Home Sweet Drama Read Online Free PDF Page A

keep moving. Got it?”
    We nodded.
    â€œPhysical competitions have occurred every Homecoming since this institution was started. I’m pleased to see you all here and participating.Go ahead and get ready,” Ms. Pike said.
    Just as we lowered ourselves to the ground, someone in red Converse sneakers walked by. I forced myself not to look up. I didn’t need to see his face to know who it was.
    Jacob.
    I could feel Heather looking over at me, but I ignored her gaze and kept my eyes on the gym floor. Someone else walked by and headed for the stands. I wondered if it was Callie, but I wasn’t going to check to find out.
    â€œAnd … ready, set, go!” Ms. Pike said.
    I pushed up off the ground, then lowered myself back down. Up and down and up and down. I focused on breathing and not going too fast. But I also didn’t go slow enough that Ms. Pike would eliminate me.
    After five more push-ups, Alison flopped onto herstomach. She rolled over onto her back, breathing hard. After a few seconds, she sat up and walked over to stand in front of us.
    â€œC’mon, everyone!” she said. “Keep going!”
    A few minutes later, a couple of guys dropped out and they joined Alison in cheering for their friends.
    At the opposite end of the gym, other people were cheering for the girls jumping rope. I hoped Paige was doing well.
    My arms burned and I felt beads of sweat forming on the back of my neck. I couldn’t keep going much longer. I was surprised I’d managed to hang on this long. But maybe riding had built me up more than I’d thought. Outlasting some of the boys felt good!
    â€œUgh,” Heather said, dropping to her knees. I looked at her out of the corner of my eye and her cheeks were pink. She got up and stood beside Alison.
    I couldn’t believe I’d beat Heather! Julia and I were the only girls left.
    â€œI’m. Not. Going. To. Quit,” Julia said, huffing.
    â€œMe either,” I said. I squeezed my eyes shut for a second and tried to ignore the searing pain in my arms and shoulders. I was almost done.
    Andy joined the dropouts next.
    My hands were starting to slip on the floor. I flicked my gaze over to Julia—she looked as if she could keep going for hours. There was no way. I couldn’t—I dropped to my stomach.
    Major. Ouch. Everything burned. I gulped air and tried to slow my crazy heartbeat. I felt as if I’d just run ten miles. I walked over and stood by Alison and Heather. Callie was sitting on the bleachers a few feet down, watching Jacob. He, Troy, Ben, Eric, and a few others were still going. I didn’t let myself look at Eric or Jacob—I watched Julia.
    Julia did two more push-ups, then lowered herself down. Her arms shook. Her face was red and her arms quivered as she tried to push herself back up.
    â€œGo, Jules,” Alison said. “You’ve got it!”
    Julia made it halfway up and shook her head. She fell to her knees. “Oh. My. God,” she said. “Pain.”
    Alison reached out and took Julia’s hand, pulling her up.
    â€œThat was awesome,” I said. “I would have died if I’d done one more.”
    Heather nodded at her. “Impressive.”
    We sat on the bottom row of the bleachers and watched the remaining guys do push-ups. One by one they dropped out. As I watched them quit, I knew what was going tohappen before it did. A drop of sweat fell from Ben’s forehead to the floor and with a shake of his head, he got on his knees.
    Eric and Jacob were the last two guys left that I knew.
    â€œC’mon!” Ms. Pike said. “We’re down to the final competitors. Who’s going to win?”
    Both of their faces were brilliant shades of red and their T-shirts were soaked.
    Neither looked as if he was going to stop anytime soon. They both had the same look of determination on their faces.
    â€œGo, Jacob!” Callie cheered.
    â€œYay, Eric!”
    I looked