Twice the Talent by Belle Payton Read Free Book Online Page A

right?”
    Kylie shook her head. “Yeah, and that worked out really great,” she said sarcastically.
    Ava laughed. At the beginning of the school year, Alex wanted to impress her friends by trying out for cheerleading, but she knew how terrible she would be at it. So Ava had agreed to dress like Alex and try out in her place. She was supposed to do well enough to berespectable, but not well enough to make the team. But she had really gotten into it, and Alex (actually Ava) had made the team! Then, when the real Alex took her place on the team, it had been a disaster.
    â€œOkay, that wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done,” Ava admitted. “But the point is that I was really great at cheerleading. And on the football field, I have to follow complicated plays all the time. So I should be able to figure out line dancing, right?”
    Kylie looked amused. “You know, it just might work,” she said. “Okay, do you know Carly Hermano?”
    â€œYeah, she’s a cheerleader,” Ava replied. “And I think she’s on student council with Alex.”
    Kylie nodded. “So, Carly and I were in dance class together when we were little. She’s the one who’s leading the dance. I’ll text her and let her know you’re going to replace me.”
    She had a funny grin on her face when she said it.
    â€œYou don’t think I can do it, do you?” Ava asked. Kylie’s skepticism made her even more determined to help the line dance be the best act at the Variety Show.
    â€œI think that it’s really nice of you to do it, and I think it’s going to be really fun to watch,” Kylie replied. “I just hope I’ll get out of this hospital before the big night!”
    â€œOf course you will,” Ava assured her.
    Then she realized that she had just committed to performing a traditional Texas dance in front of a crowd filled with native Texans, and she had just moved to Texas and had never even heard of line dancing before.
    What have I gotten myself into? she wondered.

CHAPTER
NINE
    â€œWhy do you keep checking your phone?” Ava asked her sister on the bus ride to school the next morning.
    Alex looked around to see who was sitting near them, and then spoke in a low voice.
    â€œIt’s a long story, but I kind of insulted the dance routine that all my friends are doing for the Variety Show,” she explained. “I texted Emily last night asking if I could talk to her, but I think Lindsey must have gotten to her first, because Emily hasn’t texted me back. I don’t know if it’s because she’s mad at me or because she’s still feeling bad from her cold.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, ‘kind of’ insulted?” Ava asked.
    Alex sighed. “I told Lindsey it was lame. But she was being mean, and I couldn’t help myself.”
    â€œWell, I’m sure Emily will understand,” Ava told her. “She’s nice. She knows how Lindsey can be sometimes.”
    â€œI hope so,” Alex said anxiously.
    â€œAnyway, I didn’t tell you my news,” Ava said. “I’m going to be in the Variety Show. I’m taking Kylie’s place in a line dancing thing.”
    Alex’s eyes got wide. “You mean Toe the Line?”
    â€œToe the Line?” Ava repeated.
    â€œYeah, it’s the name of the line dancing group,” Alex explained. “It’s a pun. You know, T-O-E . . .”
    â€œYeah, I get it,” Ava said. “Kylie didn’t say they had a name.”
    â€œWell, everyone on the committee is super excited about it,” Alex reported. “Apparently, they’re amazing and they brought the house down last year.” She looked at Ava. “Line dancing can be pretty complicated. Are you sure you’re up for this? I mean, with your sprained ankle and all.”
    â€œI’m up for it,” Ava said firmly.
    Alex studied her