Read Online Paper Cuts by Yvonne Collins - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Yvonne Collins
Ads: Link
you.’
She takes my comment at face value. ‘So true. We’d have to give money back to get someone to take you off our hands.’
It’s another beauteous day at Dumpfield.
Leaving Rachel and Izzy to study the auction guide, I start circulating. It’s not long before I come upon the tech nerds, who have gathered in a conspiratorial clump beside the bleachers. They’re emptying their pockets, handing their money to a guy wearing a faded Star Trek baseball cap.
‘What’s the total, Curtis?’ a guy with greasy straw-colored hair asks the Trekkie.
Curtis’s lips move as he counts. ‘We’ve got one hundred twenty-three dollars and sixty-one cents.’
‘That should do it,’ the greasy-haired guy says. ‘Let’s review the strategy. Curtis: you’ve got to hold off until everyone else has finished bidding, and then shout a last-ditch offer. If you fire too soon, she’ll beg someone to outbid you.’
I think I’ve found my story: Guys pool their money to give nerdy pal shot at a real date with hot girl . That is so sweet!
‘Do not forget your mission,’ Greasy Hair says. ‘You won the bet, but you have an obligation to the rest of us. Did you hook up the spy cam?’
Curtis points to his cap. ‘Operational.’
‘Okay, you know the drill. Start with cleavage shots. Then stand behind her and ask her to reach for something, because we want thong action. And belly ring. I’m talking extreme close-up. We want to know if that girl waxes or shaves.’
Ew. EW. EW!!! I have to report this to a teacher. The pervs must be stopped.
‘Are you kidding?’ Curtis asks. ‘Mariah wouldn’t shave.’
On the other hand, who am I to ruin an underdog’s big chance?
Tyler finds me on the bleachers. ‘I’ve been looking all over for you,’ he says.
So Grace hasn’t scared him away after all! ‘You have?’
‘I want you to do me a favor,’ he says. ‘It’ll cost you, but I promise to pay you back. It’s for a good cause.’
I notice he’s holding a folded number in his hand. ‘You’re going on the block?’
He nods sheepishly. ‘My cousin is on Mariah’s planning committee, and she pressured me into it. But I’m afraid no one will bid on me.’
‘Of course they’ll bid on you. You’re Mr Fantastic.’
‘I’ve got news for you, Lu: you’re the only one who thinks so.’
I smile. ‘Well, I could help you out, but I’d need to know what entertainment’s on offer. To quote Izzy, you can tell a lot about a guy from his dream date.’
‘The Bulls are providing the entertainment,’ he says, pulling two tickets out of his pocket. ‘I’m just providing the seats.’
I wrinkle my nose. ‘Basketball? What happened to a nice Italian dinner?’
‘The game will be way more fun than fettuccine, I promise. How about it? I’ll be humiliated if no one bids on me.’
‘So it’s not so much that you want to go out with me as that you want me to save you from public humiliation.’
‘Not to mention ugly bidders,’ he adds.
‘Tyler! That’s terrible.’
He grins. ‘I’m just saying I’d be proud to leave the stage with you. And as a special thank you, I’ll throw in the nice Italian dinner.’
I pretend to think about it. ‘Including dessert?’
‘Three courses. And that’s just the beginning.’
He reaches over, grabs the zipper on my hoodie, and pulls me toward him. We’re surrounded by people, yet I feel quite comfortable kissing my Arty FB because Dunfield is the last place on earth you’d ever find Grace.
When he finally pulls away, Tyler says, ‘Consider that a sneak preview.’
‘You think one kiss is going to convince me to bid on you?’ I ask.
His smile falters as I climb down from the bleachers. ‘Where are you going?’ he calls.
‘To round up some cash.’
I collect my purse from my locker and check my wallet. Thirty bucks. That might be enough to win Tyler, especially since he’s not up till later in the program. By then most of the girls will have
She takes my comment at face value. ‘So true. We’d have to give money back to get someone to take you off our hands.’
It’s another beauteous day at Dumpfield.
Leaving Rachel and Izzy to study the auction guide, I start circulating. It’s not long before I come upon the tech nerds, who have gathered in a conspiratorial clump beside the bleachers. They’re emptying their pockets, handing their money to a guy wearing a faded Star Trek baseball cap.
‘What’s the total, Curtis?’ a guy with greasy straw-colored hair asks the Trekkie.
Curtis’s lips move as he counts. ‘We’ve got one hundred twenty-three dollars and sixty-one cents.’
‘That should do it,’ the greasy-haired guy says. ‘Let’s review the strategy. Curtis: you’ve got to hold off until everyone else has finished bidding, and then shout a last-ditch offer. If you fire too soon, she’ll beg someone to outbid you.’
I think I’ve found my story: Guys pool their money to give nerdy pal shot at a real date with hot girl . That is so sweet!
‘Do not forget your mission,’ Greasy Hair says. ‘You won the bet, but you have an obligation to the rest of us. Did you hook up the spy cam?’
Curtis points to his cap. ‘Operational.’
‘Okay, you know the drill. Start with cleavage shots. Then stand behind her and ask her to reach for something, because we want thong action. And belly ring. I’m talking extreme close-up. We want to know if that girl waxes or shaves.’
Ew. EW. EW!!! I have to report this to a teacher. The pervs must be stopped.
‘Are you kidding?’ Curtis asks. ‘Mariah wouldn’t shave.’
On the other hand, who am I to ruin an underdog’s big chance?
Tyler finds me on the bleachers. ‘I’ve been looking all over for you,’ he says.
So Grace hasn’t scared him away after all! ‘You have?’
‘I want you to do me a favor,’ he says. ‘It’ll cost you, but I promise to pay you back. It’s for a good cause.’
I notice he’s holding a folded number in his hand. ‘You’re going on the block?’
He nods sheepishly. ‘My cousin is on Mariah’s planning committee, and she pressured me into it. But I’m afraid no one will bid on me.’
‘Of course they’ll bid on you. You’re Mr Fantastic.’
‘I’ve got news for you, Lu: you’re the only one who thinks so.’
I smile. ‘Well, I could help you out, but I’d need to know what entertainment’s on offer. To quote Izzy, you can tell a lot about a guy from his dream date.’
‘The Bulls are providing the entertainment,’ he says, pulling two tickets out of his pocket. ‘I’m just providing the seats.’
I wrinkle my nose. ‘Basketball? What happened to a nice Italian dinner?’
‘The game will be way more fun than fettuccine, I promise. How about it? I’ll be humiliated if no one bids on me.’
‘So it’s not so much that you want to go out with me as that you want me to save you from public humiliation.’
‘Not to mention ugly bidders,’ he adds.
‘Tyler! That’s terrible.’
He grins. ‘I’m just saying I’d be proud to leave the stage with you. And as a special thank you, I’ll throw in the nice Italian dinner.’
I pretend to think about it. ‘Including dessert?’
‘Three courses. And that’s just the beginning.’
He reaches over, grabs the zipper on my hoodie, and pulls me toward him. We’re surrounded by people, yet I feel quite comfortable kissing my Arty FB because Dunfield is the last place on earth you’d ever find Grace.
When he finally pulls away, Tyler says, ‘Consider that a sneak preview.’
‘You think one kiss is going to convince me to bid on you?’ I ask.
His smile falters as I climb down from the bleachers. ‘Where are you going?’ he calls.
‘To round up some cash.’
I collect my purse from my locker and check my wallet. Thirty bucks. That might be enough to win Tyler, especially since he’s not up till later in the program. By then most of the girls will have
Similar Books
