Read Online The Boarding School Experiment by Emily Evans - Free Book Online

leaders.”
    Names brightened. Including Thane Trallwyn . I hadn’t seen Thane much since we’d been here, and I liked it that way. Figures he’d be a team leader.
    The director said, “If your name’s bolded, come down to the stage so we may start team selections.”
    Team Anyone But Thane, here I come .
    Once the leaders, who were all male, had assembled, the director waved, and their names disappeared from the board. He faced the team leaders. “Select a player from the remaining names to play in each leg of the race. Part of this challenge will be to show how well you’ve gotten to know your dorm mates. Choose wisely and you’ll select a winning team.”
    Thane’s chin tilted and his gaze examined the board.
    “If your name is up there, rise and take a seat in the front two rows.” I maneuvered down the aisle, happy to see my roommates. Our study sessions had paid off. We three took seats together.
    The team leaders lined up on the stage, spaced evenly apart.
    Coordinator Steele held out a box to each leader so he could draw a number. Thane drew. A number flashed on the screen overhead. One . He’d draw first.
    The director said, “There are five legs in this competition. Four will be named. One will remain a mystery. If we name a task you could excel at, volunteer.” The screen went blank then flashed. Leg One: Art.
    Good one. Art’s not a sport.
    Kaitlin was the first to jump up. Before I could warn her, she waved both arms in the air. Thane selected her.
    They reshuffled the numbers for the next set. Thane drew fourth. The category popped up. Swimming. Geneva sprang up beside me. The first team member picked a guy, so did the second.
    Geneva’s face fell. “They never think African Americans can swim.”
    “They don’t believe that.” I bounced up and waved her arm high. “All state swim champ.” Team leader three stared hard, then selected a strong-looking white guy.
    Thane was next. He didn’t even hesitate. “Geneva.”
    I stood in the pool of unchosen players. Three categories remained. I had to volunteer soon or my fate would pick me. They shuffled the numbers again.
    Thane drew a one . He pumped his fist in the air. “Yes.”
    The board flashed blank and the new category appeared. Rock Climbing.
    Thane’s turn.
    I kept my hand down.
    Thane said, “Elena Carlisle,” without looking away from the category.
    Thane knew I could climb. Everyone who knew the story of my dad knew it. But I was surprised he put our history, our animosity, aside and chose me. If our roles had been reversed, and they had called soccer , I’d have never picked him, though he’d led our team to state last year.
    I joined the others on stage, a little dazed. Both my roommates hugged me and while I returned their hug, I looked past them to size up the other teams. We were the only team with three girls, so I bet they underestimated us. Good.
    The screen blanked and next category came up. Diver.
    The coordinator tossed the hat aside and pointed at the board. Names scrambled. “The final team member will be chosen at random.”
    Team Thane popped up on the board, then the name Declan Pritchard . I knew Declan and his pout from the laundry room. He high-fived us but didn’t look thrilled, and I had to admit we weren’t the brawniest group. Other than Declan and Thane, we had no brawn at all.
    “Lean and mean,” Geneva muttered. “Lean and mean.”
    The screen flashed blank, and a question mark appeared. The director leaned into the microphone. “The fifth leg will be run by your team captain. As we stated earlier, it will be a mystery category to be announced during the race.”
    The crowd murmured.
    After the final placements concluded, they handed out a sheet of rules. The top ten winners advance to next round. The top three winners of the second round move to the finale.
    One player started complaining, and Coordinator Steele stepped up to the lectern. “Teams are final.” She tapped on the microphone and