Cursed - Chapter Two

The sky eventually ended its watery bombardment on the town roughly around sunset. Basil had closed up the ice cream parlor and headed to the soda fountain with Anthony; no one came in after dark anyway.

As they stepped through the door, the loud chatter quieted somewhat and eyes began focusing on them. Anthony went to order them milkshakes and Basil headed over to the jukebox. The eyes followed the latter.
He pressed the button, flipping through the song options. A minute or two passed and then he paused, smiling. He hit select and music started blaring. He walked back over to the counter where Anthony stood and looked at some of the girls who were sitting there. A pretty girl with big brown eyes and black hair caught his eye. He pulled her off her stool and into the center of the room, dancing the whole way. The girl’s surprise quickly wore off and she started dancing too, laughing a bit in the process.

Anthony grinned and looked for his own dancing partner. His eyes fell on Judy Summers, Father Thomas’ niece. She was a good church-going girl with her wavy blonde hair pulled back in a neat ponytail and her bright blue eyes cast downwards and away from Basil’s bold behavior. An innocent and pure little lamb in a pink checkered dress and white cardigan.

He walked over and pulled gently at her hand. Her head turned quickly and she looked up at him in surprise and with caution etched in her face.

“Hello m’lady, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?” he asked, kissing the hand he held.

She yanked it quickly out of his. “No, I certainly will not. I will not do anything so indecent”.

“But everyone else is dancing too. Don’t you want to join the rest of us?”

Anthony was right. Everyone had partnered up and was dancing with Basil and the raven-haired beauty. Judy hesitated now. Anthony looked across the room at Judy’s rival, Sue.

“Well I guess if you don’t want to dance, then maybe Sue will indulge me…” he said rather airily.

Judy took Anthony’s hand. “N-no. I’ll dance with you”.

Anthony grinned. Women were so easy to manipulate, they’d do anything than lose to a rival or look uncool. He whirled Judy out onto the dance floor, making her spin so fast that her skirt almost went too high. She let out a small shriek and he laughed.

“That’s not funny Anthony Telain!”

“Don’t be such a square Judes”

Judy blushed. ”Don’t call me that”

“Why not?”

“Only my family and my friends call me that”.

“You don’t want to be my friend?”

“I don’t want to be your anything Mr.Telain. Everyone knows you’re a scoundrel. You rob young, chaste, and pious girls of their purity”.

“Oh Judy Judy Judes, such harsh accusations are untrue”.

“Don’t lie to me. I know you’re the one that started Miss Runaround Sue’s career as a tease and a flirt. She’s now almost as bad as you”.

“Well I do pride myself on that”, he said, grinning unabashed.

Judy glared at him and then in the direction of Sue. “I wouldn’t. She stole Bobby from me. I don’t know what a decent boy like Bobby sees in that cheap thing”.

“I wouldn’t worry yourself about that loss. Bobby was as exciting as a wet blanket. But back to Sue, you got to realize she’s sexy Judes. She draws them in like a moth is drawn to a flame”.

“And the moths all get burnt eventually” she added bitterly.

“Yep! But they go right back to her if they have the chance. They’ll never learn”. Anthony looked over at her.” I think even I might go seeking that danger once in a while”.

Judy abruptly stopped dancing and walked away, shaking her head in disgust. Anthony ran after her, a determined hunter on the trail of his prey. He followed her outside and grabbed her wrist. She yanked savagely away and slapt him.
”Don’t you dare lay a hand on me!”

“Geez Judes, calm down”, he said, putting a hand up to his injured cheek.

“Don’t call me Judes! Don’t you ever come near me again Anthony Telain. You’re just like the other boys…no you’re worse!”

She turned and stomped off, up the street, towards her house. Anthony stood there, watching her go. He smiled after a few seconds. The girl would be more of a challenge than he had originally thought. “Who knew Miss Bo Peep was a bit of a spit fire”, he thought to himself. He then sighed and walked back inside, whistling.
Basil had switched dancing partners and was dancing with Sue. Anthony smirked. Another moth drawn to the flame…although he wasn’t sure if the moth was Basil or Sue in this case. He headed back to the counter and finished the rest of his milkshake, which was still sitting there.

He sat there pondering the day’s events and what he should do the next day. He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was too late to give the professor a call; that would have to wait until morning. And the experiments would have to wait until sunset…

He sighed. What to do with the time in between? He didn’t want to just stay at home. He wasn’t a complete nerd. Anthony glanced back at the kids dancing. “Ah well…I’ll just do whatever comes up. Adventures always come to you not the other way around,” he thought. He smiled. ”And maybe one of them will involve that wonderful little lamb”.

Anthony got up and headed back on to the dance floor, several girls gladly offering to dance with him. As he whirled each of his dance partners around, he couldn’t help but think of his luck.

“But with these looks, I guess it’s a no brainer that I can bag so many chicks”.