Read Tracing Hearts for Free Online

thanks,” I lie.
    There’s a strange silence between us, until I break it.
    “I’ve got to go. Thanks for the warning about Kelsey.”
    “Okay,” she says quietly.
    We hang up. My mood plummets.
     
    ***
     
    The next day, at school, my contemplative mood hasn’t changed. I wish I would’ve gotten a letter from Sebastian yesterday. We line up for outdoor recess and while waiting, Kelsey glances back at me and smirks. What on earth is that all about?
    As I step out onto the asphalt parking lot, I feel a pleasant breeze on my face. I smile as I inhale the outside air. The weather is nice. The warm sun shines down and lifts my mood slightly. A group of kids are assembling to play a game of dodgeball, while others are jumping rope, or playing that string game with their hands. Megan and I sit on the ground, drawing pictures with nearby pebbles. We’re talking about a bunch of nothing, when Kelsey walks up to us.
    “Hi, Julia, Megan. We could use a couple extra people for dodgeball. You in?” she says.
    We look at each other. No one ever asks us to play dodgeball with them. I’m skeptical.
    “I don’t think so,” I say.
    Kelsey smiles sweetly.
    What the heck?
    “Oh, come on. It’ll be fun.”
    “Fun, with you?” Megan scoffs at her. “That’s an oxymoron!”
    Kelsey’s brow knits but suddenly, she’s laughing like that was the funniest joke, and one that wasn’t at her expense.
    “That was a funny one,” Kelsey says. “Now come on. We need you.”
    Megan and I look at each other, contemplating what to do. Finally, she shrugs.
    “Okay, fine, but we don’t want to be on your team,” Megan demands.
    “That’s fine. The other team is the one that needs players anyway.” She gestures for us to follow her so, reluctantly, we do. “We have two more players!” she announces and points for us to go to the other side.
    “Hi, Julia,” Cameron says. He has a weird expression on his face, and his cheeks look pink.
    I just smile at him politely.
    Soon, the balls are flying. A few times they come whizzing past me, but I manage to jump out of the way. I try to throw one every now and then, but I’m not very good at it, and it bounces harmlessly onto the other side. I’m sure my inexperience shows. Suddenly, a ball is whipped at my head. It comes so fast that I don’t have time to react. Before I know it, someone is jumping in front of me, taking the hit in my place. He falls to the ground, and I hear his breath exit his body in a rush. Stunned, I look down to see Cameron, lying on his stomach, pushing himself up from the ground with the ball in his hands. He rises and looks at me.
    “Are you okay?” I ask him.
    He nods. “Yeah. I’m fine. It can get a little rough out here. You have to pay closer attention.” His response is breathy, but that’s probably because he just got the wind knocked out of him surely.
    “Thank you for jumping into the line of fire for me.”
    He smiles, and it’s not like any smile I’ve seen before.
    “No problem,” he says, still grinning.
    “Can we just get on with it?” Kelsey’s voice echoes from enemy territory.
    I look across at her to see a scowl on her face. What is she mad about?
    “Just stay by me. I’ll protect you,” Cameron says, touching my shoulder. My wide-eyed expression even surprises me. I nod. Who knew Cameron had a soft side?
    The game resumes, and I stick close to him, jumping behind him when necessary. Kelsey is still irritated and seems to aim balls directly at me. I think I’ve had enough.
    “I’m leaving the game,” I tell Cameron. He nods. I’m sure he’s relieved to know he no longer has to act as my body guard. As I walk off, I hear Cameron’s voice shout. Then, I hear the smack and feel the sting of a rogue ball striking my left shoulder. It bounces off and hits me in the side of the head. Unable to anticipate it, I’m knocked off balance and tumble, unceremoniously, onto the ground. I brace my fall with my right hand but feel