In Your Arms Read Online Free PDF Page B

kids”—which include the jocks, cheerleaders, Phillip and, of course, Tracy Gibbons. The “cool kids” are on the top. There are the ‘wanna be’s’—they are the ones who always try and get into the cool kid clique, but ultimately can’t pass the ‘snob’ test. Then there are the Goths, they can look pretty scary, but some of them are ok. Then there are the computer nerds, and then just the nerds. And then there’s us. We aren’t quite on the bottom, but we seem to be pretty far down there. So, if you ever want to move up, your chance is with Phillip. You see, there really is no way into their group except through association and since he’s already offered to help you with physics, you’ve become associated with the cool kids,” Alex explained.
    Michael looked over to the table where Phillip was sitting with the other “cool kids.” The spot Sam had been trying so hard to ignore. “But I don’t want to be part of the cool kids,” he said. “I like hanging out with you two.”
    Alex smiled. “Did you hear that, Sam?”
    The bell rang and Sam managed to smile at Alex. “Yeah, that’s cool.”
    Alex shook her head as she often did when Sam came back to reality. “We’d better get to class. US History is next, and Mr. Wright does not like anyone to be late.”
     
    * * *
     
    Study Hall was broken into sections, combining the junior and senior classes. Sam, Alex, and now Michael were in the same section with Tracy Gibbons and her posse, which included Phillip and some of the members of the football team.
    “Well, Michael, just grab a computer. Do you have a screen name?” Sam asked.
    “Yeah, let me write it down.” Michael wrote his screen name on a small piece of paper he tore from one of his notebooks. “Why do you want it now?”
    “Well, you see, in the wonderful world of Study Hall, here in the computer lab, we can use Instant Messenger, we can play games, or anything else your heart desires, well, not anything, but you probably know that. You can choose to study too, which means you can abandon a computer for a desk, but as you can see, most people choose the computers. Just grab one, and then go to Mrs. Gonzales, she can set you up with a user name and password. Don’t worry, she doesn’t mind anyone using the computers for fun, she just likes it to be quiet.”
    “Thanks, Sam. See you online.” Michael smiled.
    Sam walked over to an empty computer and sat down. After logging on to the computer, she logged onto her Instant Messenger screen name and added Michael’s name to her buddy list.
    Alexiscool: Hey. Took you long enough. Did you really have to explain everything to him?
    SamIam: Yes, and you know it. No one else would, besides here’s his SN: msr1995.
    Alexiscool: Awesome. Has he sat at a computer yet?
    SamIam: Yeah, just logged on. Have fun talking with him, just remember to tell me later what you guys talked about.
    Alexiscool: Of course. I always do.
    Sam minimized her conversation with Alex because she knew that once Michael logged on, Alex would be too busy to talk with her. Sam opened a new window and began checking her mail when a new box flashed onto the screen.
    PhilyCheeseSteak: Hey.
    SamIam: Hey.
    Sam couldn’t believe Phillip was chatting to her. He never messaged her. What was going on? They had exchanged screen names in junior high, but had never talked online since the beginning of Phillip’s freshman year. Sam had noticed he’d never changed his screen name because occasionally she’d see him sign on at night and of course during Study Hall.
    PhilyCheeseSteak: So I just wanted to say thanks for this morning. I had a lot of fun.
    SamIam: Yeah, me too, it was invigorating. I can’t believe Mr. Stevens didn’t realize I was gone. Goes to show you what his attention is focused on.
    PhilyCheeseSteak: Hey, I saw you earlier today in Mrs. Minor’s classroom. That was the new kid Michael you were talking with, right?
    SamIam: Yeah. I heard you offered to help