The Jerk Magnet

Thanks to a reduced price on their house, the sale closed just days before they were scheduled to leave. Already Dad had a Realtor lined up to show them a dozen houses in their price range in a subdivision not far from where he’d be working in San Jose.

Today was the big day. The big truck with a huge storage pod had just left. Completely loaded with all their things, it was now on its way to a site where the pod would sit until they were ready to have it shipped to San Jose. Dad and Chelsea would’ve been on the road too, but Kate had stopped by on her way to work to say goodbye.

“I can’t believe this won’t be home anymore,” Chelsea said to Dad as they did one last walk around the yard.

He nodded. “I know what you mean.”

“I can’t believe you’re really going to drive all the way out there,” Kate said. “You could’ve flown and had the car shipped.”

“I’ve always wanted to take a cross-country trip,” he said. “I had the vacation time coming anyway.”

“And we’ll take turns driving,” Chelsea pointed out. “That way I’ll have enough driving hours to apply for my license when we get to California.”

Dad frowned. “We’ll see about that.”

“I’m going to miss you both so much,” Kate said as she hugged them.

“Then hurry and sell your condo and come out and join us,” Chelsea urged her.

“I wish I could.” Kate shook her head. “But you know I promised to stay at my job until the end of September.”

“It’s going to be a long two months.” Dad sighed.

“Well, at least I’ll have the wedding plans to keep me busy.”

“And I already booked our flight back here,” he added.

“Thank goodness for Skype,” she said. “We can talk face-to-face every night.”

“And maybe I can talk you into flying out,” he said. “Maybe for Labor Day weekend?”

“We’ll see.”

Chelsea turned away while they embraced and kissed. As much as she was used to Kate by now, she was still not used to seeing them kissing. But at least she wasn’t saying “eeuw.”

“Well, we better hit the road if we’re going to make Topeka by this evening.”

Kate shook her head. “That’s a lot of driving for one day. You two better be careful.”

“We will.”

“Oh, I almost forgot something.” Kate ran back to her car, returning with a small paper bag and something else. “This is for you, Chelsea.” She winked as she handed her the bag. “Hopefully they’ll fit.”

Chelsea peeked inside the bag. “What is it?”

“You said you didn’t have a swimsuit. I figured you’d be stopping at some hotels with pools, so I picked up a couple of suits for you.”

“Thanks!” Chelsea hugged her again. “By the way, do you still want me to be in your wedding?”

“Of course I do. I thought we’d been over all that by now.”

“Oh, okay.”

Kate put her hand on Chelsea’s cheek. “I’m going to miss you, sweetie.”

“I’m going to miss you too.”

Kate handed Dad a CD. “Something for the road.”

“Dionne Warwick?” Dad cocked his head to one side. “Huh?”

“Song number six.” She grinned. “Just listen.”

They were about ten minutes out of town when song number six came on. They both laughed to hear “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” Chelsea turned the volume up, trying to understand the lyrics.

“I don’t know if I ever heard Dionne Warwick before, but I actually like her,” Chelsea said after the CD ended.

“I’ve got an idea,” Dad said. “What if you and I memorize the lyrics to the San Jose song and we can do a duet for Kate at the wedding reception?”

Chelsea’s first reaction was to say forget it. But remembering how much Kate had done for her, and knowing that she should no longer have such a phobia about being in front of people, she agreed.

They took turns driving, and finally at a little past seven they made it to Topeka. After a quick fast-food dinner, they checked into a motel. Seeing that there was a rather inviting-looking pool next to the lobby, Chelsea decided to try out one of the swimsuits Kate had given her. When she pulled them out of the bag, she was surprised to see how skimpy they both were. One was actually a string bikini. The other had a little more coverage but was still beyond Chelsea’s comfort zone. But seeing her dad crashing on one of the beds and tuning into a sports network, she decided to go for it. After all, it was a hot summer night and she didn’t know a soul in this town. What did she have to lose?

She went into the bathroom and put on the swimsuit with more coverage, then just stared at her image in the mirror. With her faux tan and lightened and straightened hair, plus the other improvements, she really didn’t recognize this girl. She admired herself from various angles, and feeling surprisingly confident, albeit a little nervous, she wrapped a towel around her like a sarong skirt and slipped out. Dad was already snoring, so she left him a note saying she’d be at the pool. She rode the elevator down and got a soda from the machine, then ventured out to the pool area.

Several teens as well as some younger kids were noisily enjoying the pool, and Chelsea was barely in the area before she began to feel extremely awkward and self-conscious. She noticed a couple of the teens glancing her way, probably taking inventory. Suddenly she knew there was no way she was going to remove her sarong towel and get into the pool. But she felt too embarrassed to turn and leave.

Trying to appear nonchalant, she pulled a table next to a lounge chair and set her soda down. She wanted to look comfortable in her own skin as she sat down, but she knew this was a joke. Anyone with eyes in their head could see through this pathetic act. Chelsea felt like a fish out of water.

She took a deep breath, something Kate had told her to do, and began to remind herself of some of the little confidence-instilling tricks Kate had been trying to teach her.

“Smile,” she had told Chelsea again and again. “It not only increases your face value, it makes you feel better inwardly. And when you feel better on the inside, it radiates to the outside.”

Although she’d been a skeptic at first, Chelsea knew from trying this little smiling trick that it really was true. She did feel better when she smiled. It’s like it changed something inside of her. Usually anyway. At the moment it felt silly to sit there smiling. Too bad she hadn’t brought a book or a magazine with her. Then she could’ve pretended to be highly amused by what she was reading.

She moved on to another Kate tip. “Make eye contact with the person who’s intimidating you.” How was she supposed to do that when there were five teens—two guys and three girls—making her uncomfortable? Not that they were saying anything, but she felt their glances. After years of practicing avoidance and playing the wallflower, she found that looking away came very naturally. Seriously, how was she supposed to make eye contact? Not only did it feel personally threatening, it was downright scary. Even so, she made a couple of feeble attempts. She wondered if Kate would be laughing at her right now. But it was just too hard. How was she supposed to make eye contact with a perfect stranger? Furthermore, why should she even want to?

She leaned back in the lounge and gazed at the fogged-up roof covering the pool, recalling something else Kate had told her—something Kate had said quite often. “You need to change your interior dialogue.” At first Chelsea hadn’t understood how that was even possible, but Kate had made her practice by saying the words aloud. Like a parrot, Chelsea would repeat them after Kate. Now she recited them inside her head. I am an attractive, intelligent girl. I have a lot to offer other people. People want to get to know me.

“Hey,” a guy said to her.

She turned to see a guy with dark hair standing next to her lounge chair, looking down at her. He was smiling, and she realized he was even better looking up close than from a distance. That alone made her want to freeze or run the other way. Then she remembered Kate’s advice. Smile. So she forced a smile. Make eye contact. She did that too.

“Hey what?” she asked him in a voice that sounded somewhat like her own.

“Are you afraid of the water or something?”

She glanced over to the pool, then forced another smile as well as a shrug. “Looks a little crowded in there,” she managed to say. Her throat felt dry and she felt shaky inside. This was so out of her comfort zone.

“So how about the Jacuzzi?” He nodded to the hot tub at the end of the pool, where one of the teen girls was sitting.

“Oh.” She nodded, reaching for her soda, wanting something wet to coat her throat. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Well, you should.” He grinned at her. “There’s room for everyone.”

She took a sip of soda, then using every ounce of determination, she locked eyes with him. Eye contact. “I guess I’ll check it out,” she said as evenly as she could. With trembling knees, she stood and slowly removed her towel and started walking toward the hot tub. Every move she made felt calculated and careful. This was something else Kate had taught her. When you feel self-conscious, insecure, or uncomfortable, slow down.

“Whether it’s your movements or your words, don’t fall into the speed trap.” She had explained that when Chelsea spoke too quickly or moved too quickly, it sent the message that she was fearful and anxious. “It sets you up to be a target,” Kate said. “So just slow down. Think and move and speak carefully. Then you’ll sound confident.”

Chelsea took a deep breath as she approached the Jacuzzi. She made eye contact and smiled at the blonde girl in the tub as she eased herself in. “This feels good,” she told her.

“Yeah, it’s not bad.” The girl smiled back. Chelsea tried not to act surprised, but she’d been prepared for a snub from the pretty girl. Instead, she was acting friendly. It seemed that Kate’s tricks really did work. You smiled and made eye contact, and just like that people were friendly. Who’d’ve thunk?

The dark-haired guy got into the hot tub too, slipping into a seat next to Chelsea. “I’m Jake,” he told her. He pointed to the other teen guy, who was coming their way. “That’s my buddy Adam. We’re both ball players, and our coach is taking us to a Royals game tomorrow.”

“That’s cool.” Chelsea nodded, trying to remember all of Kate’s tips.

“Baseball?” the other girl said. “What position do you play?”

Jake turned to her. “Catcher mostly.”

“Cool.” The girl nodded. “I’m Nora. My older brother plays college baseball, so I’m kind of into that too. Who are the Royals playing?”

Jake started to tell her a bit about the team and how he hoped that he’d be good enough by his senior year to get a college scholarship or even get picked up by a minor league team.

“Wow,” Nora said, “you must be good.”

Jake shrugged and turned to Chelsea. “So you know our names. How about telling us yours?”

“Sorry.” She smiled again. “I’m Chelsea. My dad and I are on a road trip to California.”

“California.” Jake nodded. “Where ’bouts?”

She explained about the job change and San Jose, and Jake acted as if it were the most interesting topic in the world. Chelsea glanced over to see Nora watching them closely. “How about you?” Chelsea asked her. “What are you doing in Topeka?”

Nora explained that she was on a family vacation. She nodded toward the noisy throng of kids in the pool. “Some of those brats are my siblings.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m supposed to be watching them, but I’m secretly hoping they drown.”

Jake laughed, and Chelsea imitated him by laughing too. Jake’s friend had joined them, and now Chelsea found herself flanked by two very good-looking guys. Nora chatted easily with them, and Chelsea tried to keep up with the friendly banter, hoping that her insecurities would remain at bay. Then a couple of the other teen girls came into the Jacuzzi too.

“It’s getting cozy in here.” Jake slid closer to Chelsea to make more room.

Chelsea just smiled, continuing her attempt to act natural. The conversation became more animated, and it was clear that the two newcomer girls were flirting with the boys. One of the girls was a little overweight, but she was witty and funny and had the kind of confidence Chelsea was still wishing for. The other girl was eager to show off a recent tattoo on her lower back.

Still, it seemed clear—although extremely unbelievable—that Jake and Adam were more interested in Chelsea than in the other three girls in the hot tub. Chelsea felt almost giddy at this totally unexpected attention. Here she was sitting in a Jacuzzi with three other girls, whose looks ranged from quite pretty to just okay, and the two guys seemed to be vying for Chelsea’s attention. Chelsea Martin had turned not just one guy’s head, but two.

Although it was fun and exciting, it was also dizzyingly overwhelming, and at times she felt lost in keeping up with the witty banter. Plus she had occasional flashbacks to times she’d been teased or put down. She wondered if she suffered from some kind of post-traumatic stress disorder. Was it possible that girls who’d been picked on and bullied were similar to soldiers who’d survived combat zones? Really, other than explosives and physical injuries, what was the difference?

“Guess we scared those two away,” Nora was saying a bit smugly. Chelsea looked up to see the two newcomer girls exiting the Jacuzzi. Judging by their expressions and demeanor—which were painfully familiar to Chelsea—she thought it was possible that something might’ve been said to drive them away.

“So what are you into?” Jake asked Chelsea.

She felt stumped. A guy her age had never asked her a question like this. Instead of blurting out something that would forever categorize her as a geek girl, she reminded herself of Kate’s “slow down” advice. “Just the usual stuff,” she told him. Even though she knew she probably sounded silly and shallow, she started to blab on about a reality show. Fortunately, they were all familiar with it, and the conversation continued moving along.

“You remind me of Todd Davis,” Nora told Adam. It seemed she was focusing all her attention on him, hoping that he’d return the favor. Chelsea knew that Todd Davis was the hottie on the reality show they were currently dissing and discussing.

“Thanks a lot,” Adam said. “Todd’s a total dork.”

Nora laughed. “Yeah, but he’s a good-looking dork.”

“I think Chelsea looks like that Amanda character,” Jake said in a tone that oozed of approval.

“You mean Miranda,” Nora corrected. “I don’t really think so.”

“Amanda, Miranda, whatever.” Jake put a finger beneath Chelsea’s chin, turning her head as if to study her even more closely.

She controlled herself from cringing or trying to hide, but she couldn’t help letting out a nervous giggle. This was so totally weird . . . so unsettling . . . and yet she knew by his expression that he liked her looks and was enjoying himself immensely.

“I think she looks like Cameron Diaz,” Adam said as he moved in closer on the other side. “I mean when Cameron was younger. She’s like, what, forty now?”

“Yeah. She’s old, but she’s still hot.” Jake nodded. “Yeah, I think you’re right. Chelsea does look like a younger Cameron Diaz. Except for the eyes.” He looked intently into Chelsea’s eyes. “I think Cameron’s are blue. But Chelsea’s are brown and lots prettier.” The expression on his face was almost frightening, like he thought she was a deluxe cheeseburger and he was about to gobble her up.

Nora stood up. “Well, since you two guys are having so much fun at your Chelsea love festival, I think I’ll bow out.”

“Don’t go yet,” Chelsea said quickly. “These guys are just teasing me.”

Nora’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she sat back down.

“You know who Nora looks like?” Chelsea was racking her brain, trying to come up with a believable actress’s name.

“Who?” Nora asked.

“Keira Knightley!” Chelsea exclaimed. Okay, she knew that was crazy, but it was the only name that came to her. As she watched the boys looking from Nora to her and then back again, she remembered why that name came to mind. Kate had mentioned that she thought Chelsea looked like Keira.

“No, Nora doesn’t look like Keira Knightley,” Jake said. “You do.”

“I am so outta here.” Nora stood again, adjusted her bikini, and, without any protest from the guys, made her exit.

“Now I guess we’ll just have to fight over you,” Jake said in a teasing tone.

Chelsea laughed nervously.

“So, if you had to choose between us,” Adam said enticingly, “who would you choose?” He struck an attractive pose.

Jake pushed his friend on the shoulder, and Adam feigned a fall. “She’d pick me, of course,” Jake told him.

Chelsea was feeling more than just a little light-headed now. She was actually dizzy. “I think I need to get out of here,” she said as she grabbed the handrail and stood. “I’m feeling kinda fuzzy. I think it’s the heat.”

Suddenly the two guys were helping her from the Jacuzzi and into the pool. Compared to the heat of the hot tub, the pool felt icy and the shock made her jump. With a pounding heart, she took in a big breath and dove under the water, then swam the length of the pool in an effort to calm herself and put some space between her and the two guys. Back in middle school, she’d been on the swim team and not such a bad swimmer. It felt good to have this kind of control now.

At the end where the younger kids were jumping and yelling and splashing, she quickly turned and swam back to the hot tub area where the guys, who reminded her of hungry sharks, were still waiting for her. She wanted to play this cool, to act like this was nothing out of the ordinary for her, but the truth was, like the water on this end, she was in way over her head.

“You guys are great,” she told them in as smooth a voice as she could muster while she used the ladder to climb out of the pool. “But we have to get up really early tomorrow. I’m helping my dad with the driving, and it’s getting kind of late.”

They protested as they followed her over to get her towel, but she managed to make them see her point. However, they did talk her into giving them her email address. “In case we’re ever out in San Jose,” Jake told her. But when they asked about Facebook, she pretended not to have a page, saying she thought social networks were lame.

As she returned to the hotel room, feeling like she’d just dodged some sort of bullet, she reminded herself she’d have to remove her Facebook page now. Too bad she’d put it under her own name. But no way did she want anyone to see the phony pics she’d put up. Of course, with her new image, she could put up real photos without embarrassment now.





Dad was just emerging from the bathroom when Chelsea returned to their hotel room. Toweling off his damp hair, he was wearing one of the motel bathrobes and had a slightly worried expression. “I was about to come looking for you,” he told her.

“Why?” She tightened the towel around her waist, making her way toward the still-steamy bathroom.

He gave a sheepish grin. “I don’t know that I’m too comfortable having my drop-dead-gorgeous daughter running around in a strange city all by herself.”

“Oh, Dad!” She shook her head like she thought he was crazy. But in reality, she wondered if he might not have a healthier understanding of what had just transpired down at the pool than she did. She considered asking him about it but didn’t want to make him any more concerned than he was. This was something she would have to get used to . . . and learn to handle on her own. “Remember, I’m not a little kid anymore.”

He looked doubtful. “I don’t know about that, but at least you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. That’s more than a lot of kids your age have.” He stifled a yawn. “Don’t know about you, but I’m hitting the hay.”

She glanced at the clock between the two beds. “It’s not even ten yet.”

“I know, but I’m beat. Go ahead and turn the TV on if you like, just keep the sound down. Okay?”

“Okay.”

After her shower, she flipped on the TV. She knew it was silly, but she wanted to find a movie with Keira Knightley or Cameron Diaz starring. No such luck. She considered digging out her laptop and doing an internet search for photos of the two beauties, but then she realized she was about to cross over from mild curiosity to obsession. She never used to be like this. Who cared who she looked like? As long as she didn’t look like the old Chelsea.

As she carefully combed her freshly shampooed and conditioned hair, which was still as smooth and silky as before swimming, she wanted to wrap her head around her new and interesting dilemma. How was a girl supposed to act when guys treated her the way Jake and Adam had tonight? It was a thrill and a rush for sure, but how was a girl like Chelsea ever supposed to get used to that kind of attention? Nothing had prepared her for this.

She came to a movie channel that was playing the Sandra Bullock film Miss Congeniality, and although she remembered seeing it a long time ago, before Mom died, she started watching it again. Sandra’s situation was different (she was older and playing an FBI agent), but some parts of the movie felt painfully similar. Going from drab to fab didn’t come without its own special set of challenges. As she watched Sandra’s clumsy pratfalls and corny mishaps, all of which were pretty humorous, Chelsea decided that when they got settled in San Jose and she was going to her new high school, she definitely did not want to end up looking like that kind of a goofball.

It might’ve made for a humorous movie, but Chelsea had been there, done that. She’d spent way too much time on the losing end of lame jokes and bullying and teasing, and she had no desire to set herself up for more. She realized that if that Jacuzzi scene had lasted any longer, or if Nora or the other girls had stuck around, Chelsea would’ve eventually stuck her foot in her mouth. Pedicure or not, she would’ve ended up making a complete fool of herself. It wouldn’t have been such a big deal tonight since it was unlikely she’d ever see those kids again. But eventually it could be a big deal.

Her mind was made up. Even if it took a lot of work and preparation, and even if she had to memorize all of Kate’s secrets to self-esteem or tattoo CliffsNotes on her palm, Chelsea was determined she would master this. Kate had pulled out all the stops to turn Chelsea into a new person on the outside, and it was up to Chelsea to do all she could to make sure the rest of her matched up.

The next two days passed relatively uneventfully. When Chelsea wasn’t behind the wheel, she was studying the notes she’d made based on advice Kate had given her, as well as reading a variety of fluffy fashion and pop culture magazines that she picked up during their meal stops.

“You’ve been awfully quiet all afternoon,” Dad said as the city of Albuquerque came into view on their third day on the road.

“Sorry,” she told him as she closed the magazine.

“Are those, uh, magazines really that interesting?”

She laughed. “Not at first. But I want to try to fit in better, you know? I was kind of a geek before.”

“You weren’t a geek,” he said. “Academic, yes. But not a geek.”

“You’re my dad,” she reminded him. “You have to say that.”

“Yes, but I don’t think—”

“It’s okay, Dad.” She sighed loudly. “I know what I was. And I know I don’t want to keep on being that. But just because Kate helped me with the outside package doesn’t mean my troubles are over.”

He frowned. “So you really think that just by reading those”—he nodded to the pile of glossy magazines piled around her feet—“you’re going to learn some secret social code for being accepted into a new school?”

“I honestly don’t know. Probably not.”

“Even if you weren’t admitted into whatever high-ranking clique is ruling and reigning in your new school, would it matter so much?”

She laughed. “Oh, Dad, I don’t expect to be admitted into any high-ranking clique. Just because my hair is blonde doesn’t mean I’ve lost some brain cells.”

He laughed.

“I just want to have something of a life. I don’t have high expectations. I just want some good friends and to do some fun things, and not to feel like I need to make myself invisible all the time.” She almost added that she also wanted to learn how to deal with boys, but she knew that would probably result in some kind of lecture that she wasn’t in the mood to hear right now. Besides, Dad was pulling into one of the freeway motels.

“Last stop until San Jose,” he said as he pulled up to the lobby entrance. “I’ll be right back.”

She could see from where the car was parked that this hotel had a nice-looking outdoor pool, and it looked fairly crowded. Not surprising when the car’s exterior thermometer indicated it was 98 degrees out there. And it was past six.

“I think I’ll check out the pool,” she told Dad when he returned with their room keys. “If you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. I’ll give Kate a call while you’re swimming. The hotel restaurant didn’t look too bad. Maybe we can just eat in later tonight.”

This time as Chelsea got ready to go to the pool, she decided to try out the daring string bikini that Kate had gotten for her. After all, if Kate thought it was okay, why wouldn’t it be? Besides, Chelsea figured this would be a good test of whether or not she could act comfortable in her own skin. Of course, once she had the bikini on and saw herself in the bathroom mirror, she nearly fell over at how much of her own skin was actually showing. Even her underwear offered more coverage than this little number. But her faux tan was still holding up, and really, she looked pretty hot in a bikini.

However, she knew her dad might have a stroke if he saw her so scantily clad. Did she want to get him all worked up? She started to switch the bikini for the more conservative suit, then stopped herself. No, she needed to do this. Walking around in public in this bikini would be like her badge of courage. In fact, that’s about how big the pieces of the bikini were—like badges.

To bolster her confidence, she touched up her lip gloss and even put on some of the waterproof mascara she’d gotten at their previous hotel gift shop that morning. To protect her dad’s heart health, she put her tank top and shorts on over the suit. Grabbing a towel and a few other things, she headed for the door and waved to Dad, who was still on the phone.

“Tell Kate hey for me,” she called as she exited. She was relieved he couldn’t see her in the bikini. Hopefully he wouldn’t venture down to the pool and see his nearly naked daughter.

As she rode the elevator down, she questioned herself. Was she being stupid? Or crazy? Or compromising herself or her values? As the elevator doors opened, she told herself that this was simply going to be a test, and after she passed this test, she would pack the bikini away and never wear it again.

There was an assortment of people in and around the pool. Chelsea found a chair and laid her towel, magazine, and shades on it. Then she slipped off her flip-flops and slowly and carefully peeled off her tank top, making sure that the bikini top stayed in the proper place and that the strings were still securely tied. She slipped off her shorts, also checking the strings on the bikini bottom and wondering if she might be in need of a Brazilian wax job like she’d just read about in one of the magazines. Apparently Brazil was well known for a number of hair-related procedures.

She stood there for a long moment, feeling very conspicuous and uncomfortable and more than a little silly. All her old insecure feelings of extreme shyness, self-consciousness, and fear rushed through her. She wanted to grab her clothes and run and hide. Really, who did she think she was going out in public practically nude? This was something she never would’ve done before—something she would’ve made fun of even. What was wrong with her now?

But ignoring these inner voices, she held her head high and slowly walked—make that sauntered—down to the shallow end of the pool. As she did, she felt a number of eyes on her. She feigned oblivion, telling herself she didn’t care who stared. Not for the first time, she wished that Virginia and her old “friends” could see her now, but she decided to be content with the eyes that were on her. And there were definitely eyes on her. Eyes of all ages and sorts, but primarily male.

She slowly got into the water and just stood there at waist depth. Then slowly she immersed herself. After the warmth of the air, the water felt cool but not cold. She felt greatly relieved to be concealed, at least partially, by the water. She began to slowly swim, and as she did so she smiled, not particularly because she felt like smiling, but because she hoped it would make her feel more relaxed and at ease.

Finally Chelsea was tired of swimming and even a little weary of her self-imposed test. She felt she had passed, or nearly. She still needed to emerge from the pool, hopefully with the bikini remaining in place. She stood in the shallow end again, taking her time to make adjustments, ensuring that both portions of the bikini were covering what little they covered. She realized that wearing a bikini was no small feat—and in all honestly not as much fun as a suit that covered her better and allowed her to move with more freedom and less self-consciousness. But then, this was a test.

Adopting what she hoped was an air of nonchalance, she slowly went up the steps and out of the pool. She shook her wet hair, and holding her head high, she walked over to her chair. After a bit of towel-drying, which was almost unnecessary in the desert heat, she sat down in the chair, put her shades back on, picked up her magazine, and pretended to be reading. But in actuality she was congratulating herself not only for passing her test but for giving a great performance. With the acting skills she was developing, perhaps she could participate in drama and do more than just paint scenery or help with lighting.

“Hey.” A tanned, well-built guy with sandy hair stood over her, looking down with more than a little appreciation. “This seat taken?”

“No.” She smiled casually.

“I’m Trey,” he said as he moved the chair closer to her and sat down. He looked directly at her with surprising intensity. “You are beautiful.”

She laughed. “Well, thanks . . . I guess.”

He leaned forward even closer now. His blue eyes sparkled like the pool water, and she could tell by his abs that he worked out regularly and definitely felt comfortable in his own skin. “I mean it. I saw you getting out of the pool just now, and I couldn’t believe my eyes. You are really beautiful.”

She felt that old familiar warmth rushing up her neck, but she was not going to give in to it. This was just part of her test, and she was determined to ace it. “Well, thanks.” She gave him a cheesy smile. “You’re sweet.”

“I assume you don’t live around here, but I’m curious where you’re from. And since I told you my name, how about if you tell me yours?”

Trying to maintain the appearance of calmness and confidence and reminding herself of Kate’s rules, she told him her name and explained why she and her dad were headed to San Jose. Trey told her that he was from Fort Worth, that he’d come out here with a friend, and that they were checking out a couple of campuses in the area.

“How about spending some time together?” he said. “My bud Craig and I were going to send out for pizzas and order up some pay-per-view flicks. We’ve got some brewskies already chilling in the fridge. It’d be fun to get to know you better, Chelsea.”

Chelsea tried not to appear shocked, but this was all very new to her. She had never been propositioned before. At least that’s what she assumed this was. Not that she planned to ask for any specific clarification. But even as a multitude of frantic thoughts ran through her head, she managed to keep a calm smile on her lips. This was her big chance to stay cool in the midst of fire.

“No thanks,” she told him. “But I appreciate the offer.” Another smile. Not too big, just enough to ooze confidence. She flipped a page of her magazine, like she was done with him.

“Oh, come on,” he urged. “We can play some cards or just hang . . . get to know each other. If you want, I can send Craig packing.” He grinned like she would appreciate that.

She looked back at him now, tipping her shades up to make direct eye contact. “Really, Trey, I already have dinner plans. But thanks anyway.”

This guy was stubborn. He pleaded and begged and cajoled. But she kept her wits about her and never let on how nervous and jittery he was making her feel. She kept reminding herself that this was part of the test. It occurred to her that, for all she knew, he could actually be a sociopathic serial killer. Like that guy with the Dutch name who’d finally been caught in South America.

Finally, growing weary of the game and of Trey, not to mention a little worried, she stood up and told him she needed to go. Of course, this brought a bit of a dilemma. How did she gracefully get back into her shorts and top with him standing there gawking at her? And that was just what he was doing too. Gawking. Plus he just wasn’t giving up.

As she slowly gathered her things, he was saying things like “what about after dinner?” and “the night is young,” and “who knows when we’ll meet again?” like he thought he was starring in some low-budget indie film. She decided to skip trying to redress and simply wrap her towel around her again like a sarong skirt. But as she was tucking it under, Trey placed one hand on her arm—uncomfortably close to her breast, she thought—then leaned forward and touched her cheek with his other hand. “Really, Chelsea, you are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid eyes on, and I can’t believe you’re ditching me like this. Won’t you reconsider?”

“Excuse me.” Her dad stepped up with a very disturbed expression.

“Hi, Dad,” she said nervously.

Trey’s hands fell to his side, and as he stepped back with a guilty look, Chelsea felt certain she could see the color draining from his tanned face. In the same instant, she felt the blood rushing to her own.