The Devil and Danna Webster by Jacqueline Seewald Page B

during the week."
    "You'll let me know how it goes?" He acted like he really cared.
    â€œSure, if you like.”
    "Good, then maybe I can come out again next Sunday. Are you going to come and watch us play on Saturday? It's a home game."
    I promised that I would, although I didn't know why, since I didn't have any understanding of football. I walked him to the door. Just as we reached it, there was a loud knock. Startled, I flung open the door.
    "How's it going?" Kevin stood on the threshold, his dark eyes catching the light. He acknowledged Gar's presence with a stiff nod of the head.
    "Come in," I said.
    "What are you doing over here, Hansen?" Kevin confronted Gar in what could only be described as an aggressive manner.
    I put myself between them. "Gar is my geometry tutor. I didn't know you knew each other."
    "We don't really," Kevin replied. "But you are dating my sister, aren't you, Hansen?" Something dark and evil flashed in his eyes.
    "I was just leaving," Gar said without answering Kevin’s question. He turned back to me. "See you," he said. He looked from Kevin to me, his face an expressionless mask.
    Kevin shut the door none too gently. "Is that guy making moves on you?" he demanded.
    "He's my geometry tutor, nothing more, nothing less." I was becoming angry too. “And you have no right asking me that question or being rude. We’ve only been out on one date.”
    He took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and the anger seemed to leave with it. "I'm sorry. You’re right. I had no right asking. I just don't like the guy. He thinks he's hot stuff, you know? God's gift to the world. I don't trust people like that."
    "Don't you think that you're God's gift to the world?" I teased.
    "Only to women and you in particular." He took me in his arms and hugged me tight. "And you're God's gift to me."
    "What a nice thing to say!"
    "Stick with me, kid, and you'll hear lots of nice things."
    I pulled him over to the couch and sat him down beside me.
    â€œIs your father around?” Kevin asked.
    â€œWhy do you ask?”
    â€œWondering if he plans to interrogate me.”
    â€œWhy would you think that?”
    Kevin shrugged. "He sort of stared at me like I had two heads. Or maybe he thought I was an alien or a zombie. Speaking of which, what about a movie? There's a really good horror flick playing at one of the theatres in the mall. Want to go?"
    "No thanks, I’m not into horror stuff."
    "You're not an easy sell. Horror flicks are the best. I could hold you in my arms every time you got scared."
    I laughed. "So you admit to having ulterior motives. Forget it. I’d have nightmares. How about we take a walk on the beach instead? Anyway, I really have a lot of schoolwork to do this afternoon."
    He let out a deep sigh. "All right, but I think you take life too seriously."
    "I agree with you. It's one of my many faults."
    Kevin looked around the room. "Who did all these great pictures?"
    I shrugged. "It's my stuff. Sort of my own private art gallery."
    "Well, your parents obviously like your work. That portrait of your mother is great! That isn't oil, is it?"
    "I did that one in pastels. I work with chalk a lot because it's so easy to blend colors."
    "The flesh tone is so realistic. Amazing."
    â€œLet's go for a walk," I said, feeling very uncomfortable. For me it was as difficult to accept praise as criticism.
    â€œAnything you want to do is fine with me as long as we’re together.”
    The day had turned gray and cool. The wind chilled me in my summery T-shirt and jeans. Kevin saw that I was cold and took off the brown leather bomber jacket he was wearing, placing it around my shoulders.
    "What a beautiful jacket," I commented. “It looks like a World War II pilot’s jacket.”
    "I'll tell Caron you said so. She bought it for me for my birthday. She’s into retro fashion. Thinks it’s chic."
    I fingered the soft leather that felt like butter. "It must have cost a