!” After she said that Devon stopped tickling her.  Without warning Emily tripped him causing him to fall next to the floor next to her.  Emily jumped up and started to tickle him.  “Now it’s your turn.  I thought you would have learned you lesson about tickling me.  Only give what you can take.”  They wrestled around for a few minutes with everyone looking on.  Finally Emily jumped up out of breath.

“Okay you two break it up before something or someone gets broken.  Let’s got going,” Mark said tossing Emily Devon’s keys.  “Emily would have won if we gave her some more time.”  He joked to Devon.

Lucky and Erin had left a few minutes a head of the rest of the group.  They pulled up to Luke’s and went inside.  Lucky hit the lights the room was flooded with a soft warm glow.  “Do you want to help me pick out some music?”

“Sure,” Erin sorted through the stacks of CDs and pulled one out.  “This is the best CD.”  Erin handed him the one she was talking about.

“Swing Kids?  What kind of music is this?  I don’t think I’ve ever listened to this one before.”

“Have you ever seen the movie Swing Kids?”

“No.”

“You haven’t?  Well next time you do a movie party I’m going to pick the movie.  It is one of the best movies.  Have you ever seen swing dancing?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Then I’ll just have to teach you.  Put in the CD and come over here.”  Erin said moving some of the tables to make a small dance floor.  Lucky put in the CD and fast paced music filled the room.  Erin took Lucky’s hands and began to teach Lucky to swing dance.  Lucky was a fast learner and soon Lucky was as good at it as Erin.  They were having so much fun that they didn’t notice it when Devon and Emily entered the room.  When the CD finally ended they both stopped to catch their breath, by then the whole gang had arrived and had been watching them dance for the past few songs.  No one in the group had ever seen anyone dance like that so they didn’t stop them, they just watched.

“Erin, where did you learn to do that?”  Emily asked astonished.

“How long have you jokers been standing there?”  Lucky asked suspiciously.

Erin softly jabbed Lucky in the ribs.  “My mother had me take lessons when I was about five till I was ten.”

“Why did you stop?  You are great at it.”  Devon said stepping forward.

“The teacher’s could teach me any more.  Plus I had a medical condition that kept me form dancing.”

“What was wrong?  If you don’t mind me asking.”  Emily asked gingerly.

“No I don’t mind you asking.  I went blind,” The whole group’s jaws dropped.  “I was in a car accident on my tenth birthday and for some reason I went blind,” Erin said answering the question on everyone’s mind before they could get the courage to ask it.  “It took a few years and by the grace of God I got my eye sight back.  I just haven’t had time to resume my dance lessons.”  The room was dead silent.

“Can you teach us to do that?”  Devon asked breaking the silence.

“Sure, everyone who wants to learn come over here,” the whole group came over.  “It looks like we are going to need a bigger dance floor.  How about some of you boys start moving some tables out of the way,” The guys moved the tables out of the way making a large dance floor.  “Oh good, there is and equal number of girls and guys.  I’ll dance with Lucky, Em how about you dance it Devon, Carrie…” Erin said looking at a tall girl with short black hair and black eyes, the darkness of her hair and eyes made her skin look ash white.

“I’ll dance with Mark.”  Carrie cut in before Erin could suggest it.

“And I’m with Tom.”  Tammy, a short perky girl said standing next to Tom.

Erin thought to her self how much those two couples were alike.  Tall with tall, short with short, out-going with out-going and then there was her and Lucky.  They had practically nothing in common, only Sonny.  Erin forgot all about this after she started to teach everyone how to Swing.  Devon and Em were easy to teach and caught on quickly.  Mark and Carrie needed a little more help but soon they were able to dance without to many problems, bur Tom and Tammy were a different story.  They were hopeless, no matter what they did they couldn’t seem to be able to keep up with the music. 

When Carry finally got the idea to look at the clock she gave out a little shriek.  “It’s two in the morning!  My mom’s are going to kill me, my curfew what at one!  Lucky can I use your phone?”

“Yah go ahead.”  Carry ran over to the bar and reached over the counter for the phone.  She called her mother, she spent a few minutes explaining what happened. 

“Erin, can my mother talk to you,” Carry covered the receiver with her hand.  “I don’t think she believes that I’m not at Mark’s house.”

“Sure, it’s my fault that you missed your curfew,” Erin took that phone. “Hello?  Yes this is Erin.  I’m so sorry Carry missed her curfew, it’s my fault.  I was giving everyone Swing lessons and se didn’t notice the time.  Yes, Swing dance,” Erin stopped talking and listened for what seemed like ten minutes.  “Carry, your mother would like to talk to you again.”  Erin handed her the phone.

“Yes mother?”  Carry’s jaw dropped.  “Okay.  Yes I’ll call you next time I’m going to be this late,” She hung up the phone and just looked at Erin.  “What did you say to my mother?”

“I just told her what we were doing.  It turns out that she used to Swing dance too.  She spent most the time telling me all about it.”  Erin laughed.

 

Jason’s apartment

“Where could she be?  It’s after 2.”  Jason said pacing the floor.  He looked at his watch again.

“Don’t worry.  I’m sure she’s fine.  Remember when we used to stay out late doing things?”  Robin said placing a soothing hand on Jason’s shoulder.

 “That’s what I’m worried about.  What type of things is she doing?”  Jason sighed and sat down on the couch.

“You’re beginning to sound like a father.”  Robin joked.

“I’m responsible for her.  If anything were to happen to her it would all be my fault.”

“Jason,” Robin said sitting down next to him and taking his hand.  “Erin is a big girl and she can take care of herself.  She’s going to be 16 soon.  And another thing, she’s with Lucky.  I can trust that he won’t let anything happen to her.”

“That’s just it, she’s with Lucky,” Jason looked over at Robin and saw a shocked look on her face.  “I’m not saying that I don’t trust him.  It’s just that she has led a very sheltered life.  I don’t know how well she will handle being around a lot of people.”

“Jason, look.  Lucky is a very responsible boy and he’s Em’s best friend.  You trust her judgment don’t you?”

“Wasn’t it one of her friends that got her into drugs a few years ago?  That nearly got her killed.  She tried to jump out her window and fly.”

“That was three years ago, and you were there to save her.  Anyway, this is Lucky we’re talking about, not some druggy that she met at school.  I’ve watched him grow up.  If Erin is with him then there is nothing to worry about.”

 

Half an hour latter

“We have to be quiet.  I don’t want to wake up Jason or Robin,” Erin whispered.  Her and Lucky walked up to her door.  “You didn’t have to walk me up here.  It’s not liked I’m gonna get jumped in the elevator.”

“It was only right that I walk you up.”  Lucky said.  They stood at her door for a moment in silence.

“Do you want to come in?  I can make some coffee.  I don’t want you falling asleep at the wheel.”  Erin smiled.

“Sure,” Lucky said with a laugh.  Erin opened the door and turned on the lights.  “Wow, you have a nice apartment.”

“It’s okay.  I’d rather have one that isn’t so big.  It’s only me here and it is built for like three or four people.  Do you want me to show you around?”

“Yah, give me the grand tour.”  Lucky joked.

 

Ten minutes latter

“…and this is my computer room.”  Erin said turning on the light. 

Lucky’s jaw hit the floor.  “Now this is a computer room.”  The room had three computers, a laptop, two printers, a scanner, two faxes and various other computer related things.

“Everything is state of the art.  I try to update it every few months.  That computer over there, the one without the keyboard, is all voice activated.  Every computer has it’s own phone line so I can be online with three different online carriers and the laptop has a cellerier modem so I can take it anywhere.” the computer that she indicated was voice activated beeped on.

“Hello Erin.  Glad to see you’re back.  While you were out you received a new message.”  A female voice said from the computer.

“Hey Glades.  Turn on the other computers okay?”  Erin said.  “I’ll be back in a few minutes.  If you think this room is cool weight till you see my green room.”  Erin said now speaking to Lucky.

“Lead the way.” 

Erin opened the door to the green room and they were flooded with the sent of growing plants and dirt.  The lights came on and some background sounds of rainforest animals.  The only light was a soft dome light in the center of the room right above the stone bench.

“When you said green room you weren’t kidding.”  Lucky mussed.

“Yah, I come here when I need to think or when I just want to relax,” Erin looked over at Lucky and noticed him yawning.  “So how about that coffee?”

“I think I could” Lucky yawned, “use some coffee.”

“I can see that.  How about we do down stairs and I’ll get you some.” 

Lucky sat down on one of the couches in Erin living room.  “I hear you’re into computers.  What kinds of things to you do on them?”  Erin carried two cups of coffee into the living room.  Lucky was fast asleep on the couch. “It looks like we won’t be needing these,” Erin said putting down the coffee cups.  She covered Lucky up with a blanket.  Erin thought he looked cute when he was asleep.  She leaned over and kissed him on the forehead.  “Goodnight, and sweet dreams.”  Erin whispered as she walked up the stairs to her room.

 

Jason’s apartment

Jason is sitting on the couch with Robin sitting next to him.  Had his arms around her, they were sitting watching the fire in the fireplace.  Even through it was early summer they still liked to have a fire going.

“Sir.”  Renaldo said opening the door.

“Yes?”  Jason looked up.

“Miss Brown has just returned home.  Lucky Spencer is with her.”

“Thank you Renaldo.”  Renaldo closed the door once more.

“See I told you everything was okay.  They probably just decided to watch another movie,” Robin let out a long yawn.  “I’m going to go to bed now.  Are you coming?”

“Yah.”  Robin held her hand out to him.  Jason took her hand and they walked to his room.