Two Steps Back Read Online Free PDF Page B

drama, she thought, and then turned to focus on what Luke was saying.

    Upstairs in her room, Alex threw herself back onto her bed and sighed dramatically. She was so envious of the easy way Ava and Luke had. What was the vocab word she’d just learned? Rapport . That was it. Spelled with a t at the end, but you didn’t pronounce it. She was so envious of the easy rapport they had. Although it was certainly a relief not to have to read any more about circuitry. She sat up and tossed the book onto her desk, and then fell backward onto her bed again, conjuring an image of Luke’s curly, sandy-colored hair. Those baby-blanket-blue eyes. She replayed the scene from moments before. Hadn’t he dropped his gaze after their eyes had met? He’d smiled so warmly—showing that extremely adorable dimple in his right cheek. What if he really were secretly pining for her? Their whole relationship felt so Romeo and Juliet —the forbidden love between them. And so what if he was in high school and she was in middle school? They weren’t that far apart in age. Why, her own parents were a few years apart!
    Her e-mail plinked, and she sat up to see who the sender was. Marcy Maxon!
    You’re on the right track, Alexandra. A Sackett family story would have real crossover appeal for our viewers. But if it’s a forfeit, there’s no story. So you need to talk your sister into agreeing to sit out. THEN we’ll have a story. She agrees not to play, we film the big game showing her sitting on the sidelines, and then we do an exclusive interview with her. Get your father there too.
    So let me know after you’ve spoken with your sister, and I’ll arrange for the crew to meet you at the game on Saturday.
    Alex gulped. This was a new wrinkle. How was she supposed to talk Ava into agreeing not to play, let alone convince her to let herself be filmed? Sitting out would go against everything their parents had taught them about standing up for yourself. And even if Ava did opt out, there was no guarantee Coach Kenerson would accept her decision. Alex groaned. What a complicated mess.
    A text came in from Emily.
    Greg Fowler still hasn’t asked me to Homecoming. If he doesn’t, should we just plan to go together, you and me?
    Alex replied:
    He will ask you. Don’t worry.
    That would be very awkward if Alex told Emily she’d go with her to Homecoming and then Luke finally worked up the nerve to ask her. Homecoming was coming up quickly. She had to show him more signs of encouragement, send him messages that yes, it was okay to ask her and yes, she would say yes if he did.
    Will we go to the high school dance, or the middle school dance? she wondered.
    The idea of going to the high school dance excited her, but then she wouldn’t get to hang out with all her friends—or show off her adorable date!
    It doen’t matter, she decided. Either way I’ll get to go with Luke.
    Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.
    â€œHoney?” Mrs. Sackett said, stepping over to Alex’s desk. “May I ask that you not interrupt Luke and Ava while they’re working together? You know your sister has a hard enough time concentrating. I thought putting them in the study would be a good plan, but we all need to let them work in peace.”
    â€œYes, sure, Mom,” said Alex, trying to keep her tone neutral. “Sorry about that.”
    Mrs. Sackett nodded appreciatively and left.
    Just like Romeo and Juliet, Alex thought. Their families tried to keep them apart too. But true love will prevail.

CHAPTER
SIX
    â€œOkay, Bryce, that was better,” said Ava. She trotted back to Bryce Hobson, a skinny sixth grader who also played kicker, and dumped the four footballs she’d retrieved onto the ground in front of him. “Now this time, make sure to keep your head down and kick through the ball,” she said. “And don’t forget to keep your shoulders and