Color Blind Read Online Free PDF Page A

our way to
first period.   She was kind enough
to show me the way, and inform me about the exhibits while she acted as my tour
guide.”
    “Did you feed any of them?” I ask
seriously.
    “Nope,” he replies. “Not a single one.”
    Dara looks from Cooper to me and back
again.   “That sounds like my girl. Yes
Cooper, I think we all saw your grand entrance this morning.   I’m Dara, and this is my boyfriend
Brandon.”
    Brandon shakes Cooper’s hand.   “Hey man, the Ninja you rode in on this
morning is sick.   I was jealous.”
    Cooper shakes his head. “Nah, dude, don’t
be.   I won it in a poker game. It’s
not like I can afford something like that on my own. Do you ride?”
    “I wish,” Brandon replies.   “My parents would flip if I mentioned
the word bike.   My dad is always
saying that “we” are working for a D-1 basketball scholarship in the ACC.”
    “Whew,” Cooper whistles.   “You must be pretty good then.   I wouldn’t want to risk that, either.”
    “Yeah, but still…” Brandon looks wistful.
    Dara smacked him on the back.
    “No bikes, superstar,” she said.
    “I’m sorry,” I pipe up. “Did you just say
you won it in a poker game? Did you
move here from Vegas? And are you forty-five?”
    “Yes, no, and no,” Cooper answered,
grinning at me. “My mom hangs out with questionable characters. Which means I
get dragged to places not appropriate for teenagers. Which means I learn how to
gamble and other unsavory things.”
    He was so nonchalant. I don’t even think
he noticed our jaws dropping lower with each word he uttered.
    Luka speaks up.  
    “What’s up, Coop?   I’m Luka Caliper.   Brandon’s teammate, and Cam’s…” he
trails off, glancing at me.
    Is he expecting me to say boyfriend?
Because we have only been on one group date, so that wasn’t happening.
    “Date for this Friday night,” I finish,
smiling reassuringly at him.   I can
tell Luka feels threatened, even though he has absolutely no reason to be.   I know I’m not Cooper’s type.   I just happen to be the first person he
met at Oceanview.   He isn’t actually
interested in me. I glance around the cafeteria. It’s quickly filling with
students. A couple of tables away, a group of cheerleaders sit starting at
Cooper, not at all worried about being discovered. I’m sure they are wondering how
much of themselves they have to offer him to get him to sit at their table.
    Luka grins back at me, and settles in his
seat with his arm draped loosely over my chair.
    I turn back to Cooper.   “So, how is your first day going so
far?”
    He shrugs.   “It’s alright.   Everyone seems nice.   School’s not my favorite place in the
world.   But Oceanview will do.”
    He smiles and glances at me.   “I’m kind of into music, though.   How can I get in on that fall musical
you’re choreographing?”
    “Are you serious?” I ask in
surprise.   Cooper looks athletic and
cool, with his tall, lithe build and his black leather jacket.   I’m shocked he’s interested in joining “Mamma
Mia.”
    “You guys have already had tryouts for
that, right Cam?” Luka asks, taking a bite of his cheeseburger.
    “Well, yeah,” I reply, nodding.   “But I could talk to Mr. Laffy , the theater teacher, if you want me to, Cooper.   There might be a spot left for you, or
he may let you audition for an understudy role.   Do you sing?”
    Cooper gives me a friendly smirk, turning
up the left side of his mouth.   “I’ll
let you be the judge of that, Camryn.”
    My mouth drops slightly.   When I recover from the little spell I’m
under, I unwrap my sandwich and begin to eat my lunch.
    “So, Cooper,” says Dara.   “Tell us where you moved from.”
    As Cooper explains how he came to be in
Virginia, the rest of us continue to eat our lunches.   When the bell rings to signify the end
of our lunch period, we gather our bags and rise to exit the cafeteria.
    “Hey, Camryn,” Cooper touches my