Winning by Lara Deloza

Author:Lara Deloza
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2016-04-22T04:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-EIGHT

Sloane

I am stationed near the school’s entrance, partially hidden by a tall carton of cast-off shoes people have donated to the homeless. I am lying in waiting for one Alexandra Miles. Or, if I can’t find her, lying in wait for Samantha Schnitt. But if they’re together, then it’s Alexandra, definitely.

And together is how I first spot them, whispering conspiratorially as they walk through the double doors. My plan is to wait until they pass, then slip out from my hiding place and call out Alexandra’s name. Only, for whatever reason, Samantha is looking over my way. I panic and dip down into the box, trying to hide my face.

It doesn’t work.

“Making a deposit or a withdrawal?” Alexandra says. I can practically hear the smirk in her voice.

I pop up and flash Alexandra a smile. Sam is nowhere to be seen.

“Oh, hey,” I say brightly. “Good morning. How are you? There’s something I wanted to—”

“I need you to run the meeting for me today,” she says, cutting me off.

“Key Club?”

“No, our mutual AA meeting. Yes, Key Club. I have things I have to take care of after school.”

“But . . . But you always run the meeting,” I say. “You never miss.”

“There’s a first time for everything.”

Typically, this would be when Alexandra would turn on her heel and walk away. In addition to running meetings, ruining relationships, stealing volunteer opportunities, and not answering emails, Alexandra really likes to have the last word.

But today she doesn’t do this. Instead, she says, “You wanted something?”

“I did? Oh yeah, I did.”

“So what is it?”

I swallow hard. “I wanted to apologize. For what I said the other day. I was just—”

“Hurt,” she finishes for me. “I know. And I’m sorry.”

My shock must register on my face, because the next thing I know she’s laughing and saying, “Don’t be so surprised. I know how to apologize.”

“It’s just—”

“Listen,” Alexandra says, taking a step closer to me. “I’ve been thinking. It makes sense that you and I clash from time to time. For one thing, we have a lot of the same . . . interests. Like the acting thing, and Key Club, and you know, lots of stuff.”

This list of things we have in common is starting to sound like an offshoot of a humblebrag. Because, hi, everything she’s naming is stuff she’s beat me at.

“What’s your point?” I say.

“I don’t want there to be bad feelings between us. High school’s too short for that.” Alexandra reaches out and squeezes my hand with hers. There’s an earnestness in the way that she’s looking at me that makes me wonder if she’s actually being sincere.

“Give me a call this weekend,” she says. “Maybe we can make plans to get together. I’m working with my pageant coach on Saturday, but I can always make time for a friend.” She offers a final warm smile and a little wave before turning and heading off down the hallway.

Fact: I am 100 percent dumbfounded. I stand there, speechless, watching her disappear in the distance.

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