Unfriendly Competition by Jessica Burkhart Read Free Book Online Page B

brain.
    SASHA SILVER & ERIC RODRIGUEZ? A HOT NEW COUPLE AGAIN?
    My computer finally came on and I went to the blog. The latest post, dated only minutes ago, had a photo of Eric and me standing in the hallway, smiling at eachother. I could barely make myself read the text that was under the picture.
    Look at who was spotted in the hall today! Small-town Sasha Silver with her former boy toy and total hottie Eric Rodriguez. But didn’t they break up? Didn’t mousy Sasha manage (ummm, how, seriously?) to snag *Jacob*? If they’re as together as they’ve looked, I wonder how Jacob will feel that his GF is flirting with her old BF. Come on, Sasha. If you’re going to do that, at least be smart and do it in private.
    xx
    â€œAre you kidding me?” I half screamed to no one.
    This was beyond ridiculous. The gossip blogger had to be stopped. Or we were going to be expelled. I couldn’t even start to think about that.
    My door opened and Brit walked inside as I was rubbing my temples.
    â€œHey!” Brit said, grinning until she saw my face. Her smile disappeared. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œOh, just a little something that the stupid gossip blogger just posted! Look.” I shoved my laptop at Brit and picked up my phone. Even though I’d already talked to Jacob and hadn’t done anything wrong, I still wanted to talk about it.
    Brit read the post in seconds. “Oh, Sasha. I’m sosorry! But you didn’t do anything, and Jacob’s not going to think you want to be back with Eric.”
    â€œI know he won’t,” I said. “But this is so wrong. And a photo? Really? Was that necessary?”
    I needed gloss stat . I grabbed one from my special gloss bag that I only used for dates and going out. But this was an emergency. I applied a coat of peachy pink Dior gloss. That made me feel a little better.
    Brit looked at the phone in my hand. “Go ahead and call Jacob. It’ll make you feel better. We’ll go to our lesson when you’re done, okay? Just know that you’re allowed to talk to whomever you want and the gossip blogger is going to be stopped.”
    I took a shaky breath. “Thanks, Brit. I won’t be long on the phone—promise. We won’t be late to our lesson.”
    Brit waved her hand. “Take your time. We can tack up two horses faster than anyone.”
    I smiled. “Now that’s something that actually is true.”
    I hit Jacob’s speed dial number, taking deep breaths while the phone rang.
    â€œHey,” Jacob said. His voice was upbeat, and it sounded like he was walking somewhere—I could hear the wind.
    â€œHi,” I said. “You might have already heard or read about it, but we got attacked by the gossip blogger today.”
    â€œWhat? What did it say?”
    I paused. I knew Jacob would believe me, especially since I’d already told him about talking to Eric, but I was still a little scared.
    â€œIt said I was flirting with Eric in the hallway. There’s a picture of us smiling at each other.”
    â€œSasha, I’m so sorry. I know you didn’t flirt with Eric—I wouldn’t have said anything about if you hadn’t brought it up. I trust you.”
    â€œI know you do. I just wanted to call you and make sure you knew that the post was up. I didn’t want you to be surprised.”
    â€œThat was sweet,” Jacob said. “But I don’t care what the gossip blogger said.”
    â€œI don’t either. It hurt my feelings a little, though, that the blogger couldn’t believe I was with you.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Jacob’s tone dropped.
    â€œIt basically said that I was no one and how crazy it was that someone like me was dating you.”
    â€œSasha, I can’t even tell you how untrue that is. Whoever wrote that is obviously jealous of you. Theblogger should have written the opposite—that I’m lucky to have