Investigating the Hottie by Juli Alexander Read Free Book Online Page A

The same box Mom always buys.
    Another cramp hit me, and my ears were still ringing. The day was not starting well.
     
    I could hardly keep my eyes open in American Government. Christie and Nic had kept me up late doing training programs on the computer and brushing up on my self-defense skills. Just in case. After the soccer scrimmage, it’d all nearly killed me. Then, the booby-trapped tampon experience had pretty much sucked up any energy I had left.
    I was almost too tired to care what Will thought of me. Except that I wasn’t. I still totally cared what he thought of me. Of course I couldn’t see him without turning around in my seat because he was sitting in the back of the class again.
    “Miss Peterson.”
    Oh, crap! I wasn’t listening. I sat up straight and tried to look alert. “Yes?” The blackboard didn’t hold any clues.
    Mr. Moyers narrowed his brow. “I was asking you for an example of checks and balances.”
    Luckily, I knew this one. “Right. Ummm. The President’s veto power?”
    His face relaxed and he seemed to be satisfied. “Good. Try to pay attention, will you?”
    “Sorry.”
    “We have a test on this on Thursday folks. Amanda, I’ll give you the weekend. You can take it on Monday.”
    Thank goodness I wouldn’t need to ask this guy for a college recommendation. I managed to concentrate for a few more minutes, but it was pretty hopeless. I was exhausted.
    In Algebra, Will sat next to me. “Tired from last night?”
    I ignored the fact that it sounded like a sleazy line from a bad movie. “No. Not from soccer. I stayed up late with my aunt.” I tried to look at him when I talked, but making eye contact with him this morning seemed dangerous. He already knew me better than any guy ever had.
    He cocked his head. “Are you going to be living with her?”
    I really didn’t want to lie to him. Besides, I was a terrible liar, unless it was for a really good reason. “I’m staying with her for a while. I’m not really sure how long yet.”
    He didn’t seem to find anything wrong with this answer. “You planning to play soccer tonight?”
    “Wouldn’t miss it,” I said honestly. “You?”
    “Not sure, yet,” he said. “It’s cool that you play.”
    I just grinned back at him.
    The teacher walked in, and Will whispered, “Think you can stay awake for Algebra?”
    I grimaced. “I don’t know. Wish me luck?”
    “Good luck.” He had the sexiest whisper. A hot guy had never whispered anything to me before. I liked it.
    I liked it a lot.
     
    The Art teacher took us outside to sketch. I decided to try to draw the cluster of the Maple trees sporting brilliantly-colored leaves. Will took a seat on the grass near me, but before we could talk, the teacher came up to give us some help. As if any amount of help would be enough for me. Or him.
    Ms. Roberson worked with Will and me for most of the excruciatingly long period. I’d never felt so bad at anything, and there was nothing I could do to get better. I was hopeless. By the time the bell rang, my self-esteem had hit the gutter.
    Mrs. Roberson walked off to help some other student just before the bell rang. I gathered my notebook and pencil.
    “This must be what Hell feels like,” Will said.
    “Huh.” I turned his way, hugging my notebook to my chest.
    “Hell for me would be trying to draw landscapes while someone tries to teach me and just failing miserably.” He shoved his notebook into his backpack without even closing it first. His sketch of a large Oak leaf, which was admittedly somewhat more sophisticated than the previous day’s work, shredded as he pushed it in.
    “I think you’re right.” I focused on the backpack instead of him, because every time I looked at him, it smacked me upside the head. He was soooo yummy.
    “I’d better start going to church more often.” The self-deprecating smile only enhanced his looks.
    I smiled with him. “Me too. I couldn’t stand more than five hours a week of this drawing