Rise Read Online Free PDF

learning that Jennifer was right; he was one of the most popular people in school. I, on the other hand, evidently had the plague. Other than my summer friends and some of the girls from the squad, nobody came near me. I heard my name whispered here and there, and I got a lot of not-so-friendly stares, but I tried to pretend I didn’t notice.
    Every time Tiffany walked by, she refused to make eye contact and blew right past me like a northern breeze. The whiff of her overly perfumed body left me reeling in a cloud of stinkiness, and I grew to dislike the girl more and more with every second. What on earth Riley ever saw in her was beyond me; how he could go from her to me left me completely puzzled. We had absolutely nothing in common, unless, of course, you counted the fact that we’d both kissed him. And if I ever stopped and took the time to think about that common feature, I’d probably end up vomiting repeatedly.
    “Ms. Reed?”
    I looked up from my science book. “Yes, sir?”
    “You’re wanted in the principal’s office.”
    Curt leaned over from his seat next to me. “How’d you manage to get in trouble in less than four classes?”
    “I have no idea.” Actually, I had a very good idea. Riley’s dad must have heard about our little production in the hallway. I felt nauseated at the thought of discussing it with him.
    “We were just having fun,” I murmured to myself.
    “You’re excused,” the teacher announced. “Take your books in case you’re in there for a while.”
    “Yes, sir.” I slowly slid out of the chair, and although I didn’t look around to confirm my fears, I assumed that all eyes were on me as I inched my way through the tables and out of the classroom.
    Just after closing the door behind me, a wad of paper struck me in the face. I looked in the direction it came from and spotted Riley hiding behind a row of lockers. Making my way toward him, I looked around and noticed the hall was empty.
    He grabbed a hold of my shirt, pulled me to him, and kissed me. He hadn’t kissed me with such intensity since our first official date. It was nice. Better than nice.
    Eventually our lips separated, and he was left wearing a large smile of contentment.
    “Riley, you’re going to get us in a lot of trouble.”
    His face flushed as the smile turned into a crooked grin. “It’ll be worth it.”
    “Wow, maybe I should flirt like that a little more often.”
    He pulled me to him again, but this time our faces froze a few inches away from each other. “As much as I’d love that, it probly isn’t such a good idea.”
    “Too much?” I asked.
    “Unfortunately.”
    “I’ll dial it down a bit.”
    “Good.” He quickly kissed me again.
    “How’d you get out here?”
    “I have connections. I told Dad we should check on you.”
    “I doubt us mugging in the hallway is what he had in mind.”
    “Probly not, but it’s what I had in mind. Especially after that award-winning performance this morning.”
    “You didn’t do so bad yourself.”
    “I was just trying to keep up. You kept the zingers coming. I didn’t even know your mind could work like that.”
    “There’s still a lot you don’t know about me, Riley Bennett.”
    “As I said, you’ll always be a mystery to me.”
    “I could have kept it up all day.”
    He laughed as he wrapped his arms around me. “I couldn’t have taken it all day.”
    “How long are we going to keep this act up, anyway? I’m getting lonely without you.”
    “Just a few days. I don’t think I’ll be able to stand it much longer than that.”
    “Me either.”
    “I talked Matt into trading lockers with me. Now we’re right across from each other.”
    “Look at you, so creative.”
    He beamed. “Anything to be closer to my girl.”
    “Your girl?”
    “Aren’t you?”
    “Yes, and evidently you’re my man candy.”
    He laughed. “Your what?”
    “It’s a Tammy-ism.”
    “Sounds like a Tammy-ism.”
    “Hey, thanks for the drawing this