Blow Out Read Online Free PDF Page A

Nita’s news was. She texted back:
    K. I’m in. And curious. :)
    Â . . .

    As usual, Lacy did the driving. Nita didn’t have her own car, and borrowing her family’s minivan meant getting in line behind her parents and older brother. In other words, it never happened.
    The mall was crowded. But all of the activity helped Lacy perk up. She wandered around Macy’s with Nita, helping her find the perfect jeans.
    â€œHere.” Lacy held out a red pair. “Not a UNC color, but you look good in red.”
    â€œOoh, I like.” Nita added it to her growing pile of try-ons. “And if Stanford happens to call…”
    â€œYou’d actually move to the West Coast?”
    â€œThey’re a Division I powerhouse. Yeah, I’ve thought about it.” She shrugged, then grinned. “Especially if those cardinal red jeans fit.”
    Lacy tried on a skirt and a top in the dressing room next to Nita’s.
    â€œSo was that your big secret?” she said through the thin wall. “You’re running away to California?”
    â€œUh. No.” After a pause, Nita said, “Oh, crap. I think I’ve gained weight.”
    â€œNot possible. You’re all muscle.”
    â€œYeah, well. I guess one of these will do. Just not the red pair. Maybe that’s a sign to stay loyal to my state.”
    Nita swung her shopping bag as they left Macy’s. “Food court! I am craving a power shake!”
    â€œIck.” Lacy laughed. “So, share your news. Before I strangle you.”
    â€œOkay.” Nita lowered her voice and looked around. “It’s about your friend Scorpion Neck.”
    Lacy shivered, her good mood instantly gone. “What about her?”
    â€œI was bored out of my mind with history homework last night and did some online snooping. You know, just to see if she has a criminal record or whatever. One of us had to do some digging.”
    â€œNita!”
    â€œLace, after all that’s happened, you can’t possibly doubt she’s after you.”
    Lacy took a deep breath. “No, I guess not.”
    â€œWell, it looks like she’s done this before. I pieced together info from Facebook and one of her old teammates’ blogs. I
know
it’s Raven. Get this. You ready?”
    Lacy groaned with impatience.
    â€œShe was expelled from her high school last year for injuring one of her own teammates. Well,
allegedly
injuring. She said it was an accident. But they expelled her anyway.”
    â€œ
What?
” This was starting to get creepy. As they walked into the food court, Lacy wasn’t sure if she was hungry anymore.
    â€œAnd get this,” Nita said as they stood in line at the Smoothie Factory. “The teammate—whose leg she
broke
with a well-placed kick—was the team’s best scorer.”
    Lacy had a hard time believing what she was hearing. Could anyone be that ruthless about playing soccer? But after Thursday’s practice, it was clear Raven was at least trying to frighten her.
    â€œThis is creeping me out,” Lacy said. “Should we tell Coach Berg?”
    Smoothies in hand, Nita led Lacy to one of the big tables near the windows.
    â€œI’m wondering if he already knows,” Nita said. She sucked on her straw. “He must have all her school records.”
    â€œBut would her records mention something like that?”
    Nita shrugged. “Coach isn’t a bad guy, but you know how focused he gets on winning. He wants aggressive players. Period.”
    Lucy knew this was true. But she couldn’t imagine him knowingly recruiting someone with a violent history.
    â€œHey! Are these seats taken?”
    Lacy looked up from her peach smoothie. Nita’s boyfriend, Reggie, and his friend Peyton stood next to their table, holding trays loaded with pizza slices and soft drinks.
    â€œYeah, by you!” Nita grinned.
    You set me up!
Lacy mouthed to Nita as the guys sat