“Maybe we’ll be competing as Most Romantic next year,” Dexter whispered to Eden as they watched Principal Hicks open the sealed envelope in his hand.
“And the winners are Celia Armstrong and Freddy Keenan!” he announced. Applause broke out as Celia and Freddy walked to the front of the auditorium.
“You think we’ll still be together a year from now?” Eden asked Dexter as everyone stepped off to the sides so Celia and Freddy could have the dance floor all to themselves. A romantic song began as they started dancing.
“Are you ready to break up with me already?” Dexter joked.
“Of course not! I just don’t need someone else telling me if my boyfriend is romantic,” Eden said, thinking of the bouquet of pink roses and box of chocolates Dexter had given her when he’d come to pick her up that night. “My opinion is the only one that matters.”
“So how am I doing so far?” Dexter asked, leading Eden onto the dance floor as other couples began joining Celia and Freddy.
“I want you to be mine,” Eden said as she stepped into his arms and gave him a kiss.
“All mine.”
“Did you think you’d be dancing with me on Valentine’s Day?” Leo asked Natalie.
It was a slow dance and their bodies were close together, Natalie resting her head on Leo’s shoulder. She loved the way she felt in his arms. All warm and cozy.
“I didn’t,” Natalie said. “But now that I am, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
“Did I tell you how great you look?”
“A couple of times.” Natalie was wearing a gold sequined minidress with puffed sleeves and gold high-heeled sandals. From her ears, she wore a pair of dangling gold leaf earrings. “You look pretty spiffy in your suit.”
“I still can’t believe we’re here together.” Leo stared down at the floor. “I never thought I’d have someone to be mine.”
Natalie placed her hand under Leo’s chin, lifting his head up. She looked deep into his eyes. “Believe it.”
And then to prove it, she gave him a kiss.
When there was a break between songs, Jennifer raced over to Violet’s side. She’d texted her earlier to tell her that she and Will were dating for real, but Violet hadn’t said anything about the latest developments in her own love life. “Who is that hunk you’re with? Have you been holding out on me? I want details and I want them now! You didn’t tell me you were coming to the dance and you didn’t tell me you’d be bringing a date!”
Violet giggled, her blue eyes gleaming with mischief behind her glasses. “That’s Gino. He works at Marinelli’s with Will.”
“Where did you meet him?”
“Last night I ordered a pizza, and when Gino delivered it, I asked him if he wanted to come with me to the dance. I figured I’d take a page out of your book. What did I have to lose? He said yes! Who knows? If it worked for you, it might work for me!”
The music started again. “Gotta go!” Violet said as she hurried back out onto the dance floor and Gino. “Talk to you later!”
As Jennifer watched Violet and Gino start dancing to a slow song, Will came by her side.
“Feel like another dance?”
Jennifer couldn’t get enough of being with Will. She wanted to dance with him all night. She took him by the hand and walked back out onto the dance floor.
“I wish this night would never end!” she exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around Will’s neck and leaned into him.
“Having a good time?”
“The best!”
“Can I ask you a question, Jennifer?”
She looked at Will in surprise. “I think that’s the first time you’ve called me by my name. Usually I’m Red.”
“That’s only when I’m trying to push your buttons. I know it drives you crazy.”
“And now?”
“I’m being serious.”
“I kind of like it when you call me Red,” Jennifer confessed. “Even if I act like I don’t. It makes me feel special.” She gazed up at Will. “So what did you want to ask me?”
“Be mine?”
“Only if you promise to be mine.”
Will pretended to think about it before giving Jennifer a smile. “Deal!” he exclaimed.
And then he sealed it with a kiss.
Take another trip to North Ridge High in
By Sabrina James
Noelle focused her attention on the red velvet bag Mindy was holding. Then she dipped her hand inside, swirling it around the many slips of paper.
Somewhere inside was Charlie’s name.
Unless it had already been picked.
Think positive! Noelle scolded herself. Positive. Positive. Positive. Charlie’s name is in this bag. It is! It is! It is! And I will pull it out. I will! I will! I will!
Holding her breath, Noelle closed her eyes and reached into the very bottom of the bag, wrapped her fingers around a slip of paper, and pulled it out.
Copyright © 2009 by John Scognamiglio
All rights reserved. Published by Point, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., Publishers since 1920. SCHOLASTIC, POINT, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
James, Sabrina.
Be mine / by Sabrina James. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
Summary: When she brags that she is entering the
competition of the most romantic couple for the
Valentine’s Day Dance, Jennifer has only one
problem — she needs a boyfriend.
ISBN-13: 978-0-545-09739-0 (alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-545-09739-8 (alk. paper)
[1. Dating (Social customs) — Fiction.
2. Valentine’s Day — Fiction. 3. High schools —
Fiction. 4. Schools — Fiction.
5. Friendship — Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7J154365Be 2009
[Fic] — dc22
2008021528
First edition, January 2009
Cover art by Michelle Grant
Cover design by Steve Scott
e-ISBN 978-0-545-60023-1
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Scholastic Inc., Attention: Permissions Department, 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.
Be Mine Page 19
