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kind of movie star. She has everything.”
    â€œYeah, but she’s been at this school for a while and nothing much has happened. But you show up, and things start getting interesting.”
    Before those final words were even out of his mouth, the ground began to tremble beneath our feet, and the trees swayed as if they were being shaken by invisible giant hands. Another earthquake! I screamed and latched on to Jason’s arm until it was over. When the rumbling finally stopped, Jason glanced down at his arm, which my hand was still clutching for dear life. He looked up, into my eyes, smiled, and said, “See what I mean? When you’re around, the earth moves.”

chapter 6
    â€œG ET THOSE LEGS UP, LADIES! Nice and high. No dawdling, Patrice! Pick up the pace, Tammy! Go, go, go!”
    I listened to Coach Connolly’s voice blare through the megaphone as I rounded the track during PE class. I’d only done one lap and already my lungs were burning in my chest and sweat poured down my back. The blazing sun seemed to be sitting right on my shoulders. But I kept my legs pumping and focused on keeping pace with the rest of the girls. I wasn’t exactly a track star, but at least I wasn’t dead last. There were five girls behind me, some barely jogging, with their arms up and hands hanging limp, like a T. rex’s. Way out in the lead was Doli, who ran as though she’d been born running, taking long, graceful strides and easily leaping over the hurdles that were spaced several feet apart on the straightaway. I noticed Coach Connolly keeping track of Doli’s time on a stopwatch.
    When we’d all completed two laps, the coach blew the whistle hanging around her neck and told us to gather on the grassy area inside the track.
    â€œThat was a good run, ladies,” she said. “Those of you who ran around the hurdles instead of over them”—she raised her eyebrows and shot some of the girls a knowing look—“don’t think you got away with anything. You’ll do extra laps next time. In ten minutes we’ll do two-person relay races. But for now, pair off for buddy stretches. Face each other with your legs extended in a V, feet touching. Hold hands and pull back and forth like you’re rowing a boat. You should feel it in your hamstrings.”
    She blew the whistle again, and immediately the others began turning to one another, pairing off one by one with their friends. Within seconds everyone was taken except Doli and me. She approached with a confident smile. “Hey. Ana, right?”
    â€œYeah. And you’re Doli?”
    She nodded. “That’s me. Looks like we’re the only ones left. Want to be my partner?”
    â€œSure,” I said, relieved that I’d found a buddy, even if it was only for buddy stretches.
    We got into position, pressing the soles of our sneakers together and rowing back and forth. “So are your ancestors really Mayan?” Doli asked as she pulled me toward her. My face must have registered surprise— Does everyone know everything about me? But she laughed and said, “I heard you tell Lin the other day.”
    â€œOh, right.” I shook my head and rowed backward. “Then I guess you know the earthquake and that thunderstorm were both all my fault too. Lin says I’m cursed.”
    â€œClassic Lin,” said Doli, frowning. “I wouldn’t worry about her or what she thinks. She’s not the kind of friend you want anyway.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    Doli squinted her eyes against the sun as she met my gaze. She seemed to be sizing me up, deciding if she could trust me. Finally she released my hands and folded in her long legs. “I know it seems like I give Lin a hard time, but that’s only because she gives me one. She knows I’m here on scholarship, and she never lets me forget it.”
    â€œReally?” I said, shocked. I’d thought I was the