She put the sup of paper back in the wallet, not wanting to leave him any clues about where she was going. But she took a five-dollar bill from him. It was only fair, since he'd spent all the money Linda had sent her.
Cindy walked out the door of the apartment, leaving her father snoring drunkenly on the couch. She didn't look back.
New York City was scary at night. Cindy walked in terror of being mugged – or worse. Even the tenor of the dark streets was not enough to make her go back to Pop, though. After the sickening thing he'd done to her, raping and deflowering his own daughter, she never wanted to see him again. She would find Linda and live happily, normally, at last.
As Cindy walked nervously down the filthy deserted street, she heard a car coming up behind her in the distance. It was coming slow, and it got slower as it approached her. She looked around for an escape route in case there was trouble. Cindy was a true New Yorker, expecting violence from everyone she met.
"Hey, you want a ride?"
Cindy frowned and turned to look at the car. It was a nothing car, but the guy driving it was very good-looking. He resembled a young Robert Redford, she thought, with long, blond hair, regular features, and an engaging grin.
"I'm no mugger," he said, guessing her thoughts. "You can write down my license number if you want. But it's dangerous for a chick to walk alone here at night. I'd be glad to give you a lift."
"Okay," Cindy said shyly, deciding to trust him.
She got in beside him, and he cruised off down the deserted street. "Where to?" he said.
"I want to get out of town," said Cindy. "I'm hitchhiking to California."
The young man glanced at her. He saw that she was young and frightened, but grimly determined. "You running away?" he asked casually.
"That's none of your business!" Cindy snapped. "Just give me a ride – or I can get out right now."
He smiled, then returned his eyes to the road. "Okay, take it easy," he said soothingly. "I won't ask questions. My name's Ted. You're safe with me. I'll take you to the freeway."
"Thanks," she said. "My name's Cindy. But that's all I'm going to tell you."
"Right on," said Ted. "That's cool with me, Cindy. Sometimes I feel like running away myself. Anyhow, relax. Turn on the radio if you want. There's beer under the seat."
Cindy had never tasted alcohol before, but she decided to try it. She felt she had to grow up instantly, take care of herself, and handle all the things adults did. She opened a beer for herself and one for Ted. They chatted lightly during the long ride to the outskirts of New York.
Cindy could see the lights of the freeway, the steady stream of cars, when Ted suddenly pulled off into a side street. The houses there were all dark, the street empty. She felt a little drunk and silly, not very alarmed.
"How come we're stopping here?" she asked. The beer made her burp, and she giggled.
Ted looked at her with concern. "You sure you wanta do this?" he asked. "Hitch all the way to L.A.? It's really dangerous, Cindy. I could still take you home."
"No!" Cindy said fervently. "I'll never go back there."
"It's that bad, huh?" Ted said sympathetically. "Well, okay, it's your decision. But kiss me good-bye, will you?" He leaned close to her and said gently, "Just kiss me."
Cindy saw no danger in it. He was a nice guy, and she liked him. He was so attractive, too. She smiled and tilted her pert face up, and Ted kissed her. It was her very first kiss, and she found it not only pleasant but vaguely exciting. His mouth was smooth and dry, not wet and slobbery like Pop's, and he smelled good.
Ted slipped his arm around her and drew her snug against him as he kissed her. He'd been attracted by this cute little blonde since the moment he saw her on the street, but he'd played it cool. He didn't want to get slapped with a rape charge. If he could get her hot, fine. If not, he had his own girl back in Queens, who was willing to put out. He'd like a little variety, though.
He moved his arm around her till he rested his fingers on the swelling of her tit, just under her arm. He used his tongue to tease her lips open, very gently and sensuously. Cindy sighed and opened up, and Ted slipped his tongue into her mouth, tickling her little tongue teasingly. She was still for a moment, and then her tongue began to play shyly, clumsily, on his.
He was so handsome, Cindy thought dizzily, so cool. She'd become pretty infatuated with Ted during the long ride. She also felt very excited. Her cunt was hot and yearning, and she felt she wanted this good-looking guy to kiss her more, to touch her. Completely innocent, she didn't understand that the burning impatience in her pussy meant that she wanted to be fucked. She did not understand her ripening body's signals.