Read Online Candid (True Images Series) by Michelle Pennington - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michelle Pennington
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to think about it, but I was hoping that if we couldn’t actually go on dates, maybe we could try just, you know, being a couple at school. But if Mr. Greeley saw us together, and told your mom, you’d probably get in trouble, huh?”
His voice was casual, like it wasn’t the most earth-shattering thing he could have said to me right then. I tried to process it, wondering if he could mean anything other than what it sounded like. How was it possible to feel so excited and so miserable at the same time? “It’s worse than you think.”
“Why?”
“Have you met the art teacher?”
“No,” he answered, clearly confused. “I don’t take art.”
“Her name is Ms. Whitfield.”
“Whitfield? Please tell me it’s not your mom.”
“I wish I could.”
“Well…shoot.” It was the closest I’d ever heard him come to cursing. He slumped back against the wall and stared out at the pep rally with me. Everyone was cheering as Coach Hatfield introduced the starters for that night. It all seemed to be happening at a distance from us.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” he said. He stared up at the high ceiling and shook his head. “Wouldn’t you know I’d have a thing for a girl I can’t date. ”
“You have a thing for me?” Sometimes I just need things spelled out.
“No, Sienna, I just took journalism and yearbook for the fun of it.” His sarcasm was odd mix of frustration and teasing.
“Huh.”
“Don’t tell me you couldn’t tell I liked you. Haven’t you noticed that I haven’t left last hour early for practice even once? That needs to change, but not if that’s the only time I get to spend with you.”
I thought for a moment, examining the conflict between what I wanted and what my mom expected.
“My mom doesn’t want me to have a steady boyfriend, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be really good friends. I’m allowed to hang out with friends you know. Besides, my mom doesn’t usually go anywhere at school but the art room and the teachers’ lounge.”
“What about Mr. Greeley?”
“I still can’t believe he’s dating my mom. Maybe it’s not even an issue.”
“Maybe,” he agreed. But he didn’t look too sure.
Chapter 5
After all that drama, journalism was rough and I was furious with Jordan for it. Mr. Greeley’s classroom had always been my refuge at school, a place I could relax. Now, I felt on edge and suspicious.
When Mr. Greeley put some lip balm on, I wondered if he was keeping his lips supple for kissing my mom. When he walked by and I smelled his cologne, I tried to remember if I’d ever smelled it on him before. Then I noticed that he was combing his hair a little different than he used to.
My suspicions were driving me crazy, but when I began to imagine them making out after a date, I felt like hurling. Trying to will the feeling away, I put my head down on my desk and let Mr. Greeley’s lecture on how to write a caption roll over me. I thought of everything I could think of to control my imagination, and I soon found that thinking about Lee was the only thing that did the trick.
If it hadn’t been for Jordan, I would be over the moon right now. Lee wanted to date me. Not only that, but he wasn’t put off by not being able to. He still wanted to be with me. It was amazing. Everything would be perfect if only my mom would let me date him. I mean, she could date.
Then I was tortured once again by the thought that she was dating Mr. Greeley behind my back.
When the bell rang, I sat up and shot out the door. It was the first time since Lee had moved in that I’d been excited that journalism was over. It was also the first time I’d ever been glad to go to a math class. I heard Lee call my name so I waited for him in the hallway outside.
“You’ve got trig now, right?” he asked.
Surprised, I nodded. “How’d you know?”
“You always bring your book to class,” he said, pointing to the textbook tucked under my arm with
His voice was casual, like it wasn’t the most earth-shattering thing he could have said to me right then. I tried to process it, wondering if he could mean anything other than what it sounded like. How was it possible to feel so excited and so miserable at the same time? “It’s worse than you think.”
“Why?”
“Have you met the art teacher?”
“No,” he answered, clearly confused. “I don’t take art.”
“Her name is Ms. Whitfield.”
“Whitfield? Please tell me it’s not your mom.”
“I wish I could.”
“Well…shoot.” It was the closest I’d ever heard him come to cursing. He slumped back against the wall and stared out at the pep rally with me. Everyone was cheering as Coach Hatfield introduced the starters for that night. It all seemed to be happening at a distance from us.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” he said. He stared up at the high ceiling and shook his head. “Wouldn’t you know I’d have a thing for a girl I can’t date. ”
“You have a thing for me?” Sometimes I just need things spelled out.
“No, Sienna, I just took journalism and yearbook for the fun of it.” His sarcasm was odd mix of frustration and teasing.
“Huh.”
“Don’t tell me you couldn’t tell I liked you. Haven’t you noticed that I haven’t left last hour early for practice even once? That needs to change, but not if that’s the only time I get to spend with you.”
I thought for a moment, examining the conflict between what I wanted and what my mom expected.
“My mom doesn’t want me to have a steady boyfriend, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be really good friends. I’m allowed to hang out with friends you know. Besides, my mom doesn’t usually go anywhere at school but the art room and the teachers’ lounge.”
“What about Mr. Greeley?”
“I still can’t believe he’s dating my mom. Maybe it’s not even an issue.”
“Maybe,” he agreed. But he didn’t look too sure.
Chapter 5
After all that drama, journalism was rough and I was furious with Jordan for it. Mr. Greeley’s classroom had always been my refuge at school, a place I could relax. Now, I felt on edge and suspicious.
When Mr. Greeley put some lip balm on, I wondered if he was keeping his lips supple for kissing my mom. When he walked by and I smelled his cologne, I tried to remember if I’d ever smelled it on him before. Then I noticed that he was combing his hair a little different than he used to.
My suspicions were driving me crazy, but when I began to imagine them making out after a date, I felt like hurling. Trying to will the feeling away, I put my head down on my desk and let Mr. Greeley’s lecture on how to write a caption roll over me. I thought of everything I could think of to control my imagination, and I soon found that thinking about Lee was the only thing that did the trick.
If it hadn’t been for Jordan, I would be over the moon right now. Lee wanted to date me. Not only that, but he wasn’t put off by not being able to. He still wanted to be with me. It was amazing. Everything would be perfect if only my mom would let me date him. I mean, she could date.
Then I was tortured once again by the thought that she was dating Mr. Greeley behind my back.
When the bell rang, I sat up and shot out the door. It was the first time since Lee had moved in that I’d been excited that journalism was over. It was also the first time I’d ever been glad to go to a math class. I heard Lee call my name so I waited for him in the hallway outside.
“You’ve got trig now, right?” he asked.
Surprised, I nodded. “How’d you know?”
“You always bring your book to class,” he said, pointing to the textbook tucked under my arm with
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