Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer Page A

her drink with her straw and smiles. “I knew you reminded me of something.”
    â€œAnd how flattering,” adds Dina. “It’s vomit.”
    The whole table goes quiet. Laura’s smile starts to wobble, and I feel Chloe kick Dina under the table. “Don’t mind Dina,” Chloe says. “She’s a little bit challenged inthe good manners department.”
    â€œDon’t you want to get your food?” I ask.
    And I have to hand it to Laura, she recovers quick. “Right!” she says, smiling full-on again. “Be right back.”
    Laura hurries over to the food counter. Chloe looks over at Dina, and they both start giggling. “Oh dear…,” says Chloe, as if what just happened is the most tragic thing she’s ever seen.
    â€œDon’t,” I tell her.
    â€œWhat?” she says.
    â€œSeriously,” I hiss. I glance around the table at Dina, Angela, Jenna, and Madison, and I whisper, “Be nice.”
    â€œOh whatever, Brooke. I’m not going to bite her.”
    When Laura returns to the table with a plate of fried rice, we scoot our chairs over to make room. Then Chloe turns with a fascinated expression that manages to look almost genuine.
    â€œSo! Laura! You’ve got to tell us: Who’s hot and who’s not over in the music wing?”
    Â 
    On our way back to school, John catches up with me.
    â€œI saw your Homecoming posters,” he says. “Dress a needy choirgirl. That’s a good one.”
    â€œThanks.” My heart starts thudding, so hard I’m afraid I’ll puke up my pad thai. “I actually thought it up myself.”
    I walk a little straighter, peeking around to see if anybody is looking. But Chloe and Dina and Laura are up ahead, and Laura’s giving Chloe a run for her money in the marathon talking department.
    As we get up to the building, we can hear the first bell ringing. John runs to the door and holds it open for me. Inside, the hallway is crowded so we have to press in close. Even though we’re pushing it on time, I slow down and switch my backpack to my other shoulder so he can get even closer.
    â€œWhere you headed?” he asks.
    â€œChoir.”
    â€œMind if I walk you?”
    This is it! I shake my head. My heart does an extra-hard thump.
    â€œSo I wanted to ask you something.”
    I was right. He’s going to ask me to Homecoming. But the final bell is ringing. And as we turn into the music wing, I see the door to the choir room shut. Crap. Anderson hates it when people are late.
    And I am hating myself right now. If I weren’t so paranoid about what my choir director thinks, I’d be savoring every detail of this moment. I stop walking and turn my back to the door.
    There. I can focus now.
    â€œWhat’s up?”
    â€œI’m trying for a football scholarship at U of M,” he says. “Going up there in a month, and I needed someplace to stay. Do you think Bill and Brice would let me shack up with them for a day or two?”
    â€œUm…,” I say while my brain rushes to process the disconnect between what I thought he was going to say and what he’s actually said. Crap, goes the little voice inside my brain.
    But then another little voice tells me maybe it’s not that bad. It isn’t very romantic asking somebody to Homecoming when you’re rushing to get to class on time. John’s probably waiting for a more private opportunity.
    â€œI don’t think they’ll care,” I say. “I’ll call tonight and ask.”
    â€œGreat,” he says, flashing those amazing green eyes. “We’ll talk later?”
    â€œYeah,” I tell him. “Later.”
    He takes off and I rush into the choir room. “Nice of you to join us, Brooke,” Anderson shouts while I run up the risers to my spot.
    I take a second to get myself into singing mode. Try to forget about John and concentrate on my voice. I