Flawless Read Free Page B

Jacobi on our way to the door. “Welcome back, Miss Burke,” he says, his familiar smile lighting his face.
    â€œYourself,” I say, enjoying the surge of excitement at starting the year with such an awesome lit topic. I mean, who doesn’t want to talk about love?
    â€œAnd you, Mr. Conway. I’m looking forward to working with you this year. The fact that you’ve made friends with Sarah speaks highly of your character.”
    I feel the telltale warmth spread across my cheeks; I’m simultaneously flattered and embarrassed.
    Rock chuckles deeply. “Thank you.”
    â€œSee you tomorrow,” Jacobi says, dismissing us with a wave of his hand as he sits in the threadbare office chair behind his desk.

    â€œNeed me to show you where the cafeteria is?” I ask once we’re outside Jacobi’s room.
    â€œActually, I was hoping you’d let me eat with you. There’s nothing worse than eating by yourself in a new school.”
    I squelch the cheer rising in my chest. “Sure. I need to run by my locker first.”
    â€œLead the way,” he says casually.
    Walking through the crowded hallway, I’m stunned at my good fortune of meeting Rock. It’s like we’ve known each other for years.
    When we reach my locker, I throw it open and toss my books inside.
    â€œMind if I leave mine in here, too? My locker’s on the bottom and it’s nearly impossible for me to get to.”
    â€œOf course,” I say, the frog settling back in my throat. Heat spreads across my chest when he reaches around me and places the books on top of my own. It seems so … intimate. And, God help me, I love it.
    At Northwest, all the seniors have lunch at the same time, so the cafeteria’s really crowded, really loud. Off-campus lunches were stripped from us last year when a group of cheerleaders got drunk at lunch and had a wreck on their way back to school. Since then, we’ve been forced to eat at school, all 250 seniors at one time.
    â€œI’m headed for the salad bar, but there’s a grill over there,” I say, pointing to the red-and-white-canopied corner of the cafeteria with a long line of guys patiently waiting for their double cheeseburgers and chili cheese fries.
    â€œSalad’s good for me, too,” he says.
    â€œOkay, then follow me.” As we get in line at the salad bar, Kristen breezes through the door and waves when she spots us.
    My stomach drops at the sight of her. I’m not quite ready to share Rock so soon, not to mention the backseat I’ll be taking to Kristen.
    Ignoring the glares of everyone in line behind us, she nestles herself between me and Rock. “Miss me?” she chirps.
    â€œYou have no idea,” I mumble.
    â€œDid you make it through Jacobi’s class?” she asks Rock, rolling her eyes. “I swear I nearly killed myself the week I was in there last year. It was brutal. I finally begged my way out.”
    Rock’s easy laugh slips from his lips. “It was actually pretty interesting.”
    Kristen’s eyes dart from my face to Rock’s. “What’s his depressing life-altering theme this year? War? Famine? Poverty?”
    I’m quick to answer, Jacobi’s inspiring words still rambling around in my head. “Love.”
    Kristen shakes her head in pity. “Poor things,” she says.
    â€œDon’t feel sorry for us,” Rock says, his dark brown eyes glancing at me over Kristen’s head. “I think it’s going to be my favorite class.” Our gazes lock for just a second, and it’s like we’re sharing something. I don’t know what it is, but I swear something is there.
    â€œFor real?” Kristen asks, dazzling blues wide in surprise.
    â€œAbsolutely. What’s not to love?” Rock gently nudges Kristen forward in line.
    I can tell by the look on Kristen’s face that she’s scrambling for the right words.