Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Study Buddy

MIRACULOUSLY, I WAS ABLE to get most of my homework done before Zander showed up. It was 4:00 when I heard the doorbell. Nervously, I checked my appearance in the hallway mirror before opening the door. I had switched my torn jeans and Converses for a pair of shorts and flip-flops. Very casual, but it was a warm day and we didn't have air conditioning.

Zander wore the same clothes that I'd seen him in at school - a wrecked pair of jeans, a band T-shirt, and Vans. His dark chestnut hair looked a little windblown, but it just made him look like he had stepped off a modeling shoot where they have all the fans blowing to make you look sexier. Yeah, it worked for him.

"Can I come in?" he asked after I stood there dumbly.

After a mental self-smack, I pulled myself together. "Yeah, please." I gestured toward the kitchen area. "You want to study at the kitchen table?"

"Sure."