Read Falling for the Ghost of You for Free Online Page B

brown-haired boy smiles at Lauren as we pass by him.  “Hi, Lauren.”
    Lauren nods in greeting.  He heads in the opposite direction, and I turn to her, eyes wide.  “Was that Chase?  Wow, he got tall over the summer!  And he must’ve been working out, too.”
    Lauren shrugs indifferently.  “I saw him yesterday at the store.  He said he’s been helping his uncle out at his farm.”
    I study her expression carefully, but she gives nothing away.  I know Chase likes her, but does she like him back—especially now that he’s new and improved?  Hard to say with Lauren.
    Well, we’re almost to our class.  Here we go.
    The room is about half full.  Mr. Tanner isn’t there yet, so kids are kind of roaming around, chatting with each other.
    I spot Matt instantly.  He's half-sitting, half-leaning on a desk, talking animatedly to Fitz Carvallio .  Rachel's back is pressed up against him, and  he's got his arms wrapped around her waist.
    It's the pose of a couple, familiar and intimate with each other.  Seeing them like that is a slap in the face.  I quickly turn my head.
    Lauren taps my shoulder and gestures toward the back of the class.  I follow her lead gratefully.  Is it my imagination, or did it just get quieter in here?  I dump my things on my desk, careful not to make eye contact with anyone.
    “No one’s looking,” Lauren mumbles under her breath.
    I sigh in relief.  I can’t help but steal a glance at Matt from under my lashes.  Rachel is standing next to him instead of leaning against him, and he’s got his arms crossed awkwardly, studiously avoiding looking in my direction.
    Great.
    For some reason, Zane pops into my head.  I remember telling him the things I didn’t like about Matt.  Then I mentally replay the scene where Matt's chatting to Fitz, with Rachel cozying up to him—only this time I can see him spitting into her hair as he talks.
    I start laughing.  I cover my mouth with my hands, muffling the sound, but I am giggling so hard, my eyes start to water.  Lauren glances at me in concern, but I just shake my head.  I picture Matt and Rachel holding up their arms, showing off matching BFF bracelets—only both wrists are so thin and fragile, you can’t tell who’s who. 
    Then I see myself breaking that delicate wrist, and Matt screaming, “ Arrgh , mate!  What’d you go and do that for?!  I’ll never be able to have me a barbie again!”
    I don’t know why.  My imagination is a weird place, okay?
    At least I feel a little better now. 
    A teacher finally shows up, but it's not the rotund wheezing Mr. Tanner.  A very young looking, very handsome guy with strawberry blonde hair, glasses, and a short beard introduces himself as Mr. Jensen, a substitute for Mr. Tanner.  I notice some of the girls take notice as he talks.
    "We'll go ove r the syllabus, so you guys kinda know what to expect this year.  Then you all can introduce yourselves while I pretend to listen," Mr. Jensen says with a laidback smile.  The class laughs appreciatively.
    Lauren and I exchange blah looks.  We both hate the stand up in class and talk about yourself thing.  Lauren always talks too softly, and I always end up sounding psycho.
    "Lauren Cooper."
    Lauren rolls her eyes at me, and half-stands at her desk.  "I'm Lauren," she mumbles, and that's all I can make out—a nd I'm sitting right next to her.
    "Speak up, Lauren.  I don't read lips," Mr. Jensen says.  His nice hazel eyes twinkle behind his glasses.
    Lauren glares at him, looking like a pissed off kitten.  "I'm Lauren," she snaps.  She plops back down in her seat.
    " Oo - kay, I think we've established that.  Care to tell us anything else?"
    "Nope."
    I don't know how she gets away with talking to teachers like that, but she does.  Maybe it's because she looks so cute when she's mad.  Even her hair sticks up cute.
    As if to make up for Lauren's curtness, everyone else seems to be in an extra sharing mode.  When it's Matt's turn,