Maverick (Maverick Academy Series) by Tate Layman Read Free Book Online Page A

I’ve been going to Maverick since the third grade, so if you need any help or have questions, find me. Do you want to sit with me and my friends? Meet some more people?” Ellie asked with a friendly smile as she started walking toward a table full of students.
    “Thanks but I better go sit with my aunt. It was nice meeting you,” Whit answered as she searched for Mona in the crowded cafeteria.
    “Okay, I’ll see you around soon, then,” the blond said as she headed toward her friends. Whit watched the girl talk with her friends and felt a bit of relief. They acted normal. Maybe this school wouldn’t be so bad after all. She actually felt a bit better now that she knew someone else here, even if it was just the girl’s name.
    As Whit made her way past several tables to get to Mona, a student suddenly pushed back his chair and stood up. The chair blocked Whit’s path, and she waited patiently for the guy to move. When he didn’t, she tried to scoot past him with an apology. Right as she was squeezing by, he turned around and knocked her tray out of her hand.
    “Oh crap! Sorry, sorry, sorry . I didn’t realize you were there,” he apologized while his friends laughed at his clumsiness. Without looking at the guy, Whit bent down and started scooping up salad with napkins.
    “It’s not a big deal. I’m not that hungry anyway,” she said with a shrug.
    “Hey, I’ll clean it up, it was my fault,” he said as he kneeled next to Whit. Whit glanced up into his face and stared. It was black polo guy – the one who’d given her that look in the hallway. Now that she was closer, Whit knew she recognized him from her dream.
    As he dumped the last of the salad onto her plate, he stood and asked, “You want another salad? I’ll get it for you.”
    “No, that‘ s completely unnecessary, but thanks for offering,” Whit replied with a smile. She quickly turned around and moved to the chair next to Mona. As soon as she sat down, she glanced over her shoulder at black polo guy. Good grief, he was hot. Mona interrupted her thoughts by talking about how wonderful the school looked and how nice everyone was. It was the sales pitch again. Whit laughed and rolled her eyes at Mona. Man, she was definitely giving her the hard sale on the school. Whit knew her aunt was just trying to make her feel better about transferring by highlighting all the great things she could do here. It wasn’t like she had a choice, though.
    After lunch, Mrs. Audley led Whit and Mona though the cafeteria and out the back door. Before the door could close, Whit peeked at black polo guy once more. He was just so good looking that she couldn’t resist. As she searched the room for him one last time, her eyes collided with his and held for a moment. He was sitting with his friends, but looking directly at her with an unreadable look. Before Whit could turn away, he lifted his hand and waved at her. Cheeks flushing, Whit escaped through the door, embarrassed at being caught staring.
    Mona tugged her arm to gain her attention, then nudged her in the direction Mrs. Audley’s was walking. The next stop on the tour was the student dormitories. The dorms were in a building found at the back of the campus. Mrs. Audley explained that the room assignments were based on age. Each floor in the dorms was grouped according to age or grade. The younger students stayed on the bottom floors closer to the chaperones, whereas the older ones were assigned to the top floors. She pointed out that the boys’ dorms were in the building next to the girls, but assured Mona that students were watched very carefully at night. When Mona asked to see a dorm room, Mrs. Audley quickly unlocked a room on the bottom floor and stepped to the side. Whit thought the room was about the same size as her bedroom at Mona’s house. There were two beds, two dressers, two desks, and a closet area. Mona asked about the bathroom and Mrs. Audley explained that there was a bathroom and shower