AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Arabesque,” I say.
“Very good,” Mr. Graves nods.
Everyone cheers again. Mr. Graves continues to ask us questions and I answer every one of them correctly. After seven or eight straight answers, Mr. Graves looks at Austin and grins.
“I think you can stop giving her a five second head start now.”
Austin nods. He looks at me eagerly and pretends to crack his knuckles.
Mr. Graves asks another question and Austin and I smash our buzzers at the exact same time. He gives it to Austin who, of course, gets the answer right. I beat Austin to the buzzer three out of five questions. Then Mr. Graves tells us we’re going to start working as a team now. He hands out a page with ten multiple choice questions. I huddle with the other three students from my team as we discuss possible answers.
I watch as the students in my group work together to solve each problem. I’m impressed no one is fighting with anyone else. They listen to each other and don’t interrupt with their own thoughts. I offer my two cents here and there, butmostly I sit back and observe. When we’ve circled our last answer, I lunge forward and hit the buzzer. Austin’s team moans. Mr. Graves comes over and takes the test from me. His eyes scan down the list of answers. I glance over at Austin. He gives me a thumbs up. I hold my breath as I watch Mr. Graves’ eyes scan back and forth across the page. He sets the paper down and smiles. “Welcome to the team, Emma.”
***
“Hey Steve, I’m so excited,” I say into the small screen. I practically dance around my room as I talk. “I made the decathlon team today! I’ve never tried out for anything in my life. I’m usually too scared. But I did it, and I made it!”
I sit down at my desk and adjust a lamp for better lighting.
“My brother has always had accomplishments to share with our parents. Every time he won something or made a new team, they would cheer him on. I can’t wait for dinner tonight. It’s finally my turn. The only bad part of my day was when Jaron asked me to forget about the other two guys and just go with him to prom. He made me feel like I owe him for saving me. It seriously sucks! We were really vibing, too. Now I’m not sure what to think. Oh! And did I tell you about Ethan’s poll?”
Dylan shoves my door open and bursts in.
“Excuse me? Knock much?”
“Dinner is ready,” he says, without apologizing. “Hurry up, I’ve got places to be.”
“I’ll be down in a sec, just chill.”
As soon as the door is closed, I return to my video. “Here I go, Steve, wish me luck!”
Chapter Ten
“Are you coming to the game this week?” Dad asks at dinner.
“What game?” I ask, looking up from my lumpy mashed potatoes.
Both my parents sigh and Dylan snorts.
Dad sets his fork down and looks at me. “The game they’ve been announcing at school every day. The one where we’re playing our rivals, the Bulldogs. Come on, Emma. How are you going to date Jaron if you don’t even support his team?”
My face flushes and I look down. I bury the rest of my peas in a mashed potato grave.
“I’m not dating anyone,” I say. It’s just one night. Prom night.
“Well, not now. But in the future, hopefully.”
Oh good. My parents are planning my future without me again. I stab at the dry piece of mystery meat on my plate. The conversation quickly turns to Dylan and his upcoming activities. I’ve been sitting at this table for nearly twenty minutes now and no one has asked me about the Academic Decathlon team. Mom forced me to try out and then completely forgot about it. Typical.
I stand up. “May I be excused?” I ask.
Dad waves his hand. “Fine.”
I carry my plate into the kitchen and drop it in the sink with a loud crash. A corner of glass chips off and tumbles down the drain. I grunt angrily. Stupid plate.
“Your dad has worked hard to make his team one of the best in the state,” Mom says, coming up behind me.
I jump, then turn to face her. “I know, but he acts like baseball is the most important thing in the world.”
