Steve wanted to ask Jenny to his school’s Spring Dance, but he imagined that she had plenty of dates and wouldn’t be interested 21_____ going with him anyway. When his friends 22_____ about his plans for the dance, Steve pretended to be 23_____, but they urged him to consider going to the dance. Steve 24_____ decided that he would make the effort to ask Jenny, but felt sure that he would be turned 25_____.
26_____ the following afternoon, as Steve was delivering papers, he could see Jenny 27_____ on the front steps. She seemed to be waiting for someone. Steve grew more 28_____ as he approached her, pretending to be busy with his newspaper. By the time he managed to say hello, his courage had failed, and he had given up the idea of asking her to the dance.
29_____ his surprise, Jenny suddenly struck up a conversation, and a few minutes later she asked him to the Spring Dance being held in her school. The turn of events was so startling to Steve 30_____, for a few moments, he could only stare in total amazement.
25.