Insomnia by J. R. Johansson Read Free Book Online

could finally breathe normally again. He was perfectly at home up there in front of the entire school, smiling, his arms spread wide. I thought it was a little over-the-top, but he always said he liked putting on a good show.
    “Logandale isn’t even going to see our football team coming! The Oakville Boulders are going to pulverize them and head to Regionals!” Jeff nodded and pumped a fist in the air. “Then we can shift our focus to my personal favorite sport: soccer.” He winked at the audience. “I have a feeling we’ll have our best season yet this spring!”
    A cheer rose from the crowd and a couple cheerleaders on stage jumped up and down with their pom-poms. Jeff was certainly entertaining everyone else, but not me. I wanted to go home. I sat forward, rubbing my shaking hands against my thighs to try to still a tremor. I felt better than usual, for sure, but one night of sleep wasn’t enough to change my future.
    “Now, it wouldn’t be fair for me to take all this support and attention for myself. I may be Senior Class President, but our soccer team has two captains. And since I have some good soccer news to share, don’t you think Parker Chipp should be up here to share it with me?”
    Next to me, Finn laughed and elbowed me in the side. I blinked at him for a minute before what Jeff said sank in. I shrunk down in my seat, hoping no one would see me. I couldn’t take being the center of attention. Please, not right now.
    The chanting started soft and got louder. “Parker! Parker! Parker!” It wasn’t until people shoved me from the back that I finally got up, waved at everyone, and sat back down.
    “Aww, c’mon, Parker. Don’t be shy. Come up here!”
    I growled under my breath but then stood and walked up to the stage. I spotted Addie as I went and mouthed the words “Help me.” She giggled and rolled her eyes as the cheerleaders rushed down the stairs and pulled me up next to Jeff.
    In one last, futile attempt, I threw a quick glance through the crowd for Megan again but couldn’t see much. The lights were too bright, too hot—too uncomfortable. Jeff slapped my back and grinned.
    He leaned over and spoke quietly in my ear. “Thanks, man. I know you aren’t an attention hound, but we gotta get everybody pumped, you know?”
    “No problem.” I shrugged and stuck my hands in the pockets of my letterman jacket. Jeff turned back to the audience.
    “Next Friday, the athletics department is sponsoring a bonfire rally out on Rush Beach. Everyone is invited to come and support our teams. Bring whatever you want to roast on the fire—as long as it isn’t the Logandale quarterback. We don’t need any extra help to beat them!”
    A roar of laughter and applause filled the auditorium. I let out a small laugh too. One of the cheerleaders, Anna Connors, caught my attention with a little wave. I turned to face her, and she winked and beamed at me. Her long blond hair floated around her, hugging her curves. I waved back, trying to suppress a shudder. She was crazy hot, no doubt about it, but I still couldn’t look at her without remembering a dream she’d had in junior high about French kissing her cat. I knew it was probably just a random bizarre dream, but it had cured me of any interest immediately. It was one of those unfortunate images that sticks with you.
    Jeff took a step forward and continued. “As for the soccer news, I’m here to give you my personal assurance that the soccer season won’t end only with my team winning State.”
    The auditorium quieted down and murmurs circulated.
    “The girls’ team is going to go all the way too!” Jeff nodded into the silence that followed.
    Everyone knew the girls’ soccer team struggled. They rarely even made it to Regionals, let alone to State. Like every other student in the auditorium, I watched Jeff, waiting for him to continue. What was he talking about?
    “We have a secret weapon this year, and I’m happy to introduce her to you,” he