Two Steps Back Read Online Free PDF Page A

appointment,” he said, pouring himself a glass of water. “He has to miss practice tomorrow, so we were going over the practice plan with the other coaches. Anyway, how were everyone’s days?”
    â€œAva has something to tell you about football,” said Mrs. Sackett.
    â€œWhat’s up, sweet pea?” he asked Ava.
    Ava frowned. Her father seemed preoccupied, like he was only half listening. But she told him about Briar Ridge. “So part of me feels like I should just sit it out so my team can play, but Mom is outraged by that idea and wants me to stand up for myself.”
    Instead of reacting with indignation, Coach just nodded. He took a thoughtful sip of water and set his glass down carefully. “Whatever you decide, I’m sure it’ll be for the good of the team, Ave,” he said.
    That’s a perplexing statement, thought Ava. She’d expected him to agree with her mom and encourage her to take a stand. Instead he seemed like he had barely registered what she’d said.
    â€œAnd whatever you decide, Ave, I just want you to know that it’s brilliant for me,” said Alex excitedly. “I finally have a perfect news story for Ms. Maxon. I can’t wait to tell her! I mean, I can’t wait to pitch it to her. That’s how you suggest an idea for a story: You pitch it. She’s been making suggestions that my story be focused on my family, and being a Sackett and stuff, because everyone knows who Daddy is. She’ll be so psyched!”
    Ava rose from the table. “But I don’t want you to do a story about me,” she said to Alex in a firm, strong voice.
    Alex froze. “Wait, what?”
    â€œI’m sick of being the center of attention in these dumb news stories. I need your support here, Al, and I don’t want you joining the other side. So, no. You have to think of something else.” A few too many times, Ava had found herself in situations she didn’t like, just because she had a hard time saying no to her sister. Her mind flashed back to events of a few weeks before, when Alex had talked her into switching places so that Ava could try out for cheerleading, pretending to be Alex. There had been disastrous consequences. Well, not this time. This time, she would stand her ground.
    The rest of her family had gone quiet. Tommy even stopped eating for a moment. They all seemed surprised by Ava’s sudden firmness, but Ava didn’t care.
    Mrs. Sackett spoke first. “Alex, you need to respect your sister’s decision,” she said. “And anyway, since there’s not going to be a game on Saturday, you won’t have much to report about, right? I’m sure you’ll think of something else.”
    â€œYour mother’s right, Alex,” said Coach. “Your sister has a right to her privacy.”
    Alex shrugged. “Okay, okay, fine,” she said. “If that’s the way you feel about it, Ave.”
    Alex sounded wounded, but Ava tried not to let it bother her. “Yes. That’s the way I feel about it.” She left the kitchen without even asking if she could be excused from the table.

CHAPTER
FIVE
    Alex sank into her desk chair, lost in thought. Ava was upset, and Alex understood why—she knew how much her twin hated to be in the spotlight. But this story was bigger than Ava. It was about women’s rights, and fighting injustice. And Ms. Maxon had told her that for a good reporter, getting the story was everything. If you had to upset some people in order to get it, well, so be it. She would still do the story, even if it meant upsetting Ava. Hadn’t Ms. Maxon written that a good reporter had to make sacrifices? Now Alex understood what that meant. And besides, once Ava saw the piece, she’d see why Alex was right. She’d understand. There was the small matter of what to shoot that she needed to think about. With no game being played, she’d need to be