Knee Deep Read Online Free PDF Page A

pull in a breath and look away. I have to be misreading the way he’s looking at me. It’s Luke. My friend Luke.
    Shawn takes my hand and finds me a chair in the shade so we can eat comfortably. Mom’s on Dad’s lap. Mindy and Paul sit close, and Shawn’s hand rests over my shoulder, making me wonder how he’ll manage to eat his dinner. Luke’s eyes don’t meet mine again. I know the look from him was just odd timing, but he suddenly seems kind of alone. I guess I hope he and Aubrey get along. She seems nice. But at the same time, I have yet to meet a girl who’s good enough for Luke.

~ 4 ~
     
    “I’m the understudy for Juliet!” I throw my arms around Shawn and our chests hit, knocking the breath from me in my excitement. I’m sort of in disbelief that my name will be part of the production at all.
    He leans his face back just far enough to catch my eyes, and cocks a brow. “Isn’t that kind of like telling you that you don’t have a part?”
    My arms drop and I feel a pang in my chest. I know I shouldn’t be hurt because he doesn’t understand the theater stuff, but his words sting just the same. This is something I’m excited about. I don’t give a crap about amps and watts and speakers, but I sit and talk with him when he wants to.
    “Not at all. She definitely has a part.” Luke rests his arm on Shawn’s shoulder—warping the face of his Cookie Monster t-shirt. “She’s never done theater before and all the other girls who tried out for it have. It’s a big deal.”
    I’m glad Luke understands; maybe he’ll make sure Shawn does too.
    Shawn shakes his head. “I can’t believe you two are going to make me hang out with a bunch of theater geeks.”
    “If it’d make you feel better, Ronnie and I could just leave you behind.” Luke smirks and pretends to reach for my arm.
    “Hands off my girl, punk.” Shawn pushes him away with a smile. “Where’s Cris?”
    How does Shawn not know this? My heart sinks at the look on Luke’s face.
    “We…uh, broke up.” He shrugs, but his face holds something else. Guess he really did like her.
    “Wow, I thought you were like, tight.” Shawn makes a motion with his hips.
    Could he be more insensitive? I slap his chest with the back of my hand. “Seriously? Is that all you boys think about?”
    “No. Yes.” Shawn’s head wobbles back and forth. “Mostly, yeah.” And then his dark eyes hit mine like there’s nothing he’d rather look at. He brushes a few stray strands off my face, sending butterflies dancing in every direction. “But only cause I love you so much.” His mouth meets mine so softly, so easily, that I can’t stop kissing him. Waves of happy tingles move through me, as I melt against him. This is me and Shawn at our best.
    “Oh-kay.” Luke chuckles. “That’s my sign to get lost.”
    I try to pull away to wave goodbye, but my lips, face, and body are otherwise occupied, which feels about perfect.
    ***
    My head rests on the warmth of Shawn’s chest as we lie on his twin bed watching a movie where everything blows up. I generally don’t care what we watch because we can be like this, snuggled together in his room, which is my favorite thing in the world to do. One arm rests around my waist while the fingers on his other hand play with small strands of my hair. Everything is warm, soft and comfortable.
    The front door slams and Shawn jumps. “Shit.” He sits up fast, his whole body taut. “What time is it?”
    “I don’t know, like ten?” I slowly sit up, resting on my hands behind me, and mourning the loss of warmth.
    “Diane!” His dad’s voice is sharp. Hard.
    My heart jumps and starts running a marathon.
    Shawn leans forward and locks his door, now facing directly away from me. His eyes don’t meet mine. He grabs the remote and turns up the TV. I can no longer make out his dad’s words, but the anger is there—seeping under Shawn’s door, through the walls, making my chest tighten. My dad has never talked to