Fabulous Five 005 - The Bragging War Read Online Free Page B

ten. Beth hated this exercise. It
was supposed to strengthen the muscles of the inner leg, and it hurt like
crazy. But today she hardly felt a thing as she thought about how she was
putting something big over on Laura McCall.
    The girls remained on the floor for the leg squeeze and
then, at Miss Wolfe's instruction, did five slow laps of the gym while Miss
Wolfe hauled the floor mats to one side of the room. Beth watched out of the
corner of her eye as Tammy and Laura lagged behind the others during laps. They're
probably hoping that they can hang back and gossip while they're running
without Miss Wolfe's seeing them, Beth mused. She stifled a laugh as the gym
teacher called out to them to catch up with the others.
    After the warm-ups the squad practiced cheers for the rest
of the session, and there was still no talking allowed. Beth kept an eye on
Tammy and Laura, and Melanie nudged her a couple of times between cheers when
it looked as if Tammy might get her chance to tell Laura about the party, but
each time Miss Wolfe interrupted with new instructions.
    "For our final cheer today," Miss Wolfe said at
last in her thick German accent, "ve vill do 'Electrify.'"
    It was a favorite with most of the squad—short, snappy, and
ending in a jump—and the girls began to applaud. Miss Wolfe held up her hand to
signify that she had not finished talking, but out of the corner of her eye
Beth could see that Tammy and Laura were having a conversation of their own and
were not listening to Miss Wolfe.
    "Ve vill make one change from the vay ve usually do
this cheer. Instead of finishing vith a spread eagle, I vant you to end the
cheer vith a herkie. Now line up, please."
    "Wow," Beth muttered under her breath. The spread
eagle was the easiest cheerleading jump, but the herkie was definitely the most
difficult. While the left leg and arm are out to the side in half of an
airborne split, the right leg is bent at the knee and the right arm is straight
up in the air. Beth had only done the herkie correctly two or three times in
cheerleading practice, while Laura McCall was practically an expert.
    Beth glanced quickly at Tammy and Laura while the squad was
lining up. They were at the far end of the line from Miss Wolfe, and Tammy was
keeping one eye on the teacher while she talked rapidly into Laura's ear. At
first Beth was disappointed that Laura's expression was blank, but then she
began to notice a change, the eyes enlarging and the chest swelling as if
something was boiling up inside the tall, blond girl and was about to erupt.
Beth didn't have time to react because head cheerleader Dekeisha Adams was
starting the cheer.
    Gonna raise our spirits
Up up high
Gonna raise our spirits
ELECTRIFY!
    On the last word of the cheer the squad vaulted into the
air, all, that is, except for Laura McCall. "What!" she shrieked,
turning an angry, red face toward Beth.
    Beth knew that Miss Wolfe didn't notice how poorly she
executed her herkie or that Taffy Sinclair and Dekeisha almost bumped into each
other in midair or even that Tammy had done the spread eagle instead of the
herkie. She couldn't have. She was glaring straight at Laura.
    "Laura McCall, for that outburst and for failing even
to attempt the jump, you vill stay late and do ten perfect herkies," she
commanded. "The rest of the squad is dismissed."
    Beth grabbed Melanie's arm and rocketed out of the gym. She
didn't even bother to look back at Laura, who stood alone in the center of the
gym floor. Who needs to? Beth reasoned. My plan is working. Laura's the one who
looks foolish now, and I'm the one who's winning!

CHAPTER 6
    Friday evening was always a bigger zoo than usual at the
Barry house, and this Friday evening was no exception. Beth marched into the
family room after supper in the middle of an argument between Brian and
Brittany, who were each trying to persuade their father that it was their turn
to take the van. "You had it last night," argued Brian.
    Brittany raised her eyebrows.