Putting Boys on the Ledge by Stephanie Rowe Page A

for the soft-serve ice cream. Double chocolate was all that would satisfy. With any luck it would all go straight to my boobs and I'd wake up tomorrow with a woman's figure.
    Yeah, right.
    I got in line behind a couple that was being way too lovey for my taste. Even my blackest scowl didn't deter them, so I folded my arms across my chest and stared out at the crowd so I wouldn't have to look at them and think about how I was supposed to be out with the man of my dreams tonight.
    And that was when I saw him. Heath, walking toward me—with his arm around a girl.
    My stomach turned to lead, my toes curled, and a lump settled in my throat. He was on a date with another girl. That was why he hadn't called. Because he was on a date with someone else. Betrayal and anger swelled inside me. Unbelievable. How stupid could I be?
    As I bit my lower lip to keep from crying, I could almost feel the wind blowing through my hair as I peered out over the edge of The Ledge at all the headlights below. Oh, I was out there now, and it sucked. It was a little late to realize that Allie had been right when she'd warned me not to go out there. Would I notice when I lost my spleen? Was it a necessary organ? Would the tread marks be permanent, or would they fade with a good scrubbing?
    The Ledge was no place for a girl. With all the coaching I'd gotten on the subject, how in the world had I let myself end up out there, hanging by my fingernails?
    "Blue?"
    I jerked around, hoping it was Heath abandoning his date as soon as he noticed me. But it was Colin.
    Colin!
    Oh, my gosh. How totally embarrassing. I hadn't seen him since the kiss. What was I supposed to do? How was I supposed to act? I'd totally avoided the barn all week, and I'd thought I was safe.
    "Blue! How are you?" He caught up to me and settled in beside me, as if he were going to wait in line with me.
    It was a very long line.
    "Um...hi." I shifted and tried not to look at him.
    "What's wrong?"
    "Nothing."
    "Then why are you staring at my sneakers?"
    "I'm not."
    "Then you're staring at all the bubble gum stuck to the cement floor? I'm so flattered that's more interesting than looking at me."
    Jerk. Why did he have to be so demanding? I dragged my eyes off the ground and sort of looked at his face. He smiled, and his eyes sort of crinkled up in this really nice way. I couldn't help but smile back, and suddenly all the awkwardness was gone. It would be fine. "Hi, Colin. It's good to see you."
    And it was. A boy who wouldn't put me on The Ledge. He looked totally cute in his work boots and his gray hoodie. There were grass cuttings stuck to his shoe, and he smelled like fresh flowers and pine trees, as if he'd been working outside. He looked wonderful, not scary, and I realized I was so happy to see him.
    He touched my arm. "You okay? You were looking kinda sad."
    Oh, great. If Colin noticed I'd been on The Ledge, then Heath definitely would have too. "I stubbed my toe and it hurt. A lot."
    He lifted an eyebrow. "Did you really?"
    "Yes." I could tell he didn't believe me, and for a moment that felt good. With Colin, I didn't have to pretend I was someone I wasn't, partially because he could tell when I was lying, and partially because I wasn't trying to impress him. After all, he'd taught me how to kiss. How much more personal can you get?
    "So, how's Heath? Was he impressed with your...talents?"
    I felt my cheeks heat up. "Um... I... Um...haven't..."
    "You haven't kissed him yet?" Colin was looking pretty intently at me.
    "No," I admitted.
    "Why not?"
    "I haven't had the opportunity."
    "Uh-huh. So it's not that you shut him down again?"
    Why did Colin care? "I don't plan to say no."
    Colin nodded slightly, but he looked a little annoyed. "Well, you'd better plan to say no at some point with him or you'll find yourself in..."
    "In what?"
    "In a situation you don't want to be in."
    "How do you know what situation I want to be in?" I asked.
    Colin met my gaze. "Because I know you."
    "Oh." He