Putting Boys on the Ledge by Stephanie Rowe Page B

seemed awfully certain, and I didn't really have the energy to challenge him.
    "Did you come here with Heath?" Colin asked as the line moved forward a few feet.
    Why was Colin obsessing about Heath? "No. I came with my friends and my family." Oh, smooth, Blue. Doesn't that make me sound like a suave and sophisticated diva? Not. It made me sound like a loser who spent Friday nights with her family.
    Once again, it was a good thing I wasn't trying to impress Colin. He somehow managed to see the real me all the time. I was definitely going to have to work on that. It was no way to attract boys. Then again, he'd been out at the mall with his sister on a Thursday night, so maybe he would understand about having to spend time with family. So, maybe, it was okay to admit it to him.
    "Well, I think you're about to have your chance to wow Heath with your talents," Colin said, "because he's on his way over here."
    "He is?" I almost whirled around to find Heath, then stopped myself. What was I doing? He'd put me on The Ledge. He didn't deserve my attention. Colin was the one who'd come up to me and was being nice to me. So I turned my back toward Heath and faced Colin. "So what? I'm talking to you."
    Colin lifted his eyebrow, then narrowed his eyes. "What game are you playing, Blue?"
    "I'm not playing a game. I just...well...we were supposed to have a date tonight and he never called, so I'm mad at him. I don't want him to think I..." Think what? That I was madly in love with him and would do anything for him?
    "Ah." Colin looked over my shoulder, then looked back at me. "Want some help making him feel bad for missing out on a date with you?"
    Help making Heath feel bad? "Sure."
    Colin nodded, then slung his arm around my shoulders and pulled me up against his side. "Pretend you like me."
    "I do like you." I fit just perfectly under his arm.
    Something flitted across his face. "Pretend you like me the way you like Heath."
    "Oh..."
    "Put your arm around me," he muttered.
    "Right." Was I an idiot or what? Colin was probably rolling his eyes at having to put up with me. I didn't even know how to act like a girlfriend! I tentatively sneaked my arm around him, and I could feel him suck in his breath as my hand settled on his waist. How intimate was this? It was actually sort of cool. I felt safe. Like I belonged to someone. Like if anyone tried to come after me, Colin would protect me. "Like this?"
    "Yeah." His voice sounded a little strangled. "Smile at me."
    I looked up at him and found him watching me. His eyes had this weird soft glow, like he was looking at a puppy or something that made him feel all good inside. I smiled. "Thanks, Colin."
    He grinned, and for the first time I noticed that he had a little dimple in his right cheek. "I'm having fun."
    "Me too." It was then that I realized Colin had some shadow on his cheeks too. "You shave?"
    He looked surprised. "Of course."
    "Can I touch?" I immediately wished I could be sucked into the ground. What a completely stupid comment. "I mean...I always wondered if it felt rough."
    Colin shrugged. "Go ahead."
    "Really?"
    "Just do it."
    "Never mind." This was too embarrassing. I mean, it was one thing to admit to a guy that you'd never kissed anyone before, but it was something else to be letting all your secrets out.
    Colin rolled his eyes, then grabbed my hand and pressed my fingers against his jaw.
    It was rough, almost prickly. "Huh." He let go of my wrist, and I rubbed my fingertips over his skin. "It's rough in one direction and smooth in the other."
    "Uh-huh." He had that weird strangled sound in his voice again.
    "It's cool." I dropped my hand. No longer was I a bumbling freshman. I was becoming more of a woman by the minute. "Thanks."
    Colin looked down at me and his eyes met mine. "You're welcome."
    I smiled. "For a boy, you're a pretty nice guy."
    "What's your real name?"
    I caught my breath. I never told anyone my real name. It was too embarrassing. But...this was Colin. He'd taught