“In a couple of weeks, there is a big Halloween bash. Wanna go?” [Stephen said].

​

“A Halloween party!” Frannie said. “What fun. Is it a costume party? We can wear matching outfits.”

​

“Whoa! Yes, it’s a costume party. If you’re not in costume, you can’t get in. I’m going as a Texas Ranger.”

​

Frannie thought a moment. “I have a better idea. How ‘bout you be Marshall Dillon from Gunsmoke, and I’ll be Miss Kitty. We’ll be a couple. Your Ranger outfit will do just fine, but you need a red shirt to match my dress. We’ll look fantastic together.”

​

“Whatever. The dance is in the Practice Gym, come by Mitchell and pick me up. It’s on your way.”

​

Frannie hesitated. “All the other guys come to Hadley to pick up their dates.”

​

“C’mon, Frannie. Mitchell is a lot closer to the Sports Field than Hadley. If you want, I’ll walk you back to Hadley after the party.” He left without another word or a goodnight kiss.

​

“Frannie,” Missy called from the porch swing where she sat with J.R., who pulled her closer to make room.

​

“Hey, you two. Great evening, wasn’t it?”

​

Missy smiled up at J.R. “We had a great time. We all hung together until Leslie took Paul to show him around campus and have a little alone time. Mike walked Katie back to Hadley.”

​

“Frannie,” J.R. said, sounding serious. “I owe you a bit of an apology for not being very hospitable to Stephen, but I’m concerned.”

​

“Why…” Frannie began, but J.R. interrupted.

​

“I’m concerned that you don’t know Stephen as well as you think you do,” he continued. “This afternoon in the dorm, I overheard him saying some uncomplimentary things about a girl. He was bragging to his friends about her being easy and how it hadn’t taken him long to get to first base. No decent guy trashes a girl like that. You’re spending a good deal of time with him, Frannie, and he could have been talking about you.”

​

Frannie said, relieved. “J.R., you are such a gentleman. It’s so sweet of you to care about me. I can’t imagine who Stephen was talking about, but I’m certain that it wasn’t me. I don’t know what “easy” means, but we’ve never been anywhere near a baseball field together. You didn’t hear my name, did you?”

​

“No, but talking about any girl that way should let you know that he’s not someone you can trust. He doesn’t respect girls, and you deserve better than the likes of him.”

​

“J.R., I love that you care about me, but I am sure Stephen didn’t mean to be rude. I know that he likes me.”