Fearless The King Series Book One - By Tawdra Kandle Page 0,35

known since we were in kindergarten. We’re talked out.”

Anne stuck out her tongue at him but winked at me behind his back. Michael shook his head in mock disapproval.

“Sorry about her. She’s always been incorrigible.”

Anne laughed. “He’s just still mad that I won the hamster care award in first grade.”

“Hey! I had that thing sewed up until you took Mr. Whiskers home and gave him a makeover.”

“See?” Anne looked at me triumphantly. “I rest my case.”

“Whatever.” Michael deliberately turned his back on her and addressed me. “So… would you be interested in coming out to the nursery tomorrow? I have to work in the morning, but I could pick you up at lunchtime, and you could spend the afternoon with me. I think you’ll like it… and my parents want to meet you.”

It had all sounded so promising until that last part.

“Why? Why do your parents want to meet me?” Panic drove my voice up several octaves.

Michael remained serenely calm as he took a bite of a huge lunchmeat sandwich. He regarded me with amused eyes as he chewed and swallowed.

Anne popped her head around his back. “Don’t worry, Tasmyn, Michael’s parents are the absolute best. I love them. His mom is so cool.”

I wasn’t worried about loving them. I was worried about them loving me.

Michael had already figured that out. “They want to meet you because I talk about you all the time at home. They’re curious. And they will adore you. Trust me.”

“You talk about me? All the time?”

“Pretty much.” He shrugged. “I talk to my parents. I tell them things. If that makes me weird, well…” He spread out his hands in a take-it-or-leave-it gesture.

“That’s not what I mean. But what if they expect to meet the girl you’ve been talking about all week?”

Michael’s eyes narrowed and he frowned. “Now I’m confused. What are you talking about?”

I sighed, patiently and sadly. “What have you been telling them about me?”

Brow still furrowed, he considered. “Just…good stuff. The truth. I told them that you’re gorgeous, smart, friendly, kind… funny…”

I nodded knowingly. “I was afraid of that. See, now they’re going to expect me to be what you said. And just think of how disappointed they’re going to be when I turn out to be plain and ordinary.” I thought for a minute, biting my lip. “Of course, you’ve known me less than a week, so maybe they’ll realize that your descriptions weren’t exactly dependable.”

“I doubt it. They trust me.”

I blew out a breath. “Point taken. I’ll try to relax and be charming and gracious. What should I wear, though?”

“Why would that matter?”

Anne leaned around Michael again. Obviously she had been following the conversation more closely than I had thought. She shook her head and pointed at Michael. “He’s a male. He has no clue about these things. I can help you, though. If there’s room for me in Michael’s car today and if you don’t mind me inviting myself over, I’ll come home with you after school and we’ll put you all together.’

To say I didn’t mind would have been a gross understatement. One of my fondest dreams, borne out of dozens of teen novels and sitcoms, involved having a girlfriend come over to play dress up and make up. I had spent the majority of my teenage years doing that by myself, and the idea of living my fantasy was thrilling. I couldn’t even modulate my excitement as I answered her.

“Really? You’d do that?”

Anne laughed. “Of course. It’ll be fun.”

I could feel her anticipation. She was just as excited as I was, and that made me even happier. And Michael was looking at me with a combination of pride and smugness. I knew even without listening to him that he was glad I was making friends.

When I walked into History after lunch, I wasn’t thinking of much beyond my afternoon plans. Which could have explained why I found myself sprawled flat on my face, books scattered, between the desks.

Or it might have had something to do with the elegantly sandaled foot that was placed directly in my path.

My face burning with embarrassment, I struggled to my feet and pulled the closest books toward me. There was a low level of derisive laughter and a buzz I knew was the thought noise of my classmates. In her seat just behind me, Nell lounged, one foot crossed over the other, a small mocking smile playing on her lips.

“Really, Tasmyn,” she murmured, just loud enough for me to hear her, “you