Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
I’m socially awkward and haven’t been able to make any friends at school. Honestly, the loneliness is really starting to get to me, especially when I see other students having fun together.
I have Molly, though. I wouldn’t say we’re friends, but more like acquaintances because we don’t have a lot in common. We’re complete opposites.
After I rinse my cup, I head back to the foyer, and when there’s still no sign of Molly, I yell, “We’re going to be late for school.”
With Mayor and Mrs. Calder away for the next two weeks, Molly’s probably going to oversleep every day. They finally decided to take the trip to Greece they’ve been planning for over three years, and I love the photos they send us every day.
“I’m coming,” Molly shouts, but the second she appears at the top of the stairs, she turns around. “Crap, I forgot my lipstick.”
She’s the last girl on the planet who needs more lipstick. All the boys trail behind her like lap dogs, and I doubt it’s because of her intense makeup regimen.
“Well, don’t just stand there. Let’s go.” Molly rushes by me and is out the door in a blur, leaving behind a whiff of perfume that’s going to have me sneezing all the way to school.
Great. By the time we get to school, I’ll look like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Not even seconds after I climb into the car, I start to sneeze.
Molly digs a tissue out of her bag and shoves it into my hand before she starts the engine.
“Thanks,” I mutter, cranking the window open an inch so we can get fresh air into the car.
“No,” she snaps. “Shut it. It’s freezing.”
“Your perfume’s killing me,” I grumble.
Luckily, it’s only a ten-minute drive, and the instant the car is parked in its regular spot, I shove the door open and suck in deep breaths of fresh air.
“Come on,” I tell Molly. “We’re late.”
“Yeah-yeah,” she mutters while checking her makeup in the rearview mirror.
Not waiting for her, I hurry toward the entrance of the main building. The hallways are already empty, and I make it to class in the nick of time.
While Mr. Brady, our history teacher, writes something on the board, I let out a relieved sigh as I quickly walk to my desk at the back of the class.
Luckily, Mr. Brady is chill and doesn’t get angry if we’re a minute or two late. If it were Freezo’s class, I’d be standing up front trying to solve an equation from hell.
In every class, I sit alone in the corner, where I can go as unnoticed as possible. I keep my grades at a satisfactory level, and the teachers don’t pick on me.
Some of the students and town folk think I’m weird because of the unsolved mystery of how I was found by Fish Creek Falls. It has them keeping their distance from me, and it’s part of the reason why it’s so hard for me to make friends.
While I dig my sketchpad and pencil out of my bag, I feel the atmosphere change, and hushed voices start to fill the air.
“Oh my,” Wendy murmurs from where she’s seated in front of me.
“Damn, he’s hot,” Megan, the head cheerleader, says.
When I glance at Megan, it’s to see her teeth tugging at her bottom lip while she drools at whoever’s got her attention.
I follow her line of sight to see what’s got everyone talking, and then my heart skips one hell of a beat.
Holy shit. Megan’s not wrong. He’s hot as hell.
There’s a guy up front talking to Mr. Brady, and when he gives our teacher a lopsided grin, a couple of the girls sigh dreamily.
The new guy’s hair is dark brown and a little on the longer side. His face is flawless, his chin square and strong. Just as I look at his dark eyebrows, his eyes flick to me.
Pale blue eyes any girl can get lost in.
Damn, he’s good-looking.
Then it registers that the new guy is watching me stare at him, and my face goes up in flames.
Oh my God. Kill me now.
I try to look away, but then he ends his conversation with Mr. Brady, and when he starts to walk down the aisle in my direction, my heart beats faster and faster.
He’s probably going to sit next to Wendy.
The new guy walks with so much confidence every pair of eyes in class is focused on him.
Damn, I wish I had his confidence.
Molly sneaks into class as the new guy glances at the other students.
When his gaze locks on me again, I have to suppress the urge to swallow hard. By the time he reaches my desk, my heart is beating a mile a minute.
Stay calm. Don’t say something stupid.
Ugh, he probably won’t even talk to me.
I feel like squirming in my chair and glance down at my white knuckles where I’m clutching my favorite pencil.