When Lightning Strikes (Lightning Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

was staring.
    A young man with ruffled light blond hair, vivid blue eyes, and a square jaw stood in the front of the room, looking stubborn with his arms crossed. His loose button–down shirt and slacks did not disguise the fact that he was in excellent shape.
    “Who is that?” Mandy whispered as she took her seat with the other two in the back of the class.
    His piercing eyes looked over the class. Julie shivered as they passed over her.
    Her heart lurched, and her pulse sped up until she thought her body must be vibrating from it. She realized that her jaw was hanging open and shut it with an audible click.
    For the first time she realized how Mandy must feel when she had a crush. Was it like this every time—this intense? Maybe she had been too harsh on Mandy.
    Julie shook the feeling off and tried to ignore her stomach doing flips. She had never reacted this way before. She had to get under control.
    Darcy turned around in her seat. “Do you think he is our new home room teacher? I know Mrs. Flowers was going out on maternity leave soon, but I didn’t know she had the baby.”
    “Oh, I hope he is our new teacher.” Mandy kept her gaze fixed reverently on the front of the room. “If he is, we are meeting in here every morning and not the hallway. Early.”
    Julie caught Darcy’s attention and rolled her eyes.
    “Hi class, my name is Mr. Black. I’m filling in for Mrs. Flowers for the rest of the year. I hope you will all take it easy on me since this will be my first time teaching.”
    She shivered. There was a chorus of girl sighs throughout the room.
    “Okay, let’s start with roll call, and then there are a few school announcements before the second bell. Please let me know if I pronounce your name incorrectly or you go by another name than the one listed. Clarissa Andrews?” Mr. Black brushed back a lock of hair that fell over his eyes, oblivious of the rustle that the action caused in the room.
    Clarissa raised her hand in the front with a barely audible, “here,” and sunk back in her desk, blushing.
    Julie glanced around the room as the rest of the roll was called and frowned. Everyone in the room was silent, staring avidly at the man in the front—even the boys who usually gave substitutes a hard time. It reminded her of the way her brother commanded attention, only stronger. She also found herself examining him, trying to figure him out.
    His square jaw had a tiny bit of golden stubble glinting in the sunlight. Julie wondered idly what it would be like to run her fingertips down his jawbone. Would it feel rough or soft? What would that feel like if her kissed her? The rough stubble gently sliding against her cheek…Would she like it?
    Julie realized that she was halfway out of her chair. She eased back down in her seat, blushing. Was she really about to stand up and go over there to run her hand over a stranger’s face. A strange teacher’s face. In front of the whole classroom.
    What kind of whack job would even think of doing that?
    She rubbed her head, feeling woozy. Was this normal for a crush? She would talk to Mandy, but was afraid her friend would laugh at her. Shouldn’t she know someone to have feelings like this? She hadn’t even spoken two words to him.
    “Julie Marin? Is there a Julie Marin here?”
    Mandy poked her and grinned. Darcy whispered sharply, “Julie!”
    Julie raised her hand. “Here.”
    Mr. Black glanced up to look at her with a slight frown. The moment seemed to last forever. Her heart raced, and a flush crept over her face when their eyes met. She held her breath.
    Then he flicked his eyes to call on someone else.
    She shook her head, letting out her breath. Great. Now she was the type to make tiny little details super significant.
    The rest of the homeroom was normal. Mr. Black turned on the TV, and they all pretended to watch the school announcements. But mostly everyone kept staring at the new teacher until the second bell rang for them all to go to their