Look Both Ways by Mitchard Jacquelyn

Author:Mitchard, Jacquelyn [Mitchard, Jacquelyn]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Razorbill
Published: 2011-09-09T01:54:33+00:00

BASKET CATCH

Meredith had to make a choice. And she had a split second to make it.

Would she hold back and be cautious, for fear that Mally’s dream might come true?

Was “might” the key word, she wondered, as she slowly mounted the steps to the stage, measuring mentally how much of a run she could make and still not hit the edge of the stage if she did her round-off, flip, round-off combination? She would have had enough room if she were to do it in her living room (her mother had yelled at her often enough that she would be spending her allowance on lamps for the next year if she didn’t stop using Campbell’s carpets as practice mats).

She could do it . . . but was a fall the way it was supposed to happen?

Did her own suspicions about Kim cast her old friend in the role of victim or villain?

Ster, she called. She concentrated with all her might. Ster, tell me. See Kim. The silence echoed inside her head.

The varsity cheerleaders who would be participating as spotters waited on the stage with big smiles for Merry. She was a favorite. She’d heard the whispers. Little dynamite. The personality-plus twin.

Merry smiled back. But her lip quivered.

Coach Everson said, “Meredith, let’s start with the dance to ‘Knock ’em Dead.’ Okay?”

Merry’s heart slowed and her breathing normalized. Nobody could get hurt in a dance. The music began and she concentrated on making her smile natural as she stepped left, left, left, then shook it, shook it, hip, hip, hip—in a circle—then reached, flipped her wrist, dip, high V, drop to one knee.

“Merry, let’s try that again with a combination the varsity squad does. Caitlin and Alli, you come up, too. And Neely. Watch Angela and then do it with her,” said Coach Everson.

This was no no-brainer dance. Merry had to pay attention. But she didn’t miss a step. Next, Kim and the others repeated the same drill. Kim avoided her smile and wouldn’t look into Merry’s eyes.

But soon, Merry was so into the spirit of the competition that she flipped forward and back with such energy and effort that Pam Door started to applaud before she caught herself.

“You’re going to be tough on me,” Neely whispered to her.

Because her last name began with a C, Neely came next. Merry couldn’t rip her eyes away. Neely was as fluent as rain; she tumbled without a single clump or stammer. From a standing position, Neely could flip front and back—a move Merry still needed her hands to do. It was a display of power that Coach Everson quickly pointed out was unnecessary but impressive. “That’s a competition move . . . and not really that either.” Coach smiled at Merry, then furiously began making notes.

Neely was blond and had visible boobs and knew how to flirt and was a powerhouse.

“Okay,” Coach Everson said, “now stunting.” The mounts took the stage and the varsity cheerleaders filled in.

“Merry, let’s see a lib and an arabesque and we’ll drop into a nice basket catch.

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