Free Shucked by Megg Jensen Page A

wasn't sure what look she thought I
had on my face. I was feeling nothing but crabbiness and anger over yesterday.
It's not like I was standing at my locker mooning over Alex. "I don't want
to date him anyway."
    "Date who?"
    I felt a chin on my head, a warmth
blanketing my back, a voice I knew even after such a short time. "Go away,
Alex."
    "I think you probably shouldn't
date yet, Tabitha. You're new to town. You should get the lay of the land
first, figure out what people are really like because you don't want to make a
bad decision." He slung his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer.
"Besides, I'm going to keep you way too busy with math tutoring."
    He leaned over, kissed me on the top
of the head, and then sauntered away.
    I looked at Becky, my eyes probably wider
than a set of lunchroom trays.
    "Don't say it." Becky
grabbed my English book out of my locker and shoved it in my arms, followed by
a notebook. She stuck a pen behind my ear. "God, he's such a pompous
pig."
    I shook my head, not only bringing me
back to reality, but also in an attempt to erase what he'd just done to me. A
kiss, even on the top of my head, was too much to process. "Mr. Fenton said
he wouldn't let Alex tutor me if we hooked up. Clearly Alex was just being
obnoxious." Body parts that had never tingled before were doing it now. I
wanted him to come back, kiss me again. "Let's get to class," I said
in my most bored voice.
    Becky rolled her eyes. "This is
not going to end well. You're totally over the moon."
    "Am not." I stuck my tongue
out at her.
    A hand grabbed my arm from behind. I
spun around, expecting Alex to be back, but it wasn't him.
    "Tabitha, we need you. Will you
hear me out?" Callie smiled, but it looked strained. "Hey,
Becky."
    "Hey, Callie." Becky stood
still next to me, not budging, and even more strangely, not talking.
    Callie looked at me, then back at
Becky. She ran her hand nervously through her curls. "Look, I'm not here
to torture you. I'm not going to make excuses for Kailey either."
    "Okay," I said, unsure what
else to do. Callie seemed nice enough, but Becky stood next to me like a
bodyguard, unwilling to let anyone past.
    "Um, I suppose I can say this in
front of her." Her eyes darted to Becky.
    "Of course you can, Becky's my
best friend. Anything you tell me, I'm just going to turn around and tell her
anyway." I knew by saying it, I was making a long-term commitment to
Becky. Maybe one even more profound than marriage because I knew in a million
years she'd never let me forget it. And that might not be so bad.
    "Kailey broke her ankle last
night. She was practicing a flip and landed on it funny. Her mom got her
x-rayed at the ER and she's out of cheerleading for the next six weeks. We need
another member. The rest of us talked and we want you."
    My eyes narrowed. "Why?"
It's not like any of them stood up for me when Kailey tried to flip me.
    "We need you and we really think
you can teach us some cool stuff that will make us unique. We've been doing the
same thing since we were six when Kailey's mom started the squad. Same cheers.
Same gymnastics. Some of us actually would like to see some change."
    I shifted from one foot to the other.
This was getting more interesting by the second. And it didn't surprise me that
Kailey's mom had been driving the whole thing. No wonder she didn't want me
involved. "I think I could do that. When's the next practice?"
    Callie jumped up and down, clapping
her hands. "Oh my God, this is great news! I was so afraid you'd say
no." She lowered her voice. "Just so you know, I had no idea what
Kailey was planning. I was just as stunned as you were and really felt bad
about myself when I didn't help you. Deer in the headlights, I guess."
    I shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant,
but I was really touched. "Thanks."
    "Okay, so we'll see you tomorrow
morning, then? Before school, just like yesterday. If you need a ride, let me
know.” Callie smiled, and then skipped down the hall.
    Becky linked