Pinehurst: A Magical Olympian Adventure-Young Adult Romantic Adventure/Fantasy Novel by Nicole Grane Page A

words from within. I could see it in his eyes. The little wheels in his brain turned quickly in his head, forming a lie.
    “Of course not,” Chad scoffed. “I’m just trying to explain to Red here that Slaying is no place for little girls.”
    “Red!” He did not just call me Red? “I am not a little girl!” My hands were fisted at my sides. It was all I could do to not stomp up and down and scream at him.
    Chad scanned the length of me, taking in my powder blue sundress with little red roses on it.
    I glared back at him, daring him to call me a little girl once more.
    “On second thought, maybe you should come to class. It might be fun rolling around on the mat with you.” He winked.
    “Enough!” Antonio snapped. His expression was hard. “Leave her alone.”
    Chad leaned in closer; his warm breath blowing across my ear. “Nice legs!”
    Oh . . . that was it. Without warning I put my hands on his shoulders and drew my knee up hard between his legs.
    “Oumph.” Chad doubled over, his hands gripping onto what I’m sure was most dear to him.
    There was an echoed “ohhh” from the crowd. I glimpsed each of them, wincing at the assumed pain.
    “Don’t ever threaten me again!” I held my hand out to Victor. My book bag was returned promptly. He took a few steps back.
    “See you in class. Jerk!” I stormed off, late for math—again!
    Mr. Reynolds excused my tardiness. It being only my second day, he was willing to overlook it. Thank God for small favors.
    “They’ll let anyone in here.”
    I cringed. No, no, no! Not Stacy. Please not Stacy. I looked up from my notebook and smiled. Stacy had taken the desk beside me. Lovely!
    “I heard you’re in sixth period P.E.” She looked like a cat that’d just cornered a bird. Smug.
    I didn’t answer. I glanced at the front of the room. Mr. Reynolds was watching us. I resumed my work, praying I wouldn’t get detention my first week of school.
    Stacy leaned in closer. “You’re not one of those . . . tomboys, are you?” She grimaced. “Although, that would be better than if you were one of those girls who just likes playing with all the boys. You know the type, the ones that try to steal everyone’s boyfriend.”
    Yes, I knew the type. That’s exactly the kind of girl she thought I was. Witch! I was so not one of those girls. Stacy would be shocked to know that I hadn’t even kissed a boy.
    “Not that I blame you,” she continued. “I mean, rolling around the mat with all those guys.” She fanned herself with her notebook, the very thought flushing her. And in that instant, I knew. She was one of those girls!
    “I’ve started a betting pool that—”
    “Ahahh!” Stacy shrieked as her desk collapsed to the floor, taking her down with it.
    Everyone jumped up to see the commotion, everyone, but me.
    “You Witch!”
    “Miss Wilcox! You will not use such vulgarity in my classroom!” Mr. Reynolds stood over Stacy, assessing the situation. “What happened here?”
    “She broke my desk!”
    “Your desk, too?” My tone was condescending. “Yesterday it was the sprinklers.”
    Soft laughter broke out amongst the class.
    “Really, Miss Wilcox. I hardly think it’s fair to blame Miss Hollyander for this unfortunate mishap. The screws must have come loose.”
    Nice choice of words. “See, Stacy? It’s just good old-fashioned bad luck.” I gave her a sympathetic smile.
    Stacy got up from the floor and dusted herself off. She leaned over my desk, her eyes tight with fury. “I don’t know how you're doing it, but I will find out. You. Don’t. Fool. Me!” she growled the words through clenched teeth.
    “That will be quite enough Miss Wilcox. You may take the seat by the window.” Mr. Reynolds pointed sharply to the desk in the corner.
    “But–”
    “Now, Miss Wilcox,” Mr. Reynolds ordered, cutting off Stacy's protests. He stooped to pick up the pieces of her desk.
    “Humph!” Stacy spun around dramatically and actually stomped off.
    I