Just Like the Movies by Kelly Fiore Read Free Book Online

in.
    â€œSure,” I say, reaching for the folder. “What’s it about?”
    â€œProm proposals,” she says before turning around. “You have to summarize the ones that have happened so far and rate them on a romance meter.”
    â€œRate them on a
what
?”
    â€œA romance meter,” she says over her shoulder. “One kiss for ‘just friends,’ two for ‘fun and flirty,’ etc. It goes up to five—‘hot ’n’ heavy’ or something like that.”
    This
is what I get for complaining about Senior Wills—a prom proposal exposé complete with a rating system?
    I force myself not to gag. Here it is—hard-hitting journalism at its best, folks. I’m sure my Pulitzer is already on its way.

All week long, the big story at school is Sam’s prom proposal. It’s probably the most dramatic one that’s happened so far this year. By Friday, though, I’m kind of sick of hearing about it. Sick . . . and jealous, I guess. Still no prom proposal in my world—at least not yet.
    At lunch, the saga of Sam and Layla is replaced with my friend Jocelyn’s story about how her boyfriend, Owen, asked her to the prom last night too. Owen’s a pretty private guy, so I think we’re all surprised by his renting advertising space on a movie theater screen. When Jocelyn sits down to see the most recent
Paranormal
movie, up pops a picture of Owen holding a set of cue cards and a shy smile. She shows us a picture on her iPhone where he’s holding one that says, WILL YOU GO TO PROM WITH ME?
    â€œIt was so incredibly romantic,” she says breathlessly.“And the best part is that it’s over now. I mean, I was dying to find out the way Owen would ask me. But now that it’s done, I can focus on my dress and my hair and all the fun parts of prom. Not the stressful parts.”
    A couple of the other girls are nodding—most of my teammates have already been asked. Beth glances over at me and raises an eyebrow.
    â€œNothing from Tommy yet, I gather?”
    I shrug and try to look unfazed.
    â€œNot yet. But Tommy’s a planner—I’m sure he’s got something killer up his sleeve and he is waiting for the perfect moment.”
    The movie theater idea is pretty genius—and since Tommy’s taking me to the old revival theater this afternoon, I wonder if a prom proposal is what he has planned. The fact that we’re even going there is a romantic gesture—there’s a showing of one of my favorite movies,
Titanic
, playing for one night only.
    So that’s what I’m thinking about when I meet him at the General Qi after school. He’s already waiting, leaning up against the passenger-side door with his muscular arms crossed over the chest of his black T-shirt. God, he looks scrumptious. Once again, I feel that flit of hesitation, of self-consciousness—like,
Why is he with me?
I may be confident on the track, but I’m anything but when it comes to Tommy. I’m not a cheerleader or model thin or movie-stargorgeous. I’m just a girl who runs fast and loves him. But maybe, just maybe, that’s enough.
    â€œHey baby.”
    He wraps his arms around me and smooths a hand down my back, then kisses my cheek.
    â€œReady to go?”
    â€œSure.” I smile up at him as he opens my door and I slide inside. The smell of leather seats and vanilla air freshener hits me immediately, and I settle into my seat.
    â€œSo, did you hear about how Owen asked Jocelyn to the prom?”
    Tommy frowns a little, then shakes his head.
    â€œNo, I don’t think so. Definitely heard about Peterson’s proposal on Monday, though. Man, he’s got it bad for Layla—what self-respecting guy would rent a suit of armor and fill a hallway with helium balloons?”
    â€œI think it’s sweet,” I say, pouting a little. Tommy grins at me.
    â€œThat’s because you’re a