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Chapter 14: Hail, the conquerer hero
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Keeping Score Chapter 15: Right question, wrong guy
QUINNSuddenly, the diner felt much smaller than it had before, and my heart began to pound. The football team in all its post-victory glory came bursting through the glass doors, raising a cheer and shouts from everyone already sitting down. The defensive line appeared first, and then I saw Matt and Leo, laughing as they came into the restaurant."There's our Lion! Hear him ROAR!" The cheerleaders already inside began to chant, and Leo shook his head. I couldn't tell if he was embarrassed or pleased. All I could think about was what would happen when he caught sight of me. Would he stop and say something? Or would he invite me over to sit with the team, the way the players sometimes did? My stomach turned over in anticipation. Someone yelled out Matt's name, and he stopped, bending over a chair to talk to the guy who was punching him in the arm. Leo turned his head, checking out the rest of the diner. I knew the minute he spotted me. He froze, and then with deliberate carelessne
Keeping Score Chapter 16: Disappointment
NATEBy mid-morning on Sunday, the pain in my head had subsided enough that it could be controlled with regular over-the-counter meds, and the doctors agreed that I could be released. I'd just gotten dressed and was sitting on the edge of the bed when I heard a noise at the door. "Knock, knock." Dr. Randall stepped into the room. "I hear my favorite patient of all time needed a little staycation at his number one resort this weekend."I snorted. Dr. Randall had been monitoring me and coordinating all of my care since I was four years old. At this point, he was almost like family.Leaning against the door jamb, he skimmed my file on his ever-present tablet. "So the bad news is, that new protocol we introduced last summer? Apparently it doesn't give you the ability to fly." I rolled my eyes. "It also doesn't make your jokes any funnier, either."He clutched his chest as though wounded. "Now that one hurts." He lowered the computer to his side. "Looks like you're going to be okay.
Keeping Score Chapter 17: My first date (I guess)
QUINNI'd pictured my first date for years, probably since I was ten or eleven. And ever since that time, every time I'd thought of it, Leo had been the guy across the table from me. The fact that Jake Donavan was in that seat tonight was more than a little disconcerting. Still, if it had to be anyone but Leo, Jake wasn't a bad second choice. He'd been a good friend of mine since we'd met on the newspaper, and I felt comfortable with him. Maybe a little too comfortable; there wasn't the same delicious tension and heat I felt when Leo was near me. Which was crazy, considering how long and how well I'd known Leo. I'd been a little nervous before he picked me up-which wasn't helped by my mother, who was playing it casual even while I was pretty sure she was taking notes to document 'Quinn's First Date' in my baby book-but all the anxiety evaporated as we drove to the restaurant. Jake was low-key and friendly; he didn't act any different than he did when we were together in school. I
Keeping Score Chapter 18: Dammit, I like her
QUINNLeo's voice was husky and sent a thrill down my spine. When I glanced up, his eyes were on my face again, boring into me until I couldn't breathe. I shivered and then without thinking about it, I licked my lips. Instantly Leo's stare was fastened on my mouth. His own lips parted, and his chest seemed to rise and fall a little faster. I was dizzy with wanting him, and at the same time, I felt like an idiot. Here I was with another guy-while he was sitting with another girl. And yet the pull between us was undeniable. I was dying to crawl over to him, slither up his body, press my boobs into his chest and kiss him until we forgot our own names. I'd never known want that way-real, tangible need-and I fought back tears, because Leo had made it abundantly clear that he didn't want me the same way. "I didn't know Quinn wasn't your first name." Jake smiled at me. "You don't seem like an Amelia. Whoever decided to call you Quinn was smart, Q. It suits you.""Thanks." I studied Jake
Keeping Score Chapter 19: As kisses go ...
QUINN"You've never dated? Why?" She seemed genuinely curious, not at all as though she was about to make fun of me. "I don't know." I let my head thump onto the other armrest. "Or maybe I do. No one ever asked me before. At least, no one I would seriously want to be with.""No way." Sarah held up the beer bottle. "Finish it up, why don't you."I discovered that the third time was the charm when it came to beer, because I actually kind of liked it this time. I killed the bottle and dropped it onto the grass. "So do you like Jake? I mean, he's cute. You two make a nice couple."I lifted one shoulder. "I'm not sure. He's funny, and he's sweet, and he's a good friend. But I don't think he looks at me as anything other than that.""Ah, you're wrong about that. I was picking up a definite vibe. I think he's hot for you."I giggled. "Oh, I highly doubt-" I felt a buzzing in the back pocket of my jeans. "Hold on a second." Pulling it out, I squinted at the screen, frowning when I sa
Keeping Score Chapter 20: And the hits just keep on coming
LEO"Lion! Matt Lampert pounded up behind me in the locker room and gave me a friendly punch in the side. "Dude, you rocked today. We're gonna crush them on Friday night.""Yeah." I pulled my practice jersey off over my head. "I guess.""What's the matter?" Matt opened his own locker and began to undress. "You should be flying high. Coach even said something good about you. That almost never happens.""That's true." I sat down on the bench. "I'm just tired. It's been a long week." It had actually been more like a long month since our game against Franklin Township. We'd ended up playing some of the toughest teams in our conference over the past four weeks, and all those stressful, important games were beginning to take their toll on me. My grades had taken an unusual dip, I'd lost weight, and I wasn't sleeping well."We got a couple of days before the game. Let's chill tonight. Come on over, and we'll eat pizza, slay some zombies and knock back some brews."I rubbed my hand ove
Keeping Score Chapter 21: When you call
QUINN"Let's move Lisa's article to the page two, and then stick the picture from the band competition on the front page." Jake leaned back in his chair, dropped his head and looked at me upside down. "Slow news week."I laughed, and turning back to the computer, focused on dragging the photo onto the right spot on the front page. "Don't worry. If the football team makes it into the playoff games, we'll have pictures and stories for weeks.""Yeah, it's looking good for them." Jake sat up and spun the chair around to face me. "Okay, that's the front page. I think we're just about done. I'll do one final check and send it over to the printer."I sighed and crooked my neck, working out the kinks. "Great. I'll upload it to the email service." We were slowly moving the school newspaper over to a completely paperless format, but in the interim, we released it in both paper and ecopy. "Perfect." Jake stood up, stretching his arms over his head. He leaned over the back of my chair, cagin
Keeping Score Chapter 22: Why should I fight this?
LEOI hadn't been to this playground since middle school, but when I needed a place to meet Quinn, somewhere quiet and private, that was the first spot that came to mind. I got there first and dropped onto one of the rubber swings, wincing a little when my weight forced the sides into my hips. "Want a push?" I hadn't heard Quinn approach; she must've walked to the park. I twisted in the swing to look at her. She stood behind me, her fingers shoved into the back pockets of her faded jeans, and her face was inscrutable. Her hair was pulled up into a messy pony tail, the kind she wore when she was at home in her room, doing homework or reading. She must've dropped whatever she was up to as soon as I'd texted. Something small and pleased stirred in me, a little bit of bright in the sea of downright shitty."I'd say sure, but I think I've outgrown the swing. Damn chains are biting into me." I grasped the links and pulled myself to my feet. "You came."She lifted one shoulder. "You as
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