Lindsay's Surprise Crush by Angela Darling

and laughing with one another. She spotted Troy right away. He was teaching some new soccer kick to Nick. She slowed down and caught her breath, and then walked slowly and casually past the boys toward where the buses were lining up.
    Troy saw her and stopped demonstrating whatever kick he’d been showing Nick. He said something to Nick and trotted across the grass toward her. She pretended not to see him.
    â€œHey,” he said.
    â€œOh! Hi!” she said, pretending to be surprised. “I had to, um, do something at the gym so I came out that way. Looks like you guys have a game today. Who are you playing?”
    â€œWe play Crosby. They’re good but we can beat them.”
    â€œOh! Well, good luck. Guess I should hustle off to my bus.”
    Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that Nick had moved over to another clump of his teammates. Hewas standing next to them quietly, not participating in their conversation. He looked annoyed. Good.
    â€œHey, hold up a second,” said Troy.
    She stopped. Oh no. Her heart thumped as she realized he was going to ask her to the dance.
    â€œI was just wondering. You know the harvest dance coming up?”
    Think, think, think, she said to herself, feeling panicky. “Oh, yeah, I know, I heard about it!” she said, speaking quickly. “It sounds like it’s going to be really fun but I can’t go which is really too bad but anyway I have to get to my bus I think it’s about to leave good luck in your game hope you win see you bye!” She just had time to note the look of confusion that registered on Troy’s face before she turned and trotted in the direction of the throngs of kids at the other end of the parking lot.
    She was the last one onto the bus, and there were almost no seats left.
    There was one, though. Right next to David Costello. He was sitting toward the front, with the other uncool sixth graders. When he saw her get on, he immediately scooted over to the window so she could sit down. Of all the people to see at a time like this.
    She said hello quickly, and then sank down into the seat and breathed out a long sigh. That had been awkward. She hadn’t expected Troy to ask her so quickly. All she’d meant to do was to let Nick see her flirting with him, just so Nick would realize how obnoxious he looked, flirting with Cassidy.
    The question was, would Troy tell Nick that he’d asked her and that she’d turned him down? Well, she hadn’t exactly given him a chance to ask her. Maybe Troy wouldn’t mention anything to Nick.
    She wondered if she should tell Rosie about the whole thing. But Rosie would definitely get upset. And the last thing Lindsay wanted to do was to upset Rosie. She was beginning to regret that she hadn’t just told Rosie the truth from the beginning. She hated having a secret from her. The odds were against Rosie even finding out, but still . . . Lindsay felt like she had handled the whole situation the wrong way.
    â€œBoo.”
    She turned. David Costello was grinning at her with those big purple braces. As her eyes moved past the braces, she noticed for the first time that David’s eyes were a startling shade of blue and rimmed with thick, dark lashes.
    â€œYou’re awfully thoughtful this afternoon,” he said in that loud voice of his.
    â€œIt’s complicated,” Lindsay replied, not really in the mood to chat. Hopefully David would get the hint.
    Or not. “Saw you talking to that soccer dude, what’s-his-name, just now. You do lead an exciting life, don’t you?”
    She frowned. “Sometimes it’s a little too exciting.”
    â€œHey, I have this really cool duet. You want to try playing it sometime?” He pulled a slim music volume from the backpack at his feet and showed it to her.
    â€œÂ â€˜Concertino in E-flat major for piano and clarinet,’ ” read Lindsay. She shook her head and pushed it