Andrea and the 5-Day Challenge Read Online Free Page B

with her stunning legs crossed under her barely-in-dress-code cheer skirt. (FYI: The entire cheer squad was arrayed today in full-dress due to Spirit Week.) She looked so sure of herself as she shook her long, brown-black hair behind her shoulders. “It’s only a matter of time. He said he’s more than happy to help me decorate for homecoming on Friday. The next time I see Luke Ryan he’ll be popping the question.”
    “What question?” Julie asked. As usual, Julie proved herself to be a bit dimwitted as she fluffed at her bobbed and smooth-as-silk black hair. How had she ever ended up in this class? Of course, who am I to judge? Julie might have a higher grammatical aptitude than her apparent logical thinking skills. She and I had actually been on friendly terms back in elementary, but then she moved into the popular crowd and I…well, I didn’t.
    The second-in-command cheerleader scrunched her face up into a scowl. “Homecoming, you moron. He’s going to ask me.” It was nice to know Stephanie treated her friends with just as much compassion as the rest of us nobodies. How equal opportunity of her.
    Mrs. Holloway rang the bell she always kept on her desk, alerting us that study time had come to an end.
    Just like my social life—if I’d ever had one to begin with. The sound of papers rustling and books shifting resonated around the classroom. The test papers were handed down the aisles. The last thing I could focus on was The Scarlet Letter and poor Hester Prynne and the adulterous Reverend Dimmesdale. What about poor Luke?
    Stephanie really did have her designs set on him. It was no longer just my imagination. The worst part was that she only wanted him to ask her out because he was new—a novelty. Her latest toy. More than that, I’m betting she needed a Dion-like replica to save face at the banquet. Not that Luke looked anything like Dion, but with the way Luke’s reputation had preceded him as some amazing sports star, added to the fact that he is not too unpleasant to look at, and…well, she’d found her new arm decoration.
    I wished I could help him out (I really did), but this was way out of my league. I had nothing with which to combat the likes of Miss Long Legs. He was on his own, but Luke looked like he could handle it. I’m sure he was part of the cool crowd back in California and knew exactly what to do.
    What if exactly what to do included going out with Stephanie to homecoming?
    Somehow, the thought set my stomach to churning again.
     
    ~*~
     
    Rushing out of English class, I tried to stay a couple steps ahead of Amy. Thankfully, my legs were about double the length of hers. I really had nothing to say to her. Nothing I’d want repeated, anyway. I thought it might also be wise to avoid Stephanie because I just couldn’t bear to look at her perfectly formed features.
    I got it. She wanted Luke and who was I to stand in the way of their happiness—short-lived as it would undoubtedly be. Besides, there was no way I was getting between another couple like I had with Jeff and Kasey.
    Quickly, I undid my locker combination, threw in my English notebook and grabbed up my Spanish book before banging the door closed again and dashing down the hallway to the comfort of clase Español with Señorita Morales. Unfortunately, I had to pass one barrier before reaching a place of safety.
    The person of Luke Ryan.
    I watched as he exchanged books in his locker like everyone else around him. He didn’t notice me coming until the very last second. I focused straight ahead as though I hadn’t seen him. I just couldn’t look into his splendid eyes after what had happened this afternoon.
    That didn’t seem to stop him though. “Andrea,” he called out just as I passed by.
    And what did I do? I just kept on going. It’s not like we had time to chit-chat. There were classes to attend, lessons to learn, and assignments to be received. I didn’t know what he did after that as no way was I going to turn