Free Unbreak Me (Second Chances #1) by Heather D'Agostino Page B

her brow.

    “I had to,” Katie complained. “He said if I had an awful time, then he’d leave me alone.”

    “Where’s he taking you?” Sam was bouncing up and down with excitement.

    “This isn’t a good thing, Sam,” Hannah scolded.

    “Speak for yourself,” Sam gave her a slight shove.

    “His party Friday,” Katie pointed at Anthony as he walked up.

    “Wait, you’re having a party and you didn’t invite me?” Hannah looked at Anthony and scowled.

    “That’s why I’m here now, to invite you,” he waved in the air. “Party at my house, 7:00, bring whoever you want.”

    “Won’t that be a lot of people?” Katie looked shocked.

    “My parents are out of town, the neighbors are supposed to be looking in on me. They won’t rat me out. Will you guys come over the next morning and help me clean up?” he gave them the puppy dog eyes.

    “Oh I know how this goes. I’m not committing to clean up duty until I see what the damage is. The last party I helped with kept me there all day,” Hannah groaned.

    “Wait, if the party’s at seven, why did he want to pick me up at eight?” Katie mused.

    Just then the bell rang, sending the students scurrying to class. “Zach always shows up fashionably late,” Sam yelled over her shoulder.

    Katie sighed, grabbed her books, and made her way to class.

    By the end of the day everyone was talking about Anthony’s party. Katie was exasperated. Zach strode up behind her and draped his arm around her shoulders.

    “So, can I walk you home?” he smiled at her.

    She glared at the offending limb and pushed at it with her fingers. “No”.

    “Suit yourself,” he laughed. He turned on his heel shrugging and began walking back in the direction of the school.

    Boys she thought, they just don’t know when to quit.

    As she was nearing the Red Line stairs, she heard Sam call after her, “Hey wait up!”

    Katie turned and smiled when she saw who it was.

    Sam came to a halt a few feet away, “If you really don’t like him, I have a way to get rid of him.”

    “Really,” Katie was intrigued.

    “Ever seen that movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days ?” she cocked her head to the side. “Well, that’s what you need to do. Make this date the worst date he’s ever been on.”

    “I like the way you think,” Katie giggled. “Thanks!”

    “No problem, see you tomorrow,” she turned and bounced back in the other direction.

    When Katie arrived home, Melanie was still at work. This wasn’t unusual. Katie was used to coming home to an empty house. She tossed her backpack on her bed and flopped down. She began plotting just how she was going to make Zach leave her alone. The sensible part of her brain kept telling her that she needed to guard her heart. Zach was bad news. She’d heard the rumors; all of his former girlfriends hated him. He had the reputation of being a “player”. He never stayed with anyone long enough to call it a relationship, and he left his conquests heartbroken. However, the other part of her brain told her to go for it. He was cute, and seemed to really like her. Why did he like her though? She kept asking herself if he liked her for her , or did he see her as a challenge?

    She stood in front of the mirror in her room and examined her reflection. She was pretty enough. Her hair was one of her best features, long and blonde. Guys liked blonde hair, right? Most of the models in her magazines had long blonde hair. Maybe she should wear it up. Maybe Zach liked it down, and pulling it up would make her less attractive to him? Just then Melanie knocked on her door.

    “Katie, you about ready for dinner? I’m making veggie wraps,” she stood in the doorway watching her daughter.

    “Yeah, I guess…,” she huffed.

    “Something wrong?” Melanie asked.

    “Mom, what do you do when a guy likes you and you don’t like him?” Katie sighed.

    “You tell him you’re not interested,” Melanie raised her brow.

    “But what if