Go! Fight! Twin! by Belle Payton Read Free Book Online

one of Ava’s faded, comfy T-shirts and jeans.
    â€œFreakishly convincing,” said Ava, when she saw her sister. “Except I don’t wear bubblegum-pink lip gloss. You need to wipe it off.”
    Alex’s hand flew to her mouth. “Right. I forgot. Let me borrow your lip balm.”
    Ava dug it out of her pocket and handed it over.
    â€œWe need to hurry,” said Alex, getting right down to work. “Tryouts are in fifteen minutes.”
    Ava sighed and took the neatly folded T-shirt and shorts from her sister. “This is crazy,” she muttered as she went into the stall to change.

    Ten minutes later Ava looked at herself in the mirror and saw her amazed reflection staring back. Her eyes looked huge, rimmed with dark, smudgy eye pencil. Her lips glistened with pink gloss. She gave her hair a shake, and the fake ponytail swayed back and forth. She had to admit that once in a while she missed the feeling of having long hair. Although this big bow did look ridiculous.
    â€œFour minutes till tryouts start,” said Alex briskly, moving to open the door. “Remember: Don’t try too hard. Be below average. Don’t get carried away and get all competitive, okay? Just be bad enough to get cut, and it will all be over.”
    â€œIt will all be over,” repeated Ava, and hustled off toward the gym.

    There were fewer girls in the gym today, of course, but still at least twenty. Ava was put into a different group from the day before, led by a high school girl named Serena. Rosa was also in the group. After stretching, they practiced poses.
    Serena demonstrated something called a scorpion. Ava watched in amazement as Serena stood on her left foot and used one hand to grab her right foot, bent at the knee, behind her. Slowly and smoothly, her right foot went up, up, up behind her body, until it was at the back of her head. Then she grabbed the leg with her other hand and stood perfectly balanced.
    â€œWow,” the girls said.
    â€œThis is a flexibility pose,” said Serena, lowering her foot. “I’ll spot you guys, don’t worry.”
    A few of the girls were super flexible, and although not as graceful as Serena, could do the pose with some guidance. When it was Rosa’s turn, she expertly grabbed her foot and sinuously moved it up until she looked just like Serena.
    Ava was next. “I’ve never tried this,” she admitted to Serena under her breath.
    â€œDon’t worry. I’m here to spot you,” said Serena reassuringly. “I know you’re flexible, but don’t push yourself too hard.”
    Ava had no trouble grabbing her back foot. Up, up it went.
    â€œNice!” said Serena encouragingly. “Now reach back as far as you can with your other hand and grab your foot with both.”
    Ava was amazed. She could grab her foot with two hands!
    â€œNice flexibility!” said Serena. “Have you really never tried this before? You’re doing great!”
    With a start, Ava reminded herself she was supposed to be performing badly today. No, no! Not great. She dropped her foot quickly. “Oops,” she said. “Lost my balance.” She smiled apologetically at Serena and rejoined the group.

CHAPTER
Nine
    â€œAva! Hi! Ava? Hello?”
    With a start, Alex realized Corey was addressing her. She jumped back from where she was peering through the slats in the bleachers at Ava’s tryout. Corey was clearly just back from football practice: He was carrying his practice pads and had black stuff on his cheeks.
    â€œOh, hi,” she said, adjusting the brim of her Celtics hat. She touched the back of her head and tucked a stray tendril of long hair underneath the cap.
    â€œHow are you feeling?”
    â€œFine. Why?”
    Corey looked puzzled. “Xander said you had an appointment.”
    â€œOh! Oh, yeah, fine. It was just a dentist appointment, a routine checkup.”
    Corey looked even more confused.