The Truth About James (Y.A Series Book 2) Read Free

remember to monitor your calories and not to eat anything over the limit set aside by the nutritionist.
    Have a great night darling.
     
    “So mom just texted back, I’m not to eat anything over my calorie limit.” I explained, tucking my phone in my back pocket. “Do you think there’ll be food at this party?”
    “Probably some chips and pop, but by the time we arrive,” She checked her wrist watch. “It’s almost nine. There probably won’t be any snacks left. Maybe some pop. There’s going to be drinks though. For sure!”
    I stopped mid step.
    Drinks?
    Oh God….drinks ! I turned, facing her. “There’s going to be like beer there?”
    “Among other things!” Jenna rolled her eyes, pushing me forward. “Geez Anna, this is a senior class party. What do you think goes on? Drinking, dancing and getting wild!”
    “I don’t know if I should drink. I mean, what if my breath still smells like beer after we leave? You know my mom’s a pro at smelling things off my breath. You think I can get pop and chips passed her. I was lucky today she didn’t check up on me. When you knocked, I thought it was her and freaked out, trying to hide my stash!” I screeched, feeling my face heat up for reasons unrelated to the Floridian weather system.
    Calm down and breathe slowly! I ordered myself, on the verge of dropping to ground, hyperventilating.
    Her shoulder bumped into mine. “Calm down! You dramatic princess. You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to. Just go with it and be comfortable. Do what you feel is right.”
    “Okay, okay, I’m good – I’m cool.” I reassured her.
    Stressed Annabelle was gone….for now. 
    Jenna snorted, linking her arm through mine, dragging me faster.  “Sure, I’ll believe that when I see it. We’ve got to hurry. It’s going to take twenty minutes to get to Peter’s house.”
    I sighed, matching her pace.
    A senior class party….who would have thought.
     
    *~*~*
     
    Unfortunately, the twenty minutes it took to get to Peter’s brought me momentarily back to square one. Jenna noticed as I stalled on the sidewalk, trying to control my nervous breathing.
    What if James was already there….with Donna! 
    “Can you please stop!” Jenna belted, clearly annoyed. “Stop trying to convince yourself that this is a bad idea. It’s going to be a great night.”
    “It’s going to be a great night!” I repeated, matching her optimism, even though it was forced. “It’s going to be a great night!”
    “That’s right.” Jenna said. “And if we see douchebag James, you’re going to ignore him, right?”
    “Right!” I answered.
    I hoped I could.
    I really hoped that I could.
    We turned the corner to Peter’s block and heard faint sounds of dance music. Jenna started moving her body to the dimmed beats enthusiastically.
    “I hope some of the others are there too!” She said excitedly, moving her shoulders to each beat. During our walk, Jenna informed me that her swim team mates were going to the party as well. “We’re going to dance the night away!”
    Dancing? I imagined my larger than average frame busting a move in front of our fellow classmates. It didn’t look good as I imagined it. In fact, it was horrendous. She let go of my arm and skipped across the sidewalk.
    I stopped walking. “Dancing Jenna? That’s a scary thought.” 
    She stopped skipping and faced me, stretching her arm out towards Peter’s wide ranch style house. “Anna, dancing is about having fun and letting loose. There’s nothing scary about it, well not unless you’re in an auditorium filled with judges. It’s only a high school party. Most of the kids there are getting drunk as we speak, they won’t notice us.”
    I snorted. “Yeah, how about you try dancing when you have parts of your body moving without your say so, then we’ll talk about throwing caution to the wind and letting go!”
    “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.” She whispered, crossing her arms for