Free Bring It On by Jasmine Beller Page A

herself!”
    â€œThat was so tight, what you did out there,” she heard M.J. say. She glanced over her shoulder. And yes, he was talking to Devane.
    â€œDid you hear that? M.J. thinks it was fabulous,” Emerson exclaimed. “And Devane looks like she just won an MTV award for best video or something.”
    â€œNo one in the house knew anything was wrong. That’s something,” Sophie said, patting Emerson gently on the arm. “Although I should take Devane to task for stealing my moves. She took her whole part of the routine from me!”
    â€œYou’ll have to wait in line,” Emerson answered, surprising herself. “I’m going over there and kicking her behind. Well, in a talking kind of way.”
    She didn’t wait to hear what Sophie would say. She was afraid if she waited, she wouldn’t do it. And if she didn’t do it—she’d never be able to look at herself in the mirror again without wanting to vomit.
    Emerson strode straight over to Devane. M.J., Max, Becca, and Fridge were clustered around her. Congratulating her. Not Emerson’s problem. She wasn’t going to wait to talk to Devane in private. Everyone could hear this. She wanted them to.
    â€œYou said you weren’t a diva the first day I met you. You lied!” she exclaimed.
    â€œWhat’s this mess you’re talking?” Devane asked, raising one eyebrow.
    â€œI thought you were just having fun, little dogs and your stretch SUVs and your movie-star boyfriends,” Emerson rushed on. “But you really are a diva. Divas only care about themselves. They expect everyone else to do everything they want because they are so, so special. Well, that’s you, Devane. And you want to know another word for diva? Selfish!”
    â€œHold up!” Fridge protested.
    â€œYou’re calling me selfish?” Devane cried, looking at the people gathered around with a can-you-believe-this-girl expression. “You’re just mad because you didn’t get every single second alone in the spotlight that you think you deserve.”
    â€œCome on, you guys,” Max said. “Don’t fight. We just had a great show.”
    â€œIt isn’t about the spotlight,” Emerson insisted, ignoring Max. She felt angry tears sting her eyes, but she blinked them away. The very last thing she wanted was to let Devane see her cry. “What you did was completely unprofessional. We rehearsed the routine a million times. Why? So we could do a great performance.”
    â€œThat’s right,” she heard someone say softly. She wasn’t sure who. Her eyes were locked on Devane.
    â€œAnd you just bust in there, break all the rules because you’re mad you didn’t get a single second alone in the spotlight!” Emerson rushed on.
    â€œIn case you didn’t notice, I gave a great performance,” Devane shot back. “Those people out there loved me. They weren’t disappointed they didn’t get to see your perfect practiced, practiced, practiced routine. Did you hear that applause they gave up for me?”
    â€œI heard.” M.J. moved a little closer to Devane.
    â€œThat applause was for both of us,” Emerson snapped. “Because I held it together and—”
    But she found herself talking to Devane’s back. Devane was already walking away.
    â€œUh-oh,” Max said softly.
    Emerson followed Max’s gaze—and saw Maddy and Gina. Oh, no. What had they seen? How much had they heard? They hadn’t been there when she’d launched into her attack on Devane, Emerson knew that much.
    Could this day get any worse?

CHAPTER 8
    Devane stepped into the lobby of the Gulliver Academy auditorium, and it was like she was back onstage. All that energy pouring into her. All her little cells had to be glowing. Her heart was doing some hip-hop of its own inside her chest. She didn’t care what the ballerina said. Devane had