The Boy Project by Kami Kinard Read Free Book Online

is to get new running shoes for her sister the track star. Because guess what else there is at the mall besides impact-resistant shoes with flexible cushioning?
    Cute guys that you can’t see at your school! Cute guys who could possibly be your soul mate! Hey — you never know. I took notes on one who works at A&F.
    See, I was in there checking out tops while Julie was trying on shoes. Suddenly, I felt this hand on my arm. I turned around and the guy of my dreams was saying, “Can I help you?”
    I wanted to say, “Yes, you can!” But instead I mumbled that I was just looking, and hurried out of the store because I could feel my face turning red. But I felt something else, too — an all-over tingle — especially when he touched my arm. What if that’s a feeling that
only
your one and only true soul mate can give you?

Sunday, January 14
After lunch
    Bebe Truelove dished out another helping of worthless advice today along with an ad for breath spray. Here’s the e-mail I just received:
    To: Kara M
    From: BebeTruelove
    Subject: Tip #2
    Dear Soul Mate Seeker,
    A guy likes a girl who listens to him when he talks. When having conversations, remember that your ears are just as important as your mouth.
    Tip #2: Be a good listener.
    Good Luck in Love,
    Bebe
    Try Sweetene Herbal Breath Spray!
    Going out for a romantic dinner? Be prepared for close conversation with Sweetene Herbal Breath Spray. Just a few sprays of this natural solution, developed by our top lab technicians, will keep your breath fresh and fabulous! Click here to order now!
    â™¥
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♥
    (Must be 18 years of age to order.)
    See why I think this advice is worthless? When I dragged Tabbi over to Evan’s table, I hardly talked at all. I was an excellent listener! I listened to Evan. I listened to Tabbi. I listened to Tabbi talk to Evan. And look what it got me. A front-row seat at the
Best Friend Steals Crush
show.

Tuesday, January 16
Fourth period
    So Mr. DeLacey has a sub today. Chip caught my arm as I was coming in the door. (It didn’t create an all-over tingle.) “Operation Class-List Swap?” he suggested. He wiggled his mediocre eyebrows. I couldn’t help laughing.
    But I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. After all, the last time I participated in one of his pranks, it cost me these things:
the guy of my dreams.
the ability to tolerate my best friend’s conversations.
my chance for total happiness.
    Right. I really had nothing left to lose. I gave Chip the thumbs-up.
    He sat in the last seat of the last row so he could be the one to switch the list out before carrying it up to the sub. We’d started with normal-looking names like Candace B. Fureal. Moved on to Marcus Absent (totally appropriate) and ended with our joint favorite: Monk E. Butts. (Okay, there were some better ones, but we
knew
we’d get in trouble for using those.)
    I pretended to be getting something out of my desk when Chip walked up to the front to turn in the list so that no one would notice me trying not to laugh. Nobody did. When I thought about how successful I was at going unnoticed, it was kind of depressing. . . .
After school
    At the beginning of sixth period, Tabbi left the woodwind section during warm-ups to come sit with me in brass. We often use this time to catch up because no one can hear what we’re saying with the horns tooting, drums banging, and woodwinds squeaking all at once. Anyway, Tabs wanted to know what was wrong. I’ve been trying to act normal around her, but it’s hard. Knowing it’s not her fault that Evan likes her instead of me somehow doesn’t help.
    I can’t even blame him for that. There’s a lot to like about Tabbi! She’s loyal. And she always gives straight-up answers for whatever questions you ask. She has great hair. It’s thick and blond, but she has the confidence to wear it short. I