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

disbelieving look.
    “Okay. 
I was a lot drunk.  But I didn’t mean for you to find out about Lisa that way. 
I just thought … you know homecoming is in a few weeks.”
    “You
were waiting to tell me after homecoming!”  Shock spurred her into speaking.
    “It’s
not like you left me much choice, babe.  Two months is a long time to wait
for you to get comfortable .  Or maybe you really have been more comfortable
than I thought.”  His eyes settled on Brent’s hand still wrapped around her
wrist.
    “Pete—I
didn’t…”  Alyssa trailed off too angry and hurt to keep talking.
    “Oh! 
Pete!”  Brent made an exaggerated gesture as if just realizing who this guy
was.  Dropping Alyssa’s wrist Brent held out his hand.  “Brent Carter.  Nice to
meet you.” 
    Pete
shook hands with a shocked expression that only got more shocked when Brent
withdrew his arm and wrapped it across Alyssa’s shoulders.  “Yeah—I know we
went to middle school together.”  Pete found his voice.
    “Did
we?”  Brent responded as he began twisting a section of Alyssa’s hair. 
“Sorry.  I don’t remember.” 
    “Sure
you do.  Pete Edser?  I play football?”  Pete puffed himself up a bit as he
recovered.  “Or maybe you don’t, you always seemed to be buried in a comic
book.”
    “Hmm?” 
Brent was nuzzling Alyssa’s ear.  “Oh yeah, I did have quite the comic book
collection.”  He didn’t even turn his head when he answered.  “How bout that
pumpkin bowling?  I’ll win you a prize.”  He whispered to Alyssa—loud enough
for Pete to know the conversation had come to an end.
    Brent
steered a still stunned Alyssa back around walking her toward the pumpkin
bowling.  Pete stared after them.
    “I
have always hated that guy.”  Brent bit off when they were out of ear shot.
    “And
I thought you didn’t recognize him.”  Alyssa elbowed him teasingly.  “You were
perfect!  What happened to being too old for gossip and not caring what others
think?”
    “I
don’t Lyssa.  But that doesn’t mean I want you to sign up for doormat classes
either.  What were you doing with that guy?”
    “Not
much—that was the problem, remember?”
    Brent
didn’t respond.  Suddenly he needed all his attention to be focused on the
small pumpkin barreling down the lane towards pins painted to look like corn
cobs.  It must have worked because when they left that afternoon Alyssa had two
big stuffed bears.
     

Chapter Four
     
     
     
                Monday morning
Alyssa dragged her feet.  It took her twice as long as usual to shower and dry
her hair, and then she needed to find the perfect how-could-anyone-want-Lisa-more-than-me
outfit.  The result was worth the extra effort though.  Her clingy knee length
chocolate colored skirt made the most of her legs—not that anyone would be
looking at her legs while she was wearing her burnt gold sweater with the extra
scoopy scoop neck.  She was totally an autumn. 
    It
wasn’t really her style to be so dressy for a Monday and she would surely be
regretting her skinny heel ankle boots by fourth period, but if people were
going to be staring she was going to give them something worth staring at.  Feeling
pretty good about herself, she didn’t even let the rain bother her as she
dashed to her car.   Her mood however took a quick plunge when she couldn’t
start her car.  It was the third time this month.  Maybe she should buy a new
battery?  Hers was the only car in the drive—her dad must have left for work already. 
Frustrated, Alyssa screamed and banged her fists against the steering wheel.
    “Okay
in there?”  There was a knock on the driver’s window.  Brent was bent over
witnessing her melt down.  Even though he was holding an umbrella she could
tell he was getting wet.  The maroon of his Hillfield blazer was spotted along
his back with rain drops.
    She
opened the door two inches.  “I think the battery died… what do you