LITMIR.BIZ

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hot—category and puts her in her brother’s. “See you at the Pink Cat. Don’t stand me up.”

      “Hey, it’s not a date you know.” I’m a firm believer in gay rights, but it’s so not my thing.

      She giggles. “My heart belongs to Ben Henley.” She names the football player who was firmly ensconced as the most popular boy at Rosemont until her twin arrived on the scene.

      “I’ll be there,” I promise and head for social studies.

      It may not have been smart but having a normal teenage destination to look forward to will certainly make the rest of the day easier to get through. I lied when I said I wasn’t interested in hairstyles and shoes. I love girlie stuff. Anyone with a drop of girl DNA loves shoes.

      I look at my clothes and sigh. I’ll be so glad to get home where I can shuck them like a used cocoon.

      For now, I continue the role of uninteresting, blah nerd. I do such a good job even the geeks keep their distance.

      With a sigh, I thump my books on my desk and slide into my seat.

      For the next forty minutes, I immerse myself in the effects of mob behavior on normal people. As soon as the bell rings, I shoot out of my seat and head for the door.

      I hit the hall at a fast pace, not paying as much attention as I should and collide with Edgar the Asshole Fahrenbacher, the most egotistical senior in Rosemont. Although, why anyone with a name like Edgar should be arrogant is beyond me. Maybe he’s overcompensating. He calls himself the Stallion. With chestnut hair, tight jeans, and a swagger, he’s not bad looking, but his looks don’t match his ego.

      “Oof.” My books go flying and so do his. They hit the floor with a thud.

      “Sorry,” I mumble, head down, heat shooting through my cheeks.

      “Not only are you a mouse, you’re a klutz. Pick my books up.” Totally humiliated, I bend to comply, hating every minute of it. I would much rather knock him on his swaggering butt and I could do it, too, if I weren’t trying to keep a low profile. Well, I could in the water anyway. I can hold my own against anybody in the water.

      When I reach for his chemistry book, he kicks it farther down the hall. Embarrassment turns to mad. What a total jerk. Before I totally blow my cover, hands reach out and sweep up the books.

      “Which ones are yours?”

      I look into piercing blue eyes and forget to breathe—and everything else for that matter.

      “Which are yours?” Holly’s brother repeats patiently.

      Mutely, I point at the top three. He hands them to me before he helps me to my feet. The rest he thrusts at Edgar. “I’m sure you can get the other book yourself,” he says easily to Edgar.

      Edgar nods, scowling at the interruption of his version of pull-the-wings-off-the-fly.

      “Thank you.” Breathless, lost in the depths of those deep pools of blue, I forget to disguise my voice. Fortunately—or unfortunately in this case—it doesn’t go with my nerd image. Gramps compares it to mermaids’ and sirens’ songs. For an old guy, he’s a romantic. So when I talk, I try to drop toward an unobtrusive alto.

      Tyler’s head jerks up. He wasn’t paying attention to who he was helping, just being kind to one of the lesser beings. For the first time, he really looks at me and frowns, no doubt trying to equate the voice with the nerd.

      I get a firm grip on my books and my raging hormones, and walk hastily away. I can feel his gaze boring into my back, probably trying to see past the shapeless clothes. I shudder, pick up my pace and, of course, trip. I keep a firm grip on my books, right myself, and keep going.

      Fahrenbacher’s hateful laughter rings in my ears. If only there was a convenient hole to crawl into. My sensitive hearing picks up a murmured, “What a voice.”

      Tyler’s comment echoes in my head as I hurry through wide swinging doors escaping toward sunshine and a blue cloudless sky. I breathe in fresh air, yearning for the scent of salt water.

      I turn right amid the cluster of excited voices around me—also anxious to escape the strictures of high school—and head for the coffee shop. It’s only a block away. I’ll come back later and pick up Beulah, my old truck.

      When I arrive at the Pink Cat, Holly has already confiscated a booth. Of course, it’s filled by a couple of the more popular girls in school. This is so not a good idea. She smiles and motions me over.

      I shake my head and straighten my shoulders. I’ll at least get my latte. I wait in line and, when I get to the counter, mumble my order.

      Ignoring Holly, I grab my latte and head for the door.

      “Piper,” Holly’s voice rings out. I cringe but take another determined step toward the door.

      “Piper,” Holly bellows again.

      I sigh. So much for anonymity. I turn and prepare for twenty minutes of hell. After that, I’ll make my escape. This is such a stupid idea.

      I drag my feet over to her table.

      “There you are.” She beams. “Sit down. Piper’s going to help me with my chemistry,” she explains to the two cheerleaders sitting with her. They rise with alacrity.

      “Uh, catch you later, Hol. Cheerleading practice starts in half an hour,” the taller one says.

      “Give our best to your brother,” the other chimes in.

      “Of course,” Holly responds sweetly.

      They grab their drinks, murmur a hello in my direction, and trot out the door.

      “You were going to stand me up,” she accuses.

      I shrug. “I’m lousy at chemistry.”

      “I’m pretty good at it,” she responds with a mischievous smile.

      “You’re bad. I like it.” As always, except for that one slip with her brother, I use my nerd voice. This girl is way too bright.

      She gives a modest smile and sips her cappuccino, loaded with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.

      She glances disparagingly at my no-frills iced latte. “That looks very plain.”

      “It fits me.” I take a sip and sigh with pleasure as the bite of espresso and the smooth taste of chocolate coalesce and slide down my throat.

      She leans forward, her expression both curious and knowing. “Plain’s exactly what you’re not, but for some reason you want people to think you are.”

      Startled, I jerk upright. The cup, slick with condensation, starts to slip from my hands. I set it down hastily.

      “What are you talking about?” My stomach jumps.

      “You’re the only girl in school who hasn’t tried to befriend me in order to get to my brother. It piqued my curiosity.” She places her elbows on the table, rests chin in hands, and studies me.

      I squirm. “He’s not my type. I’ve barely noticed him.”

      “Oh, you’ve noticed him all right. Even with those tinted glasses, I’ve seen you follow his progress down the hall. So why haven’t you tried to worm your way into my good graces?”

      Why indeed? My brain shuts down. “I’m shy,” is all I can think of.

      “Maybe.” She sips her frothy drink and leans back, her gaze still on me.

      “Your brother isn’t the complete God’s gift to women everyone seems to think he is.” Liar. Liar.

      “That’s telling me,” an amused voice speaks over my shoulder.

      Crap! Busted.

      Chapter 2

      I’m so going

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