The Agent's Daughter Read Free Page A

over at me, he smiled a
certain way. At that moment, I felt something that I have never
experienced before in my life. It is difficult to explain, but I
had an overwhelming sense that I wanted to be around him. I’ve felt
that way ever since. I am sorry I haven’t told you about
it.”
    “ It’s okay, lady,” Jean
said. “I understand.”
    “ Don’t you think Alex is
way out of your league?” a voice boomed from behind
Melina.
    It was Ellen Barrow and a few of her
toadies. It was no secret around school that Ellen was interested
in Alex. She had been angling for him to ask her out since his
first day in class. Without any luck.
    “ It is none of your
business,” Melina said as she turned around.
    “ It is so my business,”
Ellen said. “When I talked to Alex last week, he remarked how
pretty my hair was. It is only a matter of time before he asks me
out, and I cannot have anyone get in the way.”
    “ Well, we’ll have to let
him do what he wants,” Melina said as she bent down to get a drink
from the fountain.
    Ellen then put her finger on the spigot of
the fountain so that it sprayed water all over Melina.
    “ Just stay away from him,”
Ellen said as she stormed off, her toadies following not far behind
her.
    Jean started to wipe the water from Melina
with her jacket. “I didn’t hear anything about rain in the
forecast.”
    “ Do you think that she is
right?” Melina asked. “That Alex is out of my league.”
    Jean stepped back and looked at her friend.
“Why, because you choose to wear plain jeans and boys tennis shoes
instead of the latest trendy fashions.”
    “ That’s part of it,”
Melina said. “I mean, look at Ellen. I don’t think that she has
worn pants since third grade, and she has a different set of shoes
for every outfit. She’s tall, and she’s pretty. She has perfect
blonde hair…”
    Jean put her hand on Melina’s shoulder.
“Look, I am just going to say this once. Your clothes are not
trendy, but they look good on you. And you are one of the prettiest
girls I know with a smile that could light up a room. So do not let
Ellen convince you that Alex is out of your league. Besides, you
have something that Ellen does not have.”
    “ What do you mean?” Melina
asked.
    “ He clearly is interested
in you,” Jean said.
    “ Do you think?” Melina
asked.
    Jean rolled her eyes. “Guys do not just walk
up to you out of the blue and offer to lend you a book without
there being some interest. That and the fact that he appeared to
have the same look on his face that you did. I’m positive.”
    Melina put her arm around her friend.
“Thanks Jean.”
    Jean smiled at her and then turned serious.
“There is one thing that I have to ask you, though,” Jean said as
she moved in front of Melina and placed her hands on Melina’s
shoulders. “Now, don’t take this the wrong way, but what in the
heck is the matter with you? What happened to the Melina that I
used to know? The confident Melina. The fearless Melina. I can’t
understand why you let Ellen talk to you like that. The Melina I
used to know would have broken both of her arms.”
    Melina took a deep breath and closed her
eyes. Jean was right. She had changed. And Jean had a valid point
about the broken arms.
    When Melina was in
kindergarten, she started studying martial arts at a special studio
across town. Set up by her dad’s employer, the studio was attached
to a fitness complex owned by the company, and it taught only the
children of employees and their extended families. The studio
offered classes in all of the different forms of martial arts and
Melina began studying taekwondo . Focusing almost entirely
on punching and kicking forms, but with little sparring, she
excelled to the top of her class.
    When Melina was in fourth
grade, her dad told her that she must switch her study to krav maga . Originally
developed by Israeli commandos, this form of martial arts was
unique in that it emphasized disabling your opponent as