Odd Girl In by Jo Whittemore Read Free Book Online Page B

involved,” I said.
    Emily kicked me and forced herself to laugh. “She’s just fooling around, Ms. Dorf. Alexis was telling me she’s actually interested in …” Emily’s eyes skipped down the page, then back up to Ms. Dorf. “In robotics club.”
    â€œRight,” I said. “And the … hockey boosters.”
    Emily curled her lip. “Really?”
    I shrugged. “Violence on ice. What’s not to love?”
    Ms. Dorf leaned toward me. “Alexis, I know I haven’t seen you much, but I don’t think those clubs are right for you. Are you sure there’s nothing else you’d rather try?”
    When she saw me close my eyes and point my finger again, she stopped me. “All right. Robotics club meets after school, but hockey boosters meet during study hall, so I’ll have to give you a pass for that.”
    â€œGreat!” I said. “I bet I’ll love it.”

Chapter 5
    I t was a good thing I didn’t actually put money on that bet. When I got to the hockey boosters meeting, the room was filled with giggling girls, loud pop music, and the stench of wet paint.
    There was no ice, no violence. There weren’t even any missing teeth strewn about.
    â€œUm, hello?” I called.
    The girls glanced up, but only one of them actually came over.
    Chloe Stroupe.
    â€œHey, Alex! Are you looking for someone?” she asked.
    â€œActually, I’m here to join the boosters,” I said, thrusting a piece of paper at her. “Will you sign this as proof I came?”
    Chloe didn’t move. “ You’re joining the boosters?”
    â€œSure.” I shrugged. “I like hockey and I figured it’d be nice to meet some other, uh, fans.” I wondered if that was even the right word. Several of the girls were now singing into the hockey sticks like microphones, my slumber party nightmare come true.
    Chloe crossed her arms and smirked. “And this wouldn’t have anything to do with Champs?”
    I sighed and pulled back my paper. “Emily got to you first, huh?”
    Chloe laughed. “She didn’t tell me. I get the Champs newsletter.”
    My eyebrows rose a little. The newsletter wasn’t a surprise. I wouldn’t have put it past Ms. Success to write her announcements in nightly fireworks. But the fact that anyone at school besides Emily would ever go to that class….
    â€œYou’re in Champs too?” I asked.
    Chloe nodded. “You know me. I’m in it to win it. Plus, my parents want me to get into a good college some day. Hey!” She bumped my arm. “Do you have a team for the Champs Championship?”
    â€œOh! Um, I hadn’t even thought about it,” I said. “But I doubt my brothers want me on theirs. So … no.”
    â€œYou’ll be on my team then,” she said confidently. “You’re a pretty good athlete … when you’re not playingbadminton. And I really want that thousand dollars.”
    â€œOkay,” I said with a shrug. “Sounds like a plan.”
    â€œGreat! It’ll be you, me, and … hopefully Trevor .” She sighed and took on a wistful expression.
    â€œTrevor?” My ears pricked up, but I tried to act nonchalant. “Who’s Trevor?”
    â€œJust this really cute guy in our class.” She pressed her hands to her heart and smiled blissfully. “I am sooo crushing on him.”
    This had disaster written all over it.
    â€œYou know you shouldn’t let feelings cloud your judgment,” I said.
    Chloe’s dreamy expression vanished. “Nice message. Is that from an anti -Valentine card?”
    â€œActually, my mom …” I paused, remembering what Ms. Dorf had said earlier. I shook her words out of my head. “Emotions are a distraction from reaching your goals.”
    â€œBut Trevor’s such a cute distraction,” said Chloe with a sigh. Any second, little