Free True Colors by Jill Santopolo Page B

said.
    â€œBut we can help with other things!” Charlotte offered.
    â€œAbsolutely,” Lily agreed. “We’ll both come with you after school.”
    â€œI guess that’s better than nothing,” Aly said, taking a bite of her bagel, even though she was feeling kind of sick to her stomach. “Thanks.”
    She started to think of a fourth item for her list when she heard, “Is it really, really true that Brooke broke her arm?”
    Aly turned. It was Brooke’s best friend, Sophie, who had just come in from recess. Her face was flushed, and her dark bangs stuck to her forehead.
    â€œHi, Soph. I won’t know about Brooke until later. Do you want to come with us to Sparkle Spa after school and find out?”
    â€œPlease, can I?” Sophie begged. “I’ll call my mom from there, if that’s all right.” She looked as anxious as Aly felt.
    â€œYou can help with the soccer team’s pedicures, if you want,” Charlotte added. “Even if you can’t polish.”
    Sophie’s eyes lit up. “I’d be happy to. Anything for Brooke. And for the Sparkle Spa.”
    The bell rang for class, and as the girls walked together down the hall, Aly thought, Well, that’s three helpers. But not even three people will equal one Brooke.

two
Red Between the Lines
    O n the way to True Colors after school, Aly taught Charlotte, Lily, and Sophie how to racewalk. When Aly and Brooke wanted to get somewhere fast and didn’t want to—or weren’t allowed to—run, they racewalked. It involved lifting your knees high to take very big steps and swinging your elbows to move forward. There was a man in town who had been a racewalker in the Olympics, and Aly and Brooke had learned by copying him.
    Aly wondered if Brooke would’ve gotten hurt if she’d been racewalking around the house this morning instead of running. But then again, Sparkly had been zipping around so quickly, racewalking wouldn’t have been fast enough to catch him anyway.
    â€œAm I doing the elbows right?” Sophie asked while they sped to the salon.
    Aly glanced over and checked. “Perfect elbows, Sophie,” she said.
    Aly saw the light-blue True Colors sign up ahead.
    â€œThank goodness we’re almost there!” she heard Lily say behind her. “This is hard work!”
    Aly didn’t think so, but she was glad they were close. She was really worried about Brooke. And the sooner they got to the salon, the sooner she could find out how her sister was doing.
    When Aly pushed open the door to True Colors, the chimes jangled loudly. She looked around the salon for her mom and sister, but she didn’t see either one. Joan was seated at the reception desk, Sparkly snoozing at her feet.
    â€œAly!” she said, standing up.
    â€œJoan!” Aly said, flying into her arms. “How’s Brooke? Where is she? What’s happening? Where’s my mom?”
    Joan gave Aly a squeeze. Sparkly woke up and yipped, and Aly picked him up.
    â€œBrooke’s home resting. She broke her arm and has a cast. She’s going to need to rest for a few days, and she won’t be able to run around for a while, but she’ll be good as new before you know it. Your mom is home with her.”
    â€œWhew!” Lily said. “I’m glad that’s all it is! I had a broken arm once. Remember that time inkindergarten when I fell off the swings and needed a cast for a while?”
    Aly nodded. She did remember now, but she hadn’t until that moment. “Did it hurt?” she asked, hoping the answer was no.
    â€œA little,” Lily said. “At the beginning. And then it was itchy. And heavy. And I had to wear a sling. But it wasn’t as bad as breaking a leg and needing crutches. That happened to my mom once, and it was the pits.”
    â€œThat happened to me once too,” Mrs. Bass said from the drying station. She was a True Colors