Go! Fight! Twin! Read Online Free PDF Page B

“It’s about Friday night and the game.”
    â€œIt’s going to be a close one, huh?” said Ava.
    â€œYeah, and that’s the thing,” said Tommy. “See, I know I’m not going to get into the game. PJ’s not going to come out when it’s that tight a contest. And Dion’s getting healthier every day, and he’s ahead of me. And the thing is, I have somewhere I would rather be than standing on the sidelines, knowing there’s no chance I’ll get into the game.”
    â€œWhere?” asked Ava, although she had a feeling she already knew the answer.
    He looked at her directly. “The tri-school band competition. It starts at eight p.m., and I want to be there.”
    Ava nodded. She was silent. This was touchy. Coach would never say yes to Tommy leaving the game midway through. It just wasn’t what you did as a member of a team, no matter how important—or unimportant—you were to the team’s chance of winning. But Tommy would definitely need to leave at halftime if he wanted to get to the concert on time.
    â€œYou realize Coach would kill you if you left.”
    â€œGee, thanks. Like that hadn’t occurred to me.”
    â€œSorry.”
    â€œCan you help me think of something?”
    Ava pondered. “Maybe you could pretend to be sick.”
    Her brother shook his head. “I thought of that. But he’d never believe it. He knows how tough I am.”
    Ava raised her eyebrows. “Aren’t we being modest?”
    â€œNo, I mean, we all are. All the guys understandyou need to be semi-comatose or bleeding from multiple wounds before you’re allowed to admit you don’t feel well. It’s the football culture.”
    â€œNot if you suddenly come down with a stomach bug,” Ava pointed out. “Even Coach would send you away. No one on the team would want you within half a mile of the locker room for fear of catching it.”
    Tommy stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Hmm.”
    â€œGo to him at halftime. Tell him you have a stomach thing. That you think you caught it from someone at school. Tell him you don’t want to infect the rest of the team.” As soon as Ava had said it, she felt a shudder of unease at how easily the lie had come to her. Am I becoming a hardened criminal? One who can come up with diabolical schemes without batting an eye?
    â€œI think you’re onto something, Ave. I can bolt at halftime,” said Tommy, with growing enthusiasm. “I can get a friend to drive me—if I hop into a waiting getaway car, I should get to the concert in plenty of time. We’re third on the program.” Tommy looked intrigued. Then his face fell. “But the band competition might run late. What if I’m not home before Coach is? If I’m supposed to be half-dead of the stomachflu, I can’t be out when he gets home.”
    â€œGood point,” said Ava. “I’m not sure.” She and Tommy sat side by side on Tommy’s bed, their chins resting on the heels of their hands, brooding.
    Ava sat up. “It’s highly unlikely he’ll be home right after the game. He always has to stay and talk to the press and get interviewed and stuff. But on the off chance that he gets home first, I can tell him you got a friend to drive you to the walk-in clinic. Like Luke or somebody. On whom, by the way, Alex already has a mega-crush.”
    Tommy rolled his eyes. “I could’ve seen that one coming,” he said. “I always forget how dreamy Luke is. I guess I don’t stare into his eyes as often as I should. But yeah, Ave, I think this plan might just work. Have I told you you’re awesome?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWell, you’re . . . wait. Forget it. You’re not awesome.”
    â€œWhy not? What’s wrong with this plan?”
    â€œUh, hello? What about Mom? If she hears I’m sick, she’ll be home to check on