Read Online The Challenger by Terri Farley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Terri Farley
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He petted Blaze in an absentminded way, and he kept staring toward the ridge.
Chapter Eight
G ramâs Buick slid up to the bus stop with just minutes to spare. Sam climbed out of the car, took a deep breath of the icy air, and got ready to apologize, but Jen didnât look up.
Was she really searching for something in her backpack, or just pretending? Sam couldnât tell, but Jen didnât shift her attention until the bus stopped and opened its door.
Then, she rushed ahead and took their usual seat.
âCool sweatshirt,â Sam said, sliding in beside her. âDid you tie-dye it yourself?â
âMy aunt did it,â Jen muttered. âAbout a hundred years ago.â Her answer was better than a simple no, Sam decided, but Jen just stared out the bus window after that.
âSee anything?â Sam asked finally. âLlamas, flying squirrels, alien aircraft?â
Jen turned from the window, but she pressed herspine against the seat back and still didnât look at Sam. From the side she looked pale, and there were gray smudges under her eyes, as if she hadnât slept.
âIâm not ready to make up,â Jen said. âMy dad may be a jerk, but heâs still my dad.â
âI know,â Sam began.
âNo, you donât. You have no idea.â Jenâs voice was cold, brittle, and completely unlike her.
Tears pricked the corners of Samâs eyes, but Gram had just finished telling her that ranch folk hid their feelings. Sam lifted her chin and cleared her throat. She refused to cry on the bus, where everyone would see her.
When Jen gave a sigh, the sound might have been the opening of a valve releasing the pressure from inside Samâs own chest.
âIâm not going to be mad forever,â Jen said, sneaking a quick glance at Sam. âBut please donât make me talk.â
âOkay,â Sam said.
She tried to think of something else for the length of the ride. She slid her fingers through her hair, trying to improve the shape of the caplike cut Brynna had given her the night before school started.
She really needed to get it trimmed. Any other morning, sheâd convince Jen they needed to make a trip to the Crane Crossing mall. There had to be a cheap stylist there, but today the idea seemed too frivolous to discuss.
And asking Jen to go look for the cougar was definitely out. Sam knew sheâd have to revise her plan, but she wasnât sure how until the bus arrived at Darton High School.
Sam and Jen parted without promises to meet at lunch. They gave silent waves and hurried across the parking lot toward class.
Sam had almost made it to the school building when she saw a familiar blue pickup truck pull into a parking spot.
It was like a clown car, Sam thought. How many Ely boys could actually fit inside and in the truck bed? They spilled out, all with black hair and blue jeans. Sam stood still, waiting in the cold shadow of the building.
When Jake walked within range, sheâd pounce. Here he came, dressed just like the others, except for his scuffed brown leather jacket.
Jake scoffed at most of her plans, but he was just as worried about the cougars as she was. If she presented this problem the right way, Sam knew she could make him go with her after school.
Wait, he must have seen her. Why else would Jake have changed direction and headed for the front of the building rather than entering the door closest to his locker?
âAs if youâre going to escape,â Sam muttered.
She pushed through the door and rushed toward Jakeâs locker. Even though he had longer legs, shecould be there waiting when he arrived. If she hurried.
Sam dodged elbows and backpacks. She didnât look at her watch for fear sheâd see how little time remained before the first bell rang.
She wanted to go to her own locker, too, to drop off some of the books weighing her down. But that could wait until sheâd extracted a promise
Chapter Eight
G ramâs Buick slid up to the bus stop with just minutes to spare. Sam climbed out of the car, took a deep breath of the icy air, and got ready to apologize, but Jen didnât look up.
Was she really searching for something in her backpack, or just pretending? Sam couldnât tell, but Jen didnât shift her attention until the bus stopped and opened its door.
Then, she rushed ahead and took their usual seat.
âCool sweatshirt,â Sam said, sliding in beside her. âDid you tie-dye it yourself?â
âMy aunt did it,â Jen muttered. âAbout a hundred years ago.â Her answer was better than a simple no, Sam decided, but Jen just stared out the bus window after that.
âSee anything?â Sam asked finally. âLlamas, flying squirrels, alien aircraft?â
Jen turned from the window, but she pressed herspine against the seat back and still didnât look at Sam. From the side she looked pale, and there were gray smudges under her eyes, as if she hadnât slept.
âIâm not ready to make up,â Jen said. âMy dad may be a jerk, but heâs still my dad.â
âI know,â Sam began.
âNo, you donât. You have no idea.â Jenâs voice was cold, brittle, and completely unlike her.
Tears pricked the corners of Samâs eyes, but Gram had just finished telling her that ranch folk hid their feelings. Sam lifted her chin and cleared her throat. She refused to cry on the bus, where everyone would see her.
When Jen gave a sigh, the sound might have been the opening of a valve releasing the pressure from inside Samâs own chest.
âIâm not going to be mad forever,â Jen said, sneaking a quick glance at Sam. âBut please donât make me talk.â
âOkay,â Sam said.
She tried to think of something else for the length of the ride. She slid her fingers through her hair, trying to improve the shape of the caplike cut Brynna had given her the night before school started.
She really needed to get it trimmed. Any other morning, sheâd convince Jen they needed to make a trip to the Crane Crossing mall. There had to be a cheap stylist there, but today the idea seemed too frivolous to discuss.
And asking Jen to go look for the cougar was definitely out. Sam knew sheâd have to revise her plan, but she wasnât sure how until the bus arrived at Darton High School.
Sam and Jen parted without promises to meet at lunch. They gave silent waves and hurried across the parking lot toward class.
Sam had almost made it to the school building when she saw a familiar blue pickup truck pull into a parking spot.
It was like a clown car, Sam thought. How many Ely boys could actually fit inside and in the truck bed? They spilled out, all with black hair and blue jeans. Sam stood still, waiting in the cold shadow of the building.
When Jake walked within range, sheâd pounce. Here he came, dressed just like the others, except for his scuffed brown leather jacket.
Jake scoffed at most of her plans, but he was just as worried about the cougars as she was. If she presented this problem the right way, Sam knew she could make him go with her after school.
Wait, he must have seen her. Why else would Jake have changed direction and headed for the front of the building rather than entering the door closest to his locker?
âAs if youâre going to escape,â Sam muttered.
She pushed through the door and rushed toward Jakeâs locker. Even though he had longer legs, shecould be there waiting when he arrived. If she hurried.
Sam dodged elbows and backpacks. She didnât look at her watch for fear sheâd see how little time remained before the first bell rang.
She wanted to go to her own locker, too, to drop off some of the books weighing her down. But that could wait until sheâd extracted a promise
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