Bring It On by Jasmine Beller Read Free Book Online Page A

spasms, no matter how mad she was. And she wasn’t even mad this time. “Admit it,” Sophie insisted as tears started running down her sister’s face. “You must admit it.”
    â€œI admit it. I want to know because he’s cute. I’m that shallow,” Sammi answered breathlessly.
    â€œYou and every girl at the studio,” Sophie said, stopping the tickle torture. “But I’ve told you all I know. Really.” She started for the door. “Thanks for the CD,” she said over her shoulder.
    â€œCan I watch you practice?” Sammi asked.
    Sophie tried to remember if Sammi had ever asked her something like that before. Sophie had always wanted to watch Sammi do stuff in that little-sister way. She’d wanted to watch Sammi get ready for cheerleading tryouts. Or put on makeup. Or just sing scales. But Sammi had never wanted to see Sophie do anything.
    Anything like what? Sophie thought. Did you expect her to sit next to you and watch you play Xbox? Xbox had been pretty much Sophie’s only extracurricular activity before Hip Hop Kidz.
    â€œSure. Let’s go in the living room. There’s more space,” she told Sammi.
    â€œI’ll bring my CD player,” Sammi said.
    Sophie shoved the coffee table to one side, and Sammi got the CD player plugged in and the CD in place. “Anything else you need?”
    â€œNope. Just hit track three,” Sophie told her. A second later the music began to thump into the room, into her body. Look left, back, monkey arms, monkey arms, she silently coached herself as she started the section of the routine they’d learned that day.
    Sammi gave up some hand-bruising applause when Sophie finished. “You could be in a Black Eyed Peas video. You rock, Soph!”
    â€œI could teach you some steps if you want,” Sophie told her. How wild would that be? Her teaching Sammi something?
    â€œI’ve got an even better idea,” Sammi said, her dark eyes all glittery. “Can you sign up for classes at Hip Hop Kidz anytime? Or are there sessions that you have to wait and sign up for?”
    Sophie felt like she’d just chugged a gallon of cold water. Her body felt chilled from the inside out. “Anytime, I think,” she answered, trying to sound casual.
    â€œI’m gonna ask Mom and Dad if I can take some classes there!” Sammi exclaimed. “My cheerleading camp is almost over. And some hip-hop moves would be great to work into some of the cheerleading routines I’ll have to come up with when school starts, don’t you think?”
    No! Sophie wanted to shout. No, mhai, nein, nope. No way, Jose, even.
    But that would not be . . . nice. And their mother wasn’t the only one who thought niceness was important.
    â€œYeah, hip-hop is great in cheerleading. Some of the squads you were competing against last year used some locking and popping, even some breaking, and got woohoos from the crowd,” Sophie said.
    â€œI’m gonna go ask Dad if I can sign up for classes right away. I’m sure he’ll say yes.” Sammi trotted out of the room.
    Sophie thought their father would say yes, too. But she wished he wouldn’t.
    For Sammi, Hip Hop Kidz was just one more thing. For Sophie, it was everything.
    Was it so un-nice to want it all to herself?

    â€œEee-ooo! Eee-ooo! Eee-ooo!” Tamal shook Devane by the shoulders. “Look out. It’s the fashion police. They’re coming for you.”
    â€œTamal! You made me cut this wrong! Go sit as far away from me as possible,” Devane ordered, dropping the scissors.
    â€œI’ll get the tape measure,” he answered. “I think the farthest away from you right now might be your bed, and you don’t let me in your half of our room.”
    â€œJust go watch TV,” she told him.
    â€œYou go watch TV. Go watch one of those shows where they tell you what to wear.”
    Devane sucked in a deep