Free In the Spotlight by Liz Botts, Elaina Lee Page A

up.
    “My parents like to wait up for me too,” Josh commented.
    “Oh, I doubt that they’re waiting for me,” I said. “They trust me. My dad just likes to read late, and Hayley is probably having another sleepover.” We sat in silence for a few really unbearably long moments before I said, “Well, thanks. See you at school.”
    Josh reached out and put a hand on my arm before I could open the door. “Hey, wait a second,” he said.
    “What?” I snapped without meaning to.

    “What exactly is your problem with me?” Josh asked, pulling his hand away so fast I thought it might be retractable.
    “Nothing,” I sighed. “I don’t have a problem with you.”
    “Then what was all that crap at rehearsal about?” Josh persisted.
    “You aren’t Kyle,” I blurted.
    Josh was silent for a long time. “So you aren’t any different than the rest of them. I thought you were special,” he said. There was such disappointment in his voice that it actually hurt and I had no idea why. When he didn’t say anything else, I got out of the car.
    He waited until I got safely inside.
    “I’m home!” I yelled, and quickly hurried upstairs. I didn’t feel like seeing anyone. The hurt in Josh’s voice made me feel terrible. I wasn’t even really irritated with him anymore. And yet I definitely hadn’t been nice to him.
    Pulling off my party clothes, I dumped them in the hamper.
    They reeked of cigarette smoke. As I gathered my pajamas so I could head to the bathroom to shower, it occurred to me that Harlow was the one I should be annoyed with since she’d abandoned me at a strange college party.
    Noise from Hayley’s room told me I’d been right about the sleepover. As I washed away the stench of my very brief interlude at the party, I found I couldn’t wash away my unsettled feelings about Josh. It took me a long time to fall asleep that night.

Chapter Eight
    The next morning, I actually felt relieved to report for my extra long shift at Jimmy’s Red Hots. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Josh had said, and at least work would distract me. But I made sure to bring plenty of extra homework just in case things were slow.
    The first hour was ridiculously slow, so I read some of my history homework for the next week, as well as tried to get a handle on my fairy tale assignment. No reason to leave it until the last minute. My concentration was non-‐-existent, though, because all I could think about was Josh saying that he thought I was special.
    Okay, he’ d been saying that I was no better than all the other drama kids giving him a hard time, but he’d implied that at some point he thought I was special. What I couldn’t figure out was why I was so bothered with Josh no longer thinking I was special.
    Around eleven, the lunch crowd started coming in, and the next two hours passed in a blur. At one o’clock, the bell over the door jangled and a herd of guys entered. I recognized a few of them from school. They were on the basketball team, so naturally I started looking for Josh. Sure enough there he was. Our eyes met and I looked away quickly. Talk about awkward.
    “Welcome to Jimmy’s Red Hots,” I said in the most pleasant voice I could manage. I made it through all the guys’ orders fine, but when Josh got to the counter, I found that I still couldn’t look him in the eye. “What can I get you?” I muttered.
    When I peeked at Josh, he had a serious, perplexed expression on his face. “Hey,” he said softly.
    “Hey,” I replied even softer. “What would you like to eat?”
    “Actually I’d really like to talk to you. Can you take a break or something?” He asked.
    I nodded. “Just let me tell Jimmy so he can have Madison cover,” I said. As I rushed into the kitchen, it barely registered that I was hoping to rush off with a guy who inspired massive irritation in me. “Jimmy, I’m taking my break,” I called as I grabbed my coat.
    “Be back in half an hour.” Jimmy nodded.
    Madison