Andy Squared Read Online Free PDF Page A

the sport, though,” Ryder said, tilting his head to the side.
    â€œThat’s fine. It’s the last game before the season ends.”
    â€œMaybe I’ll go just to watch you,” Ryder said. His eyes were intense and darker in the dim light of the barn. Andrew suppressed a shiver and crossed his arms over his chest when his heart skipped a beat. I’m definitely catching something. I better not get too sick before the game or Coach will kill me.
    â€œThat’s cool. We need all the support we can get. It’s going to be a good game. The last one is always the most exciting. And there’s nothing to lose.”
    â€œYou said earlier you weren’t going to go to the finals, though, right?”
    â€œYeah. The team we’re playing against is tough. They’re our rival school over in Hanson. Last year we beat them and went to finals, but their record is much better than ours this year. But we’ll still try like hell.” He paused before adding, “I won’t make winning easy for them.”
    Ryder leaned up against the stall door. “I’m sure you won’t.”

Chapter Four
    Saturday came and Andrew woke up early to get ready for the game. It was scheduled to start at ten, but he had to be there by eight for warm-ups. He looked out the window over Andrea’s bed as he grabbed his track pants and saw that the sky had cleared and no trace remained of the little snow that had been left the night before on the ground. It was a beautiful day to play.
    He showered quickly and dressed, then joined his parents downstairs.
    â€œThe paper is saying Hanson’s the favorite to win,” his father said from behind the paper. Andrew shrugged and tied the laces of his sneakers.
    â€œMaybe so, but we’ll give them hell.”
    â€œI wish we had a shot at going to state,” Andrea complained while pulling her hair up into a ponytail. “But they already beat us this year and the girls’ record is flawless; we’ve lost seven games. We lost too many seniors at the end of last season. It sucks.”
    â€œPlus some of the girls didn’t come back to play this year, either,” Andrew said.
    â€œAnd Megan had to quit halfway through because of her grades.”
    â€œSee why I keep on you about your homework?” their mother asked from the other room. “If I didn’t, you’d be in the same situation.”
    Andrea just rolled her eyes and nudged her brother. The two of them got up to collect the rest of their gear. “We’ve gotta leave soon, Dad.”
    â€œThat’s fine. Your mother and I will meet you at the school before the game starts. Yours is at two, right, Andrea?”
    â€œRight.”
    Andrew started the truck ten minutes later and headed for the school grounds.
    â€œThe other day when you were talking to Ryder, were you serious about not playing soccer in college?” Andrea asked, leaning back against the door of the truck so that she could face him.
    â€œI’ve thought about it,” he replied hesitantly.
    â€œAndy, we always said we’d play straight through!”
    Andrew pressed his lips in a tight line and took a moment to answer. “I know. I just said I thought about it. It doesn’t mean I won’t.”
    â€œYou have to play. We have plans. You can’t just go change them without talking to me about it first,” she argued.
    â€œI’m sorry, okay? The next time something big comes up I’ll talk to you about it.”
    â€œI hope so,” she murmured. “You never kept anything from me before. We’re still picking a school together, right? Or did you change your mind about that, too?”
    Andrew nodded. “Of course not. We pick together.”
    Only a few cars were in the parking lot when they arrived, and Andrew parked next to Charlie, who waited for them in his car.
    â€œGreat day to play!” Charlie called as they all climbed