chapter 2: Kevin and Marilyn
Kevin nervously rang the bell. He straightened his jacket and cleared his throat.
Upstairs, Marilyn heard the bell. She buzzed Kevin into the building and ran to finish fixing her hair before Kevin got upstairs. As Kevin rang the doorbell she threw a lipstick into her purse and ran to get the door.
"Hi Marilyn"
"Hi Kevin" She nervously straightened the sleeve of her sweater.
"Are you ready?"
"Yeah, let me lock the door." They walked to Kevin's car, both nervously fixing their hair, shirts, jackets, and smiling. Neither knew quite what to expect from this date. It was hard for them to make conversation at first, as neither one of them wanted to talk about work. But eventually the conversation shifted to Winslow High and the goings-on which should have been unknown to all but were quite clear to the faculty.
"I heard the most ridiculous thing about Milton!"
"You mean Lisa Grier?"
"Yeah. But, I mean, come on! It's Milton we're talking about."
"It's true."
"WHAT?" Marilyn stared at Kevin's serious face.
"He told me he's in love with her. He also said it's over, but Harry is going to find out."
"I had no idea...How awful! Poor Lisa."
"Poor Milton. He's in love."
"But Lisa..."
"Initiated it. Milton had never seen her before, and she told him she was in college. She lied to sleep with him. By the time he found out she went to Winslow, he was in love."
"Wow, the poor guy!"
"Yeah." And suddenly Kevin found himself telling Marilyn all about Milton and Lisa, the whole story, from the Shakespeare club to the phone call and all the times his "car broke down".
"Damn. This is more of a mess than anyone thinks it is. How is Harry going to find out if Milton denies it?"
"Lauren's going to call him and pretend to be Lisa. See what Milton says."
"No! Lauren would never do that! How could she even think..."
"Harry's going to ask her."
"Oh. Harry. She'll do anything for him. She loves him."
"So I guess she will find out, then. The whole situation is horrible. I just feel bad for Milton. You can't help who you fall in love with!"
"I know what you mean."
"How's Marla doing? I didn't mean to cause a problem."
"I think she's ok. Harvey took her out, as a friend. I think they both needed to get out, what with him being fired and this thing...But she'll be ok. I mean, worse has happened to her. She had a breakdown! I think she'll get over it, especially if she keeps going out with Harvey!"
"Marliyn!"
"As friends! I'm just kidding. They both need a friend, Kevin, you know that!"
"Guess you're right. But I am glad that it all worked out for the best."
"So am I." Marilyn took his hand and they smiled at each other across the flickering candle that lit up their faces.