Page 5 - #1 Stay in the Game

James started to apologize, reaching out
to help her up. But the girl didn’t even seem
to notice him. She lunged toward the phone.
As she snatched it up, James caught a glimpse

of the name monogrammed across the phone
cover: Ana. She turned around, still on the
floor, clutching the phone to her chest. Three
other girls walked by and snickered at her. She
didn’t even notice.
James said, “Are you OK?” He got a good

look at her now. She had long, dark brown hair
and deep dark brown eyes. Her skin was only
a few shades lighter than his. He couldn’t help
but notice how beautiful she was. His heart
skipped a beat.

“Yeah. Fine.” She stood up fast. James saw
her backpack still sitting on the floor behind
her. He reached for it, but she snapped it up
before he could get there.
“I got it,” she said, her voice curt and short.
Then her face softened, and she managed a

weak smile. “Sorry. Have a good day.”
James watched her walk away down the hall,
in the opposite way she had been going.

29