Free A Whole New Ball Game by Belle Payton Page B

into the pool and lounging and chatting. Occasionally Alex would wave to Ava, beckoning her to come join them, but each time she was either in the middle of a game or under water. Then Emily glanced at the time on her phone. “We better get going,” she said to Rosa and Annelise. “We’re all assistant counselors at a cheerleading camp for little kids, which starts next week. We have to go to a meeting. Are you going to try out for the squad this year?”
    Alex shook her head quickly. “I really am a klutz,” she admitted.
    â€œOh, nonsense!” said Emily with a tinkling laugh. “How can the coach’s daughter not be coordinated?”
    Alex laughed too and made a mental note to look into cheerleading. How hard could it be? Her friend Isabel back in Boston was a cheerleader. Maybe she should go out for the squad. It definitely seemed like something that could elevate her social status at AMS and make hermore of a public figure. “But anyway, I think I need to get going too. I should find Ava and my brother.”
    The girls left, and Alex stood up to look for Ava.
    She scanned the kiddie pool again and spotted her in the far end, blowing up an inflatable beach ball with Coach Byron’s kids. Then Alex did a double take. Her gaze shifted to the main pool.
    There, in the water right in front of her, was Jack. He was laughing and splashing a girl who had just gotten out of the pool and was toweling off. It was the blond girl from the mall. Alex was sure it was the same person. She looked quickly toward the other pool to see if Ava had spotted them as well, but Ava gave no sign of having seen them.
    She thought of calling after Emily to ask her who the girl was, but Emily and the other girls were already heading into the locker room.
    She made another mental note, this time to keep a careful eye on that guy. He really had no right to flirt with her sister when he obviously already had a girlfriend.

CHAPTER
TEN
    â€œWhat do you think, honey? Black or beige?”
    It was the following Sunday, the day of the block party. Mrs. Sackett stood at the doorway to Alex’s room, alternately standing on one foot and then the other, to show Alex the two different sandal choices. Mrs. Sackett was wearing a new sundress she’d bought the day they’d all gone to the mall. It looked pretty on her. Because of her artistic leanings, her mom had an excellent sense of color and what worked well with her complexion. But as for putting an outfit together—she let Alex handle the actual fashion decisions.
    Alex pinched her lower lip and frowned, sizing up her mom’s outfit. “Beige, I think,” shesaid. “The cross strap on the black ones shortens up your leg a bit.”
    â€œOh, terrific,” said her mother, in mock disgust. “Remind me never to wear those again.”
    â€œNo, Mom, they’re great with pants!” said Alex. “I’m the one who talked you into buying them, remember?”
    Her mother took off her black sandal and donned the other beige one. “Good? I know the party doesn’t start until noon, but I need to cut up your father’s brownies and pay a pile of bills.”
    Alex slid off the bed. “Hold still. You have clay in your hair right here.”
    Her mom smiled. “You can take the girl out of the pottery studio,” she said, “but you can’t get the pottery clay out of the girl’s hair.”
    Alex smiled. “How do I look?” She twirled a little, causing her green sundress to swish around her.
    â€œGorgeous,” said Mrs. Sackett. “I love your dress. It’s perfect with your eyes.”
    â€œI just hope I’m not too dressed up,” said Alex worriedly. “I have no idea what people wear to a block party around here.”
    The doorbell rang. Moxy began barkingher head off. Alex and her mom exchanged surprised looks.
    â€œWho could that be?” asked her mom.