Free Along Came Jordan by Brenda Maxfield Page A

scowled. "I'm not protecting him. I'm making things clear."
    "I got your point on day one."
    "I have people, Emili. And they tell me you're all over Jordan."
    "Wow, how interesting. Have your people been watching me take a pee, too?" Whoa, I was on a roll.
    Laine's shoulders rose up to her ears, and her eyes sparked with venom. "What is your problem?"
    I backed down. "Sorry. No problems. Message received." I squatted again to finish up my locker. Her feet didn't move. Then she let out a big huffing breath and marched off.
    I shoved everything back into my locker, and cringed at my fresh mess. The bell rang, and I jumped up, crashing into Jordan.
    "It's you," I said, rolling my eyes. "I can't catch a break."
    Jordan looked at me, his face wiped clean of all emotion. "Hi to you, too."
    "Yeah, right." I stared into his eyes then dashed off to English. I barely made it to my seat before the tardy bell rang. Sally gave me a quizzical look, and I shrugged.
    Was Laine my official enemy now? Along with Janae? I was pretty sure they both hated me.
    Even with his absence of expression, Jordan had looked like a total stud standing by my locker. In those couple seconds, I'd been drawn to his eyes. Had I imagined a fleeting look of pain when I brushed him off before bolting to class?
    I couldn't figure him out. I squeezed my hands together. I didn't like him, did I?
    Visions of Marc's tender face filled my mind. Marc didn't want me anymore, didn't trust me not to hurt him again. I got it. But now I was the one who was hurting. Marc's face morphed in my mind, turning into Jordan's with his reluctant smile and guarded eyes.
    I shook my head. Insanity. I had enough to worry about without adding Jordan Lawman to the mix. With steel resolve, I turned my thoughts to Mrs. Winder and Chaucer.
    ****
    The decorations committee met in the empty supply room after school. When I walked in, I almost tripped on the wall-to-wall pieces of cardboard, boxes of balloons and markers, and packages wrapped in cellophane. Freshmen and sophomores bustled around, stacking supplies. Some were sketching out scenes on sections of butcher paper taped to the walls.
    "Emili, cut open the packages," Janae said, throwing me a pair of scissors.
    I jumped back, and the scissors fell to the floor, piercing the cardboard at my feet as if making a bull's eye.
    Jordan turned to Janae and grabbed her arm. "You threw scissors at her? What's wrong with you?"
    "Hey, I figured she'd catch them. Man, Jordan, lighten up."
    "Then it's okay with you if she throws them back when she's finished?"
    Janae's lips tightened. She raised her head. "Fine. I see what you mean." She glanced over at me. "Sorry."
    "Yeah, whatever," I mumbled and bent to pick up the scissors. I walked over to the cellophane packages and sliced them open. They were the prefab sleigh cutouts for the photo booth. I pulled them to a corner and sat to piece them together.
    Jordan came over and crouched beside me. "Sorry. She's not usually such a jerk."
    "Could've fooled me."
    He laughed, his eyes crinkling at the sides.
    "Wow, you laugh." I opened my mouth in exaggerated shock.
    His face registered surprise. "What d'you mean?"
    "I've hardly ever heard you laugh. Oh, never mind."
    "Don't think I've heard you laugh, either."
    "Ha. Ha. There. Now you have."
    "Wow, truly amazing, Jones."
    Then I did laugh — for real. "Yeah, wasn't it, though? Want to help me put these together?"
    He plunked onto the tile floor beside me. "Why not?" he said, and his smile reached his whole face.
    I felt a tingling in my stomach, and a tiny seed of warmth began to grow. I kept my eyes averted. Maybe I did like him. No, no, no. From past experience, it would be sure disaster. Someone was going to be hurt, and that someone was going to be me. This guy was still crazy about his ex-girlfriend. How could I compete with a ghost? And did I want to?
    Where would I rustle up one ounce of energy to try?
    My breath quickened, and I got to my knees. A