The Crush Dilemma

By Susan Hatler

Teen geek, Poppy Pinkleton, is adding some spice to her junior year of high school! A year of psychological experiments that will:

1) Earn her three units of college credit;

2) Give her an outlet to say what she wants, when she wants; and

3) Will NOT include her parents telling her to be the "bigger person."

How, you ask? Poppy's gotten the green light from Ms. Peterson, the newspaper head, to write an online advice column for the school. She's found the perfect name for her alter ego: Aubrey. It means someone who rules with "magical wisdom." She'll be in control of her online experiment, online identity, and divvy her wisdom to the masses while tracking the results for her mini-thesis.

Now, protected by a secret identity, she's got the popular crowd clambering to know what she thinks about fashion, homework, and eek . . . even sex! And the best part is, her parents and best friends don't know anything about it. Finally, she can let loose a wild side and speak her mind—right or wrong, without having to meet anyone's expectations.

Soon, however, dishing out advice leads to more than Poppy can handle on her own and she must make a choice. Hide behind her alter ego or take the chance that everyone, including the new boy at school, will like her for everything she is.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hatco Publishing
• Release date: Jul 14, 2016
• ISBN: 9780996298247

Susan Hatler

SUSAN HATLER è una Scrittrice Bestseller del New York Times e di USA Today. Scrive romanzi contemporanei umoristici e sentimentali e racconti per giovani adulti. Molti dei libri di Susan sono stati tradotti in tedesco, spagnolo, italiano e francese. Ottimista d’indole, Susan crede che la vita sia strabiliante, che le persone siano affascinanti, e che la fantasia sia infinita. Ama trascorrere il tempo con i suoi personaggi e spera che anche tu lo faccia. Puoi contattare Susan qui: Facebook: facebook.com/authorsusanhatler Twitter: twitter.com/susanhatler Sito internet: susanhatler.com/italiano Blog: susanhatler.com/category/susans-blog

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The Crush Dilemma

Copyright © 2016 by Susan Hatler

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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_________________________________________

Cover Design by Elaina Lee, For The Muse Design

www.forthemusedesign.com

Titles by Susan Hatler

Return to Christmas Falls Series

Forever Yours in Christmas Falls

The Wedding Whisperer Series

The Wedding Charm

The Wedding Catch

My Wedding Date

Kissed by the Bay Series

Every Little Kiss

The Perfect Kiss

Just One Kiss

The Sweetest Kiss

A Christmas Kiss

All About That Kiss

Forever in a Kiss

Better Date than Never Series

Love at First Date

Truth or Date

My Last Blind Date

Save the Date

A Twist of Date

License to Date

Driven to Date

Up to Date

Déjà Date

Date and Dash

Treasured Dreams Series

An Unexpected Date

An Unexpected Kiss

An Unexpected Love

An Unexpected Proposal

An Unexpected Wedding

An Unexpected Joy

An Unexpected Baby

Young Adult Novels

Shaken

See Me

The Crush Dilemma

Praise

If you enjoy a YA Romance jam packed with adventure and the unknown, I would recommend this fantastic read.

— Tifferz Book Reviewz on Shaken

"Hatler continues to amaze me with her ability to write any genre that pulls me in

hook, line and sinker!"

— Books Are Sanity!!! on See Me

Wow Susan Hatler did it again. I absolutely loved this book.

— Just a Girl Kindleing on The Crush Dilemma

Seriously you guys, you have to pick this one up if you are a romantic at heart. Deliciously sweet.

— Getting Your Read On Reviews on My Last Blind Date

An Unexpected Date is a wonderful and perfect release to a stressful or crazy day.

— Cafè of Dreams Book Reviews

* To receive a FREE BOOK, click the following link now to sign up for Susan’s Newsletter: susanhatler.com/newsletter *

Chapter One

I’d been the good girl so long I felt ready to burst, but I may have just found the perfect outlet to unleash my rebellious side—if I could get up the guts to take the plunge. Nerves crept up my spine, and I knew my entire future would be at stake if this experiment went awry.

Being a reserved teen geek wasn’t fulfilling me, but I wasn’t dumb. I needed to ensure my carefully planned life didn’t explode during my quest for adventure or all I’d worked so hard for would be gone.

Maybe I shouldn’t take this chance.

Sitting on my homework-piled bed, I closed my eyes, remembering the day’s events—all of which were nudging me in the direction of just do it already. My little brother had called me Butt Face and when I asked my mom to have a talk with him she told me to be the bigger person. My history teacher, Mr. Erickson, asked if I’d be a volunteer tutor for two of his students—which would mean even more after-school responsibilities. Then my best friend, Beth, made me recite The Sacred Pact, our outdated oath to engage in only productive fun (read: studying or volunteering at the pet shelter, not doing our nails or going to the mall).

How did I respond to these incidents? I’d refrained from pointing out that my mom played favorites. I’d politely agreed to tutor Mr. Erickson’s students in U.S. History. And I’d even recited The Pact with Beth, though I no longer believed in our pact’s monotonous merits. I’d been real forthright in my opinions . . . not. Frustration coiled within me at my wimpiness.

If I wanted to change, the time would be now or never. Deep down, I knew I couldn’t let this opportunity pass by. This experiment was the perfect, safe way to be more . . . well, me.

I turned to gaze at the phone on my desk. Five minutes ago, I’d hung up with Ms. Peters, the school newspaper head/college advisor/science teacher, and my mentor. I’d told Ms. P about my idea to write a teen online advice column for the school and she’d given me the green light.

Since my secret career goal was to become a psychologist—via Stanford University, pretty please—this online advice column would be a fascinating psych project. Plus, the column would qualify as extra credit in my journalism class—not that I needed the boost in grades with my 4.2, but padding my résumé always gave me a glowy feeling inside.

Chills rolled through me, a mix of excitement and terror. This advice column would be an offshoot of San Felipe High School’s newspaper, but technically wouldn’t be endorsed by the school, so I could run the column however I wanted—well, within reason she’d said. I assumed she meant to keep it clean, as if I’d do otherwise.

Most importantly, though, I’d create a secret identity, which meant I could finally call things like I actually saw them—without having to worry about pleasing everyone.

Having an alternate identity would be like living a double life. One life where I continued to be the usual me—studious, industrious, and a total good girl, which made my friends and teachers happy, and my mom proud. And another life where I could let loose a different side of me and speak my mind—right or wrong, without having to meet anyone’s expectations besides my own. Finally!

Okay, I needed to do this. For my own sanity, if nothing else. A slow smile spread across my face. Now that I’d made the decision, I itched to send out a mass email announcing the teen advice column to the students of San Felipe High and hopefully hook some guinea pigs in need of my opinion. But first, I needed to think of a name for my alter ego.

I tapped my finger against my cheek. With my name being Poppy Rose Pinkleton, my new persona could be a spin off of my middle name. Like . . . Rosangela! Eh, too exotic for an advice columnist. Ooh, maybe Rose? Nah, too subdued. Scarlet? A little too feisty.

I dropped back onto my bedspread, threw my arms over my head, and blew out a breath. None of those names were quite right. Hmm. . . Sitting up, I opened my laptop and browsed the Internet. After a few simple keystrokes, there it sat, all lit up on my computer screen. The ideal name for my alter ego. . . .

Aubrey.

The definition of Aubrey was one who rules with magical wisdom, which fit perfectly with my expectations. I’d be in control of my online experiment, online identity, and would shell out my wisdom to the masses while tracking the results for my mini-thesis. Finally, I’d be able to say what I wanted and be who I wanted without disrupting my good girl status. Yes, Aubrey was simple, smart, and very moi.

Students could ask Aubrey any question they wanted. I’d give my best advice and require them to tell me the results of my advice, so I could test my hypotheses. I’d be speaking my true mind, helping people, and testing the waters of my future career. Perfect.

My column would be called: Dear Aubrey.

Let the experiment begin. . . .

Chapter Two

http://www.dearaubrey.com

Dear Aubrey,

Oh, wow! The school email I just got about your new advice column was like a sign. I’m desperate for help. My boyfriend wants to copy my homework. You know, that annoying take-home quiz Mr. Erickson makes us do each week? Should I let him mooch off me? I want to say no, since he didn’t help me study at all, but I feel kinda bad. He needs to maintain a C in U.S. History or they’ll kick him off the basketball team. I don’t want that to be all on me.

Normally I’d say no prob, but he went to a party without me last night after he promised to study for the quiz. I think he may have cheated on me. Am I freaking out over nothing? I mean, why else wouldn’t he have asked me to go with him?

Confused

Dear Confused,

Sounds like what’s really bugging you is this party. Did your boyfriend stray on you? If you have to ask, the answer is always: DUMP HIM. He’s either cheating or you don’t trust him enough not to cheat. Either way you’d be better off spending your evenings with a good book.

Stay real,

Aubrey

HYPOTHESIS: Teenage girls get cheated on.

PURPOSE OF EXPERIMENT: If teenage girls raise their expectations, will teen boys rise to the occasion?

CONCLUSION: To be determined.

****

I strode into the cafeteria at lunch time, feeling totally invigorated. I’d just checked my advice column in the computer lab and had a major high from my first write-in for Dear Aubrey. Yay! Telling that girl to dump her untrustworthy boyfriend was something I’d never say to anyone in a million years. But Aubrey had just laid it out there, and helping that girl had felt good. Colossally good.

My gaze landed on Beth, who was waving her arms in the air like a crazy person in a boisterous effort to get my attention—an unusual gesture since we ate lunch together every day and had done so for the past two-plus years. I mean, where else did she think I would sit?

Wondering what was up with my best friend’s hysteria, I made my way over to our usual table with my brown bag lunch. Over-indulging in your sugar intake? I joked.

It’s about time you got here, Poppy! She wiggled so hard in her seat that the table vibrated, causing her open yogurt container to inch away from her.

I sat down across from her and pulled out my cheese sandwich. Excited?

Her cheeks turned pink. Oh, did you already hear what happened?

No, I haven’t a clue, I assured her, since she was obviously dying to spill whatever news she had to tell me. What have you got?

Well, brace yourself . . . She did a dramatic drum roll with her index fingers on the table before freezing both arms in the air. Amber broke up with Jake.

My mouth fell open and my sandwich simultaneously slipped out of my hand, then it plopped onto the table. My sandwich, not my mouth. Had she really just said my long time crush was finally single? My heart jumped in my chest. What?

She crossed her heart and raised her right hand. The split happened seven minutes ago in the courtyard while you were . . . well, where were you?

Um, what? What? I asked, blinking in what I hoped passed for an innocent expression. Normally, I didn’t believe in repeating words. It’s unimaginative and there’s a huge collection of cool words out there. But I couldn’t tell her I’d been checking on my secret advice column. If anyone, even Beth, discovered Aubrey’s true identity, then that would pretty much ruin my whole mental outlet goal. "Wait. Are you sure Amber and Jake broke up?"

She nodded. I confirmed with two sources. The rumor is true.

My heart skipped a beat. Old crushes died hard. I-I’m in shock.

It blew me away, too. I mean, I thought they would last forever. They’ve been together since junior high. They were voted Homecoming King and Queen just last month.

You’re stating the obvious, I pointed out. She had asked me to alert her when that happened to help her move on. Personally, I admired her habit of speaking her thoughts aloud.

Thanks, and here’s another tidbit you probably don’t know. She leaned toward me, her voice hushed and conspiratorial. Last night, while you, Mason, and I were having that study marathon at your place, there was a huge party at Daniel Baker’s house—

I held my hand up. Wait, who’s Daniel Baker?

He just moved here. She nudged her head in the direction of the It table, and at a boy with short, sandy-brown hair who wore a blue muscle-shirt like nobody’s business. He dodged left, then right, and finally shot an invisible ball in the air. He’s on the basketball team, she added.

I kind of guessed, I said, thinking I might have to start attending some basketball games. I watched the insanely attractive boy proceed to dribble an invisible ball. The girls at that table kept their gazes glued on him, following his every move. Jake sat at the opposite end of the table and didn’t seem thrilled with the attention going to the model-hot new boy.

You’re gaping, Beth said, in a caught you voice.

Oh! I whipped my head away from the newbie and back to Beth. I wanted to return to our conversation but couldn’t, for the life of me, remember our topic of conversation. All I could see in my mind was replay after replay. I cringed. Refresh my memory?

Daniel’s party. She smirked, giving me a knowing look. "Jake went without Amber."

That’s hard to believe. I shook my head to clear another high definition replay in my head of Daniel Baker pretending to shoot hoops. I forced myself not to look over at the It table again, even though I so wanted to see what he was doing now. Get it together, Poppy. I cleared my throat, forcing my thoughts back on the guy I’d been crushing on forever.

Beth raised a shoulder. Well, according to Mason, Jake was scamming on some other girl at the party and totally hooked up with her.

What? He couldn’t have done something so skeevy, I said, stunned at the mere thought. And, yeah, Jake and I hadn’t had a real conversation since the sixth grade, but he’d always been an honest boy to the core. When I’d confessed my crush on him back then, he’d flat out told me he only thought of me as a friend. Brutal, but honest. Even with a broken heart, I had to respect that. How did Mason find that out when he was studying with us last night?

He refused to reveal his source. She raised a brow, telling me she was annoyed that he wouldn’t give up the name. Mason’s information is usually accurate, even though Jake’s infidelity does sound unbelievable. I mean, Jake cheat on Amber at that party? Get real. She shrugged. But that’s the rumor floating around.

Intriguing . . . I narrowed my eyes, trying to decipher the possibility of Jake cheating on Amber. Wait a minute. A party last night? Possible cheating? This sounded strangely familiar. I chewed on my lower lip, and then flared my eyes when the realization hit me. No way! "Hey, did you happen to read the Dear Aubrey post this morning?"

She looked momentarily confused at the change of subject. Do you mean that new online advice column for the school? N-No, I didn’t read it. Why? I mean, don’t you think it sounds frivolous or something?

It’s a respectable offshoot of the school newspaper, I said, defending my honor even while I tallied up that Amber, the It-est girl of the It crowd had clearly written Dear Aubrey as Confused. I mean, that had to have been her since: 1) Jake’s on the basketball team; 2) Jake went to a party last night without his girlfriend; and 3) His girlfriend just dumped him. Freak coincidence?

I sincerely doubted it.

Amber had written Dear Aubrey and had acted on Aubrey’s advice. My advice! Adrenaline rushed through my veins. The number one It girl valued my opinion. Wow. Too excited to keep this thrilling revelation from my best friend, I opened my mouth to spill my secret identity to Beth—

Uh, Poppy? She waved a hand in front of my face. You okay?

I . . . As much as I wanted to confide in my best friend, as much as I knew I should tell her, I suddenly feared my column broke The Sacred Pact we’d written in junior high since the column’s post had involved parties, cheaters, and not just advice on homework. The Pact was old and outdated, but it had bonded us as best friends and it meant the world to us. Well, currently only to Beth. I, on the other hand, was beyond ready to, well, grow up and move on. I needed to divert the conversation. I, uh . . . who did Jake allegedly hook up with?

I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Close call. Whew! Anonymity still intact. The Sacred Pact still not broken. Well, maybe by online me, but not by real life me.

Mason didn’t know for sure who the girl was. Beth reached for her yogurt, stirring the spoon around inside the plastic cup. When you see him in your journalism class, why don’t you ask if he’s found out anything new about what happened?

Good idea. I had no doubt Mason would get the dirt. He was the smartest person in school and had the best ear for discovering gossip and then substantiating whether or not the information was true. Beth, Mason, and I had been best buds since junior high when Mason and Beth had french-kissed outside the auditorium after the school play. It had been a dare to Beth by yours truly since I’d suspected they had crushes on each other, but apparently I’d been grossly in error. The kiss must’ve been bad, too, since neither have ever spoken about it and Beth changed the subject whenever I brought it up.

Poppy? You don’t seem like yourself today . . .

Just processing the news. I shifted my gaze around the cafeteria. At each aluminum table, teenage heads clustered together. Whispers and murmurs buzzed. I turned back to Beth. Do you think everyone’s talking about Jake and Amber?

Of course. It’s the biggest news San Felipe High’s ever had. She threw her hands in the air and her yogurt top flew

Reviews for The Crush Dilemma

[Andrea Author · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Teen geek Poppy starts writing an advice column for her high school newspaper. She feels empowered to speak her mind, hiding behind a veil of anonymity. For the first time, she becomes popular—or at least her alter ego does. But will her classmates still like her if they learn the truth?

This is a cute YA novella. It does a great job of capturing the intensity and insecurities of high school relationships. Poppy is a sweetheart, trying her best to do the right thing despite her inexperience. The story is told with all the heart and humor I've come to expect from this author.

Thanks, Booksprout, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[erinayin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Here is a summary of what the book is about. Teen geek, Poppy Pinkleton, is adding some spice to her junior year of high school: A year of psychological experiments that will 1) Earn her three units of college credit; 2) Give her an outlet to say what she wants, when she wants; and 3) Will NOT include her parents telling her to be the "bigger person."How you ask? Poppy's gotten the green light from Ms. Peterson, the newspaper head, to write an online advice column for the school.She's found the perfect name for her alter ego: Aubrey. It means someone who rules with "magical wisdom."She'll be in control of her online experiment, online identity, and divvy her wisdom to the masses while tracking the results for her mini- thesis.Now protected by a secret identity, she's got the popular crowd clambering to know what she thinks about fashion, homework, and eek... even sex! And the best part is, her parents and best friends don't know anything about it.Finally, she can let loose a wild side and speak her mind- right or wrong, without having to meet anyone's expectations.Soon however, dishing out advice leads to more than Poppy can handle on her own and she must make a choice. Hide behind her alter ego or take the chance that everyone, including the new boy at school, will like her for everything she is.Which do you think she will choose?Wow Susan Hatler did it again. I absolutely loved this book.I found that the story dealt with real issues that teenagers go through in life and in school. It made me want to start my own advice column. The dilemmas that Poppy got herself into and out of and the characters who asked her for advice is what makes this wonderful reading.Happy reading everybody!