Read Don't Kiss Girls and Other Silly Stories for Free Online Page B

joke?’
    â€˜Uhh. Tell her I’ll text her.’
    Cathy writes Ashleigh’s number on the back of Gavin’s hand.
    She starts to walk away, then turns and looks at me. ‘You know, Ashleigh’s told me about you. The other boy she likes, let’s just say you know him. Real well.’
    I get goosebumps and my head starts swimming. I don’t like to think it – in case it isn’t true – but my heart is beating like it’s real.
    I grab Gavin’s skinny bicep and squeeze.
    â€˜Oww!’ he says.
    â€˜You’ve got to say no to Ashleigh,’ I say.
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜Because the other boy that she likes – it’s me.’
    Gavin laughs. I squeeze harder.
    â€˜Stop it!’ he says.
    â€˜C’mon mate. I’ll do anything.’
    â€˜You can start by letting go of me arm.’
    I do.
    He looks at his wrist. ‘You know, when Cathy was writing on me skin, I felt a real connection.’
    â€˜So you like Cathy now?’
    â€˜Maybe. But then again, Ashleigh likes me . You heard it yourself.’
    â€˜Yeah, but—’
    â€˜I’ll tell you what I’ll do. Dad said he’ll give me 100 bucks for every A that I get on a test.’
    â€˜But you’re dumb.’
    â€˜That’s why he said it. If you can get me an A on the maths test tomorrow, you can have Ashleigh. Besides, I just got a new mobile and my phone bill’s huge.’
    â€˜But I’m dumb, too,’ I say.
    â€˜That’s not my problem. An A or Ashleigh’s mine. It’s the best I can do.’
    He walks off.
    I start running. I have to find Brains. Not mine, but Kevin ‘Brains’ McMahon, the smartest kid in our class. I check the tuckshop line, the handball courts, and finally spot him in the library. He’s playing chess against a Year Twelve-er.
    â€˜Brains. I gotta talk to ya.’
    He has his hand on the queen. Or maybe it’s the king? I can’t tell them apart. ‘Do I not look busy right now?’ he says. ‘I’m just about to perform a Spassky special.’
    I think about picking up the chessboard and shaking it, but it’s probably not the best way to get what I need. Instead, I stand closer and put my hands on my head.
    â€˜Eeww! How am I supposed to concentrate with that smell?’ Brains says. ‘Your armpits stink!’
    Jacob’s not the only one who doesn’t wear any deodorant. ‘I just want a minute,’ I say.
    Brains sighs, then says to his opponent, ‘I have the whole chessboard memorised so don’t even think about moving any of the pieces.’
    We walk behind some shelves.
    â€˜Make it snappy, Ross,’ he says.
    â€˜I need you to get an A on tomorrow’s maths test.’
    â€˜That’s a given. I perfected triangles in pre-school.’
    â€˜Playin’ ’em?’
    â€˜Very funny, Ross.’
    I don’t tell him that I wasn’t joking.
    â€˜Is that all?’ he says.
    â€˜One more thing. You know how you normally write your name on the top of a test?’
    â€˜It is customary, yes.’
    â€˜Well, tomorrow your name’s … Gavin Fox.’
    He starts walking away.
    â€˜One week,’ I say.
    He half turns. ‘What?’
    â€˜I’ll be your servant for one week. I’ll clean your glasses, beat up your enemies, anything.’
    â€˜Stop wasting my time.’
    â€˜Two weeks.’
    He shakes his head.
    â€˜A month!’
    â€˜Hmm.’ He rests his chin on his knuckles, thinking.
    I have no intention of being Brains’ slave for a minute, but he doesn’t know that. Actually, he probably does. He’s smart.
    â€˜I mean it, Brains,’ I say. ‘I give you my oaf.’
    â€˜I need to know why,’ he says. ‘I only sell myself for a good cause.’
    â€˜If Fox gets an A, then he’s gonna let me go out with Ashleigh Simpkin.’
    â€˜So all this is for a