Read Online A Whole New Ball Game by Belle Payton - Free Book Online

pointing.
    â€œThat’s PJ,” said Ava. “See? The other players are talking behind Coach’s back. And look at the people in the stands. People don’t like it when PJ gets yelled at. What if they’re complaining about Coach?”
    Alex raised her sunglasses to look, a troubled expression on her face.
    The two girls watched the team divide up into its specialty areas and head off with thevarious coaches. Because it was the third day of practice, the players were now wearing some pads underneath their practice uniforms.
    Just then, Alex noticed that four kids were making their way up the stands to where she and Ava were sitting. She couldn’t see the ones in the back very well, but the girl in front was Emily, whom they’d met at the mall yesterday.
    â€œPssst,” said Alex to Ava. “Don’t look now, but I think that group goes to AMS.” She bounced up and down excitedly. “And they look like they’re coming over here to talk to us!”
    As the group came closer, Alex saw Ava’s face light up too. Alex followed her sister’s gaze to a dark-haired boy who was bringing up the rear of the group. He grinned at Ava with a cute half smile. Oh—that’s Jack, Alex realized. She recognized him from yesterday at the mall. When he’d been with his girlfriend . She looked at him coolly.
    â€œHey, y’all!” said Emily. “Oh my gosh, I love your hair, Al—wait, are you Alex or Ava?”
    â€œAva,” she said shyly. “And thanks!”
    â€œWow, you guys look so different!” Emily said. “Now we’ll definitely be able to tell y’all apart!”
    Alex kept a bright smile on her face, but shewas fuming inside. She didn’t want to look different from Ava! And they weren’t that hard to tell apart anyway, considering that Ava never wore anything nicer than jeans and a T-shirt.
    â€œI heard you might be at practice today, so I wanted to introduce you to some kids,” Emily went on. “This is Jack, and you met Rosa yesterday at the mall. And this is Corey.” She gestured to another boy, who had reddish hair.
    Alex looked at him for the first time, and all angry thoughts flew out of her head. She couldn’t speak. All she could manage was a goofy smile. Corey was tall. Athletic. And heart-stoppingly gorgeous.
    Wait, why was Ava nodding so coldly at him?
    The girls sat down on either side of Alex and Ava and were soon chatting away. Alex did what she could to join in, but she could feel Corey staring at her. Every time she looked up, he looked hastily away. He and Jack were sitting just in front of them, but they turned around to join the girls’ conversation.
    â€œSo Ava here is great at basketball,” Jack said to Corey, gesturing toward Ava.
    Ava’s ears turned red. Alex knew her well enough to know this meant she liked Jack. Herheart sank. Well, of course, Ava was a good athlete, but Alex could only hear the flattery part. The nerve of the guy! He already had a girlfriend!
    Speaking of girlfriends . . . She wondered if Corey had one. He seemed like he could be an ideal boyfriend candidate. She wondered if he was a good student. If so, he really would be perfect!
    Then she heard Jack mention Corey’s name. She tuned back in.
    â€œCorey plays quarterback for AMS,” Jack said. “Although we could totally use him on the basketball team.”
    Corey shrugged and scuffed a foot. “My older brother just graduated from AHS,” he said. “He taught me how to play football. I like to come to AHS practices because I learn a lot.” He turned to Alex. “Do you like sports?”
    Alex still couldn’t form words. Why did she have to get so tongue-tied around guys? She had no trouble talking to anyone else! All she could manage was a sort of gulping sound.
    Ava jumped in. “Alex was huge on school spirit back at our old school,” she informed the