Life in the Balance by Jen Petro-Roy

Author:Jen Petro-Roy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Twenty

“Veronica?”

There are five minutes left of lunch period and I’m rustling through my locker, trying to find my science homework, which I thought I’d put in here earlier but has somehow disappeared into the great black hole before me. I try to look over my shoulder but bonk my head against the locker door.

“Ow!” I pull backward and raise my hand to the rapidly forming bruise on my forehead. “This place is dangerous!”

“Sorry.” Libby Kemp stands in front of me, touching her own forehead in sympathy. “I did that a few weeks ago. It’s the worst.”

I wince again, then pump my fist when I notice the edge of my science assignment poking out between the pages of my math book. “Sweet! I found it.” I clasp the papers to my heart. “I spent hours on this dumb lab report and Ms. Davison takes ten points off for each day something’s late.”

“That’s tough.” Libby holds up her own science textbook. “Ms. Fisher’s strict, but not that bad.”

“Oh. Cool.”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah.”

We stand in the hallway for a few minutes, just staring at each other. Everyone else is either in class or at lunch, so there’s nothing to distract us from the awkwardness between us. I’ve never really talked to Libby before—I more stare in awe at her every time she plays and try to hide how jealous I am.

She looks just as nervous as me, though, which is what makes me finally speak up. “Did you … want something?”

Libby shuffles her feet. “Oh. Right.” She giggles. “Sorry to be Admiral Awkwardsauce here. I just don’t really know how to say this.”

My stomach flips twice, then bounces into my throat. Is she going to tell me how I have no right thinking I could ever be on the summer team? Or is there something wrong with my outfit? Did I forget to zip my pants after going to the bathroom earlier?

I turn away, then peek down at myself. Phew!

“I saw you the other night,” Libby finally says.

“The other night…,” I say slowly. “Which night?”

“At the park.” Libby pretends to throw a ball. “At the cages and the backstop. Remember? You … um … you looked upset.”

Of course I remember! I force my face into a happy expression, though. Nothing to see here, la-di-dah!

“Oh, right.” I toss my hair back in my best approximation of Bethany. “That.”

Think fast, Veronica, I tell myself. Give her a good reason for why you were crying in the park after dark.

Is there a good reason for crying in the park after dark?????

Maybe that’s why I tell Libby the truth.

Maybe it’s because Libby looks like she really cares. Maybe it’s because she’s not stuck in the quicksand of her own issues or squealing about sequins.

Maybe it’s because Libby doesn’t know me that well, so I don’t have to be happy-all-the-time Veronica. All she knows is what’s in front of her. Who I am now.

Whatever the reason, this time I don’t lie. I don’t make things sound better than they are.

Instead, I

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