Perfect Chemistry 1 Read Free Page A

saying it's
    good or bad; it's just the way it is in Fairfield. And, to be honest, most
    of the south side girls treat me like Carmen Sanchez does . . . they
    hate me because of who I am.
    Or, rather, who they think I am.
    Alex's gaze slowly moves down my body, traveling the length of me
    before moving back up. It's not the first time a guy has checked me
    out, it's just that I never had a guy like Alex do it so blatantly . . . and
    so up-close.
    I can feel my face getting hot.
    "Next time, watch where you're goin'," he says, his voice cool and
    controlled.
    He's trying to bully me. He's a pro at this. I won't let him get to
    me and win his little game of intimidation, even if my stomach feels like
    I'm doing one hundred cartwheels in a row. I square my shoulders and
    sneer at him, the same sneer I use to push people away. "Thanks for
    the tip."
    "If you ever need a real man to teach you how to drive, I can give
    you lessons."
    Catcalls and whistles from his buddies set my blood boiling.
    "If you were a real man, you'd open the door for me instead of
    blocking my way," I say, admiring my own comeback even as my knees
    threaten to buckle.
    Alex steps back, pulls the door open, and bows like he's my butler.
    He's totally mocking me, he knows it and I know it. Everyone knows it. I
    catch a glimpse of Sierra, still desperately searching for nothing in her
    purse.
    She's clueless.
    "Get a life," I tell him.
    "Like yours? Cabrona, let me tell you somethin'," Alex says harshly.
    "Your life isn't reality, it's fake. Just like you."
    "It's better than living my life as a loser," I lash out, hoping my
    words sting as much as his words did. "Just like you."
    Grabbing Sierra's arm, I pull her toward the open door. Catcalls
    and comments follow us as we walk into the school.
    I finally let out the breath I must have been holding, then turn to
    Sierra.
    My best friend is staring at me, all bug-eyed. "Holy shit, Brit! You
    got a death wish or something?"
    "What gives Alex Fuentes the right to bully everyone in his path?"
    "Uh, maybe the gun he has hidden in his pants or the gang colors he
    wears," Sierra says, sarcasm dripping from every word.
    "He's not stupid enough to carry a gun to school," I reason. "And I
    refuse to be bullied, by him or anyone else." At school, at least. School
    is the one place I can keep up my ‘perfect’ facade; everyone at school
    buys it. Suddenly pumped about starting my last year at Fairfield, I
    shake Sierra's shoulders. "We're seniors now," I say with the same
    enthusiasm I use for pom-pom routines during football games.
    "So?"
    "So, starting right now everything is going to be p-e-r-f-e-c-t."
    The bell rings, which is not exactly a bell because the student body
    voted last year to replace bells with music between classes. Right now
    they're playing ‘Summer Lovin'’ from Grease. Sierra starts walking
    down the hall. "I'll make sure you have a p-e-r-f-e-c-t funeral. With
    flowers and everything."
    "Who died?" a voice from behind me asks.
    I turn around. It's Colin, blond hair bleached from the summer sun
    and a grin so large it takes up almost his whole face. I wish I had a
    mirror to see if my makeup is smudged. But surely Colin will date me
    even if it is, won't he? I run up and give him the biggest hug.
    He holds me tight, kisses me lightly on the lips, and pulls back.
    "Who died?" he asks again.
    "Nobody," I answer. "Forget about it. Forget everything except
    being with me."
    "It's easy when you look so damn hot." Colin kisses me again. "Sorry
    I haven't called. It's been so crazy unpacking and everything."
    I smile up at him, glad our summer apart hasn't changed our
    relationship. The solar system is safe, at least for now.
    Colin drapes his arm around my shoulders as the front doors to the
    school open. Alex and his friends burst through as if they're here to
    hijack the school.
    "Why do they even come to school?" Colin mutters low so only I can
    hear. "Half of them'll probably drop out before the