Free Revenge of the Geek by Piper Banks

write whatever I want, as long as it has a student-athlete theme. She said I could do an interview or something. But I don’t even have anyone I can interview,”I said, rubbing my temples in frustration.
    “Didn’t you just say that your boyfriend is an athlete? Lacrosse, right?”Nora said. “Why don’t you interview him?”
    I stared at her. It was so obvious. How could I have missed it? Of course I should interview Dex. In fact, he was the perfect person to interview. Instead of a bland, boring jock story, I could write a piece about the ups and downs of moving across the country to attend boarding school on a sports scholarship. And he’s from Orange Cove, so it would have a local connection.
    “Oh, my gosh. Nora, you’re a genius,”I said, shaking my head.
    Nora giggled. “That’s good, considering where I go to high school.”
    I grinned back at her. “I owe you big,”I said. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of Dex right away.”
    “Sometimes it helps to bounce story ideas off other people,”Nora said modestly. “I used to write for the newspaper at my old school, and we were always helping each other out. By the way, how do you get to be on The Ampersand staff? Is there an informational meeting about it?”Nora asked. “I have experience.”
    I shook my head. “The staff spots for writers are so competitive, they actually have a contest for them in the spring.”
    Nora’s face fell. “That stinks.”
    “The magazine wins a lot of national awards, so being able to write for it looks really good on college applications. That’s why they had to limit how many writers they have each year,”I explained. “But if you want, I bet you could work on layout. They’re always looking for people to do that.”
    “Maybe,”Nora said without much enthusiasm.
    I didn’t blame her. Layout seemed incredibly boring to me. I’d much rather create a story than figure out how to fit it onto a page.
    “Maybe if you work on layout this year, you’ll be more likely to get one of the writer spots next year,”I suggested. “The editor in chief is the one who picks who’s going to be on the magazine for the upcoming year.”
    “So basically you’re suggesting I shamelessly suck up to her,”Nora said.
    “Basically,”I agreed.
    Nora laughed. I liked her like this—relaxed, disarmed. She was nice, I decided. And we had a lot in common—parents who’d let us down, long-distance boyfriends. She stood and went to my window, which looked out on the ocean.
    “Your house is amazing,”she said. “I can’t believe the view.”
    “Thanks. Although it’s not really my house. It’s my stepmom’s.”
    “Even so. You’re really lucky to live here,”Nora said.
    “I am?”I said. “I mean, thanks.”
    It was odd being envied for living here, especially since I’d been horrified when, a year earlier, Sadie had announced she was moving to London and that I’d have to move into the beach house until she returned at some indefinite date in the future. I glanced around the room, trying to look at it with a fresh perspective.
    My room—which had once been the guest room—used to be very sterile and white, with low, uncomfortable furniture. But at the end of the summer, in a rare gesture of kindness, Peyton had redecorated it for me. The walls were now a pale blue and there was a thick white shag carpet on the floor. I had a new wrought-iron bed, dressed with a blue and lime green striped comforter, and a black writing desk to work at. I loved the way it had turned out.
    “And it must be amazing to be right next to the beach,”Nora continued. “I’d be out there all the time.”
    “Do you want to go out now? Willow needs to go for a walk, anyway,”I said.
    Nora beamed at me. “Absolutely,”she said.
    Chapter Eight

    F inn was gone by the time I got back from dropping Nora off at her grandmother’s condo. Avery was still at the beach house—I could hear her and Hannah in Hannah’s room, talking