Dance Team Read Online Free

Izzy.”
    Amelia made a face. “I haven’t had my coffee yet,” she said. “Don’t make me kill you.”
    â€œThat stuff ’ll stunt your growth,” Camilla said. “And you’re short enough already.”
    Ana leaned across the booth to me. “Izzy, you have to try the strawberry granola pancakes,” she said. “They’re the best!”
    The rest of the booth groaned. “You always get those,” Berit said. “Don’t believe her, Izz. Hash browns and the Denver omelet—that’s what you want!”
    I laughed. It had been a long time since I’d felt like part of a group. Moving to Southside hadn’t been as hard as I’d feared. But except for Olivia, I still didn’t have a lot of friends. Sure, I knew people, but not counting for dance team, I didn’t really belong anywhere. By the time high school starts, everyone pretty much has their own crowd. I guess I hadn’t realized how much I missed being one of the girls until breakfast in the crowded booth at Pancake Corral.
    â€œOkay,” Camilla said once we all had our pancakes and hash browns and eggs. “Here’s the deal, Izzy. Our team is in trouble. Even with our bake sales and car washes, we’re an expensive club for the school to support. And after this year’s budget cuts, Mrs. Nuñez is seriously thinking of cutting off our funding.”
    Camilla took a big bite of hash browns. “But if we win regionals, we create some noise. We make the school look good, give them something to brag about. We might even attract a sponsor.”
    I was confused. What was I supposed to do about that, except practice my pirouettes more? Did they think I had connections to a sponsor?
    Camilla seemed to read my mind. “Here’s where you come in, Izzy. Without Leah Velasco, Northside doesn’t have a chance of beating us. For the last three years I’ve watched Leah steal our trophy from us. This is my last year at Southside, and I’m damned if I’m going to let her do it again.”
    She leaned over and made serious eye contact. “You know Leah. You can help us take her out of the competition.”
    Suddenly I was even more confused. “You mean, talk her out of entering? She’d never do that!”
    â€œNo, no, of course not! Leah would never stay out of regionals by choice. No—you have to make it so she can’t enter.”
    Jaci took up the pitch. “It doesn’t have to be anything too serious, Izzy. Go to the mall again. Jostle Leah when she’s wearing those high platform sandals she likes, so she gets an ankle sprain.” Jaci looked toward Camilla, who gave her a slight nod.
    Amelia leaned in closer to me. “Or remember that ice skater from years ago? The one who cut her competitor’s leg so she couldn’t skate? Maybe you could invite Leah to go to the rink with you, practice turns and leaps, and accidentally graze her. Just enough for a few stitches—and no regionals.”
    I looked around the booth. Everyone was watching me expectantly. I felt sick to my stomach. They wanted me to hurt Leah? These were the friendly girls who made me feel so welcome?
    I didn’t want to lose that feeling of belonging. I needed friends, needed to feel as if I fit in at Southside. But could I really do something so evil to Leah? After all, she was my friend too. But then I recalled our conversation at the mall. We were friends outside of regionals, sure. But during the competition, we’d put that on hold. I looked down at my plate of food, unable to answer.
    â€œNever mind, Izzy,” Camilla said soothingly. “I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to. Leah’s your friend. She’s probably been helping you get ready for competition. I figure she’s the one who’s been coaching you on your pirouettes. You probably feel as loyal to her as she does to you.”
    I