Read Online Investigating the Hottie by Juli Alexander - Free Book Online Page B

up, relieved that I hadn’t had to lie to her.
     

 
    Chapter Six
    Will didn’t show at the soccer field, but his friend Colin did. I had an awesome time until Colin kicked the crap out of the back of my shin. My shinguards only protected the front of my shins, and it hurt like freakin’ crazy. I kept playing until the pain went away. I’m not about to be accused of crying like a girl, and not because I’m not one, but because real women don’t cry on the soccer field. Unless they break a bone.
    When Christie picked me up, she suggested I ice it for a while. Normally, I wouldn’t bother, but my current school wardrobe consisted entirely of skirts. I figured I’d rather sit on the couch with an ice pack than sport a giant purple knot tomorrow.
    Three hours of freezing ice and I still had a nasty bruise that could be seen from a mile away. Good thing I wasn’t interested in Will as a boyfriend, because soccer player or not, this disgusting thing on my leg would have to be a real turn off.
    Too bad they didn’t require knee socks as part of the uniform.
     
    I walked into the school, telling myself I was being silly when I tensed for the screams of horror.
    Then, the shrieks started. “Ooh!”
    Not so silly after all.
    “Mandy,” a sing-song voice called.
    I turned to find Jenny and Meg.
    “It’s Amanda. Not Mandy.”
    “What happened?” They kept moving around to the see the back of my leg.
    I hadn’t been overly impressed with them the previous day and talking to them now rated very low on my list of priorities.
    “You poor thing. That’s so . . . horrible.” Jenny couldn’t seem to take her eyes off it.
    I finally gave up on talking to their faces and stood still for them to fully view the horror. “Really? I thought it was sexy.”
    Meg deigned to return to the front of me. She wrinkled her nose.
    I decided they just didn’t get my humor.
    “It’s no big deal. I got kicked in the soccer scrimmage.”
    Meg finally got her fill of the horror and joined the conversation. “It’s so ugly.”
    Thanks. “Yeah, it hurt too.”
    “I would just die if I had to walk around like that,” Jenny said, with enough feeling to put any drama queen to shame.
    I started hoping that she’d sprout a bad case of acne tonight.
    “I can’t believe you actually like to play soccer,” Jenny wrinkled her nose again. She must do that a lot.  
    “I can’t be the only girl in the school who plays sports.”
    Meg answered. “No, but you’re the only one who plays them with Will.”
    So, that’s how it stood.
    “Meg!”
    “Sorry.” Meg didn’t look sorry.
    So Jenny had a crush on Will.
    “You know,” Jenny said, pausing as if she was about to impart some great wisdom, “Will doesn’t date.”
    “I’m not planning to date him.” I stood up a little straighter to use my height to its best advantage. Maybe I could combat their intimidation tactics.
    “Then why would you go play soccer with a bunch of guys?”
    “For fun. I didn’t know he’d be there.” I tried to avoid starting an all-out war with these idiots while letting them know that they weren’t going to run me off. If I wanted to date Will, they sure wouldn’t stop me. Luckily, I didn’t. Or couldn’t, or just plain didn’t have time to date him anyway.
    Jenny’s accusing glare begged for a slap across the cheek.
    My hand twitched with anticipation. But starting a girl fight wasn’t consistent with the low profile I was keeping. Plus, it just wasn’t my style.
    Darn.
    “Look,” I said, hoping my voice didn’t betray my irritation, “if you want to come out and play tonight. I’m sure the guys wouldn’t mind. Otherwise, I have to get to class.”
    “Oh. So you’re not going to Will’s soccer game tonight?” Meg asked.
    Jenny punched her in the arm.
    “Oh, yeah. I’d forgotten.”
    Meg waited to see if Jenny would allow her to speak.
    “They’re playing at six,” Jenny said grudgingly.
    “Great!” I smiled my biggest,