Drive-In Seduction • Chapter 1 • Negotiation

“Hey, Sal,” Lenny said as soon as the door was opened. “You look nice.”

“Hi, Lenny,” Sally said, smiling broadly, then instantly looking away.

“He ready?” Lenny and her brother, Rob, had planned on going to the local Drive-in movie, to hang out with everyone else who would be there on this hot Saturday in July.

Sally stepped aside to let Lenny in. “Not quite.”

Rob and his mother were yelling over each other so loudly that no one could understand a word either was saying. However, the gist was clear. Rob was grounded, and he wasn’t happy about it.

Rob had been the star receiver on the high school football team, plus he lettered in track, so when the State university came knocking with a scholarship, he had it made. Instant deferment.

Rob celebrated the end of high school at the annual blow-out party at Shelby’s Farm, and had gotten drunk at the party. Officially, he was taken into custody for urinating in public, which, while technically true, wasn’t the real reason he was arrested. It was because he took a swing at a cop. So, mainly because he was drunk, but partly because his pants were open, he swung and missed and fell flat on his face. The arresting officer pounced on his back, and cuffed him easily. The best part of the story is that as soon as the cop sat him up to interrogate him, Rob puked all over the both of them.

Here’s where Rob’s bright future saved him. The DA only charged him with the misdemeanor, and a friendly judge held off on the verdict for 30 days, coincidentally around the time when Rob would need to report to State for football practice. So, for the next few weeks, Rob just needed to keep his nose clean, or else his scholarship, and his deferment, would be long gone.

Lenny walked into the kitchen where Rob and his mom were arguing and stood between them. “Whoa, whoa, settle down, Rob.”

“Tell HER to settle down,” Rob waved at his mother.

“Robbie, you’re not being fair…” Amanda started, but Lenny cut her off.

“NO, Rob, I’m telling YOU to settle down.” Lenny got right in his face. “Y’hear?”

Rob clenched his teeth, and his fists, then raised his hands, open palms, in surrender. “Fine.”

“Okay. So what’s the problem here?” Lenny turned to ask Amanda.

“Robbie’s grounded.” Sally said, in a teasing voice.

“YOU stay out of this!” Rob yelled.

“Sally, please…” Amanda pleaded. “You’re not helping.”

“Mom, he just wants to go out and get drunk again!” Sally said.

“You mind your own business!” Robbie pointed a finger at her as a clear threat.

“What do you mean? Like when you snuck out last night to go drinking?”

“Why you little…” Rob lunged for his sister, but Lenny deftly stepped between them, and when Rob tried pushing him out of the way, Lenny decked him in the stomach, dropping his best friend to his knees. Rob’s mom and sister gasped.

“Listen to me!” Lenny shouted, leaning down over him. “You will now SHUT THE HELL UP! Or, this beating will continue!”

“You bastard!” Rob spat the words out, as the wind was completely knocked out of him by the blow.

Lenny crouched down, and lowered his voice. “This has to end, buddy. You have a problem, and it must end.”

“How many times do I have to tell you? Rob spat. “I don’t have a drinking problem!”

“Wrong, buddy,” Lenny leaned down over him. “I’m your problem, idiot. I mean, you’ve got this bright future, you know?”

“Not you, too…”

“Don’t you know what I would give to have the opportunity that was just handed to you? A SCHOLARSHIP to State? Are you kidding me? I had to ENLIST when I couldn’t even get a partial scholarship, remember?”

Robert calmed down at that line. This was serious business. “You know I still think you’re an idiot for doing that, pal.” He was genuinely worried about his friend going into the Army.

“That’s why you signed up?” Amanda asked, her concern evident in her voice. “Sweetheart, I had no idea.”

Lenny looked around at the concerned looks on the women’s faces. “I enlisted so that by this time next year, I would stand a reasonable chance that I WON’T be stuck waist deep in a swamp in ‘Nam.”

“FAT chance, you mean,” Robbie said, still wincing.

“I’ll take what I can get,” Lenny said softly. “Unlike you, I don’t have a deferment. So if I get drafted, it’s guaranteed I wind up in a jungle. Hey, your dad made the same choice at my age, and avoided dying in Korea. He turned that into a pretty nice career.”

Rob nodded at that logic. His Dad’s career had taken him all over the world; currently at Clark Field in the Philippines. It was the best play his friend had, being dealt a lousy hand. “Yeah, yeah…”

Lenny leaned in close. “So listen up, pal. I will not stand by and let you throw that away, you hear me? ‘Cause if you blow this, then bye-bye deferment, and YOU wind up in the jungle.”

“Some friend, sucker punching me like that.”

“You’re my best friend, Rob, ever since third grade, when, as I remember, you punched me in the stomach.”

Rob was still on his knees, and replied, “I remember. You totally deserved it.” He looked up at Lenny, trying to smile through the pain. “You were such an asshole then!”

“You punched me because you didn’t want to give me a turn on the swings.” Lenny smiled. “So, maybe being an asshole is what we have in common, buddy.” He reached down to help him stand. “And payback’s a bitch.”

Sally and her mom just watched in amazement as Lenny helped Rob to his feet, and they just stood there, one hand on the other’s shoulder. After a few seconds, they both just patted each other on the back. It was as close to a hug as either of them would go, but the meaning was clear: They were still best friends.

Sally broke the silence. “I will NEVER understand boys.”

Amanda laughed at that one, and Rob piped in, “Good, then stay away from them, y’hear?”

Sally retorted, “Oh, pooh. I’ll stay away from boys if you stay away from BEER.” She put her hands on her hips, trying to look severe, but only succeeding in looking adorable. “You hear?” She added mockingly.

“Hear, hear,” Amanda added.

Rob sighed. “Okay, okay, deal. NOW can I go to the drive-in?”

Amanda sighed, “I know you really want to, but baby, I just can’t trust you to behave.”

Rob looked like he was about to blow up again, but this time knew that would only prove her case. “C’mon, mom. Lenny will be there.”

“And what good is that to me?” she retorted.

“Excuse me?” Lenny was insulted. “How am I now the problem?”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Lenny,” Amanda reasoned, “but your loyalty is to him. Always has been. If he asked you to keep something from me, like drinking, you would do it. Am I wrong?”

“Well, ma’am, he is my friend, but I’m with you on this one.” Lenny glanced at Rob, who was staring daggers back at him. “Hell, I have to go in the Army to get to go to college, and he’s got State knocking down his door. I want to make sure that he gets there, as much as you do.”

Amanda considered this, and suddenly Sally spoke up. “How about if I go with them?” Everybody looked at her in surprise.

“No way,” said Rob.

Sally asked, “Why not?”

“Because,” Rob explained, “I ain’t babysitting my sister at the drive-in.”

Sally was getting angry now. “I’m NOT a baby! I’m eighteen, just like you! TWINS; remember?”

Amanda piped in, “I don’t know, honey.”

“Oh, Mom!” Sally rolled her eyes. “I don’t need a sitter to watch a movie!”

Amanda said, “I agree, sweetie, but I still don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Sally was nonplussed. “Why not? You wanted someone to chaperone HIM,” she pointed at her brother, “And you don’t trust Lenny to tell you if he drinks, and you KNOW I’ll tell you, so I think this solves everybody’s problems.”

“I don’t think Lenny’s girlfriend would agree with you, sweetheart.” Amanda replied.

Sally shook her head. “They broke up, Mom.”

“Oh, no,” she said to Lenny, suddenly mortified. “You and Stephanie were dating for ages. What happened?”

Lenny just bristled, so everybody knew it was still a sore subject.

“She dumped him for a real winner, Mom,” Rob put his arm over Lenny’s shoulders. “This guy named Jared. Not only is he a car thief, he’s her cousin, too.”

“You’re kidding.” Amanda said.

“I wish.” Lenny cleared his throat, signifying a change in subject. “Well, there’s something else to consider; I got my dad’s pickup tonight. It’ll be crowded.”

“What happened to your car?” Sally asked.

“He sold it.” Rob explained. “He wasn’t going to need it in the Army, and Bill Coates paid him $650 for it. So see? There ain’t no room for you to go.”

Sally said, “I don’t mind going in the pickup.”

Amanda considered this. “What time will you have her home?”

Rob blew up. “Mother, you can’t be serious!”

Sally literally jumped for joy. “REALLY? Mom, you mean it? I can go?”

Amanda replied, “Yes, Sally, you can go.”

“Thank you, Mommy! I’m gonna go change!” She jumped up and gave her mom a quick hug, then bounded down the hall to her room, slamming the door behind her.

Rob did not give up. “MOM! You have to tell her she can’t come!”

Amanda ignored him, and looked at Lenny. “What time will you bring them home?”

“I’m not sure…,” Lenny answered. “There’s two movies, plus cartoons in between, and they won’t start ’til it’s dark, so…”

“LATE.” Rob said. “We’ll be home VERY late. Too late for her to stay up, okay? So tell her she can’t go!”

Amanda continued to ignore her son. “So… maybe 1 AM?”

“That sounds about right,” Lenny said.

“That’s not too bad.”

“Unbelievable,” Rob said.

“Believe it, sonny boy,” his mom replied. “They only way I let you go is if she goes with you. Clear?”

“Works for me,” Lenny said.

“Lenny! You can’t seriously want my baby sister to come with us!”

“Why not? I like Sally; She’s a hell of a lot less annoying than my sisters are. Hell, she’s better company than you, lately. Besides, she’s gonna run into her own friends there, for sure.”

Sally’s door opened and closed again, and she walked back into the living room. It was as if a fairy godmother was in her room with her, because she ran in there as Rob’s little sister, and walked out as a very attractive teenage girl about to go on a date. She wore a cardigan sweater over a simple peasant blouse, with a pleated skirt that ended just at her knees. Her hair was up in a ponytail, and she had put on a little lipstick.

Lenny whistled at her. “Wow, Sal. You look terrific!”

Her mom agreed. “That was a quick change! How come you can’t get ready that fast when I’m in a hurry?”

Sally positively blushed at Lenny’s comment, then rolled her eyes at her mom.

“Seriously. My sisters can’t dress that fast if their room was on fire.” Lenny elbowed Rob, and added, “Check it out. I’ve actually got a date for tonight!” Sally blushed.

Rob glared at Lenny, muttering “Asshole” under his breath. He looked his sister up and down, then stared at his mom. “You see? You’re about to let her go on a DATE with TWO guys to a drive-in movie. Great parenting, Ma.”

“Oh, Robbie, give me a break! You’ll be there with her the whole time, so what could possibly happen?”

“Well…” Rob was trying to think up reasons for Sally to stay home as fast as he could. “What if she takes off with HER friends?”

“You promise to stay with the boys?”

“Mom!” Sally yelled. “This is ridiculous!”

Rob knew he had to play this last card to the hilt. “I won’t be responsible if she runs off and gets herself in trouble!”

“Oh my god! Rob!” Sally complained. “What the hell?”

“She won’t run off.” Lenny spoke up. “I’ll make sure of it.”

“Oh, really?” Sally asked, hands on her hips. “Not that I would want to, but what makes you think you can stop me, Leonard?”

“Well, I may keep Rob’s secrets, but I have no qualms about ratting YOU out, Sal.”

She gasped, then collected herself, trying to act mature in front of her mother. “Fine. I’ll stay put.”

Lenny looked at Amanda, and said, “Mrs. George, I promise you, on my honor, that I will return your daughter to you in the same virginal state as she is now.” He solemnly raised his right hand in a vow.

“Oh Jesus! Lenny!” Sally was aghast.

Amanda laughed. “I think we have a deal.” They ceremonially shook on it. “Do you need any money, Lenny?”

“What kind of a gentleman would I be if I didn’t pay for my date?” He winked at her. “I got this.”

“Then you kids have fun!” Amanda said.

Rob walked right up to Sally, pointed a finger at her face, and said “You better not embarrass me, baby sister.”

Sally stuck out her tongue at him, and replied, “You just worry about yourself, okay?” She pulled the strap to her purse over her shoulder. “Shall we go?”

Lenny did the gentlemanly thing of offering her his arm, and she took it with a smile. “Well now, Sal,” Lenny said, “I think I’m going to enjoy having you as my date tonight.”

Rob fumed and stormed out the door. Amanda beamed, and followed them out. As they walked down the steps, Amanda said to Sally, loudly, “Remember, sweetie, you let me know if your brother misbehaves at all, understand?”

“With pleasure!” she shouted back, as Rob let out an “Aaargh!!”

“And Lenny!” Amanda called. He looked back at her. “Take good care of her.”

“I promise.”

Lenny walked Sally to the truck, then like a gentleman, opened the door for her and held her hand as she stepped into the cab. Rob was already seated in the passenger side, and Sally slid over the seat next to her brother.

Rob was apoplectic, not even waiting for Lenny to climb into the pickup before he started complaining. “I can’t believe you’re going along with this, man.”

Lenny smiled as he climbed in behind the wheel. “You’re just pissed ‘cause I have a date and you don’t.” Rob groaned and Sally giggled.

The ride to the Drive-In was uneventful, and virtually devoid of conversation. Sally controlled the radio, but there were no complaints. When they arrived, the line of cars was reasonably short, and they were inside the fence and parked well before sunset.

All around them, couples and families were returning from the snack bar laden with treats and drinks for the movie, which inspired them to do the same before the film started. Families were still gathered at the playground behind the bathrooms, or getting the kids settled in their cars.

Lenny pulled into an open space, and had barely come to a stop when Rob was out the door. “See you losers later.” He slammed the door shut, and started off toward the far corner of the lot.

“Wait!” Sally shouted. “Where are you going?”

Rob turned and stepped back to the truck, then leaned in the open window. “Listen up, little sister. I’ve got friends here, and I’m going to go say ‘hello’. You will NOT follow me, y’hear?”

Sally was reluctant to prod him much further, but timidly asked, “But you’ll be back for the movie, right?”

Rob just laughed as he walked away. “Enjoy your ‘date’, baby sister.”

Sally turned to Lenny. “Aren’t you going to stop him?”

“Nope.” he replied, getting out of the truck himself. “Want some popcorn? I’m buying.” He started off to the snack bar.

Sally quickly exited the truck, and followed, but pressed the issue. “But… but I thought you were supposed to keep an eye on him.”

“Actually, that’s YOUR job, remember? I only promised your mom I’d look out for YOU.” He could see she was concerned, so he put his arm around her shoulders. “Look, Sal, it’s not that bad, okay? So he’s out looking for someone who brought beer, so that he can snag one or two from them. He ain’t getting drunk on one or two beers, and it’s highly unlikely that he’ll get any more than that from anybody here. Everybody knows what he’s like when he’s REALLY drunk, and no one wants to get arrested. You’re kinda trapped in this place.”

Sally didn’t like being patronized, and shook his arm from her shoulders. “But I thought you didn’t want him drinking at all.”

“I don’t, but he’s gonna do what he’s gonna do, and at least here, that’s limited. Plus, I actually want to see this movie. I missed the ending last time.” He put his arm back around her shoulder, leading her to the snack bar. “And last, but certainly not least, I need to take care of my date, don’t I?”

Sally elbowed him in the ribs, not so gently. “I wish you would stop teasing me like that.”

Lenny squeezed her shoulders, and replied, “Who said I was teasing?”

[continued]

Source: reddit.com/r/eroticliterature/comments/jq0a88/drivein_seduction_chapter_1_negotiation