Read Online Survival of the Fiercest by Anna Carey - Free Book Online Page A

back.
    â€œYeah,” Andie offered. She had heard that Cate and Blytheweren’t friends anymore— everyone had heard. “She’s great.” The truth was, most girls at Ashton Prep—even ones Cate wasn’t friends with—were better qualified to answer that question than Andie. Hannah gave the shuttle a halfhearted whack and Andie smashed it right back. It bounced off the shiny gym floor, not going anywhere near Hannah’s racquet.
    Andie and Cate were close when they were younger, before their mother died. They’d throw birthday parties for Andie’s American Doll, Molly—even wrapping up Winston’s Tiffany cuff links as a gift. They’d put on elaborate plays in the den and borrow their mother’s pearls and diamond brooches to pretend they were princesses, trapped in an ogre’s castle. And when their mom was really sick, it was Cate who had worn one of her wigs, pretending it was just another play so Andie wouldn’t be so scared. But it hadn’t been like that in years.
    Hannah huffed to the far corner of the badminton court and served the shuttle back over the net. “Everyone’s talking about the rush. A few girls stole some flyers from the upper school.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Andie caught the shuttle in her hand and just held it there.
    â€œ Do not tell me you haven’t heard.” Hannah’s brown hair was a mess of frizzy curls, and she had a mole on her chin the size of a pencil eraser. Cindy only referred to her as “Holy Mole-y.” She dropped her racquet to her side, like she’d given up on the game completely. “She and Stella are having an open call today to find a third member for Chi Sigma.”
    Andie tugged on the highlight in her bangs. She knew Chi Beta Phi was done. But she didn’t know Cate and Stella werestarting their own sorority…and looking for one more member. Over the last few years, there hadn’t been any space in Cate’s life for her. Every weekend Cate was holed up in her room with “her real sisters,” the Chi Beta Phis, watching marathons of The City and singing all three hundred songs on her karaoke machine. Andie used to listen to them through the heating vent in her bathroom, wishing, just for once, they’d ask her to join. “When is it?” Andie asked.
    â€œAfter school. I just assumed you were going.” Hannah started to sit down on the court, but Mrs. Taft blew her whistle, bringing her to attention.
    â€œBack to the game, Hannah, period’s almost over,” she called. She was standing next to the gymnasium doors with her clipboard. Her thick legs were packed into gray Ashton Prep sweatpants, making them look like Polish sausages.
    â€œI mean, you’re the most obvious third member,” Hannah continued, as Andie served back to her. “You are related to them.” She looked at Hannah’s pale face and decided, right then, that she was more likeable than people gave her credit for.
    â€œMaybe I will go.” She and Cate always got along on vacation, when Cate’s only choices were to hang out with Andie or be alone. Last winter in Killington, Cate had jumped out of the hot tub on Andie’s dare, rolling around in the snow until her skin was pink. In Australia they’d snorkeled side by side over the Great Barrier Reef, gripping each other’s hands because they were so terrified of sharks. Andie wanted that Cate to be her sister—the one who could go more than an hour without snapping at her, or slamming a door in her face. To Andie, those vacationsalways felt like proof that they could get along. Cate just had to be willing to give her a chance.
    â€œAll right, ladies,” Mrs. Taft called out, nodding to the locker room doors. “I’m done torturing you.” As Andie dropped her racquet into a giant red bin, Hannah pulled a lavender sheet of paper out of her flowered LeSportsac. She