The School of Flirting Read Free Page B

marching band.... And on field day.”  Then Leann started to laugh. “But you aren’t holding that old stuff against her, are you? So what if she was a bossy little kid. It’s been years. I’m sure she’s changed.”
    “You don’t understand how awful this is! You moved away but I was stuck with her!”
    “For what? Two more years?”
    “Three.” I groused.
    “You might want to reevaluate this situation. Did you even notice how gorgeous she is?”
    “Pshh” I waived her off. “Sachi has always been beautiful.”
    “Oh yeah?” Leann said in a sly tone and wiggled her eyebrows at me.
    “What is that? What are you doing with your eyebrows?”
    “That’s my silly eye contact message that says ‘so you’ve always thought she was hot!’”
    “Ugh Leann! You are not taking me seriously!”
    “Fine. Fine. Let’s be serious. But only for a minute. Then I get to go back to dancing around and fantasizing about Jane. So being paired with Sachi is the worst thing ever. Now what? Are you going to skip doing your field assignment?”
    “No. She would never let that happen. She would blow up my phone? Is that the saying?”
    Leann nodded. “Ok. So then you just have to bite the bullet and get the field assignment done.”
    “I could quit.” I already knew I wouldn’t but I was feeling morose and needed that extra push from Leann.
    “What??? You drag me out to this thing every Thursday for a month and just when I meet someone hot, that I can’t date until we pass the final exams, you go and bail on me?? I don’t think so! Meet with Sachi, finish the assignment and be done with it!” She paused to catch her breath and put a reassuring arm around my shoulders. “Even if it’s horrible, it will be a couple of hours max and then you can come home and cry to me. Okay?”
    There was that extra push. I could always count on Leann. Smiling softly I nodded, “ok.”

Chapter 8
    Field Assignment
    …
     
    Sachi and I had agreed to meet on Saturday at the campus bookstore. It opened at eleven o’clock and since I was early, I hung out awkwardly on a bench across the street. I should have gotten coffee or brought a book. Instead, I fussed with my phone and tried not to get nervous. After a few minutes, a slim blonde joined me on the bench. I wondered if she was waiting for the bookstore but I didn’t ask her. Sachi should be here any minute. I checked my phone again. When I looked up, Sachi was standing across the street. She was smiling softly and flipped her in a move that was somewhere between shy and excited. I felt my face begin to heat and I looked down at my feet. Why was she suddenly so attractive? Was Leann right? Subconsciously had I always thought she was hot? And why was Sachi looking at me so sweetly now? Where was her usual fierce glare?
    The blonde next to me stood up, straightened her skit, and then crossed the street. She walked straight over to Sachi. My jaw dropped. Oh. That soft smile wasn’t for me. I watched them talking and my face felt hotter than ever. How ridiculously embarrassing! Mad at myself, I finally broke free of the spell and jumped up from the bench. I had to wait for a few cars to pass and then I crossed to the pair.
    “…here’s my friend now. I have to go but it was really nice meeting you.”
    “Same here. Call me okay?”
    “Ok.”
    As soon as the blonde walked away, Sachi’s smile evaporated and she greeted me with a slight frown. Come on Mina, just get through this. I thought to myself.
    “Hi, Sachi. Was that a friend of yours?”
    “No. I just completed the assignment.”
    “What?!” I whipped around to watch the slim woman walking away. “But..I…”
    “Come on. The store is open. Let’s get your half of the assignment wrapped up.”
    Stunned I followed Sachi into the campus bookstore. She walked away from me as soon as we entered and I checked out the team sweatshirts while scanning the store for someone to make eye contact with. My heart was pounding and