Go! Fight! Twin! by Belle Payton Page B

cheerleaders. She hurried back to her seat.
    The Tigers ended up winning, but it was a close game. Ava texted Tommy the final score, and while still holding her phone, she got a message from Jack saying he’d meet her at the gate closest to the Tigers’ bench.
    â€œI can’t go to Sal’s tonight,” said Kylie. “It’s my sister’s birthday, and we’re having cake at my house. But I want to hear all about how it went tomorrow, okay?”
    Ava nodded. “I promise.”
    Kylie left, and Alex appeared.
    â€œExciting game, wasn’t it?” said Alex. “It’s a shame Tommy didn’t get in.”
    Ava nodded. “Yeah, a shame.” She had been wondering whether Alex would notice that Tommy hadn’t been on the sidelines for the second half. Apparently she hadn’t.
    â€œSo, are you ready for your big date?” Alex asked Ava.
    Ava rolled her eyes. “No. Have I mentioned how annoying it is that you were the one who created this annoying situation?”
    â€œYes. Several times. And I said I was sorry . . . kind of.” Alex told Ava her news. How she’d confessed to Coach Jen and to the team.
    Ava’s jaw dropped. “Are we in trouble?”
    â€œYou definitely are not. I convinced Coach Jen that you weren’t to blame; that I was the evil mastermind. She accepted that. And to be honest, even though we could have gotten away with it, I’m glad she knows. I couldn’t have that guilt hanging over my head every second. I swear, Ave, I’m never lying again.”
    Ava thought about what Tommy was doing at that moment. She shifted uncomfortably.
    â€œAnd,” said Alex, “guess what?” She told Ava about being the PR person for the cheer squad.
    â€œThat’s so awesome,” said Ava warmly. “And how did it go, sitting with the team?”
    â€œPretty well, except that Annelise kept thanking me for my bravery and courage, and telling everyone how I’d heroically saved her from a terrible injury. Obviously the whole thing was my fault, but she’s such a sweet person, she couldn’t see that.”
    Ava’s phone buzzed. It was Jack again. “Guess I’d better go,” she said.
    â€œYes. Hurry,” said Alex. “I saw him down there waiting for you. I think he actually combed his hair.”
    Somehow this made Ava feel embarrassed and squeamish. She didn’t like how she and Jack were both doing stuff they didn’t usually do—she’d never seen his unruly hair neatly combed, and she certainly never wore makeup (unless she was pretending to be her sister, of course). As she made her way down the stadium steps, she realized she hadn’t even thought to text Charlie. She usually texted him after the Tigers’ games. On the other hand, he hadn’t texted her, either.
    Jack was waiting for her, and his hair was definitely neater than it usually was.
    â€œHi,” she said, feeling suddenly shy.
    â€œHi,” he said.
    They were silent. They watched people moving past them, heading for the exits.
    Finally Jack came up with something to say. “So, are you hungry?”
    â€œUm, yeah. A little,” said Ava.
    â€œCool. Let’s head to Sal’s,” said Jack, and Ava nodded in agreement.
    What was the matter with her? It was like she’d forgotten how to have a normal conversation. And with Jack, of all people, who was so easy to talk to, usually. Well, he seemed to be having the same problem. On top of feeling awkward about the date, she was nervous about timing. What if this silly thing lasted a long time? What if she didn’t get home before Coach? There was almost always someone they knew at Sal’s who lived close to the Sacketts and who was willing to give her and Alex a ride on Friday nights. Most everyone understood that the coach’s daughters might need a ride home because their dad was busy after the game. But