Home Sweet Drama Read Online Free PDF

past Callie and saw Rachel standing and clapping. I hadn’t even seen her come in.
    â€œC’mon, Eric!” Troy cheered.
    â€œYou’ve got it, Jacob,” said one of the guys in our grade. “You’re almost there, man.”
    I watched them both, knowing it would look bad if I got up and walked away. I tried to look at both of them, but I couldn’t stop watching Jacob.
Go, go!
I cheered in my head.
You can do it!
    A crowd started to gather around them and everyone was cheering them on. The cheers seemed to give Jacoband Eric a boost of energy and just when it looked as if their pace was starting to lag, they gained speed. The other guys looked as if they weren’t going to stop, either.
    Ms. Pike walked over. “Guys,” she said. “You’re all doing a wonderful job. You’ve got two minutes before I have to call a tie. Everyone has to get to class.”
    The crowd sighed, but I was glad. Knowing both guys and their history of hating each other—they’d keep going until they dropped.
    Ms. Pike counted down the minutes and then everyone joined in for the final five seconds.
    â€œFive, four, three, two, one!”
    On one, Jacob and Eric looked at each other—a glare passing between them—and they both got to their feet. Jacob’s light brown hair was a little sweaty and his green eyes darkened after looking at Eric.
    â€œCongratulations, Eric and Jacob,” Ms. Pike said. “That was fantastic. You both displayed a tremendous amount of strength and drive. I don’t know if we’ve ever had the competition last this long!”
    Neither guy looked at each other—they just moved a few steps away.
    Rachel bounced over to Eric and smiled up at him. “You were
so
awesome,” she said.
    â€œThanks,” Eric said, trying to regain his breath.
    Callie walked up to Jacob and reached out to hug him. Jacob stiffened and he leaned his body away from Callie’s and gave her an awkward one-armed hug. Callie pulled away from him, frowning.
    â€œI don’t want to get you all gross,” he explained.
    â€œOh,” she said, nodding. “Right. But you were amazing. You didn’t even have to keep going—I know you would have won.”
    Jacob’s eyes connected with mine over the top of Callie’s head.
    I looked away and got up from the bleachers.
    â€œI have to see how Paige did,” I said to the Trio. They nodded and I headed to the opposite side of the gym. Another gym teacher was telling the remaining jump ropers that it was time to stop and get ready for class. Paige and Geena were jumping side by side and they jumped a couple more times before stopping.
    â€œThat was great,” I said, smiling at both of them.
    â€œThanks,” Paige said. Her cheeks were pink and she and Geena caught their breaths. “You were awesome, too. I thought you were really going to take down the boys.”
    â€œI definitely tried, but there was no way I could havewon,” I said, grinning. “Maybe I
do
need to start taking gym.”
    Paige and Geena laughed and the three of us walked out of the gym together.
    When I walked into the theater for class, I looked for Heather, but I’d beat her here and Jacob was already onstage. Ms. Scott smiled at me as I put my bag on my seat.
    â€œGo ahead onstage, Sasha,” she said. “We’re going to do an exercise before we start our lesson.”
    â€œOkay,” I said.
    I walked up the stairs and tried to keep my ballet flats from making a sound as I walked onstage and stood behind a couple of girls in my class. I wanted to blend in with them and I hoped Jacob would stay where he was and not come over and talk to me.
    â€œHey, Sash,” said Whitney, a black-haired girl with cute, blunt-cut bangs.
    â€œHey,” I said.
    Her friend, Aprilynne, smiled at me. “So, are you freaking out about Homecoming?” she asked.
    I faked a smile.