Love-Struck Read Online Free Page B

Shakespeare, or novels, or obscure poetry that I’ve never actually heard of, ever. To be honest, English isn’t really my forte – I’m more of a drawer than a describer – but Wes comes into his own there. He’s a poet (but doesn’t tell many people) and writes his own lyrics, and also does the tab to them on guitar. He’s pretty good, actually; his lyrics are so fitting and his acoustic stuff is pretty much to die for. I wish I could write like that sometimes, but when I try to write everything gets a bit muddled up in my head, and doesn’t go down on paper quite how I want it to; but Mr Clumfield helps a load, which is why he’s probably my favourite teacher at Cathen.
    â€œIs everybody feeling a bit lighter now?” he asked us, and we responded with a resounding “yes” as he picked up the sheet of paper from his desk.
    Then someone knocked to come into the room, and Wes shot bolt upright again, hand going straight to his hair as he stared at the door. I swatted his hand down, and gave him a look that said “Stop messing with it or I’ll shave it off”. Wes chewed his lip nervously. I grinned and gave him a wink: show time.
    Oh, what laughs!
    â€œGood!” Mr Clumfield continued, glancing at the sheet in his hand and striding over to the door. “This must be our newcomer to Cathen,” he opened the door. “Hi … Emily, is it?”
    I swear I heard every guy in the room’s jaw drop to the floor. There she was: killer smile, hair like a shampoo advert, body of a model and the cheekbones of a pixie.
    What a cow.
    Naturally, I wasn’t bitter at all, but smiled and waved as her eyes scanned the room and fell on mine. She instantly smiled wider and gave me a little wave back.
    â€œYeah,” she said, turning back to Mr Clumfield and giving him a blast of her beauty. “That’s me! Emily Drew, nice to meet you.”
    Mr Clumfield grinned at us all. “Hey, lads and ladies, we have a poet!” He turned back to Emily. “I’m Mr Clumfield, and I’ll be your form tutor until you leave Cathen Comp. This is 10B,” he said, gesturing to us lot. “They look a bit rough but they’re all right really, and I’m sure they’ll make you feel more than welcome! Take a seat.”
    Several of the boys, including James, Matt and Chris (those kind of guys who reckon they’re real lady-killers) looked like they were willing to do a little bit more than make her welcome, so before she could get stuck sitting with them and being hit on for the rest of her life, I motioned for her to come and sit in the empty seat next to me that Wes and I had strategically placed there beforehand.
    Emily replied with a warm “Thanks!” and made her way across the classroom to come and sit with us, much to the Lady-Killer Squad’s dismay.
    â€œHey, Wes …” she said, sitting down in the seat. I could practically hear Wes’s mind screaming all kinds of elated, rudey words. Barbie smiled the Killer Smile. “… and … I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten your name!”
    Smile, Holly; breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth…
    My own smile threatened to break, and it was my own mind’s turn to scream expletives. This girl was not good news. She was smiling at Wes and biting her lip in a bit of a wince because she couldn’t remember my name. Apart from I bet she could. Playing up, making Wes feel special. Hmm. That’s good for him, though. But she was all long legs and an evil mind: not the kind of girl a girl wants to befriend, now I was sure. More deep breaths. Think of Jonah. The tent. Jonah, his face, those eyes…
    I was back on game.
    â€œIt’s Holly, don’t worry, and bless, it must be horrible trying to learn so many names so quickly!”
    Oh, I’m so nice, you would almost think I was genuine.
    She smiled and nodded. “Yeah,