First Date Read Free Page B

into the car, studying each grinning face. She didn’t recognize any of them. They didn’t go to Shadyside, she was fairly certain.
    â€œCome on, let’s all get friendly,” the passenger pleaded, reaching out for her. The driver pulled thecar up beside her so the stringy-haired kid could grab for her arm.
    â€œNo!” Chelsea cried, leaping out of his grasp.
    The four boys laughed.
    â€œLeave me alone! I mean it!” Chelsea cried.
    One of them flicked a lighted cigarette at her. It landed on top of one of her sneakers. She kicked it off and started to run.
    Their laughter was loud and cruel.
    Animals, she thought. They’re just animals.
    She was running up on the grass now, running up close to shrubs and low hedges. Breathing hard and gasping out loud as she ran, Chelsea listened for the car, listened for the laughter, the voices, listened for the sound of a door opening, the sound of one of them running after her.
    When the tiny car roared past, its horn blaring, she stopped to catch her breath, her fear lingering, her legs trembling, her heart still pounding.
    They’re gone, she thought, watching the car squeal around the corner. She felt relieved and miserable.
    If only something
good
would happen to me, she thought.
    If only I could meet a guy who liked me.
    The new boy at Shadyside High got the seat in homeroom next to Chelsea. It was the only vacantseat in the room, in the back row next to the wastebasket.
    Chelsea studied him as he made his way down the long row toward her. He walked quickly, carrying his backpack in front of him, avoiding everyone’s eyes. He was still wearing his leather jacket. Probably hasn’t been assigned a locker yet, Chelsea decided.
    He was average in height and weight and had dark eyes and black curly hair. He flashed Chelsea a shy smile as he took his seat, and she saw that he had powerful-looking, muscular arms that seemed too developed for the rest of him.
    He caught her staring at him, and she quickly turned her head to the front, embarrassed.
    Will Blakely.
    That’s what Mr. Carter had said his name was.
    Will Blakely.
    He’s kind of cute, Chelsea thought, stealing another long glance at him. His dark eyes were lowered to the floor. His cheeks were bright pink.
    He really is shy, Chelsea decided.
    She wanted to say hi or welcome or something. But she couldn’t.
    I’m shy too, she thought. I
hate
being shy!
    Mr. Carter was racing through the morning announcements, reading faster than the human ear could hear as usual. When he put the announcementsheet down for a minute, he surveyed the room, searching for empty seats.
    â€œAll present and accounted for,” he said, marking something on his attendance sheet, his eyeglasses sliding down to the end of his long nose. “I think there’s going to be a fire drill today. Hope you guys can take all the excitement.”
    Mr. Carter had a very dry sense of humor. But everyone always laughed and talked in homeroom so it was hard to hear a word he said!
    The first-period bell rang. Chelsea glanced at Will, but he avoided her eyes. He ran a hand nervously through his black hair before starting to pull his backpack up from under his seat.
    Chelsea stood up and started to hoist her backpack to her shoulder. “Oh, no!” she cried. Her notebooks, books, and supplies tumbled to the floor. She had forgotten to zip the bag.
    She looked down to see her brown-paper lunchbag open, her sandwich at her feet, an apple rolling across the room.
    With a loud sigh she stooped and began to collect her things. To her surprise, Will let go of his pack and dropped down beside her to help.
    â€œPretty stupid, huh?” she managed to say.
    He smiled. His cheeks turned pinker. He stuffed the sandwich back in the bag and handed it to her.
    Their eyes met for only a second. He quickly turned away.
    He’s even shyer than I am, she thought.
    She found herself staring at his powerful biceps and