my best subject. I like history. English is okay. Words and stories I get. Numbers, not so much. Therefore, I’m not surprised when Mr. West passes back our math tests, and on top of mine he’s written a big fat F. Inwardly I groan as I stare down at all the red slashes on the page. This is the last thing I need today. As if my aunt and uncle aren’t going to be upset enough over Dusty, but now I’m getting an F in math.
Great.
“I’m really good at math,” a girl’s voice interrupts my thoughts.
I glance over to where Emmy sits in the desk next to mine. She’s wearing a proud smile, and confusion fills me. “Good for you?” It comes out like a question, because it is. I have no idea why she’s sharing this little tidbit about herself right now.
Her eyes bounce down to my paper. “I wasn’t bragging.” She sounds slightly exasperated, but I can tell she’s working hard to mask it. Her smile deepens, but it appears forced. Not genuine the way her brother’s was when we talked this morning. “I just couldn’t help but notice the grade on your paper.”
I peer over at the test she holds in her hands. A large “A” is scrawled at the top of it. My stomach tightens. “So you thought you’d throw it in my face that you got a better grade?” I’m even more confused than before. And here I thought she was the nice one and her brother was the arrogant one. Clearly, I’d misread them.
“No.” Sighing, she shakes her head. “I sometimes tutor other students who need help in math. When I saw your test grade, I thought maybe you could use a little help.”
Huh. Not at all what I was expecting. What is it with this family and their need to help me? And seriously, nothing sounds more unappealing than math tutoring. I’m about to open my mouth to tell her that, when I clamp it shut. What am I thinking? I can’t turn her down. One, because then she’ll tell her older brother and he’ll think I’m a jerk. Two, this may be exactly what I need. If I can show my aunt and uncle that I’m trying, maybe I’ll buy myself some time here.
Man, I don’t even recognize myself anymore. Yesterday I hated this town and everyone in it. Of course that was before I saw Dusty again. The mere glimpse of him reminded me of why I need to be here. And his words to Cal confirmed that. What I have isn’t his no matter what he thinks, and I’m never going to let him take it from me.
But I know that isn’t the only factor here. Cal’s changed my mind about this place. It’s scary the effect he’s had on me. I’m sort of known for falling, and falling fast, and I don’t want to do that with Cal. I want him in my life, but I know I need to guard my heart. If I’ve had issues with falling in love quickly with the wrong guy, how much easier will it be to fall for the right one?
Taking a deep breath, I turn to Emmy. She’s staring at me, eyebrows raised, waiting for a response. Dear lord, how long was I sitting here mute? “Um…yeah. Actually tutoring sounds great.”
Surprise flickers in her eyes, and I can’t say I blame her. She’s tried to talk to me before, and I wasn’t exactly friendly. “Oh. Okay. Great.” By the way she says the word “great” it doesn’t sound like she thinks it is. In fact, I’d say she appears disappointed with my response. Which is weird, since she’s the one who offered.
Oh, well. Either way, I’m hoping to use this entire situation to my advantage.
CAL
I’ve loved baseball since I was a kid. Mom has often joked that I was born with a baseball in my hand. And while that’s not exactly true, it’s close. Most of the pictures of me when I was a toddler, I’m holding some kind of ball. From a young age, it was obvious that I was good at sports. I played multiple sports when I was a kid, including basketball and soccer. But it was baseball that stole my heart. And there was nothing I loved more than being on the mound; nothing I loved more than
Great.
“I’m really good at math,” a girl’s voice interrupts my thoughts.
I glance over to where Emmy sits in the desk next to mine. She’s wearing a proud smile, and confusion fills me. “Good for you?” It comes out like a question, because it is. I have no idea why she’s sharing this little tidbit about herself right now.
Her eyes bounce down to my paper. “I wasn’t bragging.” She sounds slightly exasperated, but I can tell she’s working hard to mask it. Her smile deepens, but it appears forced. Not genuine the way her brother’s was when we talked this morning. “I just couldn’t help but notice the grade on your paper.”
I peer over at the test she holds in her hands. A large “A” is scrawled at the top of it. My stomach tightens. “So you thought you’d throw it in my face that you got a better grade?” I’m even more confused than before. And here I thought she was the nice one and her brother was the arrogant one. Clearly, I’d misread them.
“No.” Sighing, she shakes her head. “I sometimes tutor other students who need help in math. When I saw your test grade, I thought maybe you could use a little help.”
Huh. Not at all what I was expecting. What is it with this family and their need to help me? And seriously, nothing sounds more unappealing than math tutoring. I’m about to open my mouth to tell her that, when I clamp it shut. What am I thinking? I can’t turn her down. One, because then she’ll tell her older brother and he’ll think I’m a jerk. Two, this may be exactly what I need. If I can show my aunt and uncle that I’m trying, maybe I’ll buy myself some time here.
Man, I don’t even recognize myself anymore. Yesterday I hated this town and everyone in it. Of course that was before I saw Dusty again. The mere glimpse of him reminded me of why I need to be here. And his words to Cal confirmed that. What I have isn’t his no matter what he thinks, and I’m never going to let him take it from me.
But I know that isn’t the only factor here. Cal’s changed my mind about this place. It’s scary the effect he’s had on me. I’m sort of known for falling, and falling fast, and I don’t want to do that with Cal. I want him in my life, but I know I need to guard my heart. If I’ve had issues with falling in love quickly with the wrong guy, how much easier will it be to fall for the right one?
Taking a deep breath, I turn to Emmy. She’s staring at me, eyebrows raised, waiting for a response. Dear lord, how long was I sitting here mute? “Um…yeah. Actually tutoring sounds great.”
Surprise flickers in her eyes, and I can’t say I blame her. She’s tried to talk to me before, and I wasn’t exactly friendly. “Oh. Okay. Great.” By the way she says the word “great” it doesn’t sound like she thinks it is. In fact, I’d say she appears disappointed with my response. Which is weird, since she’s the one who offered.
Oh, well. Either way, I’m hoping to use this entire situation to my advantage.
CAL
I’ve loved baseball since I was a kid. Mom has often joked that I was born with a baseball in my hand. And while that’s not exactly true, it’s close. Most of the pictures of me when I was a toddler, I’m holding some kind of ball. From a young age, it was obvious that I was good at sports. I played multiple sports when I was a kid, including basketball and soccer. But it was baseball that stole my heart. And there was nothing I loved more than being on the mound; nothing I loved more than
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