Burning Down the House by Allie Gail Read Free Book Online

for him.”
    “ I can’t believe this is what I have to deal with from now on.”
    “I don’t envy you, that’s for sure.”
    “Of all the people in the world to wind up stuck with, why did it have to be that psycho?”
    Talk about timing. It was that exact moment that I happened to glance to the left and find myself looking directly into the hostile hazel eyes of the “psycho” leaning against his locker.
    Crap.

 
    4

    My first day was going fairly well, all things considered. The teachers seemed tolerable enough, and a lot of the students remembered me and were happy to see me back. Jordan Cox was in my fourth period calculus class and, recognizing me, came over to say hello. I still couldn’t believe the quirky little misfit had blossomed into such a knockout. The transformation was amazing. And from the brief conversation we had, I could tell she was just as intelligent as she was pretty.
    During lunch, Dana introduced me to a few students that had arrived at Hillcrest after my ninth-grade transfer. We did so much socializing I barely had time to eat my quesadilla. I noticed that Rob was sitting at a table with Trent and Doug and a couple of other guys who were on the football team as well. Athletes travel in packs, I guess. One thing to be grateful for was that even though we shared the same lunch period, so far we didn’t have one single class together.
    I was just filing out of my last class of the day when I got a text from him. Which was weird, considering I’d never given him my number. Dad must have given it to him. It said: Football practice today. Don’t wait for me.
    How u getting home then? Not that I cared or anything.
    I’ll get a ride.
    Okay then…it appeared I was free of him for the time being. I glanced up from my phone to see Dana approaching me.
    “Going straight home?” she wanted to know.
    “I guess. Why?”
    “Let’s go out to the football field for a while.”
    “What for?” As if I didn’t know.
    “Just to watch.”
    “You don’t even like football !”
    “So? I like hot studs in tight pants.”
    I furrowed my brow. “I don’t know…”
    “Do you have a lot of homework?”
    “Actually all I had was some calculus and I did it in study hall.”
    “So what else are you gonna do then?” She grabbed me by the arm and practically dragged me outside. “How’d your afternoon go?”
    “Pretty good.”
    “I figured you’d blend right back in with no problem.”
    “I like it here. Feels like home.” My phone buzzed at that moment, my mother’s name appearing on the caller ID. “Hi, Mom.”
    “ Buon giorno! How was your first day back at Hillcrest?”
    “Really good, actually. How’s Italy?”
    “Oh, honey…it’s just beautiful. I wish you could see it. We drove the Amalfi Coast today - it was absolutely breathtaking.”
    “I am so jealous. Will you email me some pictures?”
    “I will, as soon as I get a chance. How’s your father?”
    “He’s fine.” I glanced over at Dana to see what she was mouthing. “Dana says hi.”
    “Hello to Dana. So everything’s going okay so far?”
    “Everything’s great.”
    “Good, good…well, I just wanted to touch base with you and see how school went. I won’t keep you.”
    “What’s on the agenda for tomorrow?”
    “Uffizi Gallery first, then the Duomo.”
    I groaned. “I’ll think about that while I have my nose in a physics book.”
    Mom laughed gaily. She sounded completely relaxed and lighthearted for a change. Italy must be working its magic on her. Or maybe it was because she was a newlywed in love. Either way, I was happy to hear her sounding so bubbly.
    “Tell Stanley hello for me.”
    “Will do. You be sure and call me if you need anything.”
    “ Okay. Have fun. Love you, Mom.”
    “Love you too , hon. Take care.”
    “Man…I wish I was in Italy right now,” Dana enviously declared. “We should take a trip there together sometime. Wouldn’t that be amazing?”
    “It would,” I admitted.