Pepped Up Read Free

replied.
                  “5A is the sports division for the biggest schools right? And 4A is second biggest?” I asked. I didn’t pay much attention to sports, but with all the time I spent with Jace and Wes, it was impossible to remain totally ignorant.
                  “Yup,” Wes confirmed. “I think you need five hundred a class or something to be 5A.”
                  “Brockton’s one of the biggest high school’s in Colorado,” Jace added. “That’s why we kick everyone’s asses in sports. We’ve got about 4000 students this year.”
                  “You have so many hot chicks to choose from, man, I’m jealous,” Wes said.
                  “Yeah, but you get Madeline Brescoll. She’s smokin’.”  Even back then I’d heard of Madeline. Everyone in Brockton knew the Brescoll family.
                  “Speaking of hotties, didn’t those cheerleaders want to hang out? Do you have their numbers?” Wes asked Jace.
                  “That’s right.” Jace scrolled through his cell phone and pressed ‘send’. He got up to walk while he chatted with someone on the other end. I watched him laugh and raise his arm to run a hand through his jet black hair. It was still wet, and it dripped down his muscular back and tan chest. He’d filled out over the past year, and had probably grown half a foot since last summer. 
    He was usually training for football or meeting up with a girl, and I’d seen a lot less of him than I usually did over the summers. I watched his tight bum as he walked slowly down the edge of the pool. He must do a million squats. Jace turned around when he got to the other side of the pool and ended the call. As he walked towards us , I admired his firm chest, hairless except for a light dusting from his belly button to the edge of his swim trunks. I wanted to trace the V that led invitingly beneath his shorts. 
    My eyes darted back to my book and I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. My heart beat rapidly in my chest. I was completely alarmed by the direction of my thoughts. I had never wanted to do anything like that before and I feared that he would somehow know, be able to hear my thoughts or read it on my face. Maybe not seeing him every day like I usually did had changed my perception. Or maybe I’d gotten too much sun. My desire to touch my best friend felt very wrong and I hoped it was temporary.
    I continued staring at my book, scanning the pages but not processing anything. I was incredibly thankful I had sunglasses on to help hide my expression. I couldn’t look up when Jace settled into the chair next to me.
    “They’re coming over,” he said.
    “Sweet. I’ll let my mom know.” Wes headed inside and I was alone with Jace. For the first time ever, I fe lt awkward with him. 
    “I can’t believe we’re gonna be in different schools this year,” he said. “It’s gonna suck.”
    I didn’t know if he was talking about me, or Wes, or all three of us. “Yeah. Eighth grade’s supposed to be awesome, ruling junior high and all that, but I’m not going to have any friends.”
    “What do you mean?” I look ed at Jace; he was frowning. “What about Tina and Dana? Aren’t they in your grade?”
    I shrug ged. “Yeah, they’re okay I guess.” I didn’t like Tina and Dana. They were obsessed with boys and clothes and gossip, and -- “They’re kind of mean,” I told Jace.
    “They’re mean to you?” Jace s at up and clenched his fists. He’s always had a quick temper.
    “Not to me. They trash -talk everyone else though. It’s stupid. They really aren’t all that great but everyone thinks they’re so cool. I don’t know why they want to be friends with me. But they always talk to me and invite me to do stuff with them. I bet they think they’ll get to know you if they know me.” Jace raised his eyebrows. “Because you’re sooooo hot,” I said sarcastically,