Having finished her shift Miss White stretched herself and yawned. She needed only to run home quicker, draw the blanket over her head and fall asleep. Fall asleep not to think about anything...

She offended Mister Albert today… But he… he was so strange, and she was frightened… Mister Albert loved her! What was she to do with all this?

She tossed her head. She needed to get enough sleep, and then she can take right decision with a clear head. And the state she was in at the moment she could have been and gone and done something…

Candy took her handbag and ran down the stairs swinging it on her arm.

"Hey, Candy!" Familiar voice with lazy bossy tones and numerous car hooters broke the silence of the morning street.

Taking all her courage Miss White passed by the red car without a word, not even turning her head.

Indeed in few minutes the persistent admirer took her by the elbow.

"Candy! Are you deaf? I'm calling you."

Candy jerked her arm out.

"I think that's you who is deaf. I told you: "No, don't drive me anywhere". "

He started to laugh, his white teeth glinted in the dark.

"The answer «no» from a single girl to a handsome rich single man has only one meaning – "You haven't been courting me long enough yet"!"

The girl quickened her pace.

"Candy! Candy!" Neil ran round and stood in front of her blocking the way. Candy looked up crossing her eyes with his.

"Listen, Neil, it's all useless. Your efforts to follow me make it all worse. I told you I could never be with you."

His face stayed all peaceful as if her words never hurt his feelings.

He smiled at her patiently as to a little girl and said:

"Candy, that's all talk. You're struggling with yourself, your own feelings. They scare and frustrate you. That will all pass, and you will confess. "

"Confess what?"

"That you love me. Don't say anything! Your actions towards me are the actions of a woman in love. I don't care about your words. "

Candy was looking in his handsome face bold in its' serenity. She felt as if some wild whirlpool was drawing her in again. Why was she listening to this trash? Why was she standing in the street?

" You don't want to get into the car because you're afraid of me. You're afraid of me and your feelings to me which you cannot hide when I get close…" Suddenly Neil burst into laughing speaking in such a tone as if he read her thoughts.

"That's crazy!" Candy bunched fists, a wave of anger swept over her. "Are you crazy?! Me?! Afraid of you?!"

She spun on her heels and almost rushed to the car, opened the door and plunked herself down banging the door.

Miss White jerked up her head and looked up at the car owner who had just approached.

" I'm not afraid of anything or anybody!" She repeated.

" I got you, " Legan replied peacefully, smiling to himself, " it turned out that he could use her wish to do something in spite of him to get along with her."

He took the driving position and turned back to Candy. One more trick occurred to him.

"You haven't closed the door right, my dear little brawler," Neil said and bending himself to her reached his hand to open and close the door again. Their faces were very close, and Candy felt his smell and warm breath. It was a smell of expensive eau de cologne and something else. His hand extended to close the door almost touched her breast. Almost, still everything was right, though this proximity… This moment seemed to take ages, or maybe it was just an illusion…

"Let's go," Neil said, and Candy felt her heart beating as if her heart was about to jump out of her chest. Why did she get nervous? She had a feeling of tedious waiting in her stomach, like before an important exam or something like this; it was pleasant and painful at a time. The girl swallowed and clasped her hands trying to calm down. What was it? Her body seemed to betray her.

Her fellow traveler kept silence as if he knew or understood what she felt like. Maybe silence without verbal duel brought them together better and that was the reason for Neil's silence.

In silence they left the car, Neil offered her his hand, but Candy suddenly started to worry again and pretended not seeing it she got out of the car. The young people were standing in front of her house, predawn mist trailed down the street.

"Thank you, I'm leaving, " she muttered having lost all her anger with him for some reason. She didn't like it at all and wanted to leave quickly.

"Always ready to help," Neil smiled again and it was disgusting. Why was he smiling so boldly, so triumphantly?! His face turned serious suddenly and he asked also in a low voice almost murmuring:

"May I walk up with you?"

"No, you may not!" Candy turned away and opening the front door quickly rushed up the stairs. She had a feeling if she stayed she would let him both walk up and… walk in. Out of breath the girl rushed into her flat and closed the door. Having turned the key in the lock she helplessly lowered herself to the floor. She was saved!