College Weekend Read Online Free PDF Page A

with.
    The minute she stepped inside, Tina felt uncomfortable. I bet everyone can tell I’m still in high school, she thought.
    Tina noticed a girl in jeans and a vest. She had a silver ring in her nose. Another girl wore aminidress with thigh-high socks that stopped a few inches below the hem.
    I wish I had changed my clothes, Tina thought. Everyone is going to think I’m so boring. Preppy Little Miss high School.
    Tina followed Chris across the living room. Several guys said hi to him and smiled at Tina. College guys actually noticed her! Maybe she didn’t appear as boring as she thought.
    Finally they found an empty spot along a far wall near an open window. The cool breeze felt good.
    â€œExcellent party!” Holly exclaimed. She swayed to the music.
    â€œWhy don’t you and Holly dance,” Tina suggested to Chris. She had to shout to be heard. “This is one of her favorite songs.”
    Chris shrugged. “Well, I don’t really—”
    â€œOh, look!” Carla interrupted. “There’s the girl playing the lead in
Our Town.
Come on, Holly, I’ll introduce you.”
    Carla grabbed Holly and dragged her away, leaving Tina alone with Chris.
    Tina took a step back. It didn’t feel right standing so close to him, even though they were surrounded by people. Her first college party, and instead of being with her boyfriend, she ended up with his roommate.
    But that wasn’t the worst part. The worst part was that she felt attracted to him.
    Tina shifted her weight from foot to foot.
    â€œWant something to drink?” Chris asked. “There’s some soda in that cooler over there.” He pointed across the room.
    â€œThanks,” Tina answered.
    â€œYou stay here,” Chris told her. “This place is packed.”
    Chris forced his way through the crowd. Tina lost sight of him almost immediately. She felt sort of awkward standing all by herself. She was relieved when she finally spotted Chris coming back toward her.
    Chris handed Tina a soda, and opened one for himself. He took a long swallow, staring around the room. “I don’t go to these parties too often. I used to, but …” He shifted his eyes away from her.
    Tina reached out and touched Chris’s arm, trying to think of something to say. “So you like spicy food?” she blurted out.
    â€œLove it,” he answered, smiling.
    â€œYou should come to Shadyside with Josh. There’s a Mexican restaurant not too far away, in Waynesbridge. I’ll bet you can’t eat more than one of their jalapeños.”
    â€œOh, I don’t know about that. We had acontest last spring at Old Town Festival. And guess who won?”
    â€œNow, let me see,” she teased. “How many did you eat?”
    â€œA dozen,” he bragged. “My head nearly exploded.”
    Tina laughed. It would be fun to show Chris around Shadyside. He was so easy to talk to, and they had a lot in common.
    â€œSo are you going to start here in the fall?” Chris asked.
    â€œNo. I can’t afford to go away to school,” Tina replied. “I’ll probably go to Waynesbridge Junior College, so I can live at home.”
    â€œToo bad,” Chris said. “There are some great places around here I could show … I mean
Josh
could show you, if you had more time.”
    A slow song started to play.
    â€œDo you want to dance?” he asked.
    â€œSure,” Tina answered.
    They found a spot among the other couples. Tina rested her head on Chris’s shoulder as they moved back and forth.
    â€œYour hair smells good,” he whispered into her ear.
    Tina smiled and snuggled in closer. She could feel his muscles under his shirt.
    It felt good to be held. Even by the wrong guy.
    When the song ended, Chris led her out on the back porch for some fresh air. A million stars dotted the sky. Tina tilted her head back and stared up at the moon. The smell of freshly cut