All characters appearing or mentioned in this story are 18 years old or older. This story is a work of fiction and any reference or description to actual persons is unintentional.
If you are enjoying these stories, leave a comment about what you liked or didn't, or things you want to read more of. I'll take advice into consideration when I'm working out the next parts of the LoP stories.
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Early November 1998
Autumn in southern California was a special time, when the heat only got up to the low 80's, and the few leafy trees that grow naturally around town begin to loose their leaves.
It also means that days start getting shorter so premium skating time is less and less. The skate park gets more traffic as it's lit and closes later, and, as a bonus, with its central location a lot of folks use it as a meeting spot.
It also happens that half of those folks are women, which is never a bad thing in my opinion.
A particularly large group of gals was hanging around after the park closed one November evening. Some were waiting for boyfriends, some for their friends, and some were just hanging around waiting to see if there was a party or something to go to.
As we were all standing around, I noticed Lauren glancing over at me a few times. I admit, I was glancing at her as well since she was a total stunner.
Her face had sharp features, large round hazel eyes, very full and wide lips, and very long light brown hair that seemed to be impossibly straight. She was wearing a short, grey, flowing skirt that went to her upper thighs since her legs were very long. She also had on a halter style crop top that showed off her flat stomach and barely covered her D-cup breasts. It was low cut and revealed a lot on the sides of her breasts, which made me glance her direction often.
As the various plans were made and farewells said, people started to depart a few at a time. Laurens friend departed with her boyfriend, who was also my friend, promising to meet up at another friends house.
I was leaning against my car, smoking the rare cigarette (it lost its coolness once I was able to buy them legally) pondering if I was going to meet up with my friends or head home. Lauren, after her friend left, approached me. I played it cool, as I always do (and anyone who says otherwise is fibbing).
"Hey, Paul," said Lauren. "Can I bum one of those?"
"Sure," I told her, extracting a cigarette from the pack. I lit it and she took a drag before sitting next to me on the hood of the Green Goblin.
"So," I said, trying to make conversation, "gonna go to go Josies tonight? She claims she was able to get a keg, but I'm not sure I believe her."
"Ha. You shouldn't," Lauren chuckled. "Her brother got her one last time, but he's probably not home so it will be whatever can be pilfered from her parents liquor cabinet, which won't be much."
"Yea, I'll probably skip it. My legs are sore anyways," I said.
"I'll bet. I saw you try to land that trick for like, what, an hour?"
"Or more," I said. "Got it in the end though, so worth the effort."
We sat in silence for a few moments, puffing and enjoying the sudden quiet of a park devoid of people.
"So, you were watching me for an hour?" I asked. Even in the dark, I could see her blush slightly.
"I...noticed you, that's all," she said, smirking. "So don't let it go to your head or anything."
"A hot chick noticing me for an hour? How could that not go to my head?"
"So you think I'm hot," she inquired.
"I think you are as hot as much as you noticed me," I countered.
She pondered on this a moment. "So you think I'm really hot?"
"So you noticed me for a while?" I retorted.
We smiled at the game we were playing. It was fun talking to Lauren even though talking to hot chicks still caused me a bit of unease.
"Listen," I said, "I was thinking of getting something to eat. Wanna hit up the cafe for a late night burger?"
"Maybe," she said, taking another drag off her cigarette. She thought about this as we finished our respective smokes. Stamping hers out with a long legged, cork wedge shoed foot, she cocked her head and smile at me. "I'd love to go to dinner with you."
"Even though it's just a burger?"
"A date is a date," she said. Before I could retort further, she walked a few spaces away and got into her little 70's VW beetle. I was getting into my car when I heard the tell-tale click-click-click of a dead battery. Lauren tried several more times to start it to no avail. She got out, cheeks blowing her long hair out of her face in frustration.
"Got any jumper cables?" she asked.
"No, actually, I don't".
"Super. They tow cars after midnight," she said, annoyed at the situation.
Pulling out my Thomas Guide I scanned the area. There were some shops listed, but no hours posted.
"Hey, I found a couple auto parts stores that might be open. Hop in and we'll get you a new battery."
She cocked her head again, smiling. "And how do I know you won't take me back to your apartment just to have your way with me? I've heard stories, you know."
"Because I'm hungry more than anything, so unless you come with ketchup and extra onions, you have nothing to fear from me."
She laughed at this assurance. "Fair enough," she said, getting into the passenger seat. I tossed her the guide. "You navigate. First ones on the edge of town. If that one's closed we can do the next and the next until we get a battery. Savvy?"
