Trying to ignore them all, I pushed my glasses back up, sat down in the empty seat and started rebuttoning my blouse as inconspicuously as possible. “What can I say?” Bobby shrugged, not the least bit apologetic. “You know, most guys gave that up back in fifth grade,” I informed Bobby, grabbing my glasses before they slipped off my nose. I caught myself-barely-before I went sprawling, but that didn’t keep half the bus from laughing. How did I not notice that before I left the house? Hitching my tattered green backpack a little higher, I tried to cover the neckline, where it was most obvious.Īnd tripped over Bobby Jeeter’s foot, which he’d stuck out just for me. Nice blouse, yeah-buttoned one button off. Not wanting Trina to think I cared what she said, I passed her before glancing down at myself. My best friend Bri, who had about fifty times more fashion sense than me, had picked out my outfit-a cute white cap-sleeve blouse dotted with tiny blue stars, and denim capris. “Get dressed in the dark again?” she continued. And we’d more or less hated each other ever since that bracelet incident back in third grade. Trina was everything I wasn’t: pretty, rich, popular, athletic. It was Trina Squires, of course-my nemesis. Still, I clung to what I hoped was a confident half-smile as I headed for an empty seat two-thirds of the way back. It was the smell of a dozen past humiliations. The familiar sour-stale schoolbus smell-like old french fries that had been baking in the Indiana sun all summer, with maybe a whiff of vomit-took some of the fizz out of my mood. I might even get elected, since last year they’d had to arm-twist someone into doing it. Maybe I’d do something wild and daring, like, oh, run for treasurer of the French Club. I was fifteen now and marginally less awkward than I’d been last year as a freshman. Maybe this year Jimmy Franklin would finally notice I existed.

Even after nine years as the class dork, I couldn’t quite squelch a fizzy little hope that this year would be different. I boarded the bus on the first day of school with a weird sense of anticipation. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.įor Bethany, Dawn and Keith, my first readers and greatest encouragers. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

Any resemblance between actual events or persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental.

Starstruck by Brenda Hiatt