In Your Arms by Becky Andrews

and Tracy would break up?”
    “That’s not a good enough reason. It would jeopardize Mr. Stevens’ job and put Tracy at risk of expulsion.”
    “Since when have you cared whether Tracy Gibbons is expelled or not?”
    “It’s not right. I could never forgive myself for getting Mr. Stevens fired and more importantly, making a fool out of Phillip. I would be humiliated if I found out my boyfriend was cheating on me, right under my nose—with a teacher, no less.”
    “Sam, you don’t have a boyfriend.”
    “I’m speaking hypothetically.”
    “I’m just saying that this would be your opportunity to get him,” Alex said reasonably.
    “Okay, Alex. Please just promise me you aren’t going to say anything.”
    “Fine, I promise.”
    “Not even to Michael?”
    “Not even to Michael,” Alex agreed, even though Sam knew this secret was going to kill her.
    “I better go, I need to get home. I’m late,” Sam said, looking at the time, realizing she would be thirty minutes late getting home.
    “All right, Sam. See you tomorrow. And don’t be all weird.”
    Sam smiled at her. “Sure, Alex.”
    Sam walked downstairs and made her way toward her house, carefully stepping over the bushes that separated the two houses.
    “Mom, I’m back,” she called as she headed up the stairs.
    “You’re late,” her mom said, coming out of the kitchen.
    “I know. I’m sorry, I just got caught up talking with Alex.”
    “I thought you guys did homework together?”
    “We do, I just had to talk to her about something. I’ll be up in my room.”
    “Okay, sweetie. Check in on your brother. I sent him up there a while ago, when I thought you’d be back.”
    Sam made her way up the stairs and checked in on Benjamin before settling down in her room. Sitting down at her desk, she pulled out her books and logged on to her computer.
    PhilyCheeseSteak: Hey, Sam.
    SamIam: Hey, didn’t we just talk?
    PhilyCheeseSteak: Yeah, a little more than an hour ago. Listen, after practice, Josh said he bumped into you.
    SamIam: Yeah, after I talked to you, I ran into him on the way to my car.
    PhilyCheeseSteak: Well, he said you dropped your notebook.
    SamIam: I was wondering what happened to it.
    PhilyCheeseSteak: I have it with me, so I can give it to you tomorrow at school.
    SamIam: Great, thanks. So, how was practice?
    PhilyCheeseSteak: It was good, Coach drilled us hard today, you know, since we haven’t had practice in a week.
    SamIam: So when’s your next game? You know you still haven’t told me how it works.
    PhilyCheeseSteak: What? Football? Well, maybe tomorrow I’ll have a chance to tell you how it works. And as for our next game we have one this Friday. Maybe you could come watch it…and bring Alex and Michael along too.
    SamIam: Um….I’ll have to think about it.
    PhilyCheeseSteak: Sure. I didn’t mean that you had to come.
    SamIam: Phillip, I was joking…Of course I’ll come.
    PhilyCheeseSteak: Awesome. I’ll tell you how the game works before Friday then.
    SamIam: Great. I look forward to it.

Chapter Seven

    S am was putting her books in her locker the next morning when Alex and Michael came by.
    “Hey, Sam,” Alex said.
    “Hey, what’s up, you two?” Sam had to smile. They just looked so cute together.
    “We were just wondering if you had made up your mind if you were coming to the ice rink with us this Saturday,” Michael said.
    “If you guys will come with me to the football game this Friday,” Sam retorted.
    “Uh, sure, but why do we have to come to the game?” Alex asked.
    “Because Phillip invited me to come—and you two—but really I just don’t want to show up alone,” Sam replied.
    “Oh.” Alex smiled. “He did, did he?”
    “Yes, we’re friends, Alex. Nothing more. And friends go to other friends’ games, right?”
    “Yeah, I suppose, but you two did almost kiss—” Alex said, then put her hand over her mouth.
    “What? You and Phillip? How did I miss that?” Michael said.
    “Shut