The Truth About Faking Read Online Free PDF

other?”
    “Oh, well…” I stumble, trying to think of a neutral response.
    “Saved her life yesterday,” Jason says, draping his arm across my shoulders. My eyes widen. “Now it’s my job to keep her safe.”
    Trent frowns. “What? Another accident?” I’m about to die.
    “It wasn’t really that big a deal,” I say, trying to slip out from under Jason’s arm. What is he doing?
    “It was,” Jason argues. “And now, I have to keep my eye on you.”
    “What—”
    “Ancient Chinese tradition,” he interrupts me. “You save somebody’s life, you become responsible for it.”
    At that Trent grins, clearly thinking Teen Menace is a great guy. “Oh, sure. I’ve heard of that.” Then he starts moving away from us. “Well, I’d better take off. Class.”
    I panic. I’ve got to stop him, but my throat’s constricted.
    “Later,” Jason says to Trent. Then he turns to me. “So you’ve got to go to the luau with me Friday. How else can I ensure your safety?”
    I shake my head as I watch Trent leaving. My brain’s spinning, and I’m grasping for anything to make him stop walking away.
    “Wait… Trent…” is all I come up with.
    He looks back and smiles, and I know he’s conceding to Jason. But then…
    “Oh, Harley.” He stops and takes a step back toward me as if suddenly remembering something. My heart rises… “Does Shelly have a date to the luau?”
    “Shelly?” Oh. My. God.
    “Yeah. I was thinking I’d… well,” he glances at Jason. “Maybe she’d like to go to the luau with me?”
    “Go for it, Big T!” Jason is so encouraging, I can’t wait to hit him over the head with my books.
    “I don’t think she has a date.” I think I might cry.
    “Okay.” Trent gives me a small smile. Yes. Definitely cry. “Maybe you could put in a good word for me?”
    “I’d love to…” I start, but I can’t finish.
    I’d been planning to say, “I’d love to go with you to the luau,” but it’s all wrong. He smiles and says something about being late as he does a little wave and walks away. I do a little wave back and turn slowly toward algebra, shoulders drooping.
    “Are you in here next period?” Jason asks. I nod, unable to speak. My whole plan. Out the window.
    “That’s awesome! So am I.”
    “Awesome,” I mumble.
    He laughs. “Somehow, I don’t think you mean it. What’s the matter?”
    I look up at him standing there all smiling and happy, and for some reason that does it. “You just ruined everything!”
    “What?”
    “You ruined it. All of it!” I storm through the door, Jason right behind me.
    “I don’t get you, H.D.”
    “I was trying to get Trent to ask me to the luau,” I lower my voice. “And you just big fat came up and ruined everything!”
    His smile disappears. “You wanted Trent to ask you to the luau?”
    “You might be fascinated to learn that I had a life before you rammed me with your car yesterday.”
    “I figured that—”
    “And you didn’t save my life, you nearly took it,” I continue, irritation surging through me. “I feel like taking yours.”
    He smiles and leans forward. “I love feisty women.”
    My lips clench and I try to shove him, but my bag strap falls and I trip over his stupid foot instead. He catches me. Strong arms. I quickly push away and sink into my chair.
    “Just leave me alone.” I drop my elbows on the desk and my face in my hands.
    “Look,” Jason’s tone softens and he takes the seat right beside me. “I’ll talk to Trent and tell him it was all a misunderstanding. Tell him to ask you to the luau… or something.”
    I think about that. Then I drop my hands and shake my head. “That would just make me look pathetic. Or desperate. Or not good enough for you of all people.”
    “I’d never say any of that about you,” Jason smiles, glancing at my hair and dress. “You clean up real nice.”
    My eyes narrow. “Just let me think about it. I’ll figure out something.”
    The bell rings, and Mrs.