Dare You to Chase the Soccer Player (Rock Valley High 5)

I grinned and turned to see Zane still sitting in the mud where I’d tripped him. He tried to glare at me before breaking out into one of those rare and real Zane smiles.

Yep. Mud looked good on Zane Rees.

“Had enough?” I asked, jogging toward him. I offered my hand and smiled down at him. “Guess you were right. You shouldn’t have counted on staying clean.”

He shook his head and then took my hand. Little bolts of electricity shot up my arm as I helped him stand. Touching him in front of the crew felt illegal. If only they knew how close Zane and I had gotten over the past week and a half. Or how much I wanted to do more, in that moment, than just briefly hold Zane’s hand.

“That was pretty good,” he said, looking down at me.

The way he squeezed my hand had my stomach turning like a tilt-o-whirl. “I got you good, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, you did.” He glanced over at Freddy and the other guys, before turning back to me to dip his head slightly and whisper, “Let’s talk again. Tonight?”

A fluttering sensation started in my chest. I couldn’t hold back a smile. Talking on the phone with Zane was the highlight of my day. Not trusting my voice, I simply nodded and then dropped his hand. The way he was looking at me, with heat behind those blue eyes, made me all giddy. Never mind the fact that I was covered in muck and probably half of my mascara had melted away.

“I’d better go,” I said, pointing over my shoulder. “I need a shower.”

“Yeah.” He tucked his hands in the pockets of his athletic shorts. “Good game, Makeup Girl. Until next time.”

My cheeks ached from the effort of keeping a smile off of my face. Somehow, I managed to keep things in check as I took my stuff back from Janelle and avoided her judgmental gaze. And as I left, trailing muddy footprints on the asphalt behind me, I couldn’t help but look back over my shoulder at Zane one more time. He was watching me leave, but the mask of emotion he wore so well was firmly back into place. The actor was back. It was hard to tell what he was thinking, but the one good thing I did know was that he was going to call me again tonight.

“Just friends,” I muttered to myself as I turned the corner of a trailer. “Remember that, Alexis Black. Friends. And nothing else.”

But my heart refused to listen to any words of wisdom.

It was far too gone.

Chapter Sixteen

Today had officially been the best day ever.

My mind wouldn’t focus on anything else. If only my library date with Zane could’ve lasted all day. All month. Heck, I’d skip my junior year just to spend it with Zane.

He had a quiet way of taking me all in, without making me feel like I was too much. He seemed to like me the most when I was just...me.

The world had officially turned upside down.

“Lexi? Lex? Earth to Alexis.”

Dad stared at me from across the dining table, holding his fork aloft like it was a signal for incoming air traffic. I blinked hard and then smiled sheepishly at him. The late night spaghetti dinner in front of me was still mostly there. I’d pushed it around my plate a bit, but most of it had gone uneaten as I daydreamed about Zane.

“Yes, Dad?”

“You’ve been awfully distracted lately. I hope you’re still keeping up with your schoolwork.”

I nodded eagerly and set down my silverware. Zane’s tutoring session this morning had actually been really helpful. Maybe I would pass that next pop quiz after all.

“Don’t worry, Dad, I’ve got it covered. It’s all locked up tight in here.” I tapped the side of my temple and grinned.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.” He tore off a chunk of garlic bread with his teeth and chewed it viciously. Marie had made dinner tonight. Her skills didn’t extend far into home-cooked meals. That was why the garlic bread was a bit on the well-done side. “Is it locked up so tight it doesn’t come back out? Are all these hours on set putting you behind in school?”

“Oh, Dad!” I giggled. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you down. And I definitely won’t let you meet the same fate as Hamlet’s dad.”

I shivered and then rubbed my palm on my ear. When Zane had explained that part of the play, I’d wondered how come Mr. Garret hadn’t explained it more clearly. This play was full of death, mystery, and craziness. It was way more interesting when I actually knew what it was about.

“Don’t worry, dear.” Marie patted my dad on the shoulder. “Sounds like she’s got it down.”

Smiling proudly at her, I felt my phone vibrate in my jean pocket. It was probably Zane. I was dying to know when he was going to call tonight.