Read Online The Secrets of Boys by Hailey Abbott - Free Book Online
Authors: Hailey Abbott
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bicep peeking out from under the edge of his sleeve and wondered dizzily what it was. But the most arresting thing about him was his eyes. They were the color of the Pacific Ocean first thing in the morning, a deep, mysterious green with miles of meaning underneath.
He said something quickly to the teacher in French—
the only words Cassidy could catch were “sorry,” “late,”
and “wrong room.” Was this guy actually going to be in her class?
Madame Briand turned to the group and beamed.
“Crickets,” she said. Crickets? “I’d like to introduce Zach Weston. He’ll be your TA this summer, and I’m sure he’ll be an enormous help in the classroom. Zach is a student at NYU, but he spent last summer studying abroad in Paris.”
Benjy was rolling his eyes at Cassidy again, but she barely noticed. She was too busy taking in the way Zach’s chin angled into a point and the amazing mag-netism that seemed to electrify the air around him.
“Hi, everyone,” Zach said, smiling. Was it just her imagination or was he looking straight at her? “Glad to be here.”
Madame Briand looked at Zach like she wanted to adopt him before instructing the group to resume introductions. Cassidy stared at the back of Zach’s neck as he took a seat in the front of the classroom, at the tiny golden hairs skimming his smooth brown skin. Her palms were moist and clammy, and not just because she was nervous about talking to the class. She hadn’t felt this kind of instant attraction to someone since she first saw Eric ride a fifteen-foot wave at Point Dume. In fact, even though she’d been thinking of Eric a few moments before, she could barely picture him now. Everything was just so … foggy.
“Et tu?” Madame Briand was saying. And then, louder: “Comment t’appelles-tu?”
Cassidy looked up to realize the whole class was staring at her. Great. She’d been so into drooling over Zach, she’d practically forgotten where she was.
“Je m’appelle C-Cassidy Jones, ” she stammered, realizing she hadn’t thought of anything to say after that. She dug frantically in her head, trying to remember a single one of the French phrases she’d learned in school. But maddeningly, she could only come up with voulez-vous couchez avec moi ce soir . Asking Zach to sleep with her that night wouldn’t be the most appropriate thing to say.
“ Bonjour, Cassidy!”
Cassidy looked up just in time to catch the end of her name coming from Zach’s lips. This time, he was looking right at her, and he was definitely smiling. The warmest, most dazzling smile she’d ever seen.
Chapter Six
June 26
Dear Cassidy,
Hey, how’s it going?
So I made it out to Idaho in one piece, but I can’t promise you I’ll come back in one. Our “base camp”
is at the top of a mountain that the bus could barely drive up because the road is so steep and winding, I guess because they don’t want us to escape or something. Not that I know where I’d escape to, since the nearest town is fifty miles away. Our lodgings kind of resemble a federal prison. We’re in this concrete dorm with creaky bunk beds, and at first I was pleased to see I’d gotten a bottom bunk—until I met Lloyd, the guy above me, who weighs three hundred pounds and says he was busted for “dust,” whatever that is. He tosses and turns all night, and every time he rolls over it sounds like a five-car collision, so if I’m not making much sense, it may be because I’m sleep-deprived.
We had our first “group” this morning. They’re all into doing things outdoors ( even going to the bathroom—that’s what the creepy outhouses are for. I guess indoor plumbing is too much to ask for ) , so we had to sit around in a circle in this grove of pine trees. In case you were wondering, shorts and pine needles do NOT mix. Anyway, I’m a little freaked out by the other kids here. We all had to say what we’re here for and, suffice to say, I was embarrassed to admit I’m here for
He said something quickly to the teacher in French—
the only words Cassidy could catch were “sorry,” “late,”
and “wrong room.” Was this guy actually going to be in her class?
Madame Briand turned to the group and beamed.
“Crickets,” she said. Crickets? “I’d like to introduce Zach Weston. He’ll be your TA this summer, and I’m sure he’ll be an enormous help in the classroom. Zach is a student at NYU, but he spent last summer studying abroad in Paris.”
Benjy was rolling his eyes at Cassidy again, but she barely noticed. She was too busy taking in the way Zach’s chin angled into a point and the amazing mag-netism that seemed to electrify the air around him.
“Hi, everyone,” Zach said, smiling. Was it just her imagination or was he looking straight at her? “Glad to be here.”
Madame Briand looked at Zach like she wanted to adopt him before instructing the group to resume introductions. Cassidy stared at the back of Zach’s neck as he took a seat in the front of the classroom, at the tiny golden hairs skimming his smooth brown skin. Her palms were moist and clammy, and not just because she was nervous about talking to the class. She hadn’t felt this kind of instant attraction to someone since she first saw Eric ride a fifteen-foot wave at Point Dume. In fact, even though she’d been thinking of Eric a few moments before, she could barely picture him now. Everything was just so … foggy.
“Et tu?” Madame Briand was saying. And then, louder: “Comment t’appelles-tu?”
Cassidy looked up to realize the whole class was staring at her. Great. She’d been so into drooling over Zach, she’d practically forgotten where she was.
“Je m’appelle C-Cassidy Jones, ” she stammered, realizing she hadn’t thought of anything to say after that. She dug frantically in her head, trying to remember a single one of the French phrases she’d learned in school. But maddeningly, she could only come up with voulez-vous couchez avec moi ce soir . Asking Zach to sleep with her that night wouldn’t be the most appropriate thing to say.
“ Bonjour, Cassidy!”
Cassidy looked up just in time to catch the end of her name coming from Zach’s lips. This time, he was looking right at her, and he was definitely smiling. The warmest, most dazzling smile she’d ever seen.
Chapter Six
June 26
Dear Cassidy,
Hey, how’s it going?
So I made it out to Idaho in one piece, but I can’t promise you I’ll come back in one. Our “base camp”
is at the top of a mountain that the bus could barely drive up because the road is so steep and winding, I guess because they don’t want us to escape or something. Not that I know where I’d escape to, since the nearest town is fifty miles away. Our lodgings kind of resemble a federal prison. We’re in this concrete dorm with creaky bunk beds, and at first I was pleased to see I’d gotten a bottom bunk—until I met Lloyd, the guy above me, who weighs three hundred pounds and says he was busted for “dust,” whatever that is. He tosses and turns all night, and every time he rolls over it sounds like a five-car collision, so if I’m not making much sense, it may be because I’m sleep-deprived.
We had our first “group” this morning. They’re all into doing things outdoors ( even going to the bathroom—that’s what the creepy outhouses are for. I guess indoor plumbing is too much to ask for ) , so we had to sit around in a circle in this grove of pine trees. In case you were wondering, shorts and pine needles do NOT mix. Anyway, I’m a little freaked out by the other kids here. We all had to say what we’re here for and, suffice to say, I was embarrassed to admit I’m here for
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