Prince Charming: Strawberry Falls, #2

By Jennifer Anderson

Break-ups are never easy, and Sarah O’Connor finds her hard truth from a note. Furious with the delivery and lack of reasoning, she’s forced to carry on with her life, but Josh’s timing couldn’t have been worse. The Ohio State High School Cheerleading competition is around the corner, and instead of focusing on a monumental win, she’s overwhelmed with the recent heartbreak, jealous when she sees him with a new girl, and confused by lingering feelings of taking him back.

Enter Adrian Beale, a face from her past. Soon, she’s more conflicted because while she knows she needs to move on, making Adrian an ideal candidate, Josh won’t go away.

She decides to put both boys aside to focus on winning state, but when she witnesses a scandalous situation, can she erase what she’s seen, or will the images plague her performance? Can Sarah move on from an old love to a new one, and will she carry her squad to victory?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jennifer Anderson
• Release date: Jun 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533789037

Book preview

Dedication

To my Prince Charming who is the king of my heart.

PRINCE CHARMING

Break-ups are never easy, and Sarah O’Connor finds her hard truth from a note. Furious with the delivery and lack of reasoning, she’s forced to carry on with her life, but Josh’s timing couldn’t have been worse. The Ohio State High School Cheerleading competition is around the corner, and instead of focusing on a monumental win, she’s overwhelmed with the recent heartbreak, jealous when she sees him with a new girl, and confused by lingering feelings of taking him back.

Enter Adrian Beale, a face from her past. Soon, she’s more conflicted because while she knows she needs to move on, making Adrian an ideal candidate, Josh won’t go away.

She decides to put both boys aside to focus on winning state, but when she witnesses a scandalous situation, can she erase what she’s seen, or will the images plague her performance? Can Sarah move on from an old love to a new one, and will she carry her squad to victory?

Chapter One

Crushed. Two months, two weeks and two days. Maybe even two hours, but I didn’t know. The paper in my hands crunched under the pressure his words said to my heart. I’m breaking up with you.

The note burned like fire. I let it fall from my fingers and float to the floor. Echoes of metal lockers clanking shut sounded as I eased myself and my broken heart to the wooden bench. Beckie knew instantly I needed her. Her butt bumped mine when she slid across the bench. She wrapped her arm around my shaking shoulders. Tears fell. I ran a hand across my face, noticing a streak of black mascara. I didn’t care. He didn’t love me anymore. Who did I need to look pretty for? My life was over.

Brown hair shielded my face when my head fell forward into my hands. I knew I was making a bigger mess of my make-up, but I didn’t care if he didn’t care.

Oh, Sarah, what’s wrong? Beckie asked.

Josh...broke...up...with...me. I hiccupped between blubbering sobs.

What!

I can’t believe it. Why? I turned and looked into her blue eyes hoping for answers but finding more questions. And right before state. He knows how important this is to me, and now he’s totally ruined my train of thought.

Beckie pulled me closer, brushing hair from my wet face. Concern settled on her forehead while she wiped away the mascara soaked tears. His loss, she stated as if it was the simplest idea to comprehend.

I knew state wasn’t as important as my heart, but I didn’t want a full breakdown in the girls’ locker room. Despite all the tears and my runny nose, I still had an image to maintain as captain of the squad, and I knew one faulty move would send me to nowhere land in the social universe. As a sophomore, captain was a hard title to maintain.

Look at me, Sarah. His loss, not yours. If he can’t see how wonderful you are, then you don’t need him around. Now, let’s get you cleaned up and show him how much this isn’t affecting you. Girls, she said over her shoulder at the crowd of classmates gathered to witness my breakdown.

Beckie pulled me to the row of sinks and mirrors and presented me with an array of opened make-up bags. After a few minutes, the red was gone from my eyes, and the black trails on my cheeks were concealed. She brushed my dark locks and pulled them into a ponytail on top of my head. I slicked on a rose-colored gloss and smacked my lips to even out the shine. Not bad for a meltdown makeover in the girls’ locker room.

You’ve never looked so good for gym before, Beckie said as she pushed me through the wooden doors toward Josh and the rest of the boys.

The rumble of male voices quieted as the creak of the wooden doors swung open, revealing a mob-like vision of girls clad in gym shorts and t-shirts. Our heads held high, our eyes focused straight ahead to our side of the gym. We were a team.

Once firmly standing to the right of the guys in our class, I snuck a sideways peek at the offending side. My eyes instantly found his lean body and crew cut of ash blonde hair. I couldn’t fight the urge and looked up along his body; a body I used to hold and hug. His blue eyes concentrated on something other than me. Like they had so many times. Two months’ worth of times. No, they looked mesmerized at the brilliance of his goofy friend. My mind and gut thought the laughs were about me. The sour feeling in my tummy rolled through my body, filling my face with heat as the idea of him laughing at me swirled around in my head. How dare he laugh at me.

Steam rose from my ears, and my eyes narrowed their focus on him. Pissed didn’t even begin to describe how I felt. He didn’t get to break my heart right before state with a piece of paper then laugh with his friends about it.

I turned to yell across the span of bodies, as a hand closed on my shoulder. Don’t do it. That’s like social suicide, Beckie whispered at my side.

You’re right.

As always, the voice of reason, she said buffing her nails on her shirt and blowing away the imaginary dust.

I faced my best friend, wanting desperately to pull her into a hug, but I thought better of the scene that would cause. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Thank you for being so great. I’m serious. Later, I’d give her a hug when no one was watching and when I could properly fall apart.

Okay ladies and gentlemen, yelled our PE coach, Mr. Brunes. Today, we’re gonna take a break from the skills testing and let off some steam with a rousing game of dodge ball. I’m not really sure if we’re allowed to call it that, but why put a pretty name on it. You and you, he pointed to two people in our class, you’re captains. Start picking, and please folks, let’s not aim for the head or any other vital parts of the body. Okay? A ripple of snickers rolled through our groups.

It was a given Beckie and I played on the same team. We were a packaged deal. Since kindergarten, we were two peas in a small town pod. Our own version of a Strawberry Fields gang, minus the violence.

Coach blew the whistle, and mayhem ensued. Red rubber balls flew from one side to the next. Echoing smacks of the balls added to the chaotic roar of my classmates trying to tag out an opponent. A group of girls opting to pass on the events eagerly jumped in front of hurling balls and took their places on the sidelines. Jocks plucked balls from the sky and catapulted them at an unsuspecting target then roared with triumph once they took someone down. One by one, kids hobbled off the court, taking their respective spots on the gym floor, proudly displaying their defeat.

The teams were pretty even, and my anger only flared each time I saw a smile perk up on Josh’s face. I knew he wasn’t still laughing at me, but he wasn’t allowed to smile. I passionately took out members of his side of the gym. Soon we were down to Josh, me, Beckie and