Are We In Love? by Pascal Francine

Author:Pascal, Francine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-01-25T16:00:00+00:00

Seven

"This is your last chance, kiddo," Mr. Thomas called to Cheryl from the front hallway. "Sure you don't want a ride to the beach? We could grab Steven on our way out."

Cheryl rested her hands lightly on the keys of the piano in the living room. "Thanks anyway, Dad," she yelled back. "I have a history test tomorrow. I need to study."

She heard the door slam.

With her right hand, Cheryl picked out a tune on the piano. Her dark eyes grew dreamy. The song had a seductive, danceable rhythm. . . .

Cheryl frowned, wondering. How do I know this melody? The answer registered in her brain with a click: it was the bluesy song she had danced to with Martin Bell at the Beach Disco the night before.

Slamming the piano lid shut, Cheryl jumped to her feet. She grabbed her history textbook and sunglasses from the coffee table and rushed out to the deck.

The late morning sun was intense. Cheryl hoisted one of the lounge chairs and dragged it off the deck into the shade of an orange tree. Settling into the chair, she adjusted her sunglasses and opened the book to the chapter on the Civil War.

It was a period in American history that Cheryl found fascinating, but today she couldn't seem to keep any of the dates, events, or people straight. Dred Scott . . . the Compromise of 1850 . . . the Missouri Compromise . . . I can't think. Cheryl closed her eyes, letting her head drop back. I can't think about history, anyway. I need to think about me right now. I need to think about my life. It's a mess!

With a sigh, Cheryl opened her eyes—just in time to see Steven striding toward her across the lawn. So much for privacy, Cheryl thought with a sharp twinge of irritation. So much for time to myself. Why couldn't Steven live on the other side of town instead of right next door?

Steven smiled broadly at her. Cheryl bit her lip, swamped by a wave of guilt. Steven was such a sweet, wonderful guy. How could she have had such a nasty thought about him?

"You look so cool and comfortable." Steven dropped down onto the grass next to her chair. "I had to come over and bug you."

"I needed a distraction—you're just in time," Cheryl fibbed. "I'm having a hard time getting into the mood for American history."

Steven leaned back on his hands. "I had a good time last night," he said, his eyes on her face.

Cheryl forced a smile, glad that she had sunglasses on so Steven couldn't see the expression in her eyes. "Yeah. Me too."

"I'll miss you this week, when I'm back at school," Steven went on. He stretched out his arm, idly brushing the back of his hand along the side of Cheryl's calf.

Cheryl's back stiffened. She shifted in her chair, moving out of range of Steven's touch. This is wrong, she thought. All wrong.

"Steven," Cheryl said out loud. "There's something I need to talk to you about.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.