What We Saw by Hartzler Aaron

Author:Hartzler,Aaron
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published: 2015-04-07T07:00:00+00:00

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

HarperCollins Publishers

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twenty-one

THE TROPHY CASE just inside the school’s front doors is jammed with brass statues, plaques, and pictures. The “spirit stick” our cheer squad brought home from regionals last year catches my eye, and I imagine knocking it over Sloane Keating’s head as Ben and I catch our breath.

“How does she know our names?” he asks me. “And what the hell did she mean? ‘Great seeing you last night’?”

I have no way to explain this except the truth, but the words are slow to form on my tongue, and before I can say them, the doors swing open again. Rachel, Lindsey, and Christy stumble inside, the latest victors to make it past the reporters.

“Holy hell.” Christy flips her wild curls out of her face.

Rachel tugs at the triangular top of her shiny dress. “Now I know how Taylor Swift feels.” She grabs my shoulder for balance, and pulls off one of her towering heels, shaking it upside down. “Got a rock in my shoe.” Her hair has been hot-rolled into a giant fluffy pile on top of her head.

Once her shoe is back on, Rachel turns to face the group. “Okay. Let’s go dance,” she commands. Instead, we all stand there, sort of shell-shocked. “Oh, c’mon!”

There’s a spark in Rachel’s eye. It’s one of those things no one else sees, but I know her. I know what’s coming. Sure enough, she revs up her favorite dog and pony show.

“Am I going to have to do Rachel’s Ray of Sunshine to get this party started?”

Assuming her Sunday-School-teacher smile, Rachel turns to face me and speaks in a cheery, breathless tone, often reserved for the elderly and children under the age of three. It’s silly, but somehow completely sincere.

“Boys and girls, I want you to know that each one of you is special and beautiful! Kate Weston, your dress is magnificent. You are just a glamorous angel straight from heaven. And you, Mr. Cody, are the luckiest man in the kingdom.”

Christy groans and rolls her eyes. Lindsey lets out a laugh, and even Ben cracks a smile.

“Miss Lindsey, your dress has such pretty feathers! And it’s the color of my favorite ice cream bar. You’re quite simply a Creamsicle swan of loveliness.”

By this point, even Christy is laughing, and Rachel drops her wide-eyed act. “Are we good?” she asks.

“What?” purrs Christy. “I don’t get a ray of sunshine?”

“I’ll tell you what you get,” Rachel says flatly. “You get us to the front of that check-in line.” She smacks Christy on the rear. Christy whoops her assent, tugging at the knotted belt of her polyester pantsuit and herding us all to the check-in station at the other end of the front hallway.

Deputy Jennings stands on one side of the table, chatting with Principal Hargrove. Ms. Speck and Mr. Johnston are ticking people off a master list. There are a couple of sophomores ahead of us and as we reach the table, Coach Sanders barrels through the gym doors with a red bullhorn.

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