Alex's Challenge Read Online Free Page B

understood that some girls still liked their stuffies—but everyone else had only brought one, if that.
    â€œYou’ve got to be kidding me,” Chelsea answered, irritation in her voice. She hated when someone else got all the attention.
    Alex sidled up to Karen and started telling her all about it—Color War was absolutely Alex’s favorite time at camp. “That’s when everyone here gets divided up into two groups, Red and Blue. For two whole days, we compete with each other—even with the girls in our own bunk—to see which team will win the Lakeview Champion Title,” Alex explained as her heart started beating faster.
    â€œUm, cool,” Karen said. Karen wasn’t very competitive, so Alex wondered if she really meant it. But at least Karen seemed genuinely interested.
    â€œMost of the competitions are sports,” Alex said, “but not all of them. I mean, we do soccer, blob tag, Scrabble, basketball, canoeing, croquet, swimming, and singdown. For the first time all summer, bunkmates could be on separate teams, and best friends could be enemies,” she added.
    Luckily for Alex, though, she had always managed to be on the same team as Brynn. She couldn’t imagine trying to beat out her best friend in anything.
    To Alex, Color War was special because, while it tore the camp apart for two days, it also brought everyone closer together at the end. Unlike other camps, at Lakeview, the winners had to do something really nice for the losers—this year, like last, they would have to make chocolate chip cookies. That was always fun because those who make the cookies also get some of the dough, of course. Alex enjoyed the process and the camaraderie and delivering the treats to the other kids at the end of dinner last year. She hoped it would be just as much fun this year—even though she definitely wouldn’t be having any treats.
    Getting ready for Color War was just as much fun as actually doing it, too. The teams always got together in secret huddles to pick outfits, mascots, and cheers and to make signs and to plan pranks on their opponents. Even though Alex knew the drill by now—she still totally loved Color War at Camp Lakeview.
    Last year, Alex, Sarah, and Brynn had been on the winning team together. Because they understood one another so well, they were able to score the last point for their team during a lay-up competition on the basketball court. After a perfect pass from Sarah, Alex threw the ball into the basket while Brynn cheered them on. They were so happy to win for their division that Alex cried a little while everyone yelled and screamed her name. She was sweaty and hugging her best friends, so she didn’t think anyone had noticed how emotional she’d been.
    It was a special day and a very lucky shot. She went home savoring her victory. She thought last year was the best time she’d ever had away at camp. She didn’t think it could get any better.
    â€œYou’re going to love it,” Alex told Karen, who was a first-year. “I hope we get to be on the same team. I’ll show you the secrets to winning all the different events.”
    Karen was so quiet that Alex hadn’t gotten to know her very well. She really did hope that the two of them could hang out some more before it was time to pack up and head home in less than two weeks. But Karen was always with Chelsea, though she had been branching out after the incident at the water park. Alex was so glad that Karen wasn’t letting Chelsea be so pushy anymore.
    â€œAlex, you don’t have to know everything about everything ,” Chelsea said, taking Karen aside to explain Color War to her all over again.
    Alex got tingly because she could sense Karen’s suffering, and she so wanted Karen to tell Chelsea off. Alex kind of understood, though. Sometimes, like just now, Alex didn’t speak up, either. Alex had the guts, that wasn’t the problem,