Twice As Nice by Lin Oliver Read Free Book Online Page B

think she’s got much more potential than Mr. Ballard. Don’t tell him that, though.”
    Tennis, tennis, tennis. Did he ever talk about anything else? Well, as a matter of fact, he did, right at that very moment.
    â€œLauren called,” he said, taking a swig of Gatorade. “Three times.”
    â€œYou didn’t tell her where I was, did you?”
    â€œI told her you were with Sammie. She was really eager to talk to you. In fact, she asked if I had made a decision yet. Is there something you haven’t told me?”
    If I had ever doubted whether or not I wanted to go back to the SF2s, my conversation with Spencer had put everything back in perspective. There was no decision to be made. What I wanted was crystal clear to me.
    â€œLauren and the girls are applying to start a Junior Waves club at school,” I said. “They want me to be part of it. And I totally want to do it.”
    He nodded.
    â€œSo tell me, how much of your time do you think this club will take up? Because you know my feeling . . . school and tennis take priority over social activities.”
    Of course, I knew he was going to say that. It’s his standard response whenever either of us asks to do anything. I pulled out my ready-made speech.
    â€œI’m getting all As in school, Dad, except for maybe a B in Spanish, but I can bring that up if I practice with Esperanza and Alicia. And tennis-wise, Sammie and I are on a roll. You saw me finish off Fritz and Fernandez yesterday.”
    He nodded again. That was a good sign. I was so glad I had pulled it together for the tiebreaker.
    â€œWell, I like the idea of you being part of a sports fan club,” he said. “That makes a lot more sense than that wacky stuff your sister is into.”
    That was a typical comment. My dad thinks anything that isn’t sports related is wacky.
    â€œSo I can do it?” I asked.
    â€œSchool and tennis first. Do we understand each other?”
    I nodded so vigorously that my head was in danger of toppling off my neck. He reached out and tousled my hair. “Okay, go call Lauren; she’s waiting to hear from you.”
    â€œThank you a million, billion times, Dad,” I said, throwing my arms around his neck. “I won’t let you down. I promise.”
    I practically flew into the kitchen. Inside, Sammie and GoGo were sitting at the counter, sampling several different kinds of quesadillas from a serving platter.
    â€œHey, Noodle,” GoGo called. “Come have a taste. I’m trying to decide which one to serve as appetizers at Bethany’s party. It’s down to chicken and cheese or veggie with avocado.”
    â€œI’ll be right back, GoGo. I’ve got to do something first.”
    I ran into my room and closed the door, grabbed my phone, and called Lauren.
    â€œMy dad said yes,” I said without even so much as a hello. “I’m in!”
    â€œOh, Charlie, this is super awesome!” I heard her whisper “She’s going to do it,” to someone else in the room. In the background, I heard Jillian and Brooke cheer and echo Lauren’s “this is super awesome” comment. Everyone in the SF2s, especially the girls, winds up talking like Lauren. She’s the kind of person you want to be like.
    Jillian grabbed the phone from Lauren.
    â€œCan we come to the club right now and do the application?” she said. “The sooner we get it in, the sooner we’ll know.”
    The last thing I wanted was for us to be sitting around working on the application with Sammie hovering nearby. It was going to be hard enough to tell her my decision, and I didn’t need a constant stream of critical remarks from her.
    â€œWould it be okay if I came to Lauren’s instead?” I asked.
    â€œLet me check.” Then I heard Jillian whisper, “She wants to come here.” Lauren whispered something back to her, but I couldn’t hear what