Even the Score by Belle Payton Read Free Book Online Page A

bigger.”
    â€œThat’s not fair,” Ava protested.
    Coach nodded. “You did make a commitment, Al. You gave your word.”
    Alex was surprised. “But you always taught us to help those in need. Look out for the underdog.”
    â€œTrue, but I also believe you shouldn’t duck out on a promise,” he said. “That scoreboard is a big deal to the community.”
    â€œSo is the school musical,” her mom said, coming to her defense. “Schools should promote the arts. The arts should play as significant a role as sports do in students’ lives.”
    â€œBut everyone in Ashland would rather have a scoreboard than a school show,” Ava remarked.
    â€œNot everyone,” Alex shot back. “I can’t believe you, Ave. I thought you were better than all those jocks. Not so single-minded.”
    â€œI’m not that way, and you know it,” Ava said, sounding hurt. “I love The Wizard of Oz , but I just don’t agree with your decision. I think a lot of other kids will disagree too.”
    â€œYou’re overreacting,” Alex scoffed. “Kids will be fine with waiting for the scoreboard in order to save the show. It’s not a big deal.”
    â€œNot a big deal?” Tommy snorted. “The whole town shuts down when the lights go up on Friday nights.”
    Alex sighed. The football players in her family didn’t get it. They were imagining a problem where there wasn’t one. “Everything’s going to be fine,” she assured them.
    Tommy wagged his finger at her. “We’re not in Massachusetts anymore, Dorothy.”

CHAPTER
Five
    Alex finished her math problems in record time that night, moving on to plow through her science lab report. Across the kitchen table, Ava chewed the eraser on her pencil and stared at the ceiling.
    How can we do our homework so differently? Alex wondered. We look exactly alike. We came from the same parents and entered the world at the same time. Technically Alex showed up twelve minutes before Ava. “Alex is always first out the door,” her mom liked to joke.
    Yet Ava had barely finished half her math problems. She stared distractedly around the room between each one, while Alex pushedthrough, as if running a race. Tonight she wanted to spend time on a new room makeover website. Instructions for a do-it-yourself fabric bulletin board had caught her eye. If she could get her mom to help, she thought it didn’t look too tricky.
    â€œReady to work?” Luke sauntered into the kitchen, surprising both of them. “Tommy let me in.”
    â€œHi!” Alex sang, stunned by his warm smile. She quickly straightened the gray T-shirt and flannel pajama pants she’d changed into after dinner. Why hadn’t anyone told her Luke was coming? She would have worn something pretty. And put on makeup. Oh no! What did her face look like? She hadn’t looked in the mirror since she’d come home.
    â€œOops, I forgot about you,” Ava admitted. “But I’m glad you’re here. I’m kind of stuck.”
    Luke pulled out a chair, then turned to Alex. “Sorry to kick you out of your study space.”
    â€œNo problem.” Alex gathered her books. “I was done anyway.”
    â€œOkay, cool.” He pointed to her pencil sketch on her lab report. “Awesome cell diagram.”
    â€œReally? Thanks!”
    We’re having our first real conversation! Alex realized.
    â€œWhat are you working on now?” he asked.
    â€œStill scien—” Alex began.
    â€œMath,” Ava answered, and Alex belatedly understood the question hadn’t been for her.
    â€œHow are the problems going?” Luke had turned his full attention to Ava.
    Alex felt hurt, then reminded herself that her parents were paying him to tutor Ava, not talk with her. She took her time organizing her papers.
    â€œI can’t answer a lot,” Ava admitted.
    Luke