Split Decision by Belle Payton Page B

sequins. Alex paused briefly to check them out. Even though she loved sparkles, all that shine was tacky. The shirts looked like something her grandmother might wear.
    Of course, Ava hadn’t paused. Alex had to jog past the old single-screen movie theater to catch up to her. In front of Rookie’s, the ice cream shop, Alex peeked through the huge picture window under the green-and-white awning that allowed passersby to see inside.
    â€œOh!” Alex stiffened. Was that him?
    She peeked again through the window, then stepped back on the sidewalk. “Ave, I’ve changed my mind. Let’s bail on the ice cream.” She continued to back away.
    â€œWhere are you going?” Ava demanded.
    â€œHome. Or how about we go get a slice of pizza?” Alex tried to pull away, but Ava clasped her hand.
    â€œWe’re having ice cream.” Ava yanked her forward toward the door.
    When had her twin gotten so strong? Alex wondered. “Ave, I can’t. Corey’s in there.”
    â€œWho cares?” Ava tightened her grip on Alex’s hand and barreled through the door, nearly knocking down a mother balancing two cones in one hand and holding a crying toddler’s wrist with the other. “Sorry!”
    Alex found herself standing alongside Ava in the entrance of Rookie’s. The chilled air smelledof sugar cones and hot fudge. Corey sat in a booth in the far back corner. He appeared to be alone. She scanned the line of people waiting to order. Was he here with Greg and Tim? Or some girl?
    She didn’t recognize anyone in the line. And there were no other girls their age in the shop. She took another glance at Corey. An enormous sundae topped with whipped cream, bananas, and gummy worms sat uneaten in front of him. Her eyes drifted back toward the bathroom door slowly opening. She tightened her ponytail and readied herself to see some cool, popular girl who would be sharing the sundae with Corey. That would make sense.
    I’m not going to react, she told herself. I’m not going to care. He’s nothing to me. She fixed a blank expression on her face.
    Then out of the bathroom walked an elderly woman with a shellacked helmet of gray hair. His grandma? The woman passed Corey and sat with another lady. Not his grandma.
    Why do I care? she thought. I don’t care. She turned her attention to the list of flavors on the blackboard. Rocky Rodeo. Lone Star au Lait. Bluebell Blueberry. But the words jumbled together. She wasn’t hungry—she was stillcurious. She stole another glance over her shoulder at Corey.
    He waved.
    She blinked. She must be seeing things.
    He waved again. And smiled. At her.
    Alex couldn’t figure out how to react.
    â€œSurprise!” Ava whispered in her ear.
    Alex turned to her sister. “What is going on?”
    Ava made a big deal of shrugging. “Oh, you know what? I just remembered that I need to go . . . shopping.”
    â€œNow?” Alex gazed back again at Corey. He continued to smile at her.
    â€œExactly,” Ava said. “That store back there. What was it? Bling? The sign said they were having a sale, and I need to get there before they run out of what I want.”
    â€œYou want something in there ?” Alex narrowed her eyes at Ava. “No, you don’t. You hate shopping and you hate sparkly things.”
    â€œWell . . . still . . . got to go.” And before Alex could protest further, Ava ran out the door and disappeared down the sidewalk.
    For a moment, Alex wondered if she should chase her. Then she looked again at Corey. Still smiling, he waved her over.
    Hesitantly, she walked toward him.
    â€œWant to share?” He pointed to two spoons besides the melting sundae.
    â€œYeah?” He’d been so cold all week, and now he was grinning like he’d won a football trophy.
    â€œYeah.” He scooted over, making room for her on his side of the booth.
    She slid onto the