Autumn Unlocked (Summer Unplugged) Read Free

teacher just outside his classroom door. I pull out my phone and check the text, laughing when I notice several other students do the same thing with their phones.
    My heart flutters just like it did on the first day I met him.
     
    Jace: I have an hour until my next lesson. How's your day?
    Me: A whole lot better now that you texted me . 
    Jace : I have a feeling it'll get better as the day goes on…
    Me: Um…why do you say that ?  
     
    The door swings open and I almost jump out of my chair as the noise brings me back to reality and out of my Jace fantasies. My heart races as I try to shove my phone back into my pocket before Mr. Harrison sees me. I can't believe I let myself get so wrapped up in texting him that I forgot to look out for the door.
    "Nice one," Shelly whispers under her breath from the seat next to me. She had also had her phone out, but must have been smart enough to get rid of it in time. Luckily, the teacher doesn't see me, so as long as I wipe this guilty look off my face, I should be fine.
    The next few minutes of class go by in a blur as I wait to feel the vibration telling me that Jace replied to my question. I can't stop thinking about what he meant when he said my day will get better. The only way it could possibly get better is if Jace himself shows up after class and whisks me away on a romantic vacation—oh who am I kidding? I'd be happy if he took me anywhere but here.
    Even though I know it's not going to happen, I can't help but feel a tiny bit sad when I walk out of Mr. Harrison's classroom and don't see Jace in the hallway, waiting to surprise me. It's not like he'd even be allowed in the school since he's not a student or the parent of a student. But I can almost picture how cute he'd look standing against the white walls of the history hallway next to the Autumn Ball poster, hands in his pockets and that silly smirk on his face.
    " Bayleigh." The sound of my name catches me off-guard and I stop in the doorway, turning my head around to find the source of the voice. People shove past me to get to their next class and I feel a heavy hand come down on my shoulder. Trepidation builds in my stomach as I turn slowly around to find myself face to face with Mr. Harrison.
    His eyebrows draw together and he frowns. "There are no cell phones allowed in class. I find a hard time believing that you are ignorant of this rule."
    "I, uh, was just making sure it was turned off," I say, doing my best to sound sincere, but it comes out sounding like a question.
    He gives me a less than sympathetic look and holds out his hand.
    "No, please," I say, slapping my hand over my pocket to protect my phone.
    He shakes his head. "Hand it over. You can get it back after you serve detention today."
    My heart drops to my stomach and it takes everything I have not to cry. Not only do I have to give up my phone for the day, but I have to spend an extra hour after school in detention. Jace won't be able to get a hold of me and I have no way to tell him until after school. Reluctantly, I slide my hand into my pocket and hand him my phone while wearing the saddest face I can possibly make, hoping it will change his mind.
    "See you in detention," he says.
    Guess it didn't work.
     
     
    I have to wait seven minutes and thirty-six seconds for the woman behind the desk in the office to get off the phone. I guess since it's an hour after the final bell rang and every student except for the delinquents in detention have gone home, the high school secretary finds nothing wrong with having  a n exceedingly long personal conversation about how her husband has gained too much weight and she doesn't find him sexually attractive anymore.
    I clear my throat for the third time since I walked in the office almost eight minute s ago. She spins around in her chair that was facing the back wall, her face morphing into a startled expression once she realizes that I'm here. "What do you want?" she asks, her cheeks burning red.