Free The Kissing Deadline by Emily Evans Page B

reached into her pocket and removed
some Listerine strips. Using the penguin as a shield, she shoved
several in her mouth. The mint film melted on her tongue. David
lowered the bar, and the car jerked into a spinning motion.
Cassie’s head bounced back against the cushioned wall, and the
filmy strips shifted to the back of her throat, clinging, burning,
making her gag, and choke.
    Brown eyes wide with concern, jaw tight,
David grabbed her shoulders. He forced her back to him then lifted
her arms in the Heimlich maneuver. The car swiveled up and around,
freeing her stuffed penguin. The black and white animal flew onto
the track. A second car swung down and smashed him. She wanted to
say some birds weren’t meant to fly. But she couldn’t think past
the burning and watery eyes.
    “Stop the ride,” David yelled to the
attendant. “She’s choking.”
     
    * * *
     
    Laid out on a gurney, in the medical tent
with her family around her, Cassie cupped her hands over her eyes
in one blissful moment of hiding.
    Spencer said, “I don't see why I had to leave
too.”
    Mom ignored him and patted her arm. “It’s
going to be okay, dear. The doctor said you're fine, and we can
remove the oxygen mask and the precautionary neck restraint any
time now. We told David he could go on home.”
    The nearby medical equipment beeped. Mom
yanked Spencer away.
    Dad touched the IV line taped to the back of
her hand in concern. “Was David able to hold your hand while they
carted you over?”
     
    * * *
     
    Trallwyn High School Dragon Scoop
    Congratulations to varsity soccer for their
win over Stratford. Go Dragons.
    Fire drill may or may not occur this
week.
    No parking in lot C.
     
    Coach Ameen said, “As an update, watch
yourselves and each other for mono symptoms.”
    Antenna Guy slid his chair into the aisle of
the lab. His antenna tapped Cassie’s table when he turned. “I hear
there's an opening over at Pet's Mart.”
    “Shut up.”
    He lurched closer, trailed by his silver
metal pole. “Would you kiss me for a dollar?” His lips
puckered at her, and he made a barking sound. A pencil flew over
the table and hit him on the side of his head, forcing him to back
off.
    Ryan had good aim.
    Sierra snapped her fingers in a darn motion,
but Cassie wasn’t sorry. She shifted her chair further back and
overheard part of Larry’s conversation with antenna guy,
    “…dropped her…”
    Evidently, Ryan heard him too because he
turned his focus on her. “I'm so sorry about the Trust Fall—”
    Cassie raised her hands. “It's okay,
really.”
    Antenna Guy turned back to their table. He
tilted his head. “You're on the varsity soccer team, and you can't
hold up Cassie?” He looked Cassie up and down. “What do you
weigh?”
    This was the most attention she’d ever gotten
from guys, and it was over the Trust Fall and a dog kiss? “Ryan
didn't really drop me. He just couldn't catch me.”
    Ryan squared his chin. “We're going to do it
again.”
    “No. We’re not.”
    Antenna Guy turned back to Larry. “Bet I
could lift her.” He flexed his guns to illustrate and clasped both
fists around his antenna.
    Cassie looked away from the show. Several
granite rocks lay on the table in front of her, along with a spray
bottle and an ice bucket. She appreciated the chill in the air.
    “Today we’re going to discuss thermodynamics.
Energy and heat. So, of course, curling will be the best sport to
demonstrate.”
    Cassie studied the ice in front of her,
sighed, and turned to Ryan. “What’s curling?” Talking came much
easier ever since he’d dropped her. It had taken away her sense of
awe.
    Ryan snickered at her expression. “It’s a
Scottish game.”
    “It’s not even American?”
    He gave her a crooked grin. “It’s an Olympic
sport, Cass.”
    Coach said, “Form your curling sheet.”
    Ryan handed her the ice cubes. “Make a square
with them.”
    “Create your pebble.”
    Cassie reached for the granite stones. Ryan
handed her