What If... All the Rumors Were True by Liz Ruckdeschel Page B

Drew said. “I trained hard all summer. I can’t help it if varsity football is weak this year. Turns out the seniors who graduated last year carried us more than we realized. I just hope the team is good enough to attract a few recruiters—or it’s no college for me, baby. I sure ain’t getting in on my grades.”
    â€œWhy did I join the Math Olympics team?” Reese said. “What was I thinking? The first meet is next week and I’m going to make a total fool out of myself. I’m going to stand up in front of everybody and my mind will go blank. The admissions office at Princeton, Harvard, Dartmouth and Yale will hear all about it and they’ll laugh hysterically while tearing up my applications. I’m doomed.”
    â€œOh, please,” Haley said. Nothing tragic ever happened to golden boy Reese. “You’ll be fine. I’m the one who’s going to be laughed out of the Ivies.”
    Johnny Lane rubbed his eyes impatiently. “All this college talk is boring my brains out. You get in, you don’t get in. Who cares? You can always go to state.”
    Haley gasped.
    â€œHow can we not care?” Cecily said. “Our entire future is on the line.”
    â€œThe future will happen whether or not you go to Vassar,” Johnny said. He clapped his hands and whistled. “Bring out Sasha! Sasha Lewis, let’s go!”
    The room was still filling with people. A group of sophomores, led by Zoe Jones, crammed into a corner booth, giggling and spitting water at each other. Zoe’s hair stuck off the top of her head in two wild spikes, and a heavy dash of eyeliner made her catlike eyes even more feline, yet somehow she still managed to look beautiful. Maybe it was the red spandex bodysuit and tutu over combat boots. Haley had to admit the girl had a look of her own, especially for someone so young. She certainly didn’t lack confidence—Zoe was already the lead singer in Rubber Dynamite.
    â€œLook at them,” Cecily said wistfully. “Laughing like they haven’t a care in the world. Remember sophomore homework? Sophomore year is like kindergarten.”
    â€œLeave them in peace,” Drew said, eyeing Zoe, along with every other guy in the room. “Let them have their fun while they can.”
    â€œI remember fun,” said Cecily. “Wait until next year. We’ll be seniors, coasting along on a wave of senior cut days.”
    â€œWe’ll be tearing our hair out, waiting to hear on admissions,” Reese said.
    â€œHey,” Johnny said. “I believe I asked you all to cut it.” He stretched his long, denim-clad legs into the aisle and closed his eyes. “I wish this show would start already. You can’t even get a beer in this dump.”
    â€œExcuse me, but you are in my way.” Haley looked up as Mia Delgado sauntered past their table, followed sheepishly by Sebastian Bodega. “Please, can you move your legs?”
    Johnny opened his eyes and glared at Mia. “Go around. There’s no room at this table anyway.”
    Mia gasped, giving a dramatic toss to her long brown hair. She was wearing even more makeup than usual; her eyes were lined and spackled with blue shadow. “American boys are so uncivilized.” She walked around Johnny’s table and sat down in a seat right in front of him, blocking his view of the stage.
    â€œShow the lady some respect,” Sebastian said mechanically to Johnny before taking a seat next to Mia.
    â€œWhatever,” Johnny said.
    Mia turned around to glare at Johnny and fluffed her hair again. Then she said to Sebastian, “I’m sorry I was late to meet you, puppy, but I went to the auditions and had to wait such a long time for my turn!”
    Haley didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but she couldn’t help perking up her ears at the word “auditions.” That explained the huge hair and excessive makeup—Mia’s