Free Rival Revenge by Jessica Burkhart Page A

smiling. “A trip to the Sweet Shoppe. It is Wednesday, after all. I think they have new smoothie flavors.”
    I’d really missed hanging out with Paige. And things had been so weird that this would be the perfect chance for us to chat and relax.
    â€œThat sounds great,” I said. And I didn’t want to, but I had to say it. “I’m serious, though, if you bring up the party—I’m going to leave. I really, really don’t want to talk about it.”
    Paige half-shrugged. “Okay. I won’t say a word.”
    â€œGive me fifteen minutes to shower and change, then I’m ready.”
    After I got cleaned up, we grabbed our purses and I picked up my egg box off my nightstand. I’d left it in my room while I’d been riding. Utz would never know and the stable was, like, the least safe place ever for an egg. I’d take a pic of it with me at the Sweet Shoppe. If I had to do this dumb assignment, I was definitely going to get an A.
    â€œUgh,” Paige said as we stepped outside. “It’s disgusting out here.”
    â€œTotally.” We both pulled on our sunglasses.
    â€œBut at least we’re going to be eating something amazing in five minutes,” I said.
    We walked the short distance to the Sweet Shoppe and with each step, our tension eased.
    â€œMy math teacher is trying to kill my class,” Paige said.
    I grinned. “What? How?”
    Paige rolled her eyes. “Okay, get this: not only did he assign fifty homework problems for tonight, but he also told us we have a quiz on Friday and a test next week. During Homecoming . It’s so wrong.”
    â€œThat’s ridiculous. But focus on Homecoming and fall break. Those are exciting.”
    As soon as I said “fall break,” I wished I hadn’t. I was staying with Paige in New York City, which had been perfect when we’d made the plans. Mom and Dad had agreed to let me go and then had decided to go on vacation while I was at Paige’s. Now Paige’s was only going to be fun if we fixed our shaky friendship.
    â€œYou’re so right! Homecoming and fall break,” Paige said. She almost bounced as she walked. “Forget about math. Those are awesome things to look forward to. We’re going to have so much fun over break.”
    I nodded, glad that we were walking up the stairs tothe Sweet Shoppe. I pulled open the door and stepped into the air-conditioned room. If Paige and I got through this without having any weirdness, then maybe she was finally taking me seriously about no party talk.
    Paige and I both stared at the smoothie choices on the cute chalkboard hanging behind the counter. Colored chalk matched the drink flavor—so blueberry was written in blue, strawberry in red, and mango in orange. Everything about the Sweet Shoppe was fun—from the glass counter where we could see all of the ice cream tubs to the cupcake trees that were displayed on the counter with a zillion different choices.
    â€œOooh, so many!” Paige said. “Want to get two large ones, drink half, and swap?”
    â€œDuh. I’m going to get peach mango.”
    Paige scanned the choices. “And I’ll get … blackberry and strawberry.”
    â€œAwesome.”
    We stepped up to the counter and ordered our smoothies. The barista handed them to us and we found an empty circle-shaped table near the center of the shop. We sat and started sipping.
    â€œSo let’s talk fall break,” Paige said.
    I took a huge gulp of smoothie and got a brain freeze.Owww. “Yeah,” I said. “It’s going to be so much fun.”
    â€œThere’s so much we didn’t get to do when you visi-ted me over the summer,” Paige said. “I mean, we stayed in Manhattan the entire time. There’s so much more.”
    â€œLike what?” I asked. This felt right—Paige and me. No awkwardness. Just the two of us talking and enjoying our