"I think I'd rather drive," I said, being a typical 16 year old male.

"Once we get going that's fine, but I think you should sort of slump down in the passenger's seat until we get out of this neighborhood – my parents have friends all around here, and we don't want a nosy neighbor to blow the whistle, do we?"

"No, Ann. I much prefer the way you blow the whistle…" I smiled.

She giggled and patted the seat next to her. I got in, and we put the convertible top up. I hunched down as she had suggested, amazed again at how truly dedicated she had become to keeping our affair alive, and we sped off into the afternoon.

As it was I was pretty content to let her drive. I was not all that good with a stick shift yet, but she was quite comfortable with it, so it was easier to let her continue. Besides, I wanted to look at her while we talked. In the sun, her hair filled with the wind (we had taken the top back down again), she was more beautiful than ever. As I had dozens of times over the past weeks, I thanked whatever stars I had for the incredibly good fortune that had given me access to her.

"So where to?" she asked, putting her sunglasses on with one hand.

"I don't know," I said, and I really did not. I had expected this trip to be a problem, an opportunity to assert my authority over her again, yet here she was perfectly willing, and I had nothing planned. "Why don't we get some ice cream or something?"

"If you want, but I like to eat stuff like that."

"Oh?"

"I don't want to get fat. My mom and my sister are. It must be in my genes somewhere. Mind if I make an alternate suggestion?"

"Sure. Shoot."

"There are some nice nature trails near Lake Fornier, on the slope of Freedom Peaks. We could go for a walk there."