Double or Nothing (13 page)
Authors: Belle Payton
“Rosa's our best tumbler,” said Lindsey.
“Don't you think Alex should try out, Rosa?” asked Emily.
Rosa hesitated. “Well, not everyone is cut out for cheerleading,” she said. “It takes a lot of coordination and flexibility.”
Alex's eyes narrowed. What was that supposed to mean? Did Rosa think she was uncoordinated?
The roar of the opposing team's fans interrupted the conversation. The clock ran down. The Tigers had lost.
Alex was still busy thinking as everyone stood up to leave and her sister poked her arm.
“That was pretty grim,” said Ava.
“Huh? What was grim?” asked Alex, puzzled.
Ava stared at her. “Uh, the game? The fact that we just lost?”
“Oh!” said Alex with a little laugh. “Right. Yeah, too bad. So are you going to Sal's?” The middle school kids usually gathered at the local pizza place after home games.
Ava frowned at her. “Yeah, I promised Kylie I'd head over with her,” she said. “But I'm only staying for a little whileâI want to rest up for my game tomorrow. I'll see you there?”
“Yep, sure,” said Alex. She was still thinking
about Rosa's remarks. Not that she had time to participate in sports, now that she was class president. And it was true that Alex herself commented all the time that she was uncoordinated athletically. But it was one thing for Alex to say it. It was quite another thing for someone else to agree with her, out loud, in front of everyone.
And honestly, cheerleading? How hard could it be?
Belle Payton
isn't a twin herself, but she does have twin brothers! She spent much of her childhood in the bleachers readingâer, cheering them onâat their football games. Though she left the South long ago to become a children's book editor in New York City, Belle still drinks approximately a gallon of sweet tea a week and loves treating her friends to her famous homemade mac-and-cheese. Belle is the author of many books for children and tweens, and is currently having a blast writing two sides to each It Takes Two story.
Meet the author, watch videos, and get extras at
authors.simonandschuster.com/Belle-Payton
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are the product of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
SIMON SPOTLIGHT
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020
This Simon Spotlight edition August 2014
© 2014 by Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
SIMON SPOTLIGHT and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Text by Sarah Albee
Cover art by Anthony VanArsdale
Designed by Ciara Gay
ISBN 978-1-4814-1652-8 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-4814-1653-5 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4814-1654-2 (eBook)
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 2013955431