Free Shark Bait (The Grab Your Pole Series) by Jenn Cooksey Page A

outline of today’s events by clapping and whistling.
    She laughed, made a bowing motion and then said, “Thank you. It was actually a lot of fun. I was dying to tell someone about all of this and you were the most likely to appreciate it, seeing as how it all revolved around you. And that’s something else…aside from Melissa, there aren’t gonna be many girls who’ll support your campaign to land Tristan. In fact, if you end up taking him out of the running, one of two things will probably happen. One, you’ll be able to write your own ticket socially. Or two, you’ll be hated with a passion by every female in this school and many from some other neighboring schools. I can probably get Melissa on board though, and if she backs you, chances are it’ll be the first. Are you up to it?”
    “Um, I’m not sure yet, and I don’t wanna sound rude, but why are you so gung-ho about this? You seem kind of invested.” This whole time I’ve been engrossed in what Kate has been elucidating, and I believe her reason for wanting to be friends with me, but now I’m wondering why she’s trying to get her lifelong friend together with a girl neither of them knows. It just seems...odd.
    “Well, for a few reasons… I really do like you and think you’re cool. You showed compassion to a stranger this morning with Paul, even when you realized being friends with him wouldn’t be of great help to you in fitting in. So that means you’re brave, too, which you’ll need to be if you decide to go for the school’s most popular, self-prescribed bachelor. But, the main reason is I care about him. You see, Camie, even though we’re not as close as he and Jeff are and our friendship has kinda changed over the years, Tristan is still one of my very best friends and honestly, I don’t think he’s all that happy. In fact, I think he’s sorta lonely, the way he flits from girl to girl, you know?”
    I don’t really know, but hoping her question was more rhetorical than anything else, I shrugged my shoulders and nodded anyway.
    “It’s just that, there’re tons of really great looking and popular guys in this school, who date all the time and get involved in relationships, but none of them are as unattainable as he is. He’s done it by choice, too, which I think is kinda sad. I mean I know he’s remained single on purpose, but I think he deserves to have something special with a girl for once. Try to remember what his voice sounded like when he was tearing up that note, Camie…I swear, the more I think about it, it sounded like he was pleading. Even if it’s only on a subconscious level, I think he’s desperate to feel valued for more than being a gorgeous face and great kisser.
    “For whatever reason, he picked you and I agree with his choice, I think you could be really good for him. And if I’m being honest, I’m kinda hoping if Tristan has a girlfriend he’ll settle down, and then maybe Jeff will follow his lead. I mean you’ve seen him…it’s like he’s a giant kid and he refuses to grow up. But because they sorta play off each other, they both do a lot of asinine stuff, only Tristan usually knows when to say when. Jeff doesn’t and sometimes I think he doesn’t even care about the consequences. I guess I’m hoping if Tristan isn’t out there ruling the playground with him, Jeff won’t be so inclined to play, you know? I just… I just really don’t wanna see Jeff waste his life…does that make sense?” Kate asked seriously and wiped away a small tear from her cheek.
    “Yeah, that makes sense. If you really think I’m the one who can accomplish all this, then I’ll give it my best shot. If I’ve understood everything correctly though, it sounds like it’ll be next to impossible,” I replied solemnly. Even though I am one, I’d no idea that this emotionally heady current runs unseen in the deep water of a teenager’s life. It’s pretty sobering to consider.
    “Well, I think it’s worth a try. If