Deceptive Cadence by Katie Hamstead Page B

“Thank you.”
    He spun around the tree to look at me. “Cadence, am I smart?”
    I blinked, surprised by the change in direction of our conversation. “Yes, you’re very smart.”
    “Then why do all my classes bore me and the teachers yell at me?”
    “Because you are smart and the classes are too easy for you.”
    He tilted his head, surprised by my answer. “Really?”
    I nodded.
    “Huh . . .” He leaned against the tree. “So you think I could get good grades if I wanted to?”
    “I know you can.”
    A smile flitted across his face.
     

     
    James stood waiting as I climbed off the bus in the morning. My friends didn’t disperse like usual, but hung back to watch as he walked straight toward me. I stepped around him as he tried to cut me off, but he followed. “It’s my birthday.”
    “I heard.”
    “I’m sixteen now.”
    “I don’t care.”
    “Sweet sixteen gets a kiss.”
    “That’s not how the saying goes.”
    We passed through a gap between buildings and he grabbed my waist, spinning me to face him. “No one’s around. No one will see. Let me kiss you.”
    “No.”
    I stepped back, but he kept after me. “Why are you making this so hard?”
    “You’re still, ah . . . you’re, ah . . .”
    He ran his hand down my arm again. I couldn’t think. He caught my hand and pulled me closer.
    “I’m a what?”
    He touched my face and tucked my hair behind my ear. I looked up into his eyes, entranced by the intensity that burned in them.
    “I’m not supposed to like you.”
    His arm wrapped around my waist. “But you do?”
    “Mmm . . .” My gaze fell to his lips as they drew closer to mine. “Stop.”
    He paused, barely an inch away from my lips. “I’ll never force you to do anything. If you don’t wanna kiss me, I’ll back away right now.”
    My heart skipped a beat as my eyes lifted to his. Then, impulsively, I grasped his face and pulled his lips against mine. It tasted delicious, warm, and made me dizzy with the excitement that shot through me. I wanted more. I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him tightly.
    He pushed me against the wall as his arms clamped around my waist. We kissed open mouthed, the intensity making my whole body tingle with excitement. His hands caressed my back, and his fingers ran through my hair.
    We only stopped because the bell rang.
    I pulled away from his lips, but didn’t let him go. “Oh my gosh . . .”
    A crooked smile flashed across his face. “Let’s skip school today, just you and me, and we’ll go hang out somewhere―”
    “No, I can’t.” I stroked his cheek.
    He softly pressed his lips against mine. “Why not?”
    “I’m not like you. I want to get good grades. I want to go to class.”
    “Just once, that’s all I’m asking.”
    I shook my head and forced myself away from him. “I can’t.”
    “Cadence . . .”
    “You got your kiss, James.” I hurried away, heading straight for my class.
    I flopped down beside Michael, but kept my head low. How could I have feelings for James? This was a totally new development, something that blindsided me.
    “Cadence? Hello?”
    Michael’s voice startled me so much I almost fell off my seat. “What?”
    “Where were you this morning?”
    “At home, then here at school.”
    “No, I meant why didn’t you show up at the table?”
    My cheeks burned, and I turned away, raising a textbook in front of me to hide my red face.
    “Did you hook up with someone?”
    “No.”
    “You did!” He grasped the book and lowered it so he could look into my eyes. “Was it James Gordon?”
    My face burned even hotter. “No!”
    “Cadence, you did!”
    I shoved his shoulder. “No, I didn’t!”
    “So you guys are an item now?”
    “No.”
    “Wow, you’re making it really hard for him.”
    I leaned closer and whispered, “He wanted me to skip school with him. I can’t date someone who’d want me to do that.”
    Michael’s eyebrow rose. “You can’t be serious.”
    “I am