The Prettiest by Brigit Young

Author:Brigit Young
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

* * *

PE had become unbearable. Twice a week, three classes all joined together on the field and battled it out.

When the sexes were split up, Sophie dominated, of course. She and Hayley were a regular Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. They slammed the volleyball into the grass during the spring and climbed the ropes on the indoor obstacle courses twice as fast as the other girls during winter. But when Ms. Meijer had the girls versus the boys, or mixed-sex teams, Sophie couldn’t embarrass Brody or his guys by running too fast or playing unbeatable defense. So she just slowed down a little. She stayed farther back from the basket or the goalposts.

That day, Ms. Meijer chose boys versus girls for soccer.

Sophie eyed the boys gathered across from her, wondering which of them had written those texts to Eve. They must have thought they were pretty funny, huh? Using words they’d heard their favorite singers and rappers say. Not knowing or caring how it felt to be on the receiving end of those disgusting phrases.

She couldn’t wait to score a goal.

As Ms. Meijer set up the orange cones, Brody hollered from across the patch of grass that separated his team and Sophie’s. “Hey, Soph! How’s it feel knowing you’ll be number two again today?”

Sophie heard a laugh behind her and turned to see that it came from Rose, who quickly covered her mouth. Brody’s friends gave high fives, and even the boys who would have loved to take her to the Halloween dance, boys she had never even spoken to, not out of meanness but more because she’d had no reason to, they laughed, too. It wasn’t even a funny joke.

Sophie tore off her sweatshirt, knowing she’d be steaming hot once she kicked into a higher gear, and she didn’t care where it landed.

The game began.

This time, Sophie didn’t slow down.

She swooped in on the ball, shuffling it toward the goal and kicking it with all her might. Take that, Unknown Numbers. Take that, Brody.

Two minutes in and her team had scored the first point.

“Not even breaking a sweat out here,” she announced loudly enough for everyone, especially Brody, to hear.

He bellowed something in response, but she was already moving, already hustling so hard that Ms. Meijer didn’t even need to yell “Hustle!” the way she always had before when they’d competed against the guys.

Sophie grunted as she scored again.

Hayley came up to her, and they bumped chests like boys did and then laughed at how it hurt.

“Ouch! Let’s not do that again!” Hayley cackled as Sophie practically galloped back to her spot on the field.

Sophie hadn’t forgiven Hayley for what she’d said about her, but she’d team up with her against these kids any day.

As they all took a water break, Brody and Caleb practiced headbutting the ball. Ms. Meijer told them to quit it, and the teams faced off again.

“Looks like I’m not gonna be second place, after all,” Sophie chirped in a sugary sweet voice to Brody.

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