Read Online As Autumn Leaves by Kate Sands - Free Book Online Page B

continue moving closer. “Buckle up, then let’s watch. I want to see.”
    Althea did as Kayla had prompted. She wouldn’t look Kayla in the eyes, but Kayla supposed that was all right since they were sitting next to each other. Althea relaxed again when Kayla leaned into her so they could both see the tiny screen as the video started to play.
    Kayla didn’t mind that they sat this close, their sides pressed against each other and their legs tangled as they shared the same small space. She hadn’t been comfortable with being this close to Jason, and it felt different than with Hannah. And while she liked spending time with Hannah as a friend, hanging out was never nearly as… exhilarating as the day with Althea at the resort. She’d never been as giddy or happy any of the times she went on dates with Jason either.
    Kayla took her own turn to tense nervously. It was as if she were winded, the way her breath got caught in her throat.
    She liked Althea. Not only as a friend, but she liked her.
    “Hey, you okay?” Althea asked quietly.
    “Yes,” Kayla said. Her voice sounded off, but she was busy trying to keep her anxiety at bay. Althea didn’t need to deal with that. She didn’t need to know Kayla developed a stupid little crush that could go absolutely nowhere.
    And yet, Kayla didn’t want to move away. She was going to have to sort out her head, and hopefully Althea would still want to be her friend.
    “You sure?”
    “I’m sure,” Kayla said. She forced a shaky smile. “I kind of get weirded out seeing myself on screen.”
    “Oh, okay,” Althea said. She sounded relieved, and she bumped her shoulder lightly against Kayla’s. “For what it’s worth, you don’t need to worry. You’re great. This project is going to be awesome.”
    Kayla smiled again, and this time it was genuine.
     
     
    “I’M SO excited for this!” Chantelle said, sitting on the couch in Althea’s living room. Hannah sat next to her, and there was a bowl of popcorn placed between them.
    It was Friday night, and the four girls were at Althea’s apartment to view their project video for the first time since it’d been edited and put to music. Their presentation was Monday morning, but Althea and Chantelle had an away volleyball tournament for the weekend so they wanted a chance to watch it before having to present to the class. Kayla missed a dance class to be able to join in. It was worth it. And she wouldn’t be able to see Althea all weekend, reduced to texting if Althea had the time, and for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel bad about skipping dance.
    “We’re seriously going to kick ass at this project,” Hannah said, clapping her hands together in glee.
    “We’ll see,” Kayla said. All the encouragement in the world wouldn’t settle her nervousness about appearing on camera and dancing for the whole class to see.
    “Are you saying we’re not awesome?” Althea asked. She stood next to the television with the remote, setting it up to play the video burned onto a DVD. “Because I think we’re all pretty awesome.”
    “Of course we are,” Kayla said. “You guys all did great but what if I’m not… good enough? I’m the one who’s seen.”
    “You’re kidding us, right?” Synchronized, Hannah and Chantelle threw popcorn at her head.
    “Hey, hey!” Althea intervened, picking pieces of popcorn out of Kayla’s long hair and throwing it back at them. “No throwing food around my house!”
    They erupted in giggles and tossed popcorn around the living room. It helped settle Kayla’s nerves. They stopped after a couple minutes, cleaning it up before Althea’s dad came home from work. Luckily Darnell was at his Friday night community center class and wasn’t around to squeal on them, or be annoying while they were trying to watch.
    Althea sat beside Kayla on the small love seat, and they brushed pretty close to each other. The warmth coming from Althea was a new comfort Kayla didn’t realize