Aftershocks by Monica Alexander Page A

I figure I can check out the campus and the footbal program – see if I want to go there.”
    My face broke into a wide smile. “Jack that would be awesome! You can live with us next year. How fun would that be?”
    “Dangerously fun,” he said, “but in a good way – especialy if you plan on walking around the apartment in your bra and panties. I could be into that.”
    I smacked him on the chest as my face flushed scarlet. “You’re a pig.”
    “Sorry, good girl. You’re hot. I can’t help it. Your blue eyes get me every time.”
    “Thanks,” I said, feeling the fire in my cheeks deepen.
    I looked down at my sandwich. When I looked back up, I caught Connor looking at me from across the table, with what I thought was a perplexed look on his face, but I couldn’t tel since he flashed me a smile as soon as our eyes met. I couldn’t help but smile back. Maybe lunch wouldn’t be so bad after al.
    Then conversation then turned to the upcoming footbal game that Friday night, and I stopped paying attention. Instead of talking, I studied Connor’s reaction to it al. He seemed perfectly at home in the conversation, asking pointed questions about the team, their past record and their potential to go undefeated that year. I could tel he loved the game and wondered why he didn’t play.
    “I can’t wait for the game,” Alexis gushed. “I know the footbal is al exciting and everything, but you know it’s the cheerleaders that everyone looks forward to seeing, right.”
    Faith nodded eagerly along with the other cheerleaders who were sitting with us, none of whom seemed to have minds of their own. I almost laughed out loud. Where did they come up with this crap?
    “You’re excited to see me cheer, aren’t you, baby?” Alexis asked, as she looked eagerly at Connor.
    I think she caught him by surprise, because when I looked at him for his response, he was looking at me. He quickly looked away, turned to her and said, “Hmm? Oh, sure baby, yeah.”
    Why was he looking at me?
    He glanced ever so slightly in my direction again, and it seemed he was the only one who could tel that I thought this particular turn of the conversation was ridiculous. As he caught my gaze, I smirked at him. He mirrored my expression. Ha! So he thought her comment was ridiculous, too. I was glad to see that. Maybe he wasn’t a lost cause after al.
    Cameron spoke up then, and said, “Aww, Lex, you know we al just love to see you shake your asses on the sidelines. It keeps us pumped.” He high-fived Rich and Tyler while Alexis stuck her tongue out at them. Even that she managed to do seductively.
    Lunch continued pretty much the same way as it had started, so I was relieved to hear the bel ring and jumped up from the table first. It wasn’t like I was exactly excited to go to Spanish, but I was excited to leave the vapid conversation of my former friends. Thankfuly, Nicky and Luke would be a lunch the next day, so I could sit with them.

    ***
Later that afternoon, I had settled into my favorite homework spot – the Starbucks with the comfy chairs and lots of light. I had a Venti Pumpkin Spice Latte on the table next to me and my calculus book open on my lap. I hated doing homework, but somehow with the smel of coffee in the air and the noise of the grinders and people ordering their drinks and talking amongst each other, I found I could concentrate better than at home. I already had my plan worked out to tackle calc first since it was my hardest subject. Then I would move onto the reading I had to do for history and finish up with the first few chapters of Frankenstein which we were starting in English.
    I was halfway through my latte and my calc problems when someone settled into the armchair adjacent to mine. It happened a lot since it was a realy comfortable spot and supplied ample people-watching views, so I didn’t care. I just tucked in closer to my books, hoping the person would see that I was studying and not try to strike up a