Two Steps Back by Belle Payton Page B

said it would be on after this commercial break,” said Mrs. Sackett. The two girls sat down in the chairs Coach had arranged side by side. Mrs. Sackett sat next to Coach on the love seat, holding his hand and beaming already.
    Finally a commercial for a car dealership ended, and Marcy Maxon’s smile flashed on the screen. “And next, we have our popular feature ‘Tomorrow’s Reporters Today’ for you. Here to share her story is a seventh grader from Ashland Middle School, Alex Sackett.”
    â€œHey, she just called me Alex!” said Alex. “Finally.”
    Ava found Alex’s hand and grabbed it, squeezing tight with excitement.
    Alex’s image flashed on-screen, and everyone cheered, quickly, and then hushed up to listen.
    Ava marveled at how poised and photogenic Alex appeared. She really was a natural.
    Alex introduced herself as an identical twin with an older brother, an artist mother, and a father whom most viewers would know as the head coach of the Ashland Tigers. In a voice-over, with Alex narrating, Ava saw footage of Coach coaching, a picture from Mrs. Sackett’s website showing her holding up a large vase, Tommy standing in uniform on the sidelines, and a photo of herself in her football uniform. Back to Alex, who smiled charmingly at the camera and talked about her brother’s “double life.”
    The next shot showed the trio playing one of their jazziest pieces and then Alex introducing the other members of the group. Then, in a voice-over, she added, “And Harley has one especially ardent fan.” There was a shot of Luke holding out flowers and asking Harley to Homecoming.
    Tommy whapped Luke over the head with a throw cushion, but everyone kept watching. Alex’s voice asked, “And who do you think named the trio?” Next Ava appeared on-screen, suggesting her idea.
    Finally Alex’s voice said, “But what we’re all really wondering is, how does the head coach of the Ashland football team feel about his only son potentially choosing music over football?” And then Coach delivered his little speech. Alex closed with, “This has been Alex Sackett for ‘Tomorrow’s Reporters Today.’ Back to you, Marcy!”
    Almost immediately, the house phone began ringing, and Ava’s cell phone began vibrating with multiple texts—she’d check those later. The high schoolers all let out a loud whoop and stood up from the couch in unison, high-fiving and hugging one another and then taking turns hugging Alex. Ava noticed that Alex remained cool and calm as she accepted a congratulatory hug from Luke. Maybe she really was over him already.
    Finally it was Ava’s turn to hug Alex. “You were fantastic,” she said to her sister. “I’m really proud to be your sister.” And she realized that all her resentment toward what Alex had done was gone. She meant what she said.

CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
    Later that night Alex came into Ava’s room. Ava was sprawled on her bed, working on an essay for English. Alex carefully moved some of the papers out of the way and then plopped onto the bed. “Thanks again for rescuing my story,” she said to Ava. “I didn’t think you’d show up.”
    Ava shrugged. “I almost didn’t. But when I got home, I found Coach working in the backyard, and I asked him to bring me. I knew he was dying to hear the performance, so I told him about how he could listen from offstage without being seen and causing a fuss.”
    â€œI think Tommy was happy, don’t you?”
    Tommy suddenly loomed in the doorway. He seemed to be growing at the rate of an inch a week, Alex thought as she regarded him.
    â€œLuke posted our new song just before the story aired, and it’s already going viral!” he said. “And he says he’s getting flooded with booking requests as far out as next spring!”
    The girls looked at each other and in unison