Free The Queen Bee of Bridgeton by Leslie DuBois Page A

and things like that."
     
    "What about the girl?"
     
    "What do you mean?"
     
    "Do you get more points for certain girls? Like virgins?"
     
    Will bolted upright. "Do you think that's why I'm with you? Is that what Ashley told you?"
     
    I nodded. "She showed me your score sheet."
     
    "That bitch!" He kicked the coffee table. I didn't understand how he could let someone punch him in the nose on the basketball court and not show any signs of anger, yet Ashley telling me about Cherry Picker totally set him off. He was right though. It was a pretty bitchy thing to do. Could Ashley be a member of the Bitch Brigade?
     
    Will closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "If you check the dates on that score sheet, you'll see that I haven't…added any points in over a month." He opened his eyes and looked directly at me as he said, "Sony, I've been with you for two weeks and I haven't even kissed you. Does it seem like I'm using you for sex?"
     
    "No." My voice was small and unsure. "I know, at least I hope, you're not using me. I think you honestly think you like me. I'm just afraid of what will happen when you get tired of me and you're ready to move on."
     
    "Come here," he said patting the spot next to him on the couch. After I sat down, he wrapped his arm around me and kissed the side of my head. "I've done a lot of things I regret. I told you when we first met that I didn't like myself." He pulled me tighter. "You have no reason to believe me. You have no reason to trust me. I'll understand if you think I'm completely disgusting and you never want to see me again. But talking to you, spending time with you, just being near you makes me the happiest I've been in…in a really long time. Please don't give up on me. Just give me a chance."
     
    I lost track of time as we sat in a warm embrace. I closed my eyes and blocked Ashley out of my mind and concentrated only on Will. I couldn't give up on him. In the short time I'd known him, I'd felt grown so close to him. Already, I felt he was a part of me.
     
    Finally, Will said, "Come on, I'll take you home."
     
    Here we go again. He wanted to take me home. How was I going to get out of it this time? "That's okay, Will. I'm here with Sasha. We'll get home together."
     
    "How?"
     
    We usually got Des to drop us off at a bus stop, but I didn't want to tell him that. So I just said, "Des."
     
    "Oh, so you'll let him take you home, but not me? I'm insulted." Will pretended to be angry, but a smile hid behind his eyes.
     
    I tried to come up with a quick retort, but nothing came to mind. The cold fingers of panic tickled my spine.
     
    "Actually, I'm not going home. I'm going to the studio," I lied.
     
    "Now? It's almost ten o'clock at night."
     
    "Yeah, I need to print something out for my next audition. It's…really important."
     
    Will shrugged. "Fine, I'll take you to the studio." He grabbed my hand and helped me off the couch.
     
    "Okay." At least that would buy me some time to figure out my next lie. There was no way I could let him see Venton Heights. "I should tell Sasha I'm leaving," I said as he led me out of the room. Maybe she'd help me figure out a way to keep Will away from Venton Heights.
     
    Will held my hand as he led me through the house while we looked for Sasha.
     
    "Do you want something to drink?" he asked as we walked through the kitchen.  I looked around and saw nothing but beer and liquor bottles.
     
    "I don't drink alcohol," I said, regretting the words as soon as they'd left my mouth.  What kind of high school girl didn't drink?
     
    "I know you don't. You're not that kind of girl. And I'm glad.  I don't drink either."
     
    "Really?"
     
    "Don't sound so surprised. I never drink. Ever." Will looked around the kitchen.  "There has to be something non-alcoholic here."
     
    "What about this punch?" I let go of his hand and scooped out some red liquid into a cup.
     
    "Um, I doubt if that's non-alcoholic."  Will gently took the cup out of my hand.