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

Think fast!” came a voice from behind them.
    Both girls whirled around. A basketball came sailing out of thin air, headed straight for Alex. The twins hadn’t realized they were so close to home already—they were passing the little park near their house, and Jack was shooting baskets on the court.
    Alex gave a little squeal and covered her face with her arms. The ball bounced off her elbow and rolled away.
    â€œAlex!” hissed Ava under her breath. “You’re me, remember? I would have caught that! Now go get the ball!”
    Alex ran over and picked up the ball. “Hey, Jack!” she called. “Didn’t see you.”
    â€œHey,” Jack yelled back. “Let’s see what you’ve got, Ave! From there!”
    â€œWhat’s he asking me?” Alex hissed at Ava.
    â€œHe wants you to try a long bomb from here. Shoot the ball. Into the basket.”
    â€œFrom here?”
    â€œIt’s just a game. Jack and I do it all the time. Go on.”
    Alex dribbled the ball once, then hoisted it into the air, her elbows flapping out awkwardly. It missed the basket. It missed the basketball court. It landed in the grass near the play area and bumped to a stop against the slide.
    Ava closed her eyes with a pained expression.
    Jack looked at Alex-as-Ava with a surprised look. “Nice shot,” he said. “Not.”
    â€œHa-ha! My bad!” called Alex. Ava tugged her by the sleeve, and the two girls hurried off.

CHAPTER
Ten
    The next day Alex sat in the girls’ locker room, lacing up Ava’s cleats. She had to admit, Ava’s clothes certainly were comfy. Her baggy T-shirt, faded and soft from dozens of washings, flopped over her loose shorts, which billowed around Alex’s legs and extended almost down to her knees.
    â€œHi, Ava,” said a girl as she entered the bank of lockers where Alex was sitting. “No pads today?”
    Alex shook her head. “Nope. We’re watching film.”
    The girl, whom Alex didn’t know, was quickly changing into what looked like volleyball clothes.Alex admired the way her mahogany-brown hair tumbled over her pretty purple shirt as she propped a foot up on the bench to tie her shoe.
    â€œThat burgundy tee is a perfect complement to your hair color,” she blurted out.
    The girl looked at her, startled. “Huh?” she said.
    Shoot. Ava would never say anything like that, Alex thought. “Nothing,” she said. “I better get going—see you!”
    The girl cocked her head at Alex, looking slightly confused, but managed a “Yeah, see you,” as Alex hurried out to practice.
    One of the coaches—was it Coach D’Annolfo?—was standing outside the locker rooms, directing kids down the hall to an empty classroom to watch the film. Alex slipped into the darkened room and found a seat way at the back, without looking at anyone.
    â€œSackett! Feeling better?” barked Coach Kenerson from the front of the room, where he was fiddling with a camera attached to a laptop.
    Alex froze. What would Ava say? “Yes, Coach!” she said, and prayed he wouldn’t ask her anything else.
    â€œYou missed the pro formation review we didat practice yesterday, Sackett. Tell me: Where would the X receiver line up?” he asked.
    Wait. He was asking her? Fear clutched her heart. Ava had been right. It was a terrible, terrible idea for her to go to Ava’s football practice. Alex’s heart pounded like the big bass drum in the high school marching band.
    â€œDid you say the X receiver?” she stammered, stalling for time. “I—uh—”
    Wait. Was someone saying something to her? Someone was. Corey. He was sitting right next to her and talking in a low voice.
    â€œ. . . to the left, to the left, to the left,” he murmured.
    â€œTo the left!” she blurted out.
    Corey was still murmuring, “The X receiver would align to the left of the