Read Online Steering the Stars by Autumn Doughton, Erica Cope - Free Book Online Page A

“It doesn’t even matter. Good riddance, you know?”
           “I guess.” I wanted more information but I didn’t want to press Hannah.
           “So,” Hannah started. “Tell me more about this theater class. Couldn’t you get someone to change your schedule?”
           “Ugh. I begged and pleaded with Mr. Kant but he wouldn’t relent,” I told her. “But, instead of talking about my bad day, I’d rather hear more about you joining the pumpkin team.”
           Hannah snorted. “ Pumpkin. I love it!”
           If it was possible, my smile grew. “I keep trying to imagine you playing a sport.”
           “Well, umm… if you pictured me hitting someone in the face while playing, then you are clairvoyant.”
           My jaw slackened. “No.”
           “Yep,” Hannah countered.
           “Hannah Banana, tell me you didn’t hit someone.”
           “Then I’d be lying.”
           I pressed the phone harder to my ear. “Please explain.”
           “Ughhh… It was so embarrassing.” I could hear Hannah’s sigh through the phone. “Okay. So, there’s this guy on the team.”
            “Yeah…” I prodded as I chewed on a french fry and took a sip of soda.
            “Well, when I realized he was American, I introduced myself as custom dictates by whacking him in the nose with my racquet.”
           I nearly choked on the fizzy Coke in my mouth.
           Hannah sighed and continued, “There was blood.”
          I swallowed and squeezed my eyes hard. “Oh my God! Is he okay?”
         “I mean… if you call getting nailed by an uncoordinated ass okay, then... yeah sure.”
          “Jeez, Hannah. Way to make an impression on the first day.”
          “I know. You should have seen everyone’s face. There’s this girl, Ava, and I swear to God she decided to hate me right off the bat,” she told me. “Anyway, I could practically see her glowing with jubilation that I had managed to embarrass myself in such an epic way on the first day.”
          “So, why squash?”
           “I’ll have you know that squash is a very old and regal sport,” she said unconvincingly.
             “Okay, but I know you.” I did know her and there was no way my best friend, the girl who loved books and words, decided to join a squash team just ‘cause.
           Hannah was silent for a moment. “Honestly, I joined the team because the head of the writing program is, like, some rabid squash super fan who also happens to be the coach of the school team and I wanted to make a good impression.”
           “Ohhhh-kay.” That made a lot more sense.
           “At least he’s swoon-worthy so I get to look at him while I suffer through the torture of practice.”
           For the second time in the last couple of minutes, I nearly choked. “The teacher ?”
           “Yep, my teacher is like a mix between Henry Cavill and Prince William. But way hotter.”
            “How old is he?” I inquired, a thousand horrible thoughts racing around my head.
            Hannah was quiet. Too quiet.
            “Hannah?” I cried. “Tell me you aren’t developing a crush on someone’s grandfather.”
            She chuckled. “Calm down, Care. I’m not completely crazy,” she assured me. “Anyway, squash is going to suck but at least it will help me make friends.”
            Friends? A weird knot formed in my belly. “Sure.”
            “Yeah,” Hannah said casually and I could almost see her shrugging on the other end of the phone. “There’s this girl Tillie, who’s basically adopted me. I think you’d love her. And this guy named Ruben. He looks like he spent the summer working on magic tricks and reading comics but he’s really nice.”
           “Oh.” I didn’t know what else to say. Hannah was in a