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at her. He wore jeans and his football jersey, same as the other players. Jake was a big guy with a square face and a strong chin. At first she hadn’t thought he was that cute, but over summer at the pool she got to know the real him. He was kind and thoughtful and romantic, more so than he’d ever show the kids at Fulton.
    That was okay. Here he was charming and confident and bigger than life. Especially today. It was Friday and tonight was the first game of the football season. The local papers figured the Eagles to win it all this year, and the buzz across campus was beyond exciting.
    “Can’t.” Ella grinned and gave a helpless shrug. She raised her voice loud enough so he could hear her. “It’s game day. Just the guys, remember?”
    He groaned and sank a little. A couple of his teammates —Sam and Ryan —pulled at his jersey and tugged him back downto his place around the table with them. He looked over his shoulder and winked at her. His eyes told her they might not have lunch together, but they’d hang out after the game.
    Ella felt the sparkle in her eyes as she moved a few tables down and sat with a group of cheerleaders and dance team girls. They squealed her name as she set her tray down, and LaShante, her closest friend, jumped up, ran around the table, and threw her arms around Ella’s neck. “You did it! I knew you could do it!”
    “You know?”
    “Of course I know!” LaShante let out a super-happy mock scream. “You’re the lead, Ella! I mean, it’s
Beauty and the Beast
and you’re Belle!” She screamed again and gave Ella another quick hug. “You’re perfect for it, girl.”
    “It’s the biggest play we’ve ever done, right?”
    “I know. It’s crazy. A hundred girls must’ve tried out for that part.” LaShante took Ella’s hand and led her back to the table. The two sat next to each other, and the other girls leaned in. LaShante lowered her voice so only the group of them could hear her. “This is your
year,
girl. Jake Collins
and
the lead in the school musical!”
    It was true. Everything Ella had wanted for her senior year was already happening. The auditions had been a few weeks before school started, but the news was announced this morning on the wall outside the drama room. She had the lead and she had Jake. The day after auditions, he’d asked her to be his girlfriend.
    “Say yes, Ella. Make this year perfect for both of us.”
    She still had stars in her eyes over the way he’d kissed her that night. The way he’d kissed her a dozen times since then. Everyone at Fulton knew Jake Collins. Every guy wanted to be him, and every girl wanted to date him. But this year he belonged to her. She’d never had a serious boyfriend before. Too busy with school and singing. Plus she didn’t want to feel pressured to sleep with some guy in high school. And that’s what most of the other girlsdid, so for a lot of reasons a boyfriend never seemed like a good idea.
    Until now.
    “Jake’s amazing.” She moved in closer to the friends gathered around her at the lunch table. She didn’t want anyone but these girls hearing her. “He totally lets things go at my pace.”
    “You told him you haven’t … you know … I mean, you’re a virgin. You told him, right, girl?” Nothing embarrassed LaShante. She asked whatever she wanted, any time she wanted to ask. It was one of the reasons Ella loved her so much. LaShante put her hands on her hips. “The man has to know the real you by now. Tell me he knows.”
    “Of course.” Ella snuck a quick look at the table where the football players sat. “He said we don’t have to do anything. He just likes me a lot. He doesn’t want to lose me.”
    “I love it!” LaShante hugged Ella’s neck again. “See, girls?” she snapped her fingers in the direction of the others. “Hold your ground. There’s too much giving in going on at this school.”
    “That’s right.” Across the table Krissy gave Jenny a pointed look. “That’s