Freaked Out Read Online Free

hard to get hurt and not know if you’ll ever dance again. Maeve didn’t know how old Ms. Bennet was, but she knew her town was lucky to have her teaching a hip hop class at the rec center.
    â€œOkay, dancers. Take your places. Warm up by yourself.” Ms. Bennet clapped her hands. “Get those legs moving and grooving.” She waved everybody into place.
    Maeve had no trouble getting her legs moving. Who could stand still? She ignored everyone around her, forgot school, and gave herself over to the beat.
    â€œOkay. Great energy. Let’s go!” Ms. Bennet turned to face the mirror.
    Before she could move to her box of music, Maeve called out her own suggestion.
    â€œOkay.” Ms. Bennet smiled. “Southern hip hop it is. And, Maeve, since you suggested this piece, why don’t you and Tim give us a demonstration to start off the class?”
    She couldn’t say no. She didn’t want to say no. The truth was, she was thrilled. She loved to perform.
    Tim reached for her hand, led her into the center of the room, then, just for fun, bowed clear to the floor. But as soon as the music started, the competition was on. The two of them moved in tandem. Maeve was able to follow Tim’s lead out of the corner of her eye. She had been watching him for weeks and had been practicing a lot of his moves in the mirror at home. Ready to give it her all, Maeve danced until the sweat was pouring down her face and her heart was pounding a zillion beats per minute.
    When the duo had finished, everyone cheered, including Ms. Bennet. “Music video auditions, here they come,” she acknowledged proudly. “Okay.” She motioned to the rest of the class. “Everybody up.” The teacher stood at the front of the class, executed a five-step combo, then encouraged the class to repeat it with her.
    When Maeve caught her breath, she joined in with the rest of her class, and the remaining forty minutes whizzed by.
    She didn’t speak to Tim again until class was over and she was getting her jacket and purse.
    â€œGreat moves, Maeve. Hope she teams us up again.”
    â€œI do, too, Tim. I thought we looked really together out there.” Then she took a deep breath and stuck her neck out. “Do you think I could audition for a video with you?”
    Tim didn’t answer her, but he did smile.
    Back to the Real World
    The Beacon Street Girls met at Montoya’s Bakery before school on Tuesday morning.
    â€œHello, girls,” Mrs. Montoya greeted them warmly. “Good to see all of you survived your week of camping. You are braver than me. I don’t like bears or bugs, and I like clean sheets.”
    â€œIt was really fun, Mrs. Montoya,” Isabel enthused. “I was like you before I left, but the woods were beautiful, and I loved hiking up the mountain. I felt like I could do anything by the time I got to the top.” She gave the older woman a thumbs-up.
    Mrs. Montoya gave Isabel a big smile. “What would you all like to eat?” Isabel could see where Nick Montoya got his good looks. Mrs. Montoya was lovely. She had big brown eyes and her smile revealed lovely, straight white teeth. Isabel thought she could have been a model when she was younger.
    â€œYou are a rainbow of color today, Isabel. Muy bonita. A feast for the eyes.” Isabel was so pleased with the compliment because she had worn a light green T-shirt decorated with her own drawings of flowers. That morning, Katani said it was magnificent, and now Mrs. Montoya was complimenting her as well.
    While she chatted, Mrs. Montoya had been gatheringa bag of muffins fresh from the oven. She poured five cups of hot chocolate. “If you will take the muffins, Isabel, I’ll carry this tray to your table.” She turned and greeted Charlotte with a warm smile, and asked how she had enjoyed Lake Rescue.
    The girls paid for their food, thanked Mrs. Montoya, and when they were seated, Isabel handed