One of the things Daisy had suggested was an unofficial high school reunion for those in their class who were returning home from college and could be contacted. It was an idea right up Ramona's alley, and she fell to contacting her friends with relish. Those she were close enough to contact with a text message, she did so. She also sent out a mass email. Daisy offered to tweet it on her account.

"A reunion?" Howie said with a frown when Ramona mentioned it to him one afternoon. He was wearing safety goggles, a dust mask, and was sanding down a long piece of wood. He pulled down the mask to look at her.

"What are you making?" Ramona asked eagerly, eyes glittering with excitement. "Is it a project? Is it another rocket?"

He was amused with her enthusiasm. "Not this time. It's just a part for the EV drag racer a couple of us are putting together for a rally."

At her blank look, he explained, "Electric vehicle drag racing. A couple of guys and I are building an EV for a race. I wanted to test the green energy design that I drew up in school in a race car to see how it performs."

Ramona shook her head slowly. "Howie Kemp, you are the only person I know who can pull off cool and nerdy in the same sentence."

"Nerdy?" he queried.

"Green energy design? From school? Don't you know school's out for the summer?" she said.

His mouth tilted in a Howie smile, as she meant for him to do. "Ah, I see. But green energy is in," he said. "It's hip."

"Will I be able to drive this miracle car?" she asked.

"God forbid," he said. "I don't know that it'll be safe for anyone but the designated driver. Plus, I've seen you drive."

"One time, Howie Kemp. I hit the curb that one time."

He squinted at her. "I'm sure that's not the truth. Plus, you went up over the curb that one time and also hit the stop sign."

"We fixed it," protested Ramona. "Anyway, that's supposed to be a secret. You promised me."

"And I haven't told anyone," he said obligingly.

That really was the problem with someone who knew you too well, too long, thought Ramona. It was hard to live down anything. She wondered whether the fact that Danny Corvo had been gone for so long was actually a good thing, not a bad. Certainly he wouldn't know any of her mistakes over the years. But of course, that was a moot point, as she and everyone else were taking for granted that he was still single.

Ramona found Howie looking quizzically at her, having stripped off his gloves. "You want to come inside for a drink?" he was asking.

"Um… Is your grandmother around?" she asked.

"I think she said something about going to her knitting circle meeting," he replied gravely.

"Then, sure."

They perched on kitchen stools drinking miniature sized cartons of juice around the stovetop island as though they were little kids again.

"The reunion," he prompted. "Who's going?"

"Um. Daisy. Marnie, Jo, Desiree have gotten back to me, and they're going to contact more people. Davy and Mike, of course." She listed more people, and then said, "I've made a list. You want to help me contact people?"

"Not really," he said, and laughed at the expression on her face. "I guess it would be fun getting some of the folks together. Any idea where it'll be held?"

"Well. It'll have to be cheap. And large. Enough room for at least twenty people. Probably more before the week is out."

"If the weather holds, we can have it outside. A barbeque might be nice. Potluck, maybe, if people are into it. If not, we'd have to book a restaurant."

"Howie, you have the best ideas," Ramona said approvingly. "A barbeque is a great idea. Like a fourth of July barbeque!"

"I'm thinking you'd better not count on that day. People usually have a lot of plans for that weekend," he warned.

"You're right. We can hold it near the end of summer. That gives people enough notice."

There was a pause in which she texted Daisy: reunion - end of summer? early Aug? thoughts?

She looked up to find him sitting at the kitchen island, head tilted to one side and his face resting on his open palm, gazing at her.

"What?" she asked.

"Let's have it."

"Have what?" Ramona said.

"Your great idea. You have an idea, don't you? You've got that look in your eyes."

"Okay, what do you think about this?" Ramona burst out, unable to keep it to herself any longer. "Fireworks. Oh, and maybe a giant sky banner! Sky writing? And we have to do time capsules. We should bury it somewhere really meaningful. Next to a river or something."

"Fireworks are possible, but we'd probably have to get a permit. A banner, yes, but sky banner and skywriting are definitely out. Time capsules, maybe, but not next a river." Howie took another sip. "Anything else?"

"Why not skywriting?" Ramona scowled.

"What's the budget on this thing, have you thought of that? Are people going to shell out money or are you paying it all yourself?"

"Uh…"

Howie wisely remained silent, even though his thoughts ran on inside his head.

"Why don't we hold it in the upstairs room in Terence Tower? I think people book it for weddings or conferences. If it's a weekday, it's usually available at a lower price. That way, you won't have to worry about the weather."

When Ramona didn't say anything but looked deep in thought, he shrugged and said, "It has a rooftop courtyard. For fireworks. Anyway, you have at least a month to plan. In the meantime, how about going down to Sellwood Park with me tomorrow? We could take in the amusement park and make a day of it."

Her face brightened again. "That sounds great! I haven't been in ages! Yes, let's! And gorge on cotton candy and fair food!" Then her face fell. "Wait, I can't tomorrow. Daisy's coming back and I'm going over to see her."

"The day after that?" he suggested.

"I have to work." She groaned and Howie stifled a smile.

"And the day after that?"

"I have to work both Wednesday and Thursday."

"Friday, then."

"You can let me have a Friday?"

"I'll even let you drive my car," he replied.

She peered out the window at the car parked on the street.

"What's so special about it?"

"For a girl who had a doll named Chevrolet and wanted to name her sister Aston Martin," he said, "you are singularly obtuse."

"Is it an Aston Martin?" she asked. "Or a Chevrolet?"

"Worlds apart, Ramona. It's an Aston Martin and it was very cheap and in very bad condition when I got it. Practically the only original thing is the name plate."

"Sounds promising," she said on a grimace. "Great. No need to avoid curbs and stop signs then."

He laughed and reached out to tug on her hair. "It's a date."

Ramona flushed and pushed her hair behind her shoulders and away from his hand. "Um. Yeah." Smooth, she thought, furiously blasting herself. He didn't mean it. It was just a joke between friends, so why're you suddenly acting so weird? "Well, I'd better get going and let you get back to work," she said awkwardly, backing out of the kitchen and misjudging the distance between counters. She had to swivel her head to find the doorway.

Howie followed close behind her. "It was a nice interruption," he said.

When she turned to look at him, she found she was almost nose to chest with him. He reached out to steady her, his hands lightly cupped her shoulders. "I mean it," he said.

Ramona made the mistake of looking up at him. His face was way too close and he had not let go of her. She could smell some faint scent of cologne mixed with sweat and wood and the juice they just had. There was faint stubble all along his jawline, indicating that he hadn't shaved for the day and probably wasn't going to. Funny, he was so fair that he always appeared hairless and somehow she had never seen him with a beard. It aged him somehow. He no longer looked like her Howie Kemp, the one who went bike riding with her, who flew kites with her, who played in the mud and pounded on bricks with her. And his eyes were so blue they looked almost fake. She had always liked brown eyes the best, but no one's eyes were bluer than Howie's.

Suddenly she recalled what her mother had said, that Howie had grown up to be a good-looking man and she cursed her mother in mind for having said that. There was no denying that there was a certain appeal to a lean and lanky Howard Kemp, mussed and bleached blond hair pulled back by goggles, light brown stubble on tanned jaw, wearing an old T-shirt that clung to broad shoulders and faded jeans that emphasized his height.

And in the next second he had let her go.

He reached down and "clinked" his juice carton with hers, almost forgotten in her hand. "Here's to a memorable summer," he said.

Hey folks, thanks for keeping up with this story. Please forgive all the grammatical and continuity mistakes as I wrote a majority of this on my phone (stupid autocorrect). I would love to hear suggestions. I know that some of you wanted to see a kiss, and I almost put one in, except...can you see Howie being so forward? I can't. So...it won't happen for just yet.

Also, the problem I'm having is with Danny. He was never a main character in the books and their future relationship was hinted at in the last book. If any of you can give me pointers, suggestions, character analysis, anything - pictures of what you think he would look like - from manga, book, TV, or movie equivalents or links would be awesome.

Thanks again!