Dancing With the Devil by Katie Davis Page B

want me to sign those forms, you’d better stop talking trash about the dance. Especially to your sister.”
    When Mackenzie didn’t respond, her father stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
    â€œOkay, people, quiet down!” Otis yelled, clapping his hands. He wasn’t having much luck getting their attention. The excitement buzzed through the room. “You guys are like mosquitoes at a nudist colony, but we have to get down to business.”
    Frankie looked up from the bike mag she and Dante were looking at. “That’s a grim image, O.”
    Dante tapped a spread on the latest road gear and said, “Check this out, Frankala. This is so you. You’d be zinging it in this kit.”
    Frankie leaned over to get a better look and whistled. “I would. Can I have that page?”
    Dante tore it out with a loud rip. Elsewhere at the Geeks meeting, kids were going over lists of stuff they were taking on the trip and sharing printouts from websites that showed cool places to stop on the way to Vermont. Maps were open, covering the empty desks in the back like tablecloths.
    Everyone jumped when the door slammed, and all heads turned to see who’d walked in. Otis smiled. “Finally, a way to grab your attention. For you newer members who haven’t met her, this is MaToya, co-founder of our beloved club.”
    If Otis thought MaToya’s entrance would quiet the room, he was dead wrong. Chairs scraped back as kids jumped up to greet her with shouts of “Ma!” and “How’s college?” and “Don’t let Otis take us the easy route, Ma…”
    MaToya grinned, her dark eyes shining, lighting up her whole face. Her smile grew when Mac caught her eye. Ma said her hellos to everyone and waited until the cluster of kids scattered back to their seats. Mac sat on the big teacher’s desk at the front of the room and jumped off when MaToya was close enough to hug.
    As everyone settled for the meeting, Mackenzie remembered back to when Ma was a senior, worried about the Bike Geeks falling apart once she left for school. One day that spring, Mac had taken a long ride, and while on a break at The Stand, heard the counter guy say to a customer, “So how’s school going, Ma?”
    Mac had only been in seventh grade, but she knew who MaToya was. When the older girl came out and settled herself on a stump seat to eat, they started talking bikes. Ma had been so impressed with Mac’s knowledge she’d convinced Otis to unofficially hire her at the shop. For that, Ma would always have a special place in Mackenzie’s heart.
    â€œYou look great,” MaToya said, squeezing her arm. “Can you talk later?” When Mac nodded, Ma said, “Good. We can catch up and nail down some details about the trip.”
    Mackenzie sat in the front row with the rest of the Geeks, and Ma took her place at the big desk. The room went silent.
    â€œI’m glad to see you all here, and so pumped about the trip. I’ve got some updates for you.” She pulled a red folder out of the messenger bag next to her. “First day of the trip, which is June 29th, you are off the hook. We’ll meet here in the parking lot and load up all our stuff under the bus, making sure you guys don’t bring more than you’re supposed to. We will be very strict about this. Then we’ll rack the bikes on the trailer and head up to Providence. We’re there one night, and the next day we rock.” There were general, low-key whoops and clapping.
    â€œWe have reservations at hostels between here and Vermont and a few days’ stay at a surprise location over the Fourth of July holiday,” she continued. “However, despite the fact that I started making arrangements months ago, many hostels were filled, so we do, in fact, have to bring camping gear.” Her look stopped the groans. “I don’t know what you’re