Saving Face (a young adult romance) Read Free Page A

Brent.  He went to middle school with us.”
    “That’s
Brent Carter?  No way!  He’s sure been eating his Wheaties.”  Both girls turned
their heads straining to find him in the crowd.
    “That
is super sexy.  Chere is ‘sweet’ right?  I didn’t even know he was French.” 
The other girl, who Alyssa couldn’t have named if her English grade depended on
it, spoke up.
    “Not
French, ladies,—Cajun.”  Brent reappeared holding a large paper cone filled to
the brim with sweet smelling roasted cashews.  “And I’m not—it’s just my little
pet name for Lyssa.  Sort of an old joke we have.”  Brent gave them an amiable
look while he offered around the snack.  “How are you Jenny?  Sue?”
    Sue! 
Of course that was her name.
    “Bre-ent”
Jennifer was purring.  “What have you been up to?”
    “Same
as you I imagine.  Just in a jacket and tie.  I’m at Hillfield.”  Jennifer was
flirting—and Brent was flirting back!  Alyssa very much wished the corn maze
was closer so she could hide.  As it was, sprinting 50 yards before darting
into the stalks would probably make a spectacle.
     
    When
they’d paid for their hot chocolates Alyssa and Brent headed for the corn
maze.  It was fairly obvious that Jennifer wanted to tag along, but Alyssa
didn’t invite her.  Inside, the corn stalks were tall enough to throw them into
shadows.  Wind was kept at bay by the thick growth making the pathways warmer. 
Not take off your hats and gloves warm, but more comfortable than the
open fields.  Alyssa took the lead and they walked in silence awhile with her
making sure turns and Brent snapping occasional photos.  Alyssa considered
asking him what the visual appeal of a bunch of dried up old corn could be, but
she knew better than to question his muse.
    “You
were flirting with Jenn.”  Alyssa said after several minutes.
    “Was
I?” 
    “You
know you were.  I just want to know why.  She’s not a very nice person—actually
she’s kind of a bitch.”
    “I
remember.”  Brent sighed.  “I wasn’t flirting Lyssa.  I was just saying hello. 
Why are you being so weird?  You’re not jealous are you?”
    Alyssa
stopped short and reversed directions past the last fork they had taken. 
Wisely, Brent followed.  “No.”  She answered honestly.  “I’m not being weird. 
I’m just trying to think.  I have to go to school with those girls on Monday, they
were both at the party last night, and they are pretty major tongue waggers.”
    “I
think you are worrying too much Lyssa.  Maybe you should try and care a little
less about what other people are thinking or saying.”
    Alyssa
snorted.  “Boys.”  She shook her head.  “Don’t people talk at that school of
yours?”
    “Of
course, but I don’t have to listen.  You know I hate gossip; aren’t we getting
too old for that crap?”
    Typical
Brent, Alyssa thought.  And she decided to give up.  He either couldn’t or
wouldn’t understand the all consuming awfulness of an entire school knowing the
intimate details of your rejection.  To punish him for not understanding,
Alyssa took three extra wrong turns.
    By
the time they reached the exit gates she had forgiven him—mostly because he let
her finish the last of the cashews.  “Hay ride?  Or there’s pumpkin bowling
this year.”  Brent crumpled their garbage and tossed it into a nearby trash
barrel.
    “Pumpkin
bowling?”  Alyssa inquired doubtfully.
    “Come
on Chere, where’s your sense of adventure?”   Brent grabbed her wrist and towed
her off in the direction of the makeshift bowling lanes.
    “Alyssa?”
    Brent
and Alyssa both turned around to find Pete trotting over to them.  Behind him
stood a group of guys from the football team, all laughing and shouting after
him.
    “Alyssa! 
Let’s talk.”  Pete was slightly out of breath when he reached them.  “I was a
little drunk last night.  I think I could have been nicer.”
    Alyssa
fixed him with a