College Weekend Read Free

the station.
    â€œHey—what’s up?” he rasped.
    â€œW-we’re leaving,” Tina stammered.
    The man moved in on her. “No, you’re not,” he said in a low, cold voice. “You’re not going anywhere.”

chapter 2
    â€œ
I
need money,” he growled at Tina. “Whatever you got.”
    Okay, she thought. Okay. He wants money. He can have everything. The whole fifty dollars Dad gave me. Tina fumbled for her purse.
    The man jerked his face closer. His hair fell in dirty clumps onto his forehead. His breath smelled of alcohol. His eyes were glassy.
    Tina backed against the wall. Her whole body shook.
    â€œMy … my money’s in my …” Tina stammered.
    But she never finished her sentence.
    â€œHey—leave her alone!” a deep voice ordered. “Get out of here!”
    Josh! Tina thought. Finally!
    The man let out a startled cry and lurched away.
    Tina covered her face with her hands, ordering her body to stop trembling.
    â€œAre you okay?” her rescuer asked.
    That’s not Josh’s voice, Tina realized.
    She raised her eyes to see a stranger with piercing green eyes and dark hair tied in a short ponytail.
    â€œI’m okay—now,” Tina told him. “Holly? Holly?”
    Holly stood huddled against the station wall, her arms wrapped around herself. Tina rushed to her side. “You okay?”
    Holly nodded. “How about you? Did he hurt you?”
    â€œNo. He just scared me to death,” Tina replied. “I’m going to kill Josh for being late.”
    Holly turned to the stranger. “Thanks for chasing that guy away.”
    Tina felt the boy staring at her. His gaze traveled from her face to her legs and then back to her face.
    â€œYou must be Tina,” he said. “I’m Chris Roberts. Josh’s roommate.”
    â€œOh, yeah,” Tina replied. “Josh told me about you.”
    Josh had told her that Chris had tons of money. But Josh had never told her how handsome Chris was.
    â€œWhere
is
Josh?” she asked, forcing her eyes away from Chris and around the station. “How come he’s not here?”
    â€œHe went upstate yesterday on a geology camping trip with our friend Steve,” Chris answered.
    â€œHuh? He went camping?” Tina cried. “But he knew I was coming!”
    â€œThey were supposed to be back today,” Chris explained. “But they called this afternoon from a garage. They had car trouble. They have to wait to get the transmission fixed.”
    â€œWhen will they be back?” Holly asked.
    â€œLater tonight.”
    â€œOh,” Tina murmured, disappointed. One whole night knocked off her perfect weekend. But at least now she knew why Josh wasn’t here.
    â€œJosh asked me to come get you. Sorry I’m so late,” Chris apologized.
    â€œDon’t be sorry,” Holly said. “If you ask me, you got here just in time.” She pushed her curly brown hair away from her face and smiled.
    â€œHow did you know it was me?” Tina asked.
    â€œJosh has pictures of you all over our room,” Chris explained, staring at her. “All the guys notice them.” He grinned playfully.
    Tina felt him checking her out again.
    â€œI thought you were coming by yourself,” he said, his smile fading.
    â€œI planned to,” Tina lied. She didn’t want a cool guy like Chris to know her parents didn’t let her travel alone. “But Holly wanted to check out the drama department at Patterson. So she came, too.”
    â€œAhem.” Holly coughed theatrically.
    â€œOh, I’m sorry,” Tina said. “I didn’t introduce you. This is Holly Phillips, my cousin.”
    â€œHi,” Chris said without really looking at Holly. “Let’s get going.” Chris picked up Tina’s suitcase. “My Jeep is out front.”
    Tina followed Chris around the station and over to his car. In a few more