The sun was setting over Castle Rock for the last time that summer. Tomorrow would be autumn and the start of a new school year. Laura wasn't looking forward to it at all.

"No need to look so down babe," Ace teased her, coming up behind her to snake his hands hands around her waist. "We'll do something tomorrow afternoon and I'll drive you to school in the morning."

She nodded glumly in reply.

"And besides, the summer isn't over yet," he whispered suggestively, his coarse stubble running over her face.

"Ace," she slapped him away lightly, "My mother will be home any second."

"So we'll just have to hurry," he said slyly, reaching under her blouse.

He claimed her mouth as he unbuttoned her blouse, pulling his own shirts off in the process.

He pushed her against the hood of his car, placing his hands at the back of her head so she wouldn't bang it on the way down. He hitched up her skirts and was in the process of pulling down her panties when they both heard a voice calling out.

"Laura, are you there sweetheart?" called out Caroline.

Laura sprung away from Ace immediately, a horrified expression on her face. Ace watched on highly amused as she hurried to straighten herself up.

"I'm over here!" Laura called out rushing towards the house.

"Is that Ace over there?" Caroline asked as he too began to walk to the house, not bothering to redress himself.

"We were just watching the sun go down," Ace said in explanation, winking at Laura.

"Ah yes the last day of summer," Caroline said wistfully. "You know I hear there will be another one next year," she joked when she noticed how downcast her daughter's face had become.

"Will you be staying for dinner?" she asked Ace.

"I'd love to," he replied, "What's on the menu?"


The next day Ace arrived in time to drive Laura to school. He was surprised to see her wearing one of her cardigans. He thought he had broken that habit.

"I might get cold," she explained when he bought it up.

"You must be insane it's still a million degrees outside."

She shrugged, beginning to take it off.

"On second thoughts keep it on," Ace said hurriedly.

"Why?" she asked, surprised at his sudden change of heart.

"Because you look too good and I don't want people staring at my girl," he said possessively as he put his arm around her shoulders.

"Though it better be gone when I come to pick you up," he said suggestively, "I have every intention of finishing what we started last night."