Read Online Cutting Up The Competition (Horror High #2) by Carissa Ann Lynch - Free Book Online

was she dating my super crush, but she was a super freak when it came to doing gymnastics. Coach Davis would be crazy not to let her on the team, as much as I hated to admit that…
    I focused on the stages of infant development in the womb, avoiding Jordan’s curious gaze from across the room. I nearly sprinted for the door at final bell. Halfway down the hall, I heard Jordan’s voice.
    “Amanda, please wait!”
    I whipped around, trying my best to keep my expression blank.
    Don’t let him know he hurt you. Don’t let him know he hurt you , I repeated over and over in my head.
    “What’s wrong?” Jordan asked, finally catching up with me.
    “Nothing. Why would there be?” I flipped my hair over my shoulder, playing with the loose strings of fabric on my backpack straps.
    “Because you’re ignoring me. I thought we were friends.”
    Hearing the word ‘friends’ set me off.
    “You have a friend, Jordan. Her name is Lauren. If you’ll excuse me, I have to get…to lunch,” I recovered, turning back around angrily and walking toward the lunchroom.
    “Wait!” he shouted out after me. “I tried to break up with her over the summer, when I thought I was leaving! But since we didn’t go, she assumed we were staying together. But the truth is, I really wanted to break up. Not just because we were moving, either…”
    I stopped walking, turning around to look at him. His eyes were soft, but troubled.
    “Then you should tell her the truth,” I said with conviction.
    I could literally hear Jordan swallow. “I’m going to. Right after cheer tryouts. I didn’t want to upset her and mess up her chances…”
    I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to feel. I really liked him and wanted him to break up with Lauren. But at the same time, I felt sort of bad for the girl. I’d hate to be that girl, the one who didn’t realize her boyfriend didn’t want her…
    “I want to be friends. And maybe after…maybe we can be more, Amanda,” Jordan said, his lips curling into a hopeful smile.
    I couldn’t help enjoying the fluttering feeling in my stomach. It wasn’t nervousness for once—it was excitement. Maybe…if he was going to break up with her anyway, then it would be okay for me to see him, right?
    “Okay,” I whispered shyly, trying not to blush. We talked all the way to the lunchroom.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Nineteen
     
     
    I practically skipped inside the lunchroom, on cloud nine for the first time all year. Jordan headed off to eat with Lauren, smiling apologetically. Their relationship is just temporary though , I reminded myself, smiling. I grabbed a spot in line, too happy to eat but knowing I needed to. Selecting a chicken patty, mixed vegetables, a cup of soup, and a bottle of fruit juice, I made my way across the lunchroom.
    Dakota, Sydney, and Andy were sitting in their usual spot, but it was Winter who was waving me over from across the room, a big smile on her face.
    I hesitated, unsure which direction to go. Finally, I made my way toward Winter. After all, she was sitting alone and she was my soon-to-be-boyfriend’s sister.
    As soon as I sat down, she pointed. “Look who’s back at school!” I turned around just in time to see Brittani Barlow walking slowly with a brown paper sack in her hand. Heavy gauze and tape covered her neck area.
    “You can sit with us, Brittani!” Winter shouted, much to my dismay. “Is that okay?” Winter whispered, raising her eyebrows at my wide-eyed expression. I nodded, filling my mouth with chicken and bread.
    Brittani sat down slowly, feigning a smile at both of us. She moved like an owl, as though she couldn’t turn her neck side to side. I tried not to stare at the heavy bandage, but for some reason, I just couldn’t seem to look away.
    Brittani, who was normally chipper with a plastered smile on her face, now seemed to wear a new expression. What was it? Paranoia, maybe?
    Instead of eating, she watched—her eyes darting