Double Date Read Free Page A

with me? he wondered. Was she trying to make me feel bad?
    Bobby watched her as she handed the drumstick to Arnie. She looks great in those tight jeans, he thought. She wore a silky black vest, open, over a golden yellow shirt.
    Not bad, Bobby told himself. If she’d lose a few pounds, I might even ask her out again. I mean, when Arnie’s finished with her.
    Melanie and Arnie were chatting quietly. Bobby carried his guitar to its case to put it away. “You coming Friday night?” he called to Melanie.
    â€œArnie is forcing me,” Melanie replied.
    â€œIt’s going to be great,” Arnie told her. “We had a great rehearsal today. Didn’t we, Bobby?”
    â€œAwesome,” Bobby replied, clasping the guitar case.
    â€œWhat do you think we should wear?” Arnie asked. “We never talked about that.”
    â€œHow about bags over your heads?” Melanie suggested. She snickered. “You know. Just in case your music makes the crowd ugly.”
    â€œA bag would mess up my hair,” Bobby muttered. He carried the case to the cabinet and shoved it inside.
    â€œI was just kidding!” Melanie exclaimed. She groaned. “You are the vainest person I ever met!”
    â€œTakes one to know one,” Bobby shot back. He unplugged the amp and started to roll up the cord.
    Melanie and Arnie talked quietly again. Bobby carried the amp to the cabinet and lowered it to the cabinet floor.
    He heard girls’ voices out in the hall. The Wade twins?
    â€œGot to run,” he called to Melanie and Arnie. He started to the door.
    â€œHey, Bobby—” Melanie called to him. “Don’t do it.”
    â€œHuh?” He turned back. Her dark eyes were trained on him, narrowed in disapproval.
    â€œStay away from Bree and Samantha,” Melanie warned.
    Bobby couldn’t keep a grin from spreading across his face. “Arnie told you?”
    Melanie nodded. “Bobby, I’m warning you,” she said. “I know those girls. They’re not what you think.”
    Bobby laughed scornfully. “I can get along without your advice, Mel.”
    â€œI’m serious,” Melanie insisted. “Stay away from them.”
    Bobby shook his head hard, as if shaking away her warning. “I’ll leave you two
lovebirds
alone,” he said sarcastically.
    He hurried out of the room. The long corridor was empty. His sneakers squeaked against the hard floor as he started to his locker.
    Melanie’s warning repeated in his ears. What is her
problem
anyway? he thought. He decided she was still messed up because of breaking up with him.
    Melanie hasn’t gotten over me yet, he told himself. Well—who can blame her?
    As he turned a corner, he nearly banged into an open locker door. He stopped short—and a startled girl appeared from around the other side of the door.
    â€œHi,” he said, recovering quickly, turning on his smile. “Are you Bree or Samantha?”

chapter 4
One Down
    S he gaped at him as if she had never been asked that question before. Her straight black hair fell over one eye.
    â€œI’m Bree,” she said finally in a soft, velvety voice.
    â€œHi, Bree,” Bobby replied, stepping close, his eyes locked on hers. “I’m Bobby Newkirk.”
    â€œI know,” she said shyly. She brushed the hair away from her face.
    â€œDid you find Mr. Cotton?” he asked.
    She nodded. “Yeah. My sister and I wanted to ask him about chorus. I mean, it’s kind of late in the year. But we thought maybe we could join. In time for the spring concert.”
    She sighed, as if explaining all that was a chore.
    â€œYou sing?” Bobby asked, studying her face. He liked her green eyes, liked the pale gloss she had on her full lips.
    â€œWell, Samantha and I think so. But I’m not surewhat Mr. Cotton thinks.” She smiled for the first time, a brief smile. Then she shyly looked