Breathless Read Free Page A

him, and it took a lot to stir up the green-eyed monster in Rob’s eyes. Rob Masterson was the most-sought-after boy in our year. He was quarterback of the varsity football team and captain of just about every other sport’s team, too. He wore the right clothes, had sandy blond hair, crystal blue eyes, and a body that would make Mr. Universe jealous. He got above average grades and was perfect in just about every way. Or, so most girls thought. Addie had been seeing him on and off for a few years, so she knew otherwise. Rob definitely had his faults. Jealousy was just one of them. Still, no other girl had ever caught Rob’s eye or piqued his attention. Yet another reason why Addie found it so difficult to mesh with the popular crowd. Currently, Addie and Rob were taking a break, but she was eager to rouse his interest and rekindle the flame.
     
    “ Why would I care,” I asked Addie.
     
    The look on her face made it clear that she was in shock.
     
    “ Why would you care? Who wouldn’t? There is going to be serious competition for that boy. But, he didn’t take his eyes off of you the entire class. He didn’t even pick up a pen to take notes. It was very strange, intense,” she said. “I was planning to make my move, but I don’t think there’s much point. Judging by his fixation with the back of your head in first period, I would just be wasting my energy. Besides, it’s about time I give Rob another chance.”
     
    “ You’re being ridiculous,” I told her, and I believed it. “With all the beautiful people in this freakishly attractive town, why would anyone like him even give me a second glance?”
     
    Addie just shrugged, gave me a knowing look, and skipped off to her next class. I wouldn’t see her again until lunch.
     
     
     

Chapter 3 - Jealousy
     
    The rest of the day dragged on. I hadn’t seen him again, but the buzz about his presence could be heard everywhere. Weak descriptions filled the room around me. From what I recalled, they didn’t do him justice. But, my memory was fuzzy.
     
    In Biology, I could hear Rob Masterson complaining to Max Bigwell that the new guy had rained on his parade. No one had noticed Rob’s new hair cut thanks to the fact that they couldn’t take their eyes off of “Mr. Cool,” as Rob had called him. I chuckled, and both Max and Rob shot me a dirty look. I just shrugged. Britney and Lainie wouldn’t stop gushing about his brooding stare and black leather jacket. I smiled wryly when they began swooning over his tight behind. He’d disappeared so quickly both times I’d seen him that I didn’t have the privilege of watching him walk away. But I was sure that it was a privilege.
     
    “ Did you see him,” Stella finally asked me. “It’s a shame if you didn’t. He was only here for a half day today, but I hear he’s going to start full time.”
     
    “ Yeah. I saw him,” I said, trying to sound casual. “He was okay, I guess.”
     
    I knew it was a completely ridiculous understatement, and I would almost have been disappointed if Chloe hadn’t taken the opportunity to ream me out for it. By now, she had joined our small gathering and looked like she was ready to explode.
     
    “ No way, Lia. I can’t believe you said that,” Chloe started in on me slowly, her temper rising with each word. “He was to die for. I mean, he didn’t even come close to any of the guys around here.”
     
    That, I couldn’t deny. He wasn’t anything like the other boys, but I couldn’t quite pinpoint why. Though I only saw him for a few fleeting moments, I could see that he was beyond beautiful. Even Rob didn’t compare. Truly, they couldn’t be compared—they were so very different, but I couldn’t say for sure why. There was something more, but it all seemed a bit hazy.
     
    We kept chatting this way until Miss Krazinski started handing out our assignment. And even then, giggles escaped before we were organized into groups for our lab. Just as we were