Crushing on the Enemy by Sarah Adams Read Free Book Online

Jake grinned.

    An awkward silence settled over them as they ate. Jake wasn't sure what to talk about once he realized he didn't really know Alyssa at all.

    “So why'd you help with the field?” she asked.

    “I'm part of the team,” he shrugged.

    “Fair enough,” she nodded.

    Her phone rang and Jake winced. He feared that their date would be cut short.

    “I'm going to eat here, Mattie,” she said.

    There was a pause while the other person spoke.

    “I ran into Jake,” Alyssa said.

    Alyssa giggled and looked away from him for a moment.

    “I'll see you soon,” she laughed and hung up.

    “I was supposed to be getting dinner for a friend and my mom too,” she admitted.

    “I'm sorry if I'm holding you up,” Jake frowned.

    “No, I never got the chance to say thank you,” Alyssa said.

    “For what?” Jake asked.

    “For saving my pom-poms,” she said.

    “No problem,” Jake laughed.

    She acted as if they were made of gold or something, but then Jake had to admit he was just as protective over his football gear.

    “Do you want to come over and hangout?” she asked, “It'll just be me and Mattie. My mom has to go back to work tonight.”

    “Sure,” he grinned.

    They finished eating and Alyssa ordered something for her mom and friend before they left. Jake made sure to stay right behind Alyssa as he drove to her house. He half feared that she would ditch him on the way there. In his experience most cheerleaders liked to have fun at the expense of others, and he didn't want to fall victim to one of their pranks.

    Jake knew he wasn't being fair, because he knew Alyssa was different. At least she seemed different. Even the girls on her cheer team knew and that's why they were acting cruel towards her.

    Mattie left soon after Alyssa's mom left for work. Jake and Alyssa sat awkwardly together on the sofa.

    “Do you want to watch a movie or something?” Alyssa asked.

    “That sounds great,” he said.

    She put in a DVD, but neither of them paid much attention to it. About fifteen minutes into the film the phone rang, but Alyssa ignored it after glancing at the caller id.

    “Aren't you going to get that?” Jake asked.

    “No,” she shook her head.

    Jake wasn't going to ask any more about it, but Alyssa began to ramble almost too quickly for him to keep up with.

    “It's Cody, my mom's soon-to-be-ex-husband. He's a real jerk and I don't even know why my mom married him. She's been weird since my dad died,” she said.

    Alyssa stopped mid-sentenced and blushed.

    “I'm sorry, you don't care about any of that,” she sighed, “let's talk about sports or something.”

    “Actually sports is the last thing I want to talk about right now,” he admitted, “If we don't go to state I have no chance of getting my scholarship.”

    “You'll get there,” she grinned.

    “I doubt it,” he chuckled.

    “You just have to change the way you look at it. Don't think about have-tos or ifs. Just see it and do it,” Alyssa said turning to face him.

    “Easy for you to say,” he laughed, “Your school has won the last seven years,”

    “It's because we have spirit!” she laughed.

    “I think it's more than that,” Jake said doubtfully.

    “Maybe, but you have to submerge yourself in the cheers and the roars of the crowd,” Alyssa said.

    Jake watched how the light danced through her blue eyes when she talked about cheering and winning. He wasn't sure that he believed what she was saying, but she looked very pretty when she was saying it.

    “I'll try,” he laughed.

    “You better,” she grinned.

    “Or what?” he asked playfully.

    “I'll tell the world you were carrying around my pom-poms,” she laughed.

    “I was just trying to steal some of your school spirit,” he chuckled.

    Alyssa slapped him playfully on the arm and they both jumped when the doorbell rang.

    “I'm not expecting anyone,” she frowned.

    She sprinted to the door and before she even opened it Jake could