Episode 5: Super Star: Southwest Cougars Freshman Year, #5

By Tamara Hart Heiner

Cassie's got two big goals for her spring: land a boyfriend and get the starring role in her school play. With Zack giving her attention, she thinks the boyfriend part will be easy. And her schoolmates think she's the perfect person for the play. What she doesn't expect is to co-star with a boy from her class who she never noticed before—and suddenly has her turning her head. Now there are two boys catching Cassie's attention—but will either of them want her?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tamara Heiner
• Release date: Mar 26, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224232871

Tamara Hart Heiner

Tamara Hart Heiner lives in Arkansas with her husband, four kids, a cat, a rabbit, and several fish. She would love to add a macaw and a sugar glider to the family collection. She graduated with a degree in English and an editing emphasis from Brigham Young University. She's been an editor for BYU-TV and currently works as an editor for WiDo Publishing and as a freelancer. She's the author of the young adult suspense series, PERILOUS, INEVITABLE, the CASSANDRA JONES saga, and a nonfiction book about the Joplin tornado, TORNADO WARNING. 

Book preview

Episode 5: Super Star

CHAPTER ONE

Mother May I

Saturday night of the dance finally arrived.

Cassie had spent the day with her friend Andrea, but then her mom wanted her to come home and help with the cleaning before she left for the dance.

Her friends followed, gathering at Cassie’s house so they could ride together. Amity brought Melanie, and Janice came for the first time ever. Even Cara decided to come, in spite of Melanie’s presence. And of course Maureen and Andrea came.

Cassie did her hair in curlers and then fluffed up the curls as she did a quick head count of her friends. Six. She was bringing six people to the dance.

Mrs. Jones piled everyone into the van and they made the half-hour journey to Rogers, a neighboring city. Cassie sat up front but kept her head turned back to watch everyone. Melanie was being super sweet, and everyone was engaged in conversation except Cara, who just rolled her eyes and remained quiet. Cassie knew it was an expression of irritation that Melanie had come along.

The closer they got to the chapel, the more Cassie thought about Zack. She hadn’t danced with him since the New Year’s dance. He had promised to be here tonight. That meant something, right? Like he would be there for her? She kept picturing his smile, and something trembled in her chest every time she did.

Mrs. Jones dropped the giggling gaggle of girls off at the chapel, and Cassie was suddenly so nervous she didn’t want to step inside.

Andrea looped her arm into hers and said, Your knight in shining armor awaits. Let’s go in.

Cassie forced a smile and bit down so hard on her tongue she tasted blood.

Ow! She pressed a finger to the tip of her tongue and examined the bloody mark on her skin. My tongue is bleeding!

Andrea clicked like a nervous hen. How did you do that? Come on, let’s go to the bathroom!

As the other girls made their way into the dance, Cassie and Andrea made a beeline for the bathroom in the back. Cassie used toilet paper to dab at the blood, but all it did was stick to her tongue. She kept her hand under the sink and washed her mouth out with water.

I’m okay, she said, meeting Andrea’s eyes in the mirror. Let’s go in.

Well, at least you’re not nervous anymore, Andrea said

Just like that, Cassie was nervous again.

The dance had already started when they walked in, and Cassie’s eyes quickly swept over the crowd. There was Tyler, Riley, Tyler’s brother Jason, all of her friends from school, and several other boys, including her neighbor Beckham and his friends. Josh was there, too, and Cassie hoped he wouldn’t spend the whole night trying to dance with her.

And then Cassie saw Zack, and her heart skipped a beat. Leave him alone, she told herself. Don’t go and harass him. But she couldn’t pull her eyes from his profile.

He turned his face slightly and met her gaze, his mouth instantly turning up in that smile she knew so well. His eyes crinkled, and he waved.

Her face hot, Cassie waved back. Then she turned and intentionally paid closer attention to what her friends were saying so she wouldn’t be tempted to stare at him anymore.

The next song came on, and boys congregated around the girls. Cassie glanced around but didn’t see Zack. Beckham asked her to dance and she said yes. She buried her thoughts of Zack and focused on Beckham, who was a year younger than she was. After a few minutes of mindless chatter, the conversation went dry, and Cassie waited for the song to be over.

A fast song came on next, and the girls formed a huddle, jumping and throwing their arms in the air together. Cassie laughed and jumped until her legs hurt and she was sweating. She grabbed a drink of punch and downed it just as another song came on.

A slow song. The perfect dancing song. She put the cup down and didn’t dare look around. This would be the moment, the perfect moment for Zack to ask her to dance.

Someone was making his way toward her. She saw the approaching figure and told herself not to look, but she wasn’t strong enough. Cassie turned her head and met the gaze of Zack as he approached. A radiant smile crossed his face, and she smiled back.

Cassie, he said, extending a hand. Would you like to dance?

Yes, Cassie breathed.

He took her hand and guided her onto the dance floor. His other hand went to her waist, resting itself just above her hip, and Cassie had never been so aware of the warmth of another person’s body. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from his. She doubted he felt anything for her—he was just kind and considerate and knew she liked him.

So what have you been doing these days, Cassie?

Nothing interesting, Cassie said, hoping she wouldn’t bore him. I’m finishing a science fair project.

Are you good at school?

Her face warmed. I like school. I try to do well.

Me too. Grades and my future are important to me.

What about sports? How’s soccer going?

I sprained my ankle last fall, so I haven’t been playing as much. I have to be careful not to hurt it again.

That’s no good! We love soccer.

Zack’s face lit up. Yeah, you said your dad owns a soccer store. The soccer store? That’s your dad’s store?

Cassie nodded. It’s the only one in Springdale and Fayetteville. Even people from Missouri shop there.

We go there all the time.

I work there a lot, Cassie said. I’ve never seen you.

Well, I guess it’s really my dad that goes. I’ve been in it before, though. I’ll have to look for you next time.

Cassie wondered if she should increase her working hours just in case Zack came in.

What else do you like to do? she asked. What she really wanted to ask was how he felt about her. Just thinking about asking made her heart pound fiercely in her chest. They’d been talking to each other on the phone for more than a month now, and she had sent several letters. It was enough time for him to develop feelings for her, wasn’t it?

But she could not ask, in spite of Andrea asking him. She didn’t trust Andrea, and if he said he only liked her as a friend, she would be devastated.

So she didn’t ask.

The song drew to a close, and Zack gave her a big smile. Thanks for dancing with me. He squeezed her hand before letting go.

Thank you, Cassie whispered, hating that she had to let go. Already she missed the feel of his hand on hers.

Andrea waved at Cassie, and Cassie started toward her, just as Josh intercepted.

Cassie— he began.

Josh! Andrea hurried over, squealing. So good to see you! Have you met Melanie? Andrea pointed, holding Josh’s attention as she indicated the pretty blond next to Amity. She’s new! You should go dance with her!

Yeah, Josh said, his eyes focused on her. I’ll go ask her.

You’re welcome, Andrea said as Josh spoke to Melanie and then they took to the dance floor. Now he likes her instead of you.

For some inexplicable reason, Cassie felt a little jealous not to have all of Josh’s attention.

I don’t want it, she reminded herself.

She didn’t dance with Zack again, and Cassie sighed with disappointment when the dance ended and the lights came on.

Please help clean up! a woman with graying brown hair said, rolling a giant trashcan into the room.

Riley popped over to Cassie’s side at the table as she cleared cups.

Tyler didn’t even dance with me.

That was because he had spent most of the dance with Andrea, but Cassie kept the thought to herself. Did you have fun anyway?

Sort of. I saw who you were dancing with. She gave Cassie a sly grin.

Yeah. Cassie smiled at the tablecloth as she pulled it up. She couldn’t help the glowing happiness she felt inside. What do you think of him? She spun around to face Riley but found somebody else behind her—Zack.

Think of who? he asked, blinking at her innocently.

Oh. I thought you were Riley. Where had she gone? Face hot, Cassie did a quick scan for her friend before spotting her several feet away at the trashcan. That’s Riley, she said lamely, as if that could cover her faux pas.

"But that’s not