The Secrets of Attraction by Robin Constantine Read Free Book Online

how they felt about the dance, if a girl asking a guy to a dance was even that big of a core-shaker anymore. And I know some girls are making it a girls’ night, so that would be interesting to include too.”
    Core-shaker? I mouthed to her across the table. Wren pretended not to notice so she wouldn’t lose face with Piper, whotook the yearbook’s theme, “On the Edge,” seriously. The faculty had given us some trouble, thinking it sounded neurotic or like some veiled drug reference. Piper assured them “On the Edge” was positive and meant being on the forefront. I didn’t always understand Piper’s vision, but the challenge of figuring it out was kind of fun.
    â€œCool. I like it. Have it to me the following Wednesday after the dance, right? Jazz, where are we on the Fathers’ Club layout?”
    â€œUm, well . . . we’re . . . Piper, I have no clue what I’m doing with it yet. Not sure how to make the Fathers’ Club edgy. All I have so far is the fall bowl-a-thon and sponsoring Toys for Tots.”
    Piper knocked on the table. “Anyone have any ideas?”
    Silence. I went back to working on my mehndi design—brainstorming about fathers was something I could thankfully be excluded from. There was a time when it might have made me feel awkward, but I’d grown out of it. When I was in third grade, my mother had explained it very matter-of-factly—my biological father was far out of the picture by the time she realized she was pregnant with me. He hadn’t been the right person, but it was the right time and there was never a doubt in her mind that she wanted me .
    It’s not like I never wondered if he was out there, somewhere . . . but it’s not like I had a gaping hole in my life either. Mom and I were fine; besides, when Wren had sleepovers Ilived vicariously with Mr. Caswell doling out Sunday-morning banana pancakes or dousing us with the hose when we sunbathed in the yard. I mean, who wanted to go to some lame-ass fall bowl-a-thon anyhow? Puh-lease.
    â€œWell, we have time to figure out how to make bowling edgy,” she said, smiling and moving on to another Post-it.
    â€œSo you guys are really going to Sadie Hawkins, right?” Wren asked as we walked to our lockers after the meeting.
    â€œIf it involves me asking someone, then no,” Jazz said.
    â€œCome on, Zach can—” I began.
    â€œYou don’t need to find me anyone, okay?” She dropped her chem book to the floor and muttered under her breath. Wren and I exchanged puzzled looks.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” I asked, crouching down to pick up the book.
    Jazz took the book from my hand and slid it onto the top shelf of her locker. “Nothing, I just hate being put on the spot like that. This ‘On the Edge’ thing is hard.”
    â€œYes, but one more year, and then we’ll be running the book. And we can come up with a normal theme but nothing banal ,” Wren said, mimicking a Piper hair flip with a smile.
    â€œYou don’t usually get so upset at this stuff,” I said.
    â€œThe meeting ran late and I was supposed to . . . I just missed my run, that’s all,” she said, grabbing her coat.
    â€œDon’t you usually run with your dad at night?” Wren asked.
    Jazz leaned against her locker and frowned. She looked between us.
    â€œI really didn’t want to talk about it yet. It’s so new and—”
    â€œOmigod, just spit it out, Jazzy,” I said.
    â€œThere is someone I wanted to ask to the dance.”
    â€œGreat!” Wren said.
    â€œNo, not great—he’s already going with someone.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œDarby Greene.”
    â€œNo, who were you going to ask?” I was not about to let her off the hook. This was too juicy a development on an otherwise completely boring Wednesday afternoon.
    â€œThis guy I’ve been running with.”
    I motioned for her to