Double or Nothing Read Free Page B

tears of frustration spring to her eyes. Why was she putting herself through this? Logan was going to win, and if he didn’t, Ella certainly would. She, Alex, couldn’t even get a hundred lousy signatures just to get to the next phase of the campaign.
    â€œHey, Sackett,” said a voice to her right.
    Alex quickly rubbed her eyes with the heel of her hand and turned. It was Jack.
    â€œHey, Jack,” she said, her voice a little too high and bright.
    â€œYou need a ride home or something? My mom’s outside, and we’re heading to soccer practice—we go right past your house.”
    â€œOh, no thanks, I’m good,” said Alex. “I—I’m waiting for someone.”
    â€œOkay, sounds good.” He turned to leave.
    â€œI thought soccer was a spring sport in Texas,” said Alex.
    He turned back. “It is. But those of us who know that soccer is the world’s greatest gameand a far superior sport to football play for the club team.”
    Alex smiled. He was nice. No wonder Ava liked him. A thought dawned on Alex. “Hey, Jack? I’m guessing you already signed Logan’s petition, right?”
    â€œLogan? That would be a no.”
    â€œOh!” she said, surprised. “I assumed because you were a—because you were athletic you would have signed his. I thought he had the athlete vote.”
    â€œNope,” said Jack simply. “I haven’t been following our class government all that closely, to be honest. But I’ll sign your petition if you want.” He grinned and held out his hand for her pen and clipboard, and scribbled down his name. Then he looked more closely. “You’ve got ninety-seven signatures. How many do you need?”
    â€œThree more,” she said miserably. “But I have no one left to ask, and they have to be in by three thirty. I was planning to try the kids in detention, but it fell through.” She felt the tears well up in her eyes again.
    Jack stared at her. A grin spread across his face, but he quickly suppressed it. “Is that whyyou came in late to English today? And why you didn’t bring your book? You were trying to get Palmer to give you a detention?”
    Alex nodded sadly. “I couldn’t even get her to yell at me.”
    Now Jack laughed heartily. “This is your lucky day,” he said, taking her by the elbow and propelling her toward the front door. “Because it’s only three seventeen, and I have three friends sitting in my mom’s car, and I bet they won’t mind signing your petition one bit. They probably don’t even know there is an election, they’re such lame citizens.”
    Alex felt a strong urge to throw her arms around Jack’s neck. As it was probably not the best thing to do on several levels, she restrained herself. But she followed Jack out the door.
    Two minutes later she was dashing back inside to file her signatures in the front office.

CHAPTER
THREE
    Ava sat on a bench in the girls’ locker room, her heart thumping hard in her chest as she laced up her cleats. All around her, girls were changing into sports clothes, chattering cheerfully with one another. She was relieved not to see anyone she knew, at least not well. There was a girl from her social studies class near her, and judging from her tennis shoes and knee pads, Ava guessed she was trying out for volleyball.
    â€œHi!” the girl said. “What sport are you trying out for?”
    Ava mumbled, “Football” under her breath.
    â€œSorry, what? Did you say cross-country?”
    â€œNo, football,” Ava replied.
    â€œVolleyball?”
    â€œFootball!” said Ava loudly.
    The chattering in the locker room stopped. It was as though someone had flicked off a radio.
    â€œFootball?” the girl repeated. “Like, as in, the football team?”
    Ava nodded, staring down at the floor. She could hear someone whispering, and then the