I was hanging out with the guys outside of Arnold's and we joked and talked about the group of girls and their guy friend that had come all the way here to Milwaukee. Chachi told us he really didn't like the way Jenny had cheated on Mary Anne's boyfriend, Logan. I wasn't around when Jenny and Logan were together at one of the tables in Arnold's but word had gotten to me pretty fast.
Richie told us how friendly Mallory had been to him and he liked her.
"Rich, the welfare secret with her might spread around, just to warn you," Ralph told him.
"You never know, Ralph, but Mallory did say she and her friend promised they wouldn't let word out to anyone," Richie said.
"Hope it stays that way," I replied.
That's when we watched Dawn walk out.
"I like her," I told the guys.
"She's pretty all right," Fonzie agreed.
"I think I'll go and say hello," I said as the guys watched me leave them.
"Hi," I said as Dawn took the ponytail out from the back of her hair.
She looked up.
"Hi, Potsie," Dawn replied, taking a comb out of her pants to brush her hair.
"She's a bit young for us, but it's okay for Pots to like her," I heard Ralph tell the guys.
Joanie wasn't with us because she was busy trying to keep Jenny away from Logan so she wouldn't cheat on Mary Anne again. I thought it was a good thing for Joanie to do while she was in Arnold's of keeping us company.
"You want to hang out with me?" I asked Dawn.
"Sure. What do you want to do?" Dawn asked.
"Want to take a walk? Just the two of us?"
"Sounds like a good idea," Dawn said, putting her comb where it belonged.
Dawn had the longest hair I'd ever seen from the other girls I had dated in the past. I had never seen hair that long like hers before.
"Dawn and I are going out alone for a while, so if anyone asks, just tell them we went for a walk," I told the guys.
"Got it, Pots," Ralph said as the guys watched the two of us leave Arnold's.
"Do you want to go to an ice cream store?" I asked Dawn.
"My treat."
I watched as Dawn made a funny face that told me something I couldn't figure out.
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"I forget to tell you. I don't eat junk food. I'm a health nut," Dawn told me.
I couldn't believe my ears. I've never had a date turn me down for ice cream like this before. Wait till the guys hear about this, I told myself.
"Fine. I'll get myself ice cream. Are you sure you don't want anything?" I asked her.
"I am a little thirsty. I could use some water," Dawn said.
"All right. I'll get us both water and ice cream," I said as we got into the closest ice cream parlor.
I ordered myself a chocolate and vanilla ice cream cone and paid for the water Dawn wanted. We sat at one of the tables in the parlor. I ate my ice cream while she watched me in disgust.
"Would you promise not to tell your friends about my being a health nut?" Dawn asked.
"I promise I won't tell a soul. Richie did tell Mallory," I told her.
"Since those two are keeping a secret, now it's our turn. Pinky swear you promise not to tell?" Dawn asked me.
"Pinky swear," I said as our index fingers crossed.
"Thanks, Potsie. You're really good–looking for somebody your age," Dawn said.
"Thank you. Nice of you to say that. Since you told me a secret, I'll share one with you," I said, wiping some chocolate from my nose and mouth.
"What's the secret?" Dawn asked, her blue eyes growing big.
"You see, people think of me as a nerd except my friends. It's true but now I'm older, I've grown out of the nerdy side," I said.
"I see what you're saying and I understand since people have thought of Mallory like one too," Dawn said.
"Oh."
We pinky swore a second time so my secret would not let out to the other girls.
"Secret's safe with me," Dawn said.
"Good. Should we head back now?" I asked, picking up the trash and throwing it away.
"Good idea. They would be wondering about us since we've been gone for a while."
I opened the door for the two of us and let Dawn go in first. We walked back to Arnold's in silence.