Free Tangled Up In You (A Savioe Family Novel) by Ginny Atkinson

said, “I’ll bring her up when I’m done.”
    She turned around to face me giving me an odd look before she hobbled over to her vanity chair. I stood in the middle of her room my hands clasped in front of me. Just waiting for her to say or do something. I decided to say something before she did. “Marie, I just want to apologize for causing you to twist your ankle. At the time, it seemed like the only way to get you to stop hurting Jess. I really did not want you to get hurt in the process. I also never told anyone about the scuffle. It was the vice principal’s son who did that.”
    She chuckled and waved her hand at me. “Don’t worry about that. I understand you were just protecting your friend. That’s commendable. I just wanted to say that I loved how you told off that stupid bitch dating Luke. Charles showed me the video. Gawd, I loved that. The real reason I wanted to talk to you is to find out just what you are doing.”
    “What do you mean?” I asked curiously.
    “Why are you here?”
    “Luke was supposed to ask Beau if I could sketch him. He said he’d text me with the when and where. He did that last night with the offer of food. I really cannot pass up a home cooked meal. My parents can’t cook worth anything so I try to get my food where ever I can.” I nervously fidgeted with the bottom of my t-shirt.
    She pursed her lips tightly studying me before she snorted and shook her head. “You like him don’t you?”
    “Um… which one are you talking about?”
    “Luke. Duh.” She smirked in that same mischievous way Charles usually did. “You just don’t want him to know it. I get it now. The ignoring in class when he’d try to talk to you and the way you walked down the halls. You are not use to any attention are you? So when he talked to you a few weeks ago you just froze unsure of what to do or say. Am I right?”
    “Yeah, you’re right. I’m not use to any type of attention. In fact, yesterday at school was the first time since middle school I’d talked to anyone other than Jess for more than just a simple question about the class work. But I am not going to confirm your thoughts over who I might be crushing over.” I pushed my hair behind my ear.
    “Oh you don’t have to say anything I can tell by just how you are acting. And you said you are supposed to draw Beau? I’ll go get him if you want. So you can go ahead and get started before dinner is ready.” She still had that sneaky grin hinting at her lips.
    “Sure, that’d be cool. I just need my bag from Luke. It has all of my stuff in it.” I shrugged in acceptance.
    She nodded, got up and hobbled over to her opened window. “Hey Beau! Roxy is here to draw you now get up here.” Her lips twitched in amusement as she turned to me. “How are you going to draw him? Is it going to be a nude? Cause yeah, you’ll have to go to another room to do that. I really don’t want his naked butt around my things.”
    “Oh gross.” I cringed a bit in disgust. “Yeah I do not sketch, paint or draw nudes. It’d be way too weird.”
    Marie giggled, “Want to play a joke on my brother?”
    “I guess.” I nervously agreed.
    “I’m going to tell Luke that the portraits that you do are nudes.” My eyes widened as she continued. “Then after I grab your bag from him and bring it to you. Say let twenty minutes pass I’ll just let it slip that Beau is in here with you.”
    “Are you serious?” I laughed so hard I grabbed my stomach. “What makes you think he’ll believe that?”
    “Well, I want you to clue Beau in on it when he gets up here. Then after twenty minutes pass just start giggling and act like you are flirting with him.” She hobbled over to the door and opened it.
    “Big problem. I have never flirted in my life. I don’t think I even know how.”
    She pursed her lips and scrunched her nose up as she thought. “Hmm, Beau will help you. Just tell him about everything okay?”
    “Yeah. Okay.” I said as she walked