"I'm not going anywhere." Lindsey shrugged, pulling her knees up to chest and resting her chin on them. She glanced over at the guy sitting across from her and noticed him looking at her. Smiling, she slid her legs back down, slipping down in the chair and letting her legs fall open a little. She saw his eyebrows go up, and he lifted his gaze to her face.

"You're a very pretty girl."

She shrugged. "Yeah? So?"

He adjusted his white hat, still meeting her eyes. "So you don't have to do that to get attention."

Lindsey frowned, snapping her legs together and sitting straight up. "Do what?"

"You know what."

"What are you all dressed up for--a parade or something?" Lindsey squinted at him and saw he was wearing a name tag: Lieutenant Zachary Davis.

"I'm a recruiter."

"For what?" Lindsey snorted, looking him up and down. Even the man's shoes were white! "The Pillsbury Dough Boy?!"

He raised an eyebrow in her direction. "The U.S. Navy."

"So you're ... what ... a sailor?"

"On a nuclear submarine, but yes." He cocked his head at her. "Do you have any interest in the Navy?"

She rolled her eyes. "Only if we're at war."

"We are."

"Yeah, well ... not here we're not."

"So what are you interested in ... Lindsey?"

He'd obviously been paying attention. She leaned forward, putting her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands. "Sex ... Zach."

"Is that all?"

"No..." She glanced over at the secretary, who was rifling through papers at her desk, but clearly listening to them. "I also like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain."

He laughed. "But are you into health food?"

"Are you kidding me?" Lindsey smiled back. "I live on Twinkies and Taco Bell."

"Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, here."

She grinned back at him. "I love that stuff.

"What else do you love?"

"Hm..." Lindsey fidgeted. "I love dogs ... but I'm not allowed to have one."

"How come?"

"My parents." She sighed.

"Are you a senior?"

"Yes." Pulling a pack of gum out of her bag, she slid a stick out with her teeth

"Eighteen?

She offered him a piece. "Yep."

He shook his head. "So you'll be out on your own soon and can make up your own mind about whether or not you want a dog."

"I can't wait!" She crumpled the wrapper and slid the stick of gum between her teeth.

He sat forward a little. "So ... what else do you love?"

"You're weird."

He shrugged. "Just a question."

The silence stretched for a moment, and then Lindsey said softly, "Snow.

"What else?"

"Argyle socks ... and you know those little machines that sell those toys in grocery stores?" She snapped her gum. He nodded. "I love those. I still have to put a quarter in one every time I go."

He laughed. "What else?

"Twizzlers." She smiled. "And the blues."

He looked surprised for the first time. "Who's your favorite?"

"I like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton ... old stuff."

He snorted. "Old, eh?"

"My favorite, lately, though, is Kenny Wayne Shepard."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Well that's a strange coincidence..." His grin grew wider. "I happen to have tickets to Kenny Wayne Shepard playing at the Palladium on Friday."

"You do not!"

"I actually do."

"Really?"

"Want to go?"

"Are you serious?"

"Would the Pillsbury Doughboy kid you?"

"Lindsey!" It was Mr. Ryan calling from the principal's office. She'd almost forgotten about him!

"Here's my number." Lindsey grabbed her crumpled gum wrapper and opened it, scribbling furiously. "Call me. I have to go get paddled."

"Excuse me?" Zach raised his eyebrows as she grabbed her backpack.

"Lindsey!" It was Mr. Miller this time, his face already red.

"I've been a bad girl." She smirked, nudging Zach's shoulder with her hip as she passed. She didn't look back, but she had the strong feeling he was watching her ass wiggle in her shorts as she walked toward where Mr. Miller and Mr. Ryan were flanking the principal's office door.

"Lindsey--" Mr. Miller shook his head as he waved her in.

"I know, I know." She snapped her gum, throwing her backpack on the floor and flopping into the chair next to his desk. "Save the lecture, Dad."