Summary

Vanessa returns her narrative to 2000. It is now Halloween. Reluctantly Vanessa agrees to go to the school dance. She dresses up as a kitten. She is expecting little fun. She cannot stop thinking about Strane and his hand on her knee and his observation that, like him, she is a dark romantic. The party is drab and dull until she meets Strane, there as chaperone, when she ducks out to have a smoke in the parking lot. Strane makes a most odd comment to her. “I’d like to find you a big bed, tuck you in, and kiss you good night” (63). Vanessa reels hearing only the part about Strane wanting to kiss her.

The next day she volunteers to walk the husky of her dorm advisor, Ms. Thompson. The walk gives her a chance to scope out Strane’s house. It is...