Taking Risks by Cassie Allee Read Free Book Online Page A

irritated.
                  “They do that to you? Throw stuff at you?” He had a fire behind his eyes as he asked the question.
                  “Well it’s really no big deal. Everyone’s always been kind of afraid of me. It’ just their way of dealing with it.” I wanted to change the subject. “What’s your deal? I’ve heard the Mean Girls whispering about you too.”
                  The fire faded from his eyes and he looked amused. “ Mean Girls?”
                  “Uh…yeah. I’ve heard them talking about you in English. About how you apparently didn’t spend an entire conversation talking about how hot they were so they decided to hate you, however, they were impressed by your physic.” I blushed a little at realizing just how impressed I was with his appearance. He chuckled warmly and looked down at his steaming cup. “Yeah I guess you can’t really talk about beauty with someone who has none. I have a very specific idea of what beauty is and apparently it doesn’t appeal to everyone.” It was his turn to blush, but he still had the courage to look me in the eye this time. It was as if he wanted to be sure to get his point across and leave no room for interpretation. I glanced at Gray who raised his eyebrows almost to his hairline in surprise, but he also somehow found enough facial muscles left to have the biggest dopiest grin ever. “ He must really appreciate Risks moves.” I thought.
                  My cheeks heated more as I spat out the only cliché thing that I could think of. “So what’s your story anyway?” Risks face darkened as he searched himself for an answer I knew would be vague.
                  “Oh nothing really that interesting. My family is originally from here and we just decided to move back.”
                  “So are you really twenty one?” I had been wondering that ever since I saw his license. It seemed creepy that someone so old would still be in high school.
                  Risk just chuckled at me and said, “No that was totally fake. My old man had the license made for me when we moved here so that I could fetch him more booze when he ran out. I’m eighteen.” I was so relieved.
                  Just like Risk had read my mind he said, “You thought I was some kind of creep, didn’t you?”
                  I took a sip of my cappuccino and slyly replied, “It hadn’t crossed my mind.”
                  After our drinks were gone we split a piece of apple pie with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. When we were finished Risk paid the waitress (who had been checking him out the entire time) and looked me right in the eye, stopping me from leaving my seat. “There was a specific reason that I asked you here today…” His voice trailed off and Gray started to rub his hands together in excitement with that stupid looking grin on his face. I knew the question that was to follow too, so I nodded at him to go on.
                  “Well you know prom is coming up, and I know it’s sort of short notice…I mean, you probably have a date already, but I was just wanting to know if maybe…” He stuttered around with the question and Gray yelled at him “JUST ASK HER!!!” After muttering a curse word under his breath Risk finally asked, “…Would you go to prom with me, Marlee?” I smiled so big that it hurt my cheeks. Someone amazing had just asked me to prom. I never thought that I would get a date to prom, let alone someone who was as gorgeous as Risk. I was already picking dresses out in my mind.
                  Gray waved a hand in front of my face. “Answer him! He’s getting ready to run!”
                  “YES!” I blurted out. Oh man, why couldn’t I talk to this guy like I had any brains at all? “No, I don’t have a date, and yes, I would love to go with you.” His nervous