WORD COMBINATIONSChapter 2

Mike came to sit me in English, and walked me to my next class, with Chess Club Eric glaring at him all the while; that was nattering.

Chess Club Eric

But I knew myself too well to think I would really have the guts to do it. I made the Cowardly Lion look like the terminator.

Cowardly Lion

I hoped that he would simply ignore me when he came, and prove my suspicions false.

suspicions false

I hurried from the girls' locker room, pleased to find that I had successfully evaded my retriever friend for the moment.

locker room

I changed quickly back into my jeans and navy blue sweater.

navy blue

I walked swiftly out to the parking lot. It was crowded now with fleeing students.

fleeing students

Now that I looked, it was obvious that they were all dressed exceptionally well; simply, but in clothes that subtly hinted at designer origins.

designer origins

I'd lost track of the time, and I hurried downstairs to take the potatoes out and put the steak in to broil.

track of the time

I haven't had one speck of trouble from any of them.

speck of trouble

And they stick together the way a family should — camping trips every other weekend…

camping trip

I wondered idly what kind of gas mileage the truck got… and shuddered at the thought.

gas mileage

Mush balls were flying everywhere.

mush balls

I tried to explain, feeling like an utter moron.

utter moron

But that wasn't why I jerked my hand away so quickly. When he touched me, it stung my hand as if an electric current had passed through us.

electric current

I would have written it while he looked, but his clear, elegant script intimidated me. I didn't want to spoil the page with my clumsy scrawl.

clumsy scrawl

I vividly remembered the flat black color of his eyes the last time he'd glared at me.

flat black color

Mike skipped quickly to my side and picked up my books for me. I imagined him with a wagging tail.

wagging tail

I stared straight ahead as I passed the Volvo, but from a peripheral peek, I would swear I saw him laughing.

peripheral peek