How to Ruin Your Boyfriend's Reputation by Simone Elkeles Page A
Authors: Simone Elkeles
Tags: Fiction, General, People & Places, History, Juvenile Fiction, Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction, Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12), Social Issues, Man-Woman Relationships, Love & Romance, israel, School & Education, middle east, Soldiers, Social Issues - General, People & Places - Middle East, Military Bases, Basic training (Military education)
Ads: Link
shrugs.
I tell the team my plan. Me, Jess, Nathan, and the rest of the guys kneel down. Miranda walks on our backs while holding onto the bars above. I catch Avi nodding in approval and pointing to us as he talks to the sergeant. Miranda finishes with the bars really quickly, then profusely apologizes to the rest of the group as we each maneuver across the bars and head to the next obstacle.
112
Okay, so everyone finished the bars easily except for me. I got to the first bar, then slid off because my palms were sweaty and a bee buzzing in my ear freaked me out, even though I knew it was probably a worker bee. In the end, my team had to go down on their hands and knees again. I walked over them while grabbing each bar, just like Miranda.
The next obstacle is a tunnel. We all climb through easily and stop when we get to the rope. It's at least the height of a flagpole, if not higher.
I turn to my group. "I just want everyone to know that I'm afraid of heights."
"Then don't look down," Tori says. She steps on the first knot and starts climbing. "Hold it so it doesn't swing!" she yells at me.
I hold down the rope, even though I'm tempted to jiggle it hard until she falls off. I don't do it, because that would be mean. I might be whiny and a drama queen, but I like to think I'm not viciously mean to people.
David shimmies up the rope right behind Tori.
When they finish, Jess climbs and then the guys hold the rope for Miranda. For a girl who couldn't do the monkey bars, she's pretty impressive on the rope.
Now it's my turn.
Just the thought of going up that high makes me dizzy. I turn to Nathan. "Nathan, I don't think I can do it. I'll get vertigo. I don't want to die."
Nathan surveys the rope and says to me, "Well, nobody said we can't do it together. Go up and I'll follow behind
113
you. You are my girlfriend; it's only natural we do it as a couple."
I roll my eyes so only Nathan can see. He kisses me on the nose, putting on the boyfriend act for anyone who cares enough to watch. "When Ethan holds the bottom of the rope, I step on the first big knot.
"Go up one," Nathan instructs.
I pull myself up to the next knot, and Nathan steps on the first. His arms are wrapped around my knees, holding me tight. "You okay?"
"So far, so good."
"Go up one more," he says, loosening his hold.
I go up another one. I feel Nathan right behind me, then holding me tight again. "Any vertigo yet!"
"Not yet."
"Go up another one."
"Come on!" Tori yells. "Just do it!"
"I swear if she yells at me again I'm gonna punch her in the face. If I get out of this alive," I add.
"Ooh, a girl fight. "What a turn-on."
"My foot is close to your nuts, Nathan, and you're suspended on a rope. It's probably not the best time to piss me off."
"You kick me in the nuts, I'm pulling your pants down," he says, following me up another section of rope.
"Avi will kill you if you do that."
"I'll already be dead from the fall so it won't matter. One more, Amy."
114
I close my eyes as we get higher. I have to admit, when Nathans arms are around my knees, I feel safe.
Up and up we go. I close my eyes when I get to the top and tentatively ring the bell.
"Grab the handle and ride to the bottom," Nathan says.
"I can't."
"Yes, you can. You've come all this way--you can't stop now."
"We're losing because of you!" Tori yells at me. ""What a spaz," I hear her say.
That's it. My anger overrides my fear. I grab the handle and shut my eyes tight while my body glides back to earth.
When my feet safely reach the ground, I open my eyes. Tori is laughing at me. Jessica looks ready to murder her, probably because she's my best friend and we always look out for each other. I storm up to the laughing hyena.
"You are seriously the most annoying person," I tell her. "I wonder how anyone can be friends with you."
She pushes me. At another time or place I might have lost my balance and fallen on my butt. But adrenaline rushes through my body, giving me strength
I tell the team my plan. Me, Jess, Nathan, and the rest of the guys kneel down. Miranda walks on our backs while holding onto the bars above. I catch Avi nodding in approval and pointing to us as he talks to the sergeant. Miranda finishes with the bars really quickly, then profusely apologizes to the rest of the group as we each maneuver across the bars and head to the next obstacle.
112
Okay, so everyone finished the bars easily except for me. I got to the first bar, then slid off because my palms were sweaty and a bee buzzing in my ear freaked me out, even though I knew it was probably a worker bee. In the end, my team had to go down on their hands and knees again. I walked over them while grabbing each bar, just like Miranda.
The next obstacle is a tunnel. We all climb through easily and stop when we get to the rope. It's at least the height of a flagpole, if not higher.
I turn to my group. "I just want everyone to know that I'm afraid of heights."
"Then don't look down," Tori says. She steps on the first knot and starts climbing. "Hold it so it doesn't swing!" she yells at me.
I hold down the rope, even though I'm tempted to jiggle it hard until she falls off. I don't do it, because that would be mean. I might be whiny and a drama queen, but I like to think I'm not viciously mean to people.
David shimmies up the rope right behind Tori.
When they finish, Jess climbs and then the guys hold the rope for Miranda. For a girl who couldn't do the monkey bars, she's pretty impressive on the rope.
Now it's my turn.
Just the thought of going up that high makes me dizzy. I turn to Nathan. "Nathan, I don't think I can do it. I'll get vertigo. I don't want to die."
Nathan surveys the rope and says to me, "Well, nobody said we can't do it together. Go up and I'll follow behind
113
you. You are my girlfriend; it's only natural we do it as a couple."
I roll my eyes so only Nathan can see. He kisses me on the nose, putting on the boyfriend act for anyone who cares enough to watch. "When Ethan holds the bottom of the rope, I step on the first big knot.
"Go up one," Nathan instructs.
I pull myself up to the next knot, and Nathan steps on the first. His arms are wrapped around my knees, holding me tight. "You okay?"
"So far, so good."
"Go up one more," he says, loosening his hold.
I go up another one. I feel Nathan right behind me, then holding me tight again. "Any vertigo yet!"
"Not yet."
"Go up another one."
"Come on!" Tori yells. "Just do it!"
"I swear if she yells at me again I'm gonna punch her in the face. If I get out of this alive," I add.
"Ooh, a girl fight. "What a turn-on."
"My foot is close to your nuts, Nathan, and you're suspended on a rope. It's probably not the best time to piss me off."
"You kick me in the nuts, I'm pulling your pants down," he says, following me up another section of rope.
"Avi will kill you if you do that."
"I'll already be dead from the fall so it won't matter. One more, Amy."
114
I close my eyes as we get higher. I have to admit, when Nathans arms are around my knees, I feel safe.
Up and up we go. I close my eyes when I get to the top and tentatively ring the bell.
"Grab the handle and ride to the bottom," Nathan says.
"I can't."
"Yes, you can. You've come all this way--you can't stop now."
"We're losing because of you!" Tori yells at me. ""What a spaz," I hear her say.
That's it. My anger overrides my fear. I grab the handle and shut my eyes tight while my body glides back to earth.
When my feet safely reach the ground, I open my eyes. Tori is laughing at me. Jessica looks ready to murder her, probably because she's my best friend and we always look out for each other. I storm up to the laughing hyena.
"You are seriously the most annoying person," I tell her. "I wonder how anyone can be friends with you."
She pushes me. At another time or place I might have lost my balance and fallen on my butt. But adrenaline rushes through my body, giving me strength
Similar Books
