Making Out Read Free Page B

flawless, and her almond eyes had a dark intensity that made total strangers stare at her.
    But what was the point in looking fabulous when not one single guy at St. Claire’s Academy had ever asked her out? Not unless you counted Bennie Berger, who had begged her for three solid weeks to go to Homecoming their freshmen year.
    Heather and Lisa Marie claimed that guys were afraid to ask her out because she was so gorgeous. They were sure she’d turn them down.
    Yeah, right. Bennie Berger was living proof of that.
    She jogged back onto the field and flopped down on the damp grass to stretch her hamstrings. The ground was cold. She was going to have a big wet spot on her butt when she stood up.
    â€œBend it, Kazanjian,” Brad Morganthal teased, jogging past her and purposely kicking her shoe.
    â€œJust try to keep up with me,” Marianna teased back. Morganthal had been running in last place on the team for several weeks.
    â€œWhat do I get if I do?” Morganthal called over his shoulder, but he didn’t wait for an answer.
    Is he flirting with me? Marianna wondered. She glanced over at Jennifer Giles, the only other girl with any talent on the cross-country team.
    â€œGo for it,” Jennifer said. “I don’t care. Brad and I broke up months ago.”
    Marianna blinked, surprised. “I didn’t even know you were going out,” she said truthfully.
    Jennifer shrugged and started to say something, but Coach Robinson called her away.
    â€œSo what was your time on Friday?” a voice right behind Marianna asked.
    Still leaning forward, reaching for her toes, Marianna twisted her head around to see who was asking.
    Luke’s soft blondish-brown hair flopped over his sky blue sweatband. He grinned at her as he bent and twisted, loosening up.
    Was he actually talking to her? She couldn’t quite believe it.
    Too quickly, she sat up and stammered, “My time? I ran 29:14, but I didn’t do tempo training last week, so I think I can improve.”
    â€œI doubt it,” Luke said.
    â€œWhy?” Marianna’s heart folded in half. Luke Perchik, the love of her life, was finally talking to her . . . just to dis her?
    â€œBecause you’re already running about ten times better than anyone else on the team,” he said.
    He bent at the waist, hands on his hips, and swiveled back and forth, shooting her a grin each time he turned in her direction.
    â€œThanks.” Marianna pretended to stretch again, although she was more interested in making sure her hair didn’t fall the wrong way and her tank top didn’t bunch up, making her look fat. Her pulse started racing. There had to be some way to keep this conversation going . . .
    Say something, Marianna, she told herself. Anything. Her brain went blank.
    â€œSo, uh, what time did Coach say to meet at Warburton on Saturday?” she asked.
    So lame.
    â€œTen, I think.” Luke answered like he wasn’t sure himself. Then he squatted beside her. “Listen . . .” His tone sounded half worried, half nervous. “I was thinking . . .”
    Just then, Coach blew his whistle. “Move it, Perchik!” Robinson called. “I want to see your stride before you hit the road.”
    â€œYou were thinking?” Marianna prompted him, wishing he’d finish his sentence. She had the vague feeling that he was trying to ask her out. Wishful thinking, no doubt.
    â€œYou, too, Kazanjian!” Coach shouted.
    Luke ran off without answering. In the distance, she could see him taking a lap around the track before he hit the trail that led into the woods. She thought about following him, trying to catch up, but she didn’t want to be too obvious.
    She took a lap to warm up, then Coach Robinson called her over to give her a few pointers about her stride. Finally he let her go, and she pounded toward the trail, entering the woods right behind Jennifer Giles.
    The trees were bare except for