Damaged: A Violated Trust (Secrets) by Melody Carlson Page A

… maybe forever.
    To that purpose I go shopping with Dad and Estelle again. Oh, Dad pulls his “I gotta check my e-mail and the stocks” routine again. But everyone seems happy and I actually score some new clothes out of the deal. Now that Harris is in my life, clothes seem more important than they did last week. And Estelle is great at finding the kinds of things that make me look hot and really show off my figure, which she keeps pointing out is “totally fabulous.”
    So maybe I like Estelle after all. Mostly I’m relieved that her “little” brother (aka Uncle Buck) isn’t ratting on me for making out with Harris in the Wet Willie’s parking lot on Friday night. Somehow I know that wouldn’t sound good to my dad. And as it is, he seems to like Harris. I’d like to keep it that way. Perhaps I can keep it that way for years to come … because I truly think Harris and I are the real thing. I would never admit this to anyone (because it sounds so corny), but I want to marry that boy. I really, really do!
    ……….
     
    My communication with Harris is minimal on Sunday, but at least he’s in touch and texts me that he got roped into some family function. I text him back saying I’m doing the same. Then he says he’ll call me later tonight.
    So after dinner I go to my room on the pretense of homework, but keeping my phone at my elbow, I’m really surfing the Net and listening to music. It’s almost nine when my phone rings.
    “I’ve missed you,” he says first thing.
    “I missed you too.”
    We talk about our day a bit, then we talk about each other — how much we like each other, how cool it is we’re together. Finally he says he needs to go and offers me a ride to school.
    “Sounds good,” I say, although I want to jump up and down and squeal. He says what time, then we say a gushy good night, and I close my phone and fall onto my bed. He’s still into me! I am so happy. And I can’t believe I’m now one of those girls who gets to ride with her boyfriend to school. Life is good. I carefully lay out what I want to wear tomorrow. Thanks to today’s shopping spree, my closet is looking more like a real closet — and I feel like a real teenage girl. Not like the nun my mother was trying to force me to be.
    On Monday morning, I head down to the parking lot at the time Harris told me. I could wait to see if he comes up to get me, but it’s really no trouble to go down there. He’s a few minutes late and seems surprised that I’m waiting for him.
    “Sorry I’m late.” He pulls into the street. “But you could’ve waited in the house. I would’ve called you.”
    “Oh.” I nod. I probably looked overeager by standing in the parking lot. “I just wanted some fresh air.”
    “Yeah, it’s a nice day all right.”
    We make small talk as he drives, but at the stop sign, his hand wanders over and he gives my thigh a squeeze. “I missed you, Haley.”
    I smile. “Me, too.”
    At school he comes around and opens my door, helps me out, and then pulls me into his arms. “I really missed you,” he says passionately. Now we kiss and I feel myself melting again. Part of me wants to glance around to see if anyone is looking. Another part of me doesn’t care in the least.
    “We better get to class,” I finally tell him as I pull away.
    “Yeah.” His voice sounds husky. “I guess so.”
    We hold hands as we walk into school, and I try to keep a perfectly natural expression on my face. I want to act like this is no big deal, like I’ve had lots of boyfriends and Harris is just one more. But underneath my cool veneer, I am trembling with excitement. This is so cool.
    I can feel people looking at us. Some with mild interest. Others, like Emery’s friends, openly stare. A few say hey and we greet them back. Harris seems a little nervous too. But he walks me all the way to my locker and plants another kiss on my lips. “See ya later, Haley.”
    I open my locker, resisting the urge to stick my