The Underdogs Read Online Free

right, and wide, innocent eyes framed with long lashes usually weighed down with clumps of blue-black Covergirl mascara.
    Anyway, we noticed something different about Annabel that day. For starters, her BFF Portia Belfort, who was glued to her side 99 percent of the time, had recently left for Europe with her family, so Annabel came in alone for once, greeting us with a twinkle in her eye and a smile that flashed two rows of perfect white teeth. My mom offered the simple salutation Gene required of all front desk staff— Good afternoon, Annabel (always use the member’s name)—and surveyed the girl in her white short shorts, flat leather sandals, and a favorite hot-pink halter top that made her skin glow and accentuated her tiny waist. As always, the golden dog was shining away on her chest. Annabel’s mom had given her the solid-gold charm necklace last year after their family pet, Old Fluff, died, leaving Annabel so sad the light had gone out of her eyes for months. She never took that necklace off, not even when she went for a swim. It had sapphire eyes, her mom had explained, to show how special Annabel was, and they were pink to honor her favorite color. I’d heard her call it her lucky charm more than once.
    â€œHi, Annabel,” Lisa sang in a nasal, mocking voice, pretending to do it under her breath but, in fact, saying it loud enough for everyone to hear.
    Annabel smiled and wiggled her fingers at Lisa, who was decked out in her full yoga garb of a shiny blue leotard and pink spandex shorts. Evie and I got a special wink. As Annabel continued toward the women’s locker room, Nicholas burst out of the men’s locker room and bumped into her. His hair was wet, and droplets were falling on his shoulders and down his tummy. Lisa straightened up and smoothed her hair. She’d always had one eye on Nicky.
    â€œHi, Nicholas,” Lisa said, batting her blue-black eyelashes. He glanced over briefly and said, “How’s it going?” Before Lisa could tell him how it was going, he turned that smile on Annabel.
    â€œGot my lunch, sis?” He kissed Annabel on the cheek. She put one hand on her hip.
    â€œI most certainly do. And I don’t know where you put it all.”
    She pretend-punched him lightly in his washboard abs, and then reached into her tote to pull out two large Ziploc bags full of meat sandwiches. “Ah,” he said, taking the bags. “A veritable feast. See you at the pool?”
    She nodded and smiled, and he took off into the men’s locker room, drops of water snaking down his back. We watched Annabel walk slowly to the women’s locker room, shaking her head and smiling to herself.
    â€œThat girl’s in love,” my mom pronounced.
    â€œWhat are you talking about, Beth? Why would you say that?” Lisa demanded, her hands angrily on her hips. “And, like, with who ?”
    â€œBecause she has that wicked ‘in love’ look in her eye, that’s why,” my mother replied, using one of her favorite Boston-flavored terms. Wicked this and wicked that was all the rage again in Massachusetts these days. “And I don’t know who, Lisa. I’m just making an observation. If anyone would know who was dating who, I figure it would be you.”
    Lisa opened her mouth like she was totally insulted, though I wasn’t quite sure why. I agreed with my mom. It was the happiness in Annabel’s eyes, the way her nose had crinkled with that genuine smile, the joy in her gait. Evie’s face darkened, and she played nervously with her braid. She’d been kidding herself all summer that there was nothing serious going on with Annabel and her secret lover, whose identity we were pretty sure we knew. My best friend shot me a look, and off we went to stealthily follow Annabel.

 
    After
    Once we’d heard that revealing conversation between Ashlock, Gene, and my mom, the first thing Evie and I did was to try