Mike Jarman was tall and good looking, with crisp dark hair and an easy smile and a varsity letter on his sweater. Lots of girls fancied him, and he played the field. Melissa didn't think that Mike, being a Romeo, was the right guy to take her cherry, but she was interested in him and taking no pains to hide the fact. He was cycling her appraisingly, almost leering.

"Wanna go in the bushes?" he asked.

There was a wooded area just behind the school, frequently used as a pastoral lover's lane. It was secluded enough for making out, yet close enough to city streets that a girl didn't have to worry about being taken by force.

She gave him a bewitching smile, hesitating, teasing him by the delay. She stuck her lower lip out and blew a strand of blonde hair from her eyes.

"Well? You game?" he asked.

She gave a little shrug, as if it were a matter of total indifference to her. But when Mike frowned slightly and started to turn away, she stopped him.

"Yeah – okay," she agreed.

He grinned widely and, taking her by the hand, led her off across the school yard and then into the wooded area. They strolled along a dirt path between the trees for a ways, and then he stepped off into the bushes, pulling her behind him. She followed willingly.

There was a small clearing not far off the path, a shaded spot with the boughs drooping above and the sunlight coming through in a dappled pattern on the ground. Melissa thought it was a romantic spot.

Mike slipped his varsity sweater off and placed it on the ground for her to sit on. She figured that was a real polite and gallant gesture. She settled down, curling her sleek legs gracefully under her. Mike sat down beside her. The ground was carpeted by pine needles and the air was sweetly scented by the fragrance of pine. There was also another sweet aroma.