Break The Ice Read Online Free

who, for whatever reason, hasn’t gotten up and left yet.
    I fall back on what I’ve seen done in countless movies. I lean in, set my shoulders forward, and slam into him. It doesn’t end up in a standoff like I hope, but I don’t fall over, either. Holding my arms out, I keep Cliff at bay. His arms swing like a windmill for a few seconds before he realizes what’s happening.
    Embarrassment fuels his rage. His feet kick back, ready to charge again in a dramatic fashion. He takes two steps when a man, taller than me, steps between us. Cliff staggers to a halt right before crashing into his football coach.
    “Get to class, Cliff. You’re acting like an idiot. And the rest of you, run along. You’re all late anyway.”
    While the others leave, laughing at Cliff or me or the freshman, I turn to the kid who is still on his back. I offer a hand and his small, shaking fingers grab it.
    “You okay?” I say.
    He shakes his head, but says, “I’m okay.”
    I pick up his squished sandwich and toss it in the lunch box with his note. There’s no way he’s going to eat that lunch, so I throw a couple one dollar bills from my wallet inside. “Get the pizza at lunch, that’ll be enough,” I say.
    Taking the lunch box from me, he nods. Without saying a word, he turns around.
    “Oh, and kid?” I say. I wait for him to look at me over his shoulder. “No matter what these idiots say, the Avengers are awesome.”
    A brief smile breaks through before he runs down the hall.
    “Playing the hero card today, Adams?”
    “Not sure what’s gotten into me, Mr. McFadden. Won’t happen again.”
    “Let’s hope that’s not true,” he says. “Unfortunately, I’m going to have to escort you to the principal’s office.”
    Of course you are. “Lucky for us, that’s where I’m headed.”
    “Funny,” he says, winking. “Me, too.”
    The sense of urgency dies down, letting my stomach settle. Everybody tells mixed reviews about McFadden. I guess his human decency outweighs his team spirit. Lucky for me.
    “You ever think about joining the team?” he says.
    I choke back a laugh. “I’m not a big fan of football.”
    “You’ve got a fire burning inside you. Could use–hey Dana–some of that out on the field. Any letters?”
    Dana, Gunsler’s personal secretary, leafs through a pile of mail. “Nothing today, Roy.”
    He slaps his leg. “Darn. It’ll get here one day. Alright, Adams. Stay out of trouble. And think about our talk. See you in PE.” McFadden taps his knuckles on the desk before turning to leave.
    Dana’s stare lingers on the football coach a few seconds longer than mine, and significantly lower, before she averts her eyes back to mine. She blushes. “Oh,” she says. “Need help?”
    “Here to see the big man,” I say, trying to stay positive. I’m not looking forward to whatever lecture Gunsler has prepared about how we need to be strong in times of desperation and how others are counting on me.
    “ Mr. Gunsler is in his office,” she says, her eyes digging into me.
    The door to the principal’s office hangs wide open. A plaque on the wall reads Patrick Gunsler . An array of certificates, awards, and degrees hang on the wall opposite the door. Overqualified doesn’t do him justice.
    “Hey there, little man,” he says when I appear in the doorway.
    I swallow hard. He heard me, no doubt about it, and yet his smile doesn’t waver. As far as I can tell, the man looks genuinely interested to have me in his office.
    “You called?” I say.
    “Have a seat,” he says.
    “I’d rather–”
    “Sit.”
    The commanding tone of his voice has my legs moving towards the chair before my brain tells them to do it. The seat is more comfortable than I expect. Plush, soft again my bare forearm. Borderline luxurious. I didn’t think our school could afford furniture like this after how long it took them to replace some of the desks last year.
    “Go ahead,” I say.
    “I’m sorry?”
    “Aren’t you