Double Vision by Tia Mowry Read Free Book Online

back and forth in front of the stands for a moment, hoping someone would takepity on us and make room. Cassie was actually watching the game, her eyes on the quarterback getting ready to snap the ball. Now, if I could find us somewhere to sit fast, before she lost interest . . .
    I paused in front of some slightly older kids who were sort of sprawled across a bench a few rows up.
    â€œHey, y’all,” I called to them in my friendliest tone. “Got enough space for two more up there?”
    A narrow-faced girl with dark hair glanced down at me. “Sorry,” she said. “We’re saving for some friends.”
    â€œOh.” My smile wavered as I wondered whether she was telling the truth. Maybe Cassie’s cynicism was rubbing off on me.
    â€œTwins!” a voice rang out. “Waters twins! Over here!”
    It was Ms. Xavier. She was about halfway down the bleachers in the front row, standing and waving so hard her bangle bracelets were jingling. She gestured to the bench beside her.
    â€œLook, seats!” I told Cassie brightly. Grabbing her wrist, I dragged her along toward Ms. Xavier.
    â€œHello, girls,” the teacher said cheerfully, smoothing out her long skirt. “I’m glad you came. I guess nobody told you that the trick to a good spot for these games is to get here early.” She winked and patted the empty bleacher beside her. “But never mind. There’s room right here.”
    â€œThanks, Ms. Xavier,” I said.
    â€œYeah, thanks,” Cassie muttered, making a point to sit farther away from Ms. X.
    Okay, so sitting with a teacher at our first football game wasn’t exactly the height of cool. So what?
    The play finished with a turnover. One of our players had intercepted a pass and the Armadillos had gained possession of the ball. Everyone around us erupted in cheers and the band blared out a lively fight song. The cheerleaders leaped out onto the sideline and waved their pom-poms. The pounding rhythm of the music filled the stands, and before I knew it, my foot was tapping along with the beat.
    Turning, I squinted up toward where the band was sitting a few rows above us. The woodwinds were near the front, and I spotted Bianca right away. She was dressed in a green-and-gold uniform with an armadillo printed on her shirt, tootling away onher clarinet for all she was worth. When the song ended she lowered her instrument and mopped her brow. I yelled out her name, and she waved back with a smile.
    I was still smiling as I turned back to the field, where the cheerleaders were finishing up with a few cartwheels and stuff. Cassie was watching them intently.
    â€œBig surprise,” she said. “Megan March is a cheerleader.”
    Megan was right there in the middle of the squad, jumping and yelling. A few of her friends were there, too, though I didn’t see Lavender.
    â€œYeah, makes sense,” I said. “Do you think you’ll go out for the squad next year?”
    She shot me a look of disbelief. “Are you kidding? As if we’ll still be here by then.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” I asked.
    She didn’t answer, nodding toward the field. “Next play’s starting,” she muttered. “We should pay attention.”
    I turned back toward the action. The Armadilloswere actually pretty good. I spotted each of the B Boys out there—Biff and Brent were on the offensive line, while Buzz was a halfback. The fourth B , Brayden, was the quarterback, and I could tell from the first few plays that he was really good. The cheerleaders freaked out and started jumping around every time Brayden moved a muscle.
    The game was getting exciting; we were up by four points and I was actually disappointed when the first half ended. “I wonder what the halftime show will be like,” I said as the cheerleaders jogged out to the field, doing flips and walkovers on the way.
    â€œOh, the squad does a marvelous job,” Ms.