Free Hometown Girls: Beginnings (Hometown Girls Series Book 1) by Tressa Messenger Page A

was always there and it always seemed to strike her when she looked at his surface with his dark hair and dark eyes that seemed like he was always thinking up mischievous plans, or the holey jeans and rocker tees he sported daily, but deep inside, past all his rebellious bluster, she knew he was a good guy. Maybe not at the same level as Daniel, but it was there nonetheless.
    “Hey you,” she said walking up to him, running her hand down the side of his bare arm as she circled him.
    “Hey right back at ya. Nice tee. Is it new?” he said nudging his head at her vintage Rolling Stones t-shirt that she’d borrowed from her mom’s pile of old clothes. She then paired it with a pair of tight black jeans and black knee length boots. Like Randy, the outfit wasn’t her usual girlie style, but she liked it and the change it stood for.
    She leaned her back against a locker and stared at him seductively, ignoring the question about her attire. “You heading to class?”
    “Yeah, I guess I probably should.”
    “You want company?” she asked batting her long dark eye lashes at him.
    “Depends on who’s asking.”
    “What if it was me?” she asked playfully.
    He looked her up and down and smiled a crooked smile. “Yeah, your company will do.” He pushed off the wall and draped his long arm over her shoulder and guided her down the hallway.
    All eyes were on them as they made their way, each aware of the stares, and each feeling proud of the display. Especially when they passed by Daniel and Katie who were standing outside their classroom, waiting for the bell to ring. Randy noticed them before Marissa Lou, and before she could tense up or feel any unnecessary emotions, Randy brought her closer to him with his arm and crushed his lips to hers all the while keeping his eyes on Daniel, who in turn burned red with anger. When Randy released her from his spell she looked straight ahead with a cool, mischievous smile playing on her lips, and continued to walk with her new boy.
    As of that day, that one moment, the whole school would know that she won the “I’m doing better than you are after the break-up” game and that was what it was all about.
    When school was out for the day, Marissa Lou made her way into the gym with her gym bag slung over her shoulder. She was happy to see that the whole squad was there ready for practice. Unfortunately for her that also included Katie. Everyone froze and stared at her as she approached. Katie, who was stretching on the hard wood floor, looked up to find out why everyone stopped talking only to find Marissa Lou standing over her. Her black clothes were replaced with gym shorts and a sports bra, and her long blonde hair was pulled up in a tight ponytail, transforming her back to the Marissa Lou everyone knew and loved.
    Katie gasped and hurried to her feet. “I wasn’t sure you’d be here today.”
    Marissa Lou crossed her arms tightly over her chest and glared at her. “And why is that?”
    “Well, umm, you weren’t here yesterday,” Katie stuttered. “So I thought—”
    The words that came out of Katie’s mouth made Marissa Lou furious. She threw her hands up in the air and yelled, “I took a day off. Freaking sue me!” She then walked away from Katie because the longer she was by her, the madder she got, and the madder she got, the more she wanted to punch her in her pretty little back stabbing face. “Alright girls, let’s work on Cheer 1.”
    The girls got in their place, with Marissa Lou in the front, and began the cheer. At the end of the cheer, Marissa Lou noticed the girls doing a different movement than she originally choreographed.
    “Wait, wait, wait. What are y’all doing? The movement is like this,” she said showing them.
    “Oh, well, most of us were having a hard time planting so Katie showed us something else to try yesterday,” Bethany, a junior cheerleader said.
    “Oh, is that right?” Marissa Lou asked turning from Bethany to glare at Katie. The