Torch Red: Color Me Torn with Bonus Content Read Online Free PDF Page A

up his whole face when he smiles. It’s funny, he and I could probably pass for brother and sister with ourcoloring—both brown-eyed brunettes. But trust me, I don’t feel the least bit like his sister.
    Suddenly it’s time for our scene, and he grabs my hand and we jump off the crate and head for the stage. It’s also a dancing scene, or sort of—my character is supposed to be both clumsy and funny—so we both just sort of bumble along. Then finally we get to kiss. And, man, do we kiss! Some of the kids offstage even start to whistle and cheer.
    “All right, all right,” says Mr. Roberts in a loud voice. “You kids are getting far too carried away with your kissing scenes. I think we’ll just nix them altogether from now on. At least during practice.”
    A few kids make some complaining noises, while others just laugh. And I can feel my cheeks getting red. But Mr. Roberts is already calling up the next scene.
    “Come on,” says Justin as he pulls me by the hand off the stage. We go back behind some of the old sets and he puts his arm around me and pulls me close to him. “I think Mr. Roberts is all wrong,” he tells me in a quiet voice. “I think we need to practice that kissing scene one more time.”
    I smile and lean into him and am instantly swept away by a long and passionate kiss. Much better than the one on stage. And so we stay back there a while, practicing a bit more. Until I hear someone yelling for us to come out for the group dance scene.
    I feel kind of flushed and slightly embarrassed as we emerge. I can tell by the looks and sniggers that some of the kids know exactly what we’ve been up to. But then I just hold my head high and figure, who cares what they think?
    After play practice is over, Justin comes over to where I’m standing with Shawna and calls me aside. “You going to the game tomorrow?”
    I kind of shrug, like I’m not really sure, although I do plan on going even if it’s by myself.
    “Well, you want to go with me?”
    I smile. “Sure, Justin. That sounds great.”
    He looks relieved, and I wonder if he actually thought I might turn him down. Yeah, you bet! Then I give him directions to my house and turn around and give Shawna the biggest grin.
    “Cool,” she says in a quiet voice, not blowing my attempt to appear nonchalant.
    We begin to giggle as soon as we’re outside. “I can’t believe it!” I tell her. “Justin actually asked me out!”
    “He’s such a hottie too,” she assures me as we get into her car. “I was about ready to go after him myself.”
    I turn and look at her. “Seriously?”
    “No.” She laughs as she starts the engine. “Just jerking your chain, Zoë. Don’t be so gullible.”
    Then I laugh too. Suddenly I almost don’t care if she decides to go after Todd now. I mean I know that sounds totally disloyal to Emily. But then Emily doesn’t seem all that concerned about it anyway. Or else she’s just super-confident. Not anything like me. I mean there is
no
way I’d want someone as pretty and talented as Shawna going after
my
guy. Like he’s my guy already. Ha! Well, who knows? It could happen!



four
    J USTIN IS SUCH A TOTAL GENTLEMAN . I MEAN HE’S THE KIND OF GUY WHO opens the door for you and treats you like you’re something special. Very cool.
    By the time we get to the game, I feel like a princess. Okay, that’s probably overstating it. But that’s just how he makes me feel. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that I wore a great new pair of jeans (after exchanging a pretty lame Christmas present that Aunt Linda got for me) that looked totally awesome on me. Believe me, I took my time getting dressed. My mom says she can’t figure out how it can take me so long to get dressed when all I’m wearing is jeans and a T-shirt and jacket. But she just doesn’t get it.
    I mean the T-shirt has to look just right—not too long, not too short—and it needs to fit just so. And then there’s picking out the perfect belt and deciding