Summer Dreams

Compliments

A few days later, found Linda and Danny quietly driving to the park. The blonde had convinced her Dad to let her play her guitar in the park. Seeing as the park was a public place, he wasn't worried about the pool guy being indecent.
"Are you okay, Linda?" He'd found himself saying her name more often. Something about it was so melodic, so sweet.
She looked up at him, pushing her sunglasses atop her head, "yeah, I'm fine."
Danny was taken aback for a moment. It was the first time he really saw her without her sunglasses. Her eyes were a brilliant light blue with a darker, electric blue lining the rim. The light blue seemed to shoot from the dark pupil. If her eyes were this vibrant when she was sad, he couldn't wait to see them when she was happy.
"What? Is there something in my teeth?" Linda covered her mouth, suddenly embarrassed.
"Wha'? No, no. Uh uh. No. No, uh... it's just...." he ducked his head, embarrassed, and pretended to be focused on driving. "I've never seen you without sunglasses, not fully anyways. It was... surprising."
"Surprising?"
Damn. I offended the boss' daughter. Even though Linda had proved time and time again she wasn't petty, he was still worried she'd go tattling to Chester and get him fired. "Oh! Um, it's just...." Danny sighed.
Linda ducked her head, facing away from him. "I know."
"You do?"
"Yeah. You can say it. I know I'm ugly. And bad."
"What? No, no, Linda. That's not- no." He shook his head as they waited for the light.
"Then what?" She looked at him with tear-brimmed eyes, and he felt his heart break in two.
Quietly, and blushing, Danny answered, "you have pretty eyes, that's all."
Linda smiled a little, "oh.... well, thank you...... your eyes are incredible."
Danny shook his head as he made the turn. He was never one to take compliments.
"They are." Before she could say more, the truck started smoking. "Uh, Danny? Should we be on fire?"
He only stopped the car on the side of the road and jumped out. Not knowing what to do, Linda jumped out as well.
"What's wrong?"
He opened the hood, and hot smoke hit their faces. "Radiator again. Damn." He turned to her, "all we can do is wait it out."
"In the car?"
"Mm-mm. It's better six feet away."
"Oh.... at least I've got Savanna to keep us entertained!"
*************
Linda stepped into the medium sized house, soaking wet. She looked at the interior- homey. She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, and she looked to Danny. Silently, she was steered to the phone.
"Call whoever you need. I'll be back."
"Where are you going?"
He heard the small bit of desperation in her voice. She looked so small, standing there, wet to the bone. He wondered if she was scared of thunder storms. "Uh, no where."
Linda looked down and punched the number. She let it ring eight times before hanging up and trying the kitchen number. Someone was always in the kitchen.
Danny studied her as she made the call. She was shaking just a little, and he wasn't sure if it was from being soaked or from her possible fear. He looked to the door, where her guitar was in its case, properly propped. He remembered the scramble to get the instrument into the case. He looked back to Linda, her blonde hair was now a shade darker. It stuck to her face, head band, and neck. He tried to avert his eyes from her shirt. She was wearing a white shirt with no bra underneath. He could see right through the fabric.
"Okay, yeah. I'll be fine. Have Dad or Mom call me?.... thanks, bye." She hung up. "Dad's gonna call me. Have Fred pick me up or.... something like that." She started rubbing her arms, goosebumps prickling the skin.
"Danny, who're you taking to- oh, dear!"
Linda turned to see a short woman in a modest dress. Her brown hair was clipped back.
"Come now, dearie! Let's get you dry! You must be soaked to the bone!" The woman grabbed her hand and pulled her to the stairs.
"Uh...." Linda looked back at Danny, then to the woman.
Danny only smirked and headed towards the kitchen.