Rocky Road Ahead by Coco Simon

Author:Coco Simon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Spotlight

CHAPTER SEVEN

A NIGHT IN FRANCE

The next morning I had butterflies in my stomach, dreading seeing Colin on the bus. I half wanted him to be there and I half didn’t. I missed him, friend or crush, whichever it was. I wasn’t sure. But the Tessa thing was still swirling in my mind, whether Daniel was right or not. Better if Colin’s not on the bus, I decided.

And then, sure enough, he was on the bus, sitting in our usual spot. He started waving as soon as I climbed aboard. I looked all around, hoping for some sort of diversion, someone calling me to sit with them instead, but there wasn’t anyone. It was undeniable: Colin was my best friend at school, and there was no way to avoid him. I’d have to go back there and sit with him.

“Hey, mystery lady!” he said as I drew close. “Where have you been the past week? I thought you’d suddenly gotten four years older, gotten your license, and given up the bus!”

At least he’s noticed, I thought as I swung into the seat. I shrugged, trying to maintain the air of mystery. “I’ve been around,” I said. “At my dad’s, actually.”

He looked at me carefully. Then he said, “Well, I’ve missed you.”

Suddenly I was grinning at him like a fool, and I had to turn and look out the window because my cheeks hurt.

“What’s new?” he asked.

I shrugged and turned back, my smile under control now. “Oh, the usual . . .” And then we were off and chatting, back to normal. There was always so much for us to talk about! We talked about the school paper (I did not mention the Yay Gourmet article again, thank you very much), and he talked about our English test. Then I told him about M.F.K. Fisher and my camp plans for the summer.

Suddenly there was a commotion ahead of us, and an overpowering sweet smell filled the bus. Then the Mean Team started.

“Palmerrrrrr!” Maria wailed. “You broke my brand-new perfume bottle!”

Colin and I looked at each other. We both grinned.

“SORRY!” Palmer cried. “I didn’t know it would be so fragile!”

“Ugh, now I’m going to smell like your perfume instead of my perfume!” complained Blair.

Colin and I grimaced at the Mean Team’s drama, and Colin turned to open the bus window to let the smell out.

“I really don’t like the smell of flowers. It makes my allergies go haywire,” he said quietly. “Last year I had to sit next to Palmer in math class. Her perfume was so strong that I finally couldn’t stand it and asked the teacher to switch my seat.”

“Wow,” I said, making a mental note to never wear perfume around Colin (not that I wore perfume in the first place).

Then he grinned. “I’ve never told anyone about that besides you. Don’t go spreading it around!”

I mimed zipping my mouth and throwing away the key, but inside I felt warm and fuzzy. Never told anyone? Not even Tessa? I knew I

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