Just a Little Promise Read Online Free PDF Page B

She was Oakland High School’s J unior C lass P resident, dance committee chair member , and a diplomatic representative in the M odel UN. I still don’t k now how their relationship sparked , but there’s no secret why she caught Matt’s eye. She was beautiful; 5’6, brunette hair, amber eyes, and a smile that could knock any guy off his feet. Furthermore, her amazing personality added to the charm . Just last spring she was voted the 2012 Oakland City Festival Queen. That, I’m sure, came with its own set of duties and obligations—one being a participant in the holiday parades.
    Kara climbed aboard her float and sat down on the throne. Bundled in her coat, scarves, gloves, and hat, she waved at the imaginary audience.
    “How’s it look?” she called down.
    “Perfect,” I said, giving her a thumbs up.
    Grace stood on the float next to Kara’s throne , strategically placing flowers on either side.
    Grace and I had been at the parade line-up since seven . It was now eight, and neither of us had spoken a word to the other. If I didn’t know any better, I’d assume she was still angry that I’d provoked Lonnie… and I couldn’t blame her.
    Twenty minutes later, the marching band stepped into place. The fl a utists were adjusting their mouth pieces to tune their instruments in the cold wind. The drummers were goofing off, shoving each other in the back of the line. The rest of the band warmed up their instruments in a melodic scale.
    I glanced t o the front of the line, where the Grand M arshal float sat , and wa tched as Luke climbed aboard. I finished giving instructions to the last of the group around me, and rushed over to the front of the line.
    “Hey,” I said, calling up to Luke on the float. “Lookin’ great!”
    “The float or me?” he asked, jiggling his eyebrows . He offered his hand to help pull me up. I accepted his gesture, cupping his hand in mine, and jumped up on the wagon-turned-parade float. Once I was standing next to him, he draped his arm over my shoulder s and glanced back at the long line of cars and floats. “You’ve done an amazing job, Jules.”
    “Thanks,” I said, trying to tune out the marching band directly behind us. “I can’t stay. I have so much to do at the end of the line. Derek was supposed to….” I dropped my head and shrugged. “ It’s chaotic; no one knows what’s going on. ” Luke nodded as though he understood. “ But I wanted to stop by real quick and say hi and thanks .”
    “For what?”
    “Doing this,” I said. “It means a lot to me… and… well, everyone else. You really deserved this —”
    “Hey,” he sa id, speaking louder as the band behind us warmed up in unison. “Are you okay?”
    I nodded. “Just stressed.”
    “About the parade… or Derek leaving?”
    I shrugged again for a second time. I didn’t know how Luke knew Derek was gone. I’d never told him. But in a town as small as Oakland, news travelled fast. I could only imagine the whole town knew he was gone with in 24-hours of him pulling out.
    He wrapped his arm s around me, pulling me close, and brushing our noses together.
    “Julie,” he nearly yelled, still trying to talk over the band. “Don’t worry about him. He’ll be fine —”
    “I know,” I said, matching his volume. “But I have to go now. They need me at the back of the lin e—”
    “Go,” he said, letting me slip away. But before I could jump off the float, his hand wrapped gently around my wrist and he twirled me back to him. Our chests were pressed together, and I was breathing far too heavily. I didn’t know if it was Luke’s warm body against mine, or the freezing cold wind, but something left me numb and frazzled.
    He leaned down and whispered something, but I couldn’t make out the words. Even this close, the band was still far too loud.
    “What?” I yelled. He smiled, shook his head, and whispered again. “Lu ke,” I yelled again, pointing to my ears. “I can’t hear you, it’s