Two Steps Back by Belle Payton

Author:Belle Payton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Spotlight

Ava turned around to view the crowd in the bleachers. It was the largest crowd they’d had at any game all season. Coach K had told her to get suited up, even though she was going to spend the game on the bench today. At first she’d thought that was weird, but now she was glad to be wearing her uniform. It made her feel more like a part of the team. And it made her stand out less. She hated standing out.

She spotted Alex. But where was the TV crew? She watched as Alex climbed up into the bleachers to sit with the rest of their family. Had she told the TV people not to come?

A movement in the parking lot caught her eye. A news vans was pulling in. But it was from Channel 7, a competing local station. And then another van pulled in, and another, in a caravan formation. The only crew she didn’t see was the white KHXA van. Well, it seemed the media had found out about the controversy. From the size of the crowds in the stands, she supposed she wasn’t surprised.

Suddenly Alex was behind her, calling to her from the fence. Ava stood up and trotted over to her.

“Ave,” said Alex. “I know this looks bad. I know it looks like I’m doing the story about you even though you didn’t want me to. But I just told Marcy I’m not going to do it. I sent her away.”

“Was she mad?” asked Ava.

Alex nodded. “Yeah, she was furious. But I told her you’re more important.”

“Thanks, Al,” said Ava.

“The thing is,” said Alex, “I don’t know how all these other reporters found out. I did not tell anyone besides Marcy.”

Ava looked at all the TV vans lined up in the parking lot. She shrugged. “I guess this game is big news in this town.”

“I guess so,” said Alex. “Anyway, I had another idea for a story, and you’re not in it, I promise. I’ll tell you about it after the game.”

Ava smiled. “Okay. Thanks.”

“Good luck with everything,” said Alex, and they touched knuckles with each other through the fence.

Ava returned to the bench to watch the last few minutes of warm-ups, feeling relieved that Alex had finally listened to her, although still a little angry that it had taken her this long. Corey came over and sat down next to her. “Did you see the Briar Ridge cheerleaders?” he asked her, gesturing toward the other side of the field.

Ava leaned out from the bench and looked past him. There they were, a line of cheerleaders dressed in the Briar Ridge colors—crimson and white—but what were they doing? They were just sitting there, literally. Sitting on the ground, their pom-poms carefully aligned in a neat row in front of them, with their hands in their laps, watching the warm-ups. They seemed cheerful enough, chatting and laughing with one another, but they weren’t cheering.

“What’s going on?” asked Ava. “Why are they just sitting there? And

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.