Free What If... All the Rumors Were True by Liz Ruckdeschel Page A

play on "ON A ROLE" . Want to rekindle those dwindling flames with Reese Highland? Send Haley hopefully to find her man at the "OPEN MIKE" . Finally, if you think Haley needs a chance to catch her breath and pull herself together, "THE BAG LADY" .
    Haley’s just a small-town girl living in a fishbowl world. Some of what she hears may be too much information. But then, the more you know, the easier it is to make decisions. In theory, anyway.

SPANISH FLY

    How do you say “Step aside for the new girl” in Spanish?
    â€œH aley! Annie!
Hola!
”
    Haley and Annie spotted Sebastian Bodega in the rotunda on their way out of math class. It was the first time Haley had laid eyes on him since the end of sophomore year, and she had to admit he looked hotter than ever.
    â€œSebastian must have trained all summer,” Annie whispered, gawking at the strong swimmer’s physique. “Now that’s a backstroke I’d like to see up close.”
    It was true; Sebastian’s build was even leaner and more muscular than it had been the previous spring. Of course, those old familiar dark curls and warm brown eyes didn’t hurt his overall impression either.
    â€œHi,” Haley managed, trying hard not to seem too eager for the long-lost Spaniard’s attention.
    Just as Sebastian was about to respond, a kittenish voice purred, “Oh, it’s you. Hah-ley, is it?” A rail-thin olive-skinned fifth appendage slithered out from behind Sebastian’s back. Her name was Mia Delgado, and she was a budding international supermodel who also happened to be Sebastian’s childhood girlfriend. Ever since the stick-thin mannequin had arrived in the United States, she hadn’t strayed from “Sebbie’s” side—a fact that annoyed Haley no end.
    â€œHi, Mia,” Annie droned. “I see you’re adjusting well to Hillsdale High. As official new-student ambassador for the junior class, I am obligated to say welcome, and offer you my services should you need any help navigating the campus.”
    â€œNo thank you. I already have an excellent tour guide,” Mia cooed, batting her lashes at Sebastian, her arm possessively sliding around his waist.
    Haley had come to the rotunda to decompress between classes, but the sight of Mia now made relaxing in the sun a total impossibility.
    â€œUgh, if Mia’s always talking about how great it is to live in Spain, why did she move to New Jersey?” Annie muttered under her breath.
    â€œGood question,” Haley responded, forcing a smile to conceal her displeasure with Mia’s sudden appearance.
    It was an unseasonably warm day, and the rotunda was crowded with juniors and seniors enjoying their midmorning study breaks. Every male eye in the place was on Mia—that is, except for the pair belonging to senior Alex Martin, who had his nose deep in
The Brothers Karamazov.
    Thank goodness someone here has some taste,
Haley noted, fondly admiring the cute conservative upperclassman. If it weren’t for his far-right-leaning politics, Alex might have been Haley’s soul mate. He was way smart, a member of the math team and also cocaptain of the debate squad, which he led with none other than Annie Armstrong. And then there were those clear hazel eyes and his firm build, toned by years of fencing and rowing crew.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to date a Republican,
Haley thought, imagining what Alex must look like under his tweed blazer and green patterned necktie. He was certainly a far cry from the other guys present, who were all tossing footballs, kicking soccer balls and generally doing everything they could think of to show off for the newest and most glamorous Hillsdale resident, Mia Delgado.
    When Haley and Annie had entered the rotunda, they had barely caused a stir. Haley suddenly realized with a sinking heart that she’d now been at Hillsdale for a full year already. She was no longer the cute new girl,