Chance Of Rain Read Online Free Page B

eyes.
    “OK, folks, settle back down. We’re gonna wrap up tonight’s battle of the bands with some boys from H-town. Give a big Road House welcome for…” The MC hesitated then looked at the lead singer. “What’s y’all’s name again?”
    The singer smiled and shrugged. “We haven’t decided just yet.”
    The audience laughed, and the announcer improvised. “Well, it’s a good thing we’re laid-back around here. Give it up for…Anonymous!”
    The long haired musicians electrified the crowd as soon as they began. They made their instruments come to life and the lead singer had a rough voice that reminded me of Chad Kroeger of Nickelback.
    Bri and Cole went off to dance, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the stage. The next thing I knew, Blake was pulling me to my feet and onto the dance floor. I didn’t want to go at first, but I had to admit it was fun.
    When a slow song began to play, I wanted to go sit and watch the band, but Blake had other plans. “Come on, Ash,” he said. “Just one more.”
    Before I could say anything, he pulled me close. As we turned, I caught a glimpse of
him
, and he was looking at me. He looked down quickly, but I was almost certain the corner of his lip revealed a tiny smile.
    He was sitting alone near the pool tables, messing with his phone.
    When the song finally ended, Blake and I returned to our seats. Then the MC concluded the evening’s event. Of the four bands that had participated, by show of applause, Anonymous was the hands-down winner.
    I looked back toward the pool tables, but my guy was gone. As I turned back around, I spotted him heading in my direction.
Is he coming to talk to me?
I wondered.
    Blake must have thought so, because he was watching and deliberately intercepted.
    “It’s eleven thirty. Bri told Cole that you two have a curfew. I guess you’d better get going so you won’t be late.”
    Bri overheard Blake and glanced at her cell. “Oh, my gosh! No way! We should head out, Ash.”
    What? She was right, but since when was Bri worried about rules?
    I felt a sense of panic; I was running out of time. On a whim I decided to go over to him. I took a deep breath, but before I could take my first step, Lacey Sanders swooped in out of nowhere on her broom.
    Between Blake and now Lacey, to say I felt frustrated was an understatement. I motioned for Bri to head to the door. Who was I kidding anyway? That guy was
way
out of my league. I was such an idiot for even thinking I stood a chance with someone like that.
    It was a very…long….ride…home, even with the windows down.

III
    25 %
    W hen I got home I showered and got ready for bed. I opened all my windows and switched off the light. The moon was almost full. I let it hypnotize me as I thought about what might have been. I couldn’t wait to go back to the Road House. I had to see him again.
Him…
I didn’t even know his name.
    The crickets faded into the background, and I stumbled into a dream.

    I tried my best to sleep in, but my eyes popped open at the first rays of light. I was watching a deer at the edge of the forest when my phone startled me with a ding. It was a text from Bri.
    U up? Gym?
    I quickly replied:
    K. Ready in 10
.
    In less than fifteen minutes, Bri and I were on our way to Fit City.
    “I have
sooo
much energy. This is good, though. It’ll help me lose weight! I can’t believe school starts Monday. Cole is so cute! I think I’m in love! Ash, are you awake, or are you sleepwalking?”
    “I’m gonna need some coffee to keep up with you.”
    Bri turned into Dunn Bros, and I got a small with two creams and four sugars.
    The gym parking lot was far from being empty like I’d expected. “Don’t these people have lives?” I grumbled.
    When we walked through the doors, I felt like I’d jumped into a cold pool of water. The burst of freezing air, combined with the caffeine I’d sucked down, jolted me wide-awake.
    We made a pit stop in the locker room. Then, like we’d