My Secret Crush

Christmas is not my favorite. Not since I lost my dad last year. The lights, the music, the happy people. Everything reminds me of him. And if he were around still, maybe he could get Chad to leave me alone. On top of all that, Mr. Walker had to give us this assignment to be a Secret Santa for someone, and you'll never guess who I got. Okay, you probably can, but can you blame me for not wanting to do the assignment? Except...Chad doesn't seem to be a bad guy when his friends aren't around. He might even be someone I could like.

My teacher has finally let me do what I want with the Valentine’s Day column for the school paper, and I’m ecstatic. Instead of a regular old ad, I've decided to make it a way for people to ask their dates to the dance. How was I supposed to know that I somehow manage to create the perfect opportunity for my secret admirer to finally get my attention? Is it the hunky basketball player, Brandon? He is everything I've ever wanted. He loves to read, we talk for hours, and he makes some mean bowling alley food. Or could it be someone else who wants to be my Valentine?

There's nothing I love more than St. Patrick's Day. I look forward to March every year just so I can celebrate. So you can imagine my delight when my parents surprise with a trip to Ireland for my senior year spring break. What makes the trip even better is hunky Lewis, the farm boy who runs my great-grandma's farm. He's sweet, he's a gentleman, and he has a killer accent that I fall in love with more every time I hear it.

Everyone in the world seems to be crazy for Liam Hanks, a teenage boy with a swoony singing voice that melts everyone's hearts. Me? I could do with a little less Liam. Too bad Dad (who happens to be our city mayor) had to choose Liam as this year's Fourth of July concert celebrity. Even worse? I'm the one in charge of making sure Liam stays out of the news.

Changes are the worst. Especially when your parents decide to move you across town in the middle of high school. And with it now being my senior year, I hoped I was done with big life changes until graduation. But then I met Aidan. While my family has gone from middle class to filthy rich, his homeless state remains the same. Not that it matters to either of us. We're just happy to be together. But my mom and her agenda to clean up the city might just change all that. I only hope I can help him before it's too late.