Girls Only! Read Online Free Page B

minute, kiddo.”
    She paused. “What is it?”
    His eyes seemed to look right through her. “Must you get up so early?”
    She sighed. “I have to skate. Every day!”
    “But without a coach?” He placed his spoon in the cereal bowl, staring down at it.
    “I’m doing my best on my own. A town this size . . .” She paused. Did she dare say it? Should she tell her dad what she really thought of his idea to come here?
    His eyes met hers. “Are you trying to tell me there aren’t any coaches in Alpine Lake?”
    “Not for advanced skaters like me.”
    “I’m sorry, Livvy. I know it’s your thing.”
    Quickly, she went to him. “You don’t have to be sorry. Just please share my skating dreams with me. At least pretend you care about them.” She touched his shoulder lightly. “I hated leaving Elena and all my friends. I despised it with all my heart. But I honestly think I can keep up without them . . . if I have you !”
    Her father fidgeted and glanced at the wall clock nervously.
    No comment . Her dad couldn’t come up with one positive thing to say! Livvy wanted to shake him, to make him understand. Instead, she turned to go.
    Her heart sank. She’d tried and failed to persuade him.
    Bolting into the dining room, she passed the scraps of wood shavings and cans of stain.
    Upstairs, she gathered up her three-ring binder and other school supplies, shoving them into her book bag. Before heading out the front door, she called to him. “I’m leaving now.” She fought back tears. No sense letting herself cry. Not now.
    “Come home right after school,” he said from the kitchen.
    “Can’t I go to the rink for a while?”
    “Be home by five o’clock. No later.”
    She snatched up her skate bag. Then, slinging her book bag over her shoulder, she left the house. She would never tell him that he sounded exactly like Mom just then. She would never dream of saying one word.

Dreams on Ice
    Chapter Seven
    Green and yellow gum wrappers were stuck all over the inside locker door next to Livvy’s. Two girls in matching blue T-shirts shared the locker. One of them kept snapping her bubble gum.
    “Hi,” Livvy said, attempting a smile.
    “Hey, you must be the new girl,” said the gum chewer with enormous blue eyes.
    “Unfortunately.”
    The girls turned away, whispering and giggling.
    But she wouldn’t let their cattiness discourage her. “I’m Olivia Hudson,” she spoke up. “Most everyone calls me Livvy, so you can, too.” She slammed her locker door a bit too hard.
    The girls spun around. “Whoa, the skater’s got a temper,” declared the blond-haired gum chewer.
    Livvy bit her tongue. “I’m not mad . . . not really.”
    “Could’ve fooled me,” sassed the blonde.
    “Wait a minute. How’d you know I was a skater?” Livvy asked.
    The girl rolled her eyes and tilted her head coyly. “I just do.”
    Ignoring the comment, Livvy asked, “So . . . what’s your name?”
    “Diane Larson. Captain of the cheerleading squad.”
    Diane’s short, plump friend set the record straight. “You were captain last year. And don’t forget it.” The petite girl smiled at Livvy. “Hi, I’m Suzy Buchanan.”
    “Nice to meet you,” Livvy said, observing both of them. Diane was tall and wiry, with chin-length blond hair. Suzy was perky and cute, with big brown eyes and a sweet smile, her brunette hair pulled back in a ponytail.
    “By the way, have either of you seen my locker partner?” she asked.
    Diane and Suzy displayed total shock. “You’re kidding! You don’t know who you’re sharing your locker with?” Diane gasped.
    “All your stuffs in there, right?” Suzy asked.
    Livvy felt nervous. “On second thought, maybe I’ll just lug everything around with me. Till I meet her.”
    Promptly, she worked her combination lock again and yanked open the locker. Once again, Livvy noticed theupper shelf—lined with hot-pink carpet—as she checked out the place. An oval mirror with bright pink rickrack