Free Two Cool for School by Belle Payton Page B

Another lady was there too, standing with an armful of thick files.
    â€œHey there, kiddo,” said Coach. “Fancy meeting you here.”

CHAPTER
TWELVE
    Ava didn’t have a chance to talk to Alex until after school, when they met at their lockers.
    â€œWhat happened?” asked Alex, her eyes wide and anxious. “Are you in trouble? Are you expelled?”
    â€œI’m not expelled,” said Ava stiffly. “First you think I’m in detention, then you think I’m expelled. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Al.”
    â€œBut why were Mom and Dad here? And who was that official-looking lady with all the files?”
    â€œThat was Mrs. Hyde. She’s the school learning specialist.” Ava took a deep breath. “They want to test me for ADHD, because of all the trouble I’ve had concentrating. That stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.”
    Alex’s eyes got even bigger. “I know what it stands for, it’s just—wow, Ave, this is really serious. I always knew you weren’t organized, but I never thought it was a disorder.” She talked slowly and quietly; Ava must be really upset.
    But Ava smiled calmly and put a comforting hand on Alex’s arm. “Me neither,” she said. “But it’s not the end of the world, Al. Weirdly, I feel kind of relieved. Because it explains a lot of the concentration problems I’ve been having, and the organizational issues, that kind of thing. It makes me feel better, knowing what the problem is. And Ms. Palmer went on about how brilliant she still thinks I am.” Ava rolled her eyes. “So they’re going to have something called a PPT—a Planning and Placement Team—and I’m supposed to get tested and stuff.”
    â€œWhen will you know for sure?”
    â€œWithin the next few weeks,” said Ava. “But everyone seems pretty sure. Mom and Coach already brought up getting me a tutor.”
    â€œI could tutor you!” Alex began excitedly. She had always felt helpless when it came to Ava’s study habits, but tutoring—that was something she could do! “It’d be perfect!” Alex continued. “We could do it every night after—”
    â€œHey,” interrupted a low voice.
    Both girls turned. It was Corey.
    Alex jumped. Talk about bad timing. She’d successfully avoided talking to him all day. In math she’d pretended she had a question for Ms. Kerry after the bell rang, just to avoid walking out with him. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Ava move away and pull out her phone, probably to text Charlie about her potential ADHD.
    â€œSo,” Corey said. “Did you do any more thinking about the Friday plan?” The words came out of his mouth very quickly.
    Alex glanced at Ava, but she knew her sister couldn’t—or wouldn’t—bail her out of this. She fought back the feelings of panic and confusion. She felt like a trapped animal. She knew she had to say something, though.
    â€œI can’t go!” Alex blurted out. “I mean, I can go, except not with you.”
    Corey took a small step back, as though he’d been socked in the abdomen.
    â€œOh. Okay. Well, see you.” He turned to hurry away.
    Alex called him back. “Wait! No, it’s not like that,” she said. “It’s only, that, see, um . . .”
    Corey waited.
    Ava looked up from her phone with an expression that read Don’t say anything dumb! Too late, though—the words were already tumbling out of Alex’s mouth.
    â€œIt’s just that I have a boyfriend. Back in Massachusetts.”
    Corey’s eyebrows went up.
    So did Ava’s.
    Alex plowed ahead. “His name is . . . um . . .” Alex’s eyes flitted wildly around until they came to rest on Ava’s phone. “Charlie! His name is Charlie. But, um, I’ll still be at Sal’s, and I’m