Melody's Crush: (Book One) Read Free Page B

dishes, I headed back to my room, took a shower and changed into my pajamas. Looking in the full length mirror, even my pj’s looked dull and boring. I flung the towel from my head at the mirror and plopped down on the bed. Hugging my pillow, I curled up into a ball, closed my eyes and for the first time in years, I fell asleep before nine.
    The hinges on my window screeched causing me to sit upright like a jack rabbit. Jake was standing above me looking down his perfectly shaped nose with concern.
    “Hey sleepyhead!” he yelled a bit too loudly.
    I looked up, cupping my hands from the offensive sunlight pouring through the window and gave him my best ‘kiss my ass’ look. But he only pushed my forehead causing me to fall back onto the bed.
    “Guess I will be driving my beamer today?”
    I sat up and pushed him out of the way, headed to my closet, stripped off my pajama bottoms, pulled on a pair of jeans, left my tank top on and just slipped into a button down shirt. I moved over to my vanity and pulled my hair back into a ponytail not bothering brushing it out or braiding it. I slipped into sandals and then grabbed my book bag and glasses, then headed out the bedroom door. It wasn’t until I was halfway down the hall that I noticed Jake had not followed me.
    “Jake?” I called out.
    I walked back to my bedroom and he just stood there staring at my closet door. His jaw was once again slackened.
    “Hey… you coming or not?” I asked, my eyes furrowing at what possibly could have caused him to go slacked jawed again.
    He shook his head and I noticed he swallowed a bit too loudly.
    “What’s gotten into you?” I insisted. But he just pushed by me and headed toward the kitchen.
    Mom was already getting her second cup of cream laden coffee before she started in on the sleeping arrangements for my ‘husband.’
    “Mom, really?” I asked, my voice a bit strained. “I’m already stressed enough about it. Can we not go there right now?”
    “Don’t worry, Mrs. Jenkins,” Jake intervened as he buttered his toast a little too hard. His eyes stayed glued to the bread and it was flattened by the time he finished talking to mom. “I plan to speak with Mr. Lloyd about switching with whoever picks Melody, so you won’t have to worry about making room for anyone. I’m sure he will understand.”
    It was my turn to drop my mouth.
    He glanced at me for a second, smiled a nervous smile and then spooned oatmeal quickly into his face without making eye contact with me for the rest of breakfast.
    Really, who was this guy?
    He didn’t even insist on driving the car to school. Instead, he said he would drive his car since he had practice. Even on practice days, he always rode with me. Why was today any different?
    The rest of the week flew by and Jake acted strange the whole week. Not once did he ride with me to school and twice he didn’t show up at my window. That only meant one thing.
    He was seeing someone.
    What hurt worst was that he normally asked me for my opinion before committing to any relationship. I was curious to know what made this one special enough for him to abandon me like that.
    Sheesh. One sided crushes really sucked.
    The bell rang for everyone to take their seats in Health class but there wasn’t a person in the room settled. We all were on edge for the pairing off of husband and wife. All the guys were practically squirming in their seats knowing they would have to move in with their ‘wives’ for the next three days. And then the following Tuesday, the gals had to move in with their ‘husbands.’
    The first person to draw from the hat was Jason Anderson due to his last name. There were twelve guys and twelve girls and all the parents had signed the permission slips.
    I wasn’t at all worried since Jake had already told my mother that he would make sure he and I were paired up. Seeing him chatting with Mr. Lloyd before class put my mind at ease. It was a relief to know that he was going to