The Truth About Faking Read Free

new book.
    “Well, I’ve kind of been working on a plan already—” I smile at how Operation Luau is so in the bag now.
    “First we have to set your goal,” she interrupts. “What is your goal?”
    “What?” I grunt as I climb over the backseat to get my dress now that the back doors are jammed shut. I drop back to the driveway and shake it out as I walk inside.
    “Dating Trent? Making out with Trent? Marrying Trent?”
    “Well, I wouldn’t say marrying Trent,” I lie. “That’s silly!”
    “So making out with Trent.”
    A million butterflies take off in my stomach at the thought of kissing him. “That sounds like a good goal.”
    “OK, then. You’re going to model my behavior, and by the end of the week, we’ll have you at the Spring Luau with Trent.”
    “Model your behavior?” I ask, but she keeps talking.
    “After which, the two of you will proceed to an intense make-out session.”
    “Shelly!” My butterflies just had babies at that thought. “But I don’t know.” I balance the phone on my shoulder as I open my door. “I mean, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to you know. Model you.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” She acts offended, but she knows it’s the truth.
    Ever since her parents’ split, it’s been really hard keeping up with Shelly. Last summer she went off the charts, dumping Brian, who’d been her boyfriend since middle school. Now she’s been jumping from guy to guy like she’s trying to set some Creekside record for most males bagged in a single year. She’s starting to get a rep, and it’s been taking all my creative efforts to keep it from my parents. That part kind of pisses me off. She knows how I feel about not embarrassing Dad. I hurry to the next problem as I drop all my stuff on my bed.
    “And I’m not sure you’re right about Trent picking me over Stephanie. I mean, seriously. Steph’s a senior, she’s cheer captain, she’s got that long brown hair and… well… it all came together for her.”
    “I am your best friend, Harley.” Her voice is suddenly serious. “I will not let you be intimidated by Stephanie Miller’s boobs.”
    “Oh my god, I’m not intimidated by her boobs.”
    Still, it really isn’t fair that Stephanie’s never had an awkward phase as long as I’ve known her. She sailed straight from being the cutest little elementary school kid to being the first girl in middle school to—okay, get her boobs—all without even breaking a sweat. And she’s not very nice about it either. My nose wrinkles.
    “Besides, you’re a cheerleader now,” Shelly continues.
    “Only because Trish got mono and had to drop out.”
    I’m literally the worst cheerleader. But I’ve got decent legs and blonde hair, and I can yell really loud— Go Panthers!
    “We’ve got to teach you another jump besides The Banana. You look like a dork just jumping up and arching your back like that.”
    “Thanks,” I frown, remembering how humiliated I’d been at tryouts last summer. Of course, it all led to my life-saving encounter with Trent—that day at the gym when our love became real. For me at least.
    “Gotta run,” Shelly’s saying. “But I’ll strategize more tonight.”
    Great. “See you in the morning.” I toss my phone on my bed next to all the rest of my stuff. Then I exhale and flop in the middle of it all, remembering…
     
    It all started last summer at cheerleading tryouts. I don’t count sophomore year when I was completely invisible—at least I hope I was. No, it was a week before school started, and I’d just gotten my braces off. Shelly’d insisted I tryout with her, so we were all at the gym. The boys—Trent included—had been playing basketball on the half-court until Coach Taylor sent them outside. They’d pretended to be pissed, but we knew they were really there checking out the new recruits.
    My turn went okay. I did some easy cheers, and then came the jumps portion. I did The Banana, and Stephanie nearly