The Best Friend Read Online Free Page B

evolve to this? What was Riley asking her to do? And how could Lishia even consider such a thing?
    â€œDon’t you get it? Seriously, think about it. If Gillian is off the team, you’ll finally get your chance.” She let out a happy sigh. “In fact, I’m starting to think it was no coincidence that we sat together at lunch today. It’s like it was meant to be. Like you’re going to be cheerleader and this is how it’s supposed to unfold.”
    Lishia gave a nervous giggle.
    â€œYou don’t think so?”
    She shrugged. “It’s a lot to take in.”
    â€œYeah, I know,” Riley said reassuringly, like she understood. “But think about it, okay?”
    â€œI will.”
    â€œAnd remember, you swore not to tell anyone.”
    â€œOf course, I won’t.”
    â€œThere’s only one more football game, and it would be stupid to lose Gillian before the season ends, since it would mess up all our routines. But we could use that time as well as the break before basketball to teach you all the routines. Then you’d be ready to step in at our first game.”
    â€œThis is so weird.” Lishia felt slightly giddy now. Was it really possible that she’d be on the team for basketball season?
    â€œBut you are interested, right? I mean, you’d be crazy to let an opportunity like this slip past, don’t you think?”
    â€œOf course I’m interested. It’s just hard to absorb all this.”
    â€œWell, then think about it. I’ll call you later. Do you still have the same phone number? It’s probably still in my phone since I never clean out my address book.”
    â€œYeah, it’s the same.” Lishia opened the door.
    â€œGreat.” Riley nodded as if satisfied with how this was going. “I’ll call you after I’ve had a shower, and we can kick it around some more. We need to come up with a good plan.”
    â€œOkay . . .” Lishia wiggled her fingers in a wave and closed the door. Then, still feeling stunned, she stood there watching as Riley’s little red Honda zipped off down the street. This seemed like a dream. A very weird dream. But at the same time, Lishia felt excited and pleased with this new development. And she hoped it was real. Going from feeling friendless and depressed to having Riley as her new best friend and getting to join the cheerleading team seemed comparable to winning the lottery.
    As she retrieved the mail from the mailbox, she wondered about all that Riley had dangled before her. On one hand, it seemed too good to be true, and she was smart enough to know what that could mean. On the other hand, Lishia thought that perhaps she deserved this opportunity. Life had been kicking her around for the past several weeks. Maybe it was finally her time to shine in the sun! But at what price? Turning informant on Gillian? No matter what Gillian was into, Lishia wasn’t sure she was comfortable with that. Something about it felt wrong. However, it was also wrong for Gillian to be on the team and breaking the conduct code . . . and getting away with it.
    Lishia felt torn and confused as she went into the house. That made her wonder about God’s take on this. How did this new development fit into his plans for her? Or did God even have plans for her? Earlier today, she’d been ready to abandon her faith altogether. Now that life held some promise, she wanted to believe that God was somehow involved in it. Perhaps he was completely behind the whole thing. Maybe he had heard her desperate prayers in regard to her loneliness and wanted to give her a break after all. Had he seen the way her old friends were treating her and how she didn’t fit in anywhere? Perhaps it was like she’d heard her youth pastor say recently—God wanted her to step out of her old comfort zone and do something completely new. Why not?
    Okay, she wasn’t absolutely sure