Free Like This And Like That by Nia Stephens Page A

threw one more shot but this one bounced off the backboard. She knew the signs—she was only going to get more frustrated. “This isn’t helping,” she declared.
    Maria lifted herself off the floor. “Thank goodness,” she huffed. “Let’s go to the movies.”
    â€œIf I make this shot,” Gemma said quickly, “it’s your treat.”
    â€œYou’re on.”
    Gemma set up for the shot and swished the ball in.
    Maria rolled her eyes. “Oh, all night you’ve been missing shots and now you swish one in. Basketball shark.”
    Gemma grinned. “Quit complaining. I got the popcorn.”
    Â 
    By the time they came home from the gym, showered and changed, they were late for the show and had to sit at the very back of the theater.
    â€œThe popcorn cost almost as much as the movie,” Gemma complained. “Especially with your greedy self getting the extra large when you know you can’t eat that much.”
    â€œYup,” Maria smiled, shoveling in a handful. “I guess you got the short end of the stick after all.”
    â€œHa-ha.”
    â€œHey, you’re never going to believe this ...” Maria said, trailing off.
    Gemma looked at her friend cautiously. “What?”
    â€œUh ... isn’t that Drew?” Maria asked, nudging Gemma’s shoulder.
    Gemma craned her neck, peering past a woman with huge hair and a guy with a neck like a linebacker. Off to the side, near the front, Drew sat alone eating popcorn. Her heart started palpitating and her palms started to sweat.
    â€œDid you know he was going to be here?” Maria asked.
    â€œHow would I know that?”
    Maria looked at Gemma sideways and raised an eyebrow . “You were just talking about him.”
    â€œI swear I didn’t know,” Gemma said. Running into him was the last thing she wanted. It was all just too embarrassing. “What if he looks back and sees me? Should I say something first?” Gemma was seriously starting to get nervous now.
    â€œIt’s your call,” Maria said.
    Gemma hesitated. What was she going to say? What could she say?
    â€œIf you’re going to do it, do it now,” Maria told her. “The movie is about to start.”
    Slowly Gemma got up from her seat and made her way to the aisle. After almost knocking down a girl carrying two large sodas, Gemma plodded toward the front of the theater, each step heavier than the last. She was less than two feet from him before deciding it was a mistake. She turned quickly and headed back up the aisle.
    â€œWhat happened?” Maria asked when Gemma plopped back down into her seat.
    â€œCouldn’t do it.”
    As the lights dimmed and a few more people filtered in, Gemma slouched in her seat.
    â€œHey, there’s your girl, Christine Ihlenger,” Maria said. “Weren’t you two bio partners before you and Seth?”
    Gemma and Maria watched Christine head down the aisle. Both girls’ mouths dropped open as Drew stood up to allow Christine to sit down next to him.
    â€œYou’re kidding me,” Gemma mumbled under her breath. Drew and Christine?
    As soon as the movie began, Christine and Drew started making out.
    Maria leaned over and whispered, “Well, I guess you don’t have to feel sorry for him anymore.”

Chapter 6
    Boys Will Be Boys
    A ll through bio class the next day, Gemma could not stop thinking about Drew. It didn’t help that she heard Christine bragging to her lab partner about the wonderful date she had last night. Everything was, Drew was so sweet and Drew this and Drew that . The final kicker was when she said that Drew was a total gentleman.
    Yeah, was that before or after making out in the movies like a prison conjugal visit , Gemma thought. She realized she was just being petty, but the truth was she really regretted both how she had dumped him, and that she had dumped him at all. All last night she kept