Temptations

Chapter 1

"HEY DANIEL! WANT TO COME TO THE BEACH? ITS A GREAT DAY!"

Daniel Padilla whipped around, shielded his eyes from the sun, and looked for the source of the high female voice. Up and down Rodeo Drive he searched. There were Orchard Hills matrons, tourists in Bermuda shorts, chic young shoppers laden down with packages. But nobody  who looked as if they would be asking him to share a day at the beach.

He was peering past at Ralph Lauren Polo shop when he felt blast of hot air. A Cadillac convertible pulled up to the curb next to him.

"Here we are." Julia Barretto grinned from behind the wheel.

She was fellow Clinton High senior and had a short brown hair and a sunburned nose. Janella Salvador and Liza Soberano, two other Clinton girls were in the car with her. They had short brown hair, too and they all wore square red sunglasses. Daniel thought they looked like triplets. He met the car at the curb and leaned on the window frame.

"You wanna come with us?" Flirted Janella. She tugged on the Band-Aid he had pasted over the alligator on his cotton shirt➖an original Padilla fashion statement.

"I don't know," joked Daniel, "three against one. Those are dangerous odds."

Julia leaned over, forcing Janella to flatten herself against the back seat.

"Don't worry," Julia enticed, sliding her glasses down the bridge of her pug nose, "once we get there you can just concentrate on me."

Daniel lifted his hands off the window and took a step back.

"Sorry, girls. You found me too late. I'm on my way over to Westwood to meet Patrick and Arisse. We're all going to that MGM sale."

"Oh, that used-costume sale thing at old MGM studios?" Julia said. "It sounded pretty neat. I bet you can get more of those great bowling shirts?."

Daniel smiled. He was famous for his collection of antique bowling shirts.

"I may start a team."

Julia giggled. "Maybe you'll find something great to wear to the ball." She paused meaningfully.

Janella was still being squashed against the seat and cleared her throat. Julia didn't take her eyes off to Daniel.

"Who did you say you were taking?"

Daniel was beginning to notice the intense morning heat.

"I asked Mrs. Cruz. She said she'd let me know."

The girls laughed. Mrs. Cruz was the Clinton girls' vice-principal.

"Well, if she turns you down, you might give me a try. But you'd better hurry. Joshua Garcia's been dropping hints."

Daniel ran a hand through his thick, dark hair. "I'll keep that in my mind. Have fun at the beach. Watch out for sharks."

"We will. You sure you don't want to come?"

"Yeah. Patrick's waiting for me."

Julia sighed. "Okay, 'Bye."

Daniel waved as the Caddy pulled away.

"Pwew," he whispered to himself.

Normally he liked to flirt and tease just for the fun of it. But he knew Julia had crush on him and was getting antsy about the Clinton ball. He had begun to feel the pressure ever since they had announced at school last week that ball ticket were going on sale. The established couples were walking around with smug smiles while the rest of them scrambled, trying to figure out if they could find someone to share the last big social event of their high school years.