Free Just Like the Movies by Kelly Fiore Page A

awesome?”
    â€œI, uh, sure. I can talk to Tricia about it . . .” She glances at her watch, then back up at me.
    â€œWhy can’t you just write it yourself?” I press.
    â€œSeriously?” she asks, lowering her voice. “You want me to add a pukeworthy page of high school romances to the next edition of the paper?”
    â€œWhat, you don’t think the readers would eat it up?”
    â€œBaby, we’re gonna be late,” Tommy says behind me.
    â€œNo, it’s fine. Our classes are right here,” I look back at Lily. “Well, what do you think?”
    â€œI’m not sure,” she says uncertainly, “but he’s right—the bell is going to ring any second.”
    â€œNah, we’ve got plenty of time!” I argue.
    â€œMarijke—” Tommy begins.
    And then it happens—he’s drowned out by the screeching, alarmlike bell that marks the beginning of the school day. I can’t help my grin as Tommy jumps through the doorway of Mr. Miller’s history class. I can hear him call out, “I’m here—totally on time! Nobody panic!” I manage to dodge into the doorway of my first period too.
    Lily, on the other hand, is at the opposite end of the hallfrom her first class. I watch as she slams her locker shut and starts half-running, half-skidding when Mr. McCarthy, one of our assistant principals, rounds the corner.
    â€œYou’re late, young lady,” he says sternly, pointing at her.
    â€œI—yes, I know. I’m sorry, I got . . . caught up,” I hear her pant.
    â€œYou know the rules—zero tolerance for tardiness,” he scolds, pulling a detention slip from his pocket and uncapping a pen. I hold back a squeal of glee.
    One down, one to go.
    Now I just need to figure out how to get Joe Lombardi in detention today.

I really might kill Marijke. Worst. New-friend-slash-partnerin-deception.
Ever.
    I’ve never had detention before. I don’t even know where to
go
for detention. At the end of the day, I have to stop in the front office and ask one of the secretaries.
So
embarrassing.
    When I slip into the third-floor classroom, it’s empty except for two people. Mr. Marsden, the computer science teacher, is hunched over his desk, flipping through a stack of papers. There’s one guy in detention with me—he’s sitting at a student desk with his head buried in his arms.
    â€œName?” Mr. Marsden asks, looking at a clipboard.
    â€œLily,” I say softly, so as not to wake the sleeper. “Lily Spencer.”
    â€œRight.” He checks something off on the clipboard andmotions toward the empty desks. “Pick one and settle in. You’ll be here a while.”
    I turn back around and heave my bag up onto my shoulder. When I glance around at the desks, trying to decide where to sit, my eyes lock with the now-awake student. Slowly, his green eyes crinkle and his lips spread into a smile.
    My fellow detentiongoer is Joe Lombardi.
    I suck in a breath but try not to make it obvious that I’m flustered. I can’t believe this is happening. I don’t know whether I’m mortified or thrilled.
    â€œI know you,” Joe says as I get closer. “How’s the head?”
    â€œShh!” Mr. Marsden hushes him, scowling. “No talking!”
    Joe throws him an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Mr. M—just being friendly.”
    â€œThat’s not necessary, Joseph. How about you focus on ways you can avoid being late to class? Then you might not land yourself in here again.”
    Slowly, I slide into the desk next to him. Joe smiles at me again and I smile back, willing my face to stop going all tomato on me.
    â€œHey,” I whisper.
    â€œHey yourself. Fancy meeting you here.”
    I nod and start pulling books from my bag. Joe puts his head back down, but this time he’s propped it on one arm. It takes me a second to realize that he’s watching