Elle had whispered to Sophia, “The only Rambo for me is Speed. He can ram me anytime.” Speed’s real name was Anthony Spee but everyone including the high school principal called him Speed because he ran track and always placed gold. They had AP Bio together.

Sophia said, “Speed’s a pretty boy. Why can’t you like someone more edgy?”

“Isn’t he? He’s beautiful.” Elle drew out the -ful so it was smoky and scorched. It matched how Speed looked at her, a gaze like a slow burn. He was so hot the tips of his eyelashes were singed the color of burnt gold as if he emanated heat from the inside out.

Above them, the sky was a brilliant blue and the midday sun bleached out the buildings. They sat beneath the white umbrella of a sidewalk café called The Steps of Rome. Their favorite Saturday pastime was to sit in North Beach and watch traffic go by while making occasional faces at hapless tourists in cable cars. “Check him out,” said Sophia. A guy on a black and chrome vintage motorcycle roared up to the curb.

The motorcycle man took off his helmet to reveal a short buzz cut. Although he had on a young outfit, tight jeans and a Sex Pistols t-shirt, he had salt and pepper sprinkled in his side burns. Elle was wearing her Daisy Dukes and he checked out her legs. They were still tanned from canoeing down the Russian River last weekend. It was deflating when just as quickly his focus shifted to Sophia’s white t-shirt. After he ordered his coffee, he returned to sit at the table beside them. He pulled out his chair causing the legs to make an awful grating sound. He probably did it on purpose because the second they turned, he took the opportunity to ask, “So you go to State?”

He was lanky and tall. When he tried to cross his legs, he bumped into the underside of the table. It caused the coffee to splatter over the lip of his mug.

His ears reddened, and for a second Elle felt sorry for him. She said, “No, we’re still in high school. She’s a freshman. I’m a junior.”

He said, “Too bad, you’re not even legal yet.” Then he turned to Sophia and said, “You’re so exotic, you remind me of my snake.”