At First Touch by Mattie Dunman Read Free Book Online Page A

glad you’re ok. Look, I can take you home.”
    I sighed. Here we went again.
    “Don’t worry about it, Preston. I got it.” Carey’s tone had an edge to it, and I couldn’t blame him. Preston was so pushy.
    “Really, it’s no trouble. Don’t go out of your way, man.” Preston took a step closer and I felt my gorge rise at his overbearing behavior. He barely knew me!
    “Look, I just want to get home. My head is killing me. I’ll see you tomorrow, Preston.” Without thinking, I grabbed Carey’s hand and tugged him along behind me. He came willingly, flashing a smirk Preston’s way.
    “Ok, yeah. Tomorrow. I’ll meet you at your locker.” Man, the nerve of this guy.
    “Really, Preston, it’s cool. I know where I’m going now. I mean, this place isn’t exactly Grand Central Station.” With a final dismissive wave, I pushed open the door and strode out into the sunlight, breathing in the crisp October air with pleasure. My head cleared and I was able to feel a little amusement at Preston’s overly macho performance. Honestly, you’d think I was some shiny new toy that he didn’t want to share with the other kids.
    With a start, I realized I was still holding Carey’s hand. He was giving me a shy smile as we walked along and I dropped his hand like it was made of electricity. His smile faltered and he cleared his throat, staring straight ahead.
    “Sorry,” I mumbled. “I didn’t mean to make you take me home if you didn’t want to, but I really don’t like…pushy people.” His smile returned and he shook his head.
    “Preston was just jealous. Every guy in school has been talking about you all day; he wanted to stake a claim.” I stumbled over my own feet at his words. Everyone was talking about me? Just because I was new? Or something else?
    “What do you mean, they’re talking about me?” My voice shook a little and Carey laughed, giving me a knowing smile.
    “Are you kidding? A gorgeous girl like you comes to Shank High and you think you’re not going to be a topic of conversation?” He nudged me with his shoulder and I relaxed. It was just because I was new. That was ok.
    I realized that Carey just called me gorgeous. ‘Oh,” I said, blushing furiously. Carey chuckled.
    “Here’s my car. Hang on, let me open your door. It sticks sometimes.”
    We had come to a stop in front of a huge burgundy Buick that had to be a remnant of the 1980s. He twisted his key in the lock and then yanked on the handle; the door swung open with a tiny squeak and revealed a plush interior with what looked like wine-colored crushed velvet upholstery. I choked back a giggle and slid into the passenger seat, finding it surprisingly comfortable. Carey gave me a sheepish grin and closed the door, dashed to the driver’s side and dumped his bag in the back. As he clambered into his seat I caught a glimpse of Preston climbing into a shiny black truck a few spaces away with a grim expression on his face.
    “Um, sorry about this. It was my father’s car, then my brother’s, and now…” He shrugged. “Dad says that as long as it runs there’s no point in getting a new one.” I smiled to myself at his discomfited expression.
    “I like it. It’s got character. Anyway, at least you have a car.”
    He watched me for a moment to make sure I wasn’t laughing at him then gave me another of his dazzling smiles, sending a shiver right down to my toes. He put it into drive and then crawled out of the parking lot, closely followed by Preston. Carey glanced up at his rearview mirror and smirked.
    “How much do you want to bet he follows us to your house?”
    I grimaced and turned around. Sure enough, I could see Preston was watching us intently, as though if he stared hard enough he could hear what we were saying.
    “What is with him?” I mumbled, irritated at the surveillance. Carey shot me a look full of mischief.
    “You know what would really get his goat?” Get his goat? Weird. “I could take you to the