Penalty Points by Bonnie Bryant

Author:Bonnie Bryant
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781497653917
Publisher: Open Road Media Teen & Tween

ELEVEN

Callie was talking to Emily when she felt someone sling an arm around her shoulder. Startled, she turned to see who it was, half expecting it to be George. She’d managed to avoid him for the past few minutes, slipping away from Scott’s group when George had joined it and hiding out in the hall until she’d seen him wander by toward the kitchen. But she had been distracted by her conversation with Emily and wouldn’t have noticed if he’d returned.

To her surprise, it was Alex. He was grinning at her, his face mere inches from hers.

“Hey, Callie,” he breathed. He squeezed her shoulders tightly. “Want to dance?”

She wrinkled her nose. There was no mistaking the smell of beer on his breath, and she couldn’t help feeling shocked. Callie had known a few people back in her old hometown who got wasted at every party they went to, but she wouldn’t have expected that sort of thing from her new friends in Willow Creek. They didn’t seem like the type.

“Um, not right now, thanks,” she told Alex, trying not to let her disgust show in her face or voice. “Maybe later.”

“Aw, come on.” Alex hadn’t removed his arm. “Pretty please?”

Callie glanced at Emily for help, but the other girl’s face had paled and she was backing slowly away. It was obvious that she had no idea what to do and couldn’t think of anything but escape. Callie sighed, but she couldn’t really blame her. She would just have to deal with this problem herself.

“Come on, Callie, what do you say?” Alex persisted, his speech sounding a little slurred. His arm tightened around her even more. He didn’t seem to notice as Emily finally turned and fled. “I’ll hold you so tight you won’t even need those crutches.”

Callie wriggled her shoulders. “Let go,” she ordered as firmly as she could manage. “You’re hurting me.”

“Oops.” Alex let go of her immediately, smiling sheepishly. “Sorry about that. Come on, let me make it up to you. Dance with me.” Leaning closer, he put one finger to his lips and winked conspiratorially. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I’ve always thought you were reery pletty. Oops. I mean, reery pretty.”

Wow, he’s bombed, Callie realized. What am I going to do? In his condition, who knows how he’ll react if I blow him off? Maybe it would be easier if I just go ahead and—

“Hi there,” a new voice interrupted.

Callie turned and saw George standing beside her. Emily was just behind him, smiling nervously but hopefully. “Hi, George,” Callie said, realizing she’d never been so glad to see him in her life.

Alex had turned to glance at the newcomer as well. “Hey,” he mumbled. “What’s up?”

“Hope you don’t mind, Alex,” George said with an apologetic smile. “I’m going to have to steal Callie away from you now. She promised me this dance—it’s my favorite song.”

Callie held her breath. She realized that Emily must have fetched George, hoping to rescue her from Alex that way.

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