Boy Swap by Kristina Springer Read Free Book Online Page A

People that never used to look at me twice are stopping to tell me my shoes are cute or they like my haircut. Which is kind of strange since I haven’t had a haircut in over a month but hey, I’m not knocking any good vibes sent my way.
    It’s so hard not spilling absolutely everything to Lizzie about Boy Swap and Cassie. I know she knows something is up. At different times, I’ll catch her looking at me quizzically, like she’s trying to solve a math equation. Brooke + pink scarf = Cassie + Chris +/- Brooke (depending on the day). But she’s not saying anything. Yet anyway. During band practice this morning, she did tell me that she understands that I want to trust Chris and we’re in love and all that, but as my best friend, she’s committed to watching my back so she will be on Cassie patrol from now on. Which I really wish she wouldn’t. Like I need a daily report on how many times Cassie hits on Chris. I wonder how the other girls in BSC deal with this?
    *      *      *
    It’s 4th period gym and me and the other fifteen girls in my class are sitting in our assigned spots on the floor, waiting for our gym teacher, Coach Brown, to announce today’s activity.
    “Listen up girls,” he says, clutching his clipboard and waiting for the chatter to die down. “We’ll be playing with the guys today. The game: kickball.”
    A few of the girls groan. No one really likes playing kickball with the guys. They take way too much pleasure in tagging us out before we reach a base.
    “There will be two captains,” he continues. “Coach Dearborn will pick the guy’s captain and I’ll pick,” he looks around the room and his eyes settle on Missy Stevens, a 5’10” Malibu Barbie look alike (seriously, she part-times as a Malibu Barbie impersonator at the toy store in the mall. The little girls love her. As do boys of all ages. Sigh.). “Missy.”
    A few of the girls roll their eyes but most stare happily at Missy, hoping to be picked first. This is a surprise to none as Coach Brown picks Missy for team captain every single time. It’s like his male brain can’t see past her four feet of spray-tanned legs and short shorts. I settle comfortably into my spot—I’m generally picked last or near to last. Which I guess I can understand. While I’m in pretty good shape from my nightly work outs in my mom’s home gym, I suck at every sport invented by man. Name the sport and I’ll cost your team five points with one foul-up or another.
    “Alright girls, group up,” Coach Brown says. “Let’s name the teams. Dearborn,” he shouts to the other gym teacher. “You got your captain?”
    “Yeah,” Coach Dearborn replies. “Donnely’s the captain.”
    Yes! My heart speeds up. Chris is the other team’s captain! He’ll definitely pick me first. Love is greater than kickball. I look over at Chris and blow him a kiss. He grins and joins Missy in the middle of the gym.
    “Alright. Ladies first,” Coach Dearborn says.
    Missy bats her eyelashes at him. Coach Dearborn almost drops his clipboard. Like I said, boys of all ages like Missy.
    “Remember,” Coach Brown says. “Eight guys and eight girls on each team.”
    “Okay,” Missy says, looking over first the guys and then the girls. “Hmmm…I’ll pick…Brooke,” she says, her eyes settling on me.
    “Me?” I say.
    “Her?” Coach Brown says.
    “Really?” Chris says, looking at Missy in shock.
    “Uh, yeah,” Missy says, slightly annoyed that people are questioning her infinite kickball team-picking skills. “Come on, Brooke.” She points to the spot next to her.
    I stand up and slowly walk toward Missy. Why on earth would she pick me? I didn’t think she even liked me. I join Missy in the center of the gym and give her a tentative smile. And then I see it. She has a pink scarf tied around her ankle, barely peeking out from under her white gym sock. BSC. Membership does have its perks. I stand up there next to Missy, bubbling with glory, as