Dating: On the Rebound
Page 18
Tierney laughed. She’d worked her arms out from under mine and clasped her hands behind my neck. “That’s the best news ever.”
I was already ignoring my parents, so what the heck? “Man, I love you,” I said and gave her the kiss I wanted to the second I walked through the door.
Hey fans!
Hey, what?
Hey fans!
Hey, what?
Shake your booty!
No way!
Shake your booty!
Okay!
Jump, jump. Shake your booty.
Jump, jump. Shake your booty.
I didn’t shake my booty, but I was sure shaking my head watching my girlfriend shaking her glittering pom-poms and her booty with the rest of the cheer squad during halftime of our basketball game. It had taken some doing, but I finally convinced her that she should talk to the coach about cheering for basketball season.
The coach was so impressed with her tumbling and flying that she added Tierney immediately and even had her teaching some of the other girls the things she knew. Tierney also started gymnastics again and had plans to go to a cheer camp over the summer.
She turned in her manuscript for the scholarship that would allow her to go to Butler. She still hasn’t heard back, but we talked about her joining me at IUPUI and saving on tuition expenses and maybe even joining the cheer squad there. I hated to think of her giving up her opportunity to go to Butler, but she was thinking that if she did win the scholarship, the money would pay for all four years at IUPUI as opposed to two at Butler. This way she would graduate without any financial aid. Besides, she said, writing wasn’t going anywhere. It was her dream to be an author, but cheering had been her dream, too. Who was I to argue with that?
It didn’t hurt that she looked amazing in that short skirt.
We were well on our way to a State Championship with an undefeated season at the halfway mark. Drew was a beast on the court, making the rest of us clowns look good. He and Piper were tighter than ever. Homecoming was the next weekend, but Tierney had a family obligation that was going to take her out of the state. I wasn’t going to go at all, but I’d been nominated for Homecoming King so I planned to go stag.
The cheerleaders finished their halftime routine and I was up next. After everything that happened with Piper and because of what I knew about Tierney and her past, I’d become involved with the administration at the school to devise a plan to implement at the school to aid victims of bullying. We were unveiling part of that plan tonight during halftime.
Mr. Randall, the Superintendent, as well as the school principal and the guidance counsellors moved to center court. Mr. Randall motioned for me to join them. I caught Tierney’s eye and smiled at her questioning frown.
Mr. Randall took the microphone and began speaking about bullying and the school’s new policies as well as the implementation of several programs for both teachers and students that would educate both groups about how to recognize bullying, how to report it, and how to not remain a victim.
“A special part of our program came as a recommendation from a student here at Eastridge, Noah Jacobs.” Mr. Randall paused to recognize me. I waved my hand and stepped back into the shadows. This wasn’t really about me. “Noah approached me and we have set up a completely anonymous hotline specifically for students at this school to report bullying, abuse of any kind, and to seek help for themselves or others. This hotline will also serve as a suicide prevention line. It’s our hope that we can avoid future tragedy through prevention. It is up and running and available for immediate use for students. Posters have been hung all around the school with the number printed on them. In honor of a friend of one of our students who took her own life because of bullying, the hotline will be called Lizzy’s Line.”
I hadn’t taken my eyes off Tierney. When Mr. Randall announced the name of the hotline, named for Tierney’s friend, her eyes flooded with tears. Mr. Randall wrapped up his speech and the second he stopped talking, I ran to my girl.
“Noah, oh, Noah,” she cried against my shoulder.
“Is it okay? I should have talked to you first.” I’d been worried about that. We’d already talked to Lizzy’s family and they’d been honored by the idea. In fact, several other schools, including Tierney’s old school, would soon be adopting the same kind of hotline and they would all be calling it Lizzy’s Line.
Tierney shook her head and once she lifted off my shoulder, I could see that she was smiling through her tears. I was so relieved.
“I can’t believe you would do that, Noah. I love you so much.”
“And I love you,” I replied as my lips met hers.
The End
Until Book #3 Dating: For the Block (Grayson’s story).
Author’s Note
Author’s Note:
If you liked Dating: On the Rebound, please consider leaving a review. Author’s love to hear feedback! If you have a comment about structure or typos please contact me via email at stephaniestreetauthor@gmail.com rather than leave a negative comment. I can always revise the manuscript but the negative comment stays forever!!
Thank you so much for reading my book!
Best regards,
Stephanie
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The Perks of Hating You
The Perks of Kissing You
The Perks of Waiting for You
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Dating: On the Rebound
Dating: For the Block
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