The Kissing Deadline Read Online Free Page B

with an
expression of triumph. Amber’s expression changed to displeasure as
Megan neared Ryan’s table.
    No way. Amber wouldn’t let pretty Megan sit
by her boyfriend.
    “Megan can’t sit on that half of the room,
unless she’s in front,” Amber protested. “She has to have a direct
line to the door because of her asthma. We form all our cheer
configurations to accommodate her.”
    Megan didn’t correct Amber’s B.S. and with
nowhere to go, she stopped and hovered by the last row of
tables.
    Cassie could tell by Coach’s expression that
he didn’t care about their dilemma and was about to put a stop to
the annoyance. Amber pointed her finger at the fire drill paperwork
on Coach’s desk. “We documented the restriction in our cheerleading
fire drill plan. I don’t think we’ve drafted a plan for this class
yet. Have we?”
    Coach frowned at the abandoned paperwork. His
lips twisted, and he reached toward the office memos. His fingers
hovered over the stack, then changed course and picked up a
magazine instead. He settled back into his chair and his expression
eased. He glanced down the side aisle. “Megan, take Cassie’s spot.
Cassie, go sit with Ryan.”
    Cassie gathered her stuff, scooted behind
Brooke, and claimed Amber’s old chair. The chair beside Ryan. Her
heart picked up. She couldn’t remember ever being this close to
him. Ryan and her alone in the back corner. Her mind emptied and
filled with possibilities while her skin tingled.
    “Hi,” Ryan said.
    Cassie couldn’t make the words form, so she
waved a little in his direction and stared at the beaker.
    Ryan passed her a folded triangle. “I didn’t
read your note.”
    Liar. Spencer would’ve copied and emailed the
note to everyone within minutes of receipt. Cassie would have at
least read it. How unusual of Ryan. What strong moral fiber. Then
again, he probably just wasn’t interested in what she had to say.
Cassie shoved the note into the pocket of her jeans. She looked
into his green eyes. They seemed sincere. Her shoulders relaxed in
relief. He hadn’t read her words.
    Coach Ameen waved a hand at their tables.
“Put them in formation. We’ll mix ‘em tomorrow.”
    Cassie wished she could help, but she didn’t
know hockey formation. She watched as Ryan put the bottles in line.
His attention moved from the bottles to the kiss me on her
t-shirt. Heat rose in her face, and she looked away, right into
glaring eyes--Amber.
    Amber’s narrowed gaze swiveled between Cassie
and Ryan and a smirk replaced her frown. She shuffled through her
folder and held up a copy of the mono warning letter. “Um, excuse
me.”
    Coach pointedly marked his spot in his
magazine article before raising his head. “Yes?”
    Amber jabbed the red warning letter at the
motto on Cassie’s shirt. “She’s making fun of the kids with the
kissing disease.”
    Coach Ameen looked at Cassie. “Not funny,
Cassie.”
    “Sir?”
    “Mono’s serious. It’s poor sportsmanship to
mock.”
    Cassie crossed her arms over her Irish
t-shirt.
    “Go to the nurse's office and change.” Coach
rooted through his desk drawer and held up a hall pass.
    Cassie felt everyone’s stares as she walked
up the aisle, clutching her bag to her chest.
    Paige made an anarchy symbol with her
fingers. “Don’t let the man get you down.”
    Amber went over to the Coach’s desk and
whispered something to him. He shoved a hall pass toward her in
irritation, but didn’t look up again. She beat Cassie out the door.
Kristnaldo squeezed by her next, and followed Amber. He didn’t
bother with a pass and Coach didn’t seem to see him leave or if he
saw, he didn’t care.
     
    * * *
     
    Cassie dug through her locker. No luck. She
hadn’t left a jacket in there. Slamming the door shut, she stopped
by the bathroom. New signs were posted by the sinks demonstrating
the proper way to wash hands. Had they placed signs in the boy’s
restrooms too? If Spencer was anything to go by, the boys