Yes. Number three on their personal, private and so exclusive list of the hottest boys at Pace Academy. Percy âGood to the Last Dropâ Gambling. He most definitely deserved to be ranked in the Top 5. Ow!
âHmm.â Marisol considered the possibilities as she visualized all six feet two inches of total cuteness that was Percy Gambling.
She remembered the day he tried to get her number, but she was still big-time pissed to find out her crush, Corey, had a girlfriend and was playing the field. Percy took the hit for Coreyâs doggish waysâ¦then.
Now?
Marisol shrugged. Now, she ready for a little fun in her life. She was ready to have a âThere Goes My Babyâ ringtone.
Â
Canât meet 2day. 2morrow?
Â
She hit Send.
That gave her all night to pick out the cutest outfit to get some serious flirting onâ¦once she had showered and was looking fabulousânot dance funky.
âCan I just call you tonight?â
Marisolâs eyes widened at the sound of the deep voice behind her.
âHiiii, Per-cy,â Dionne said sweetly in a little sing-song way as she closed her locker, hitched her satchel on her shoulder and walked away with a wink at Marisol. âByyyee, Ma-ri-sol.â
Life is so unfair, she thought, wishing she was on point.
âMarisol?â he said, coming around to stand in front of her.
She turned, giving him her back. âYeah, call me. Thatâs cool.â
Percy laughed and came around her again, this time reaching out to lightly grab her shoulders. âMy breath stink or sumân? Iâm chewing gum. Whatâs up, lovely?â he joked, his East Coast accent just doing big things for her. âOh, madre dios, â she sighed, pressing the side of her hand against her forehead to hide her face. âI just came from dance class and Iâm not feeling very cute right now. You know what Iâm saying?â
âThereâs not a girl in this school who can touch you, and lip gloss and all that makeup crap wonât change that,â he said, chewing away at his gum.
Her eyes took in his one dimple appearing and disappearing as he chewed.
âCooleyâs, huh?â she asked, thinking the movement of his dimple mirrored her heartbeat.
Percy nodded. âMost def.â
âWhy not?â
seven
Starr
October 16@7:23 p.m.| Mood: Excited
Starr kept checking the time on her iPhone 4 as they lounged on her balcony. There was just the slightest bite of chill in the air and Starr had one of the house staff come in to light the outdoor fireplace and bring blankets to cover their legs as they sat on cushioned chairs. Their snacks and oversize cups of hot chocolate came next. She was nearly bursting with excitement about the announcement she was going to make to the girls. But first she was waiting on a package from her part-time personal assistant, Olivia.
Starr never did anything in a simple way. Never.
âThere goes my babyâ¦â
Her eyes shot over to Marisol as she rushed to pick up her cell phone and silence the Usher ringtone that was the official signal for calls between a Pacesetter and her boo. Starr reached for her cup of hot chocolate filled with mini-marshmallows and topped with whipped cream. âSomething you want to tell us, Marisol?â
Marisol shifted her eyes away from her phone, her cheeksvisibly blushing despite her light brown complexion. She smiled as her thumbs flew over the keyboard.
âTell Percy the Pacesetters said hello,â Dionne said sweetly.
ââKay,â Marisol said, barely looking up.
Starr froze in surprise but recovered quickly.
Percy? Percy Gambling? What am I missing? And why does Dionne know before me? Say what? Say who?
âI thought you didnât give Percy your number?â Starr said, trying her best to sound blasé, like whateva.
Marisol set her cell phone down on the teak side table next to her chair. âHe got it from