Wide Awake by Shelly Crane Page A

flopping back and forth like Malibu Barbie.
    "See. Now when you turn your head, it swings out to the side. So cute like that."
    I rolled my eyes where she couldn't see me. "OK. I'm ready. Let's go, please."
    She nodded and kissed my father goodbye. He stood at the counter, watching me go like I was leaving for kindergarten with a furrowed brow. "It'll be fine," I assured him. "I have my cell. It's just school."
    "But are you sure you're ready to go back?"
    "I am. I'm ready to start living again."
    He nodded slowly and leaned in to kiss my forehead. "Have a good day, Emmie."
    "Thanks. You, too."
    Once we made it outside, I knew exactly what had happened when I saw Andy leaning against his Beamer in the driveway.
    "You called him?" I accused.
    "Someone had to take you to school."
    "I thought that someone was going to be you."
    "I thought you'd feel more comfortable with Andy taking you. He can guide you, get you back in with your old friends, and show you the ins and outs again. Plus…he is your boyfriend."
    I could have laughed. So, if she had to choose between Mason or Andy, she chose him, huh? I scoffed and made my way to him. "Hey, babe." He grinned. "You look…great. Different, but great."
    I was comfortable, that's what I was. I had decided to wear jeans and a couple of layered tank tops, but my hair was in this ridiculous ponytail, now wasn't it? "Ready to go?"
    "Hey," he protested and laughed. "No loving for the guy who's been waiting patiently for you to come back?"
    I sighed and let him engulf me in his arms. He smelled too good to be going to high school. He leaned back and took my lips before I could see what was happening. I pushed him slightly. "Andy."
    "Sorry. I've missed you, babykins. Can't blame a guy for that, right?"
Actually, I could.
    He opened the driver side door and hopped in. He jerked his head, telling me to get in. I raised my eyebrow at that, but did what he asked. The ride to school was too short. I had no time to mentally prepare myself before he was pulling in and getting a perfect spot up front, as if it had been saved for him, though his name was nowhere to be seen on it.
    "You nervous?" he asked and took a small comb out, fixing his spike in the rearview mirror.
    "A little," I answered truthfully.
    "Don’t be." He tossed the comb into the backseat and turned to me with a smile as he slid his arm along the back of my seat. "We have almost every class together. And the crew knows that you're coming back today. They're expecting us. Besides," he leaned in and kissed my cheek, "the girl I knew was fearless and feisty. Don't let them get to you. If someone says anything, and I highly doubt they will, I'd bust their teeth in. OK?"
    "I'll be fine." I started to open my door, but he stopped me by grabbing my arm. "What?"
"Just wait a second," he said easily. "I really missed you."
    "You keep saying that," I said wryly.
    "It's true. Kiss me, babe."
    He yanked me to him with a hand on the back of my neck. He almost touched my lips before I pushed his chest and cleared my throat. "Andy, please stop, OK? I'm still trying to figure some things out. I know my mom called you, but I'm just not sure…what I want right now, OK? Friends?"
    "As long as we’re together, it doesn’t matter. I can wait," he said sweetly. "Come on, beautiful."
    I got out and felt the burn of everyone's eyes on me all at once. It was actually welcomed when Andy glared at everyone and threw his arm over my shoulder. I'd have given anything to have Mason there with me instead, but I guess my mom was right. Andy knew the school and our friends and everything, and it was apparent that he had pull with the kids when he glared and they turned away quickly.
    He pushed the double doors to the school and this was it. Banners telling seniors to buy their prom tickets soon lined the walls. Signs saying that sign-ups for summer school were coming to a close and you better get to it if you didn't want to repeat the year again. Grey lockers