Split Decision

by Belle Payton

  “Everyone’s going to think I’m a loser if I tell the truth,” Alex moaned.

  “Maybe they’ll think Corey’s the loser,” Ava suggested. “For not going out with you.”

  “Really? Corey?”

  Ava nodded. Alex had a point. Corey was one of the most popular guys in school. Everyone liked him, whereas right now, it wasn’t that cool to be a Sackett.

  “We can fix this,” Ava insisted.

  “How? I’ve tried,” Alex put her hands over her eyes. “I’ll never have a boyfriend.”

  Ava tossed and caught the bunny a few more times. The PJ mess involved a lot of adults and a private school with big money. She had no idea how to solve that. The Corey mess was just Corey, and she and Corey were pals. “Don’t worry, Al. I’ve got this.”

  “No! Don’t talk to him. It’s over. I’m fine,” Alex insisted.

  “But—”

  “Seriously! It’s too embarrassing if I send my twin. It’s like I’m begging him to go out with me.” Alex sat up. “Promise me you won’t.”

  Ava stood. She pulled the pink coat from the back of Alex’s desk chair and draped it over her shoulders. “I kind of like this, after all. Can I borrow it again?”

  “Fine, whatever.” Alex gritted her teeth. “You didn’t promise.”

  “What? Oh, that.” Ava wasn’t going to make a promise she couldn’t keep.

  “Ava!” Alex cried.

  Ava twirled, watching the coat billow like a superhero cape. Then she flew out of the room.

  “Promise!” Alex called.

  But Ava was already across the hall and in her own room. She closed her door. She would confront Corey tomorrow.

  CHAPTER

  TEN

  “Think fast!” Tamara turned the corner and bulleted a basketball at Ava.

  Ava caught it easily. She dribbled it around her legs as Tamara jogged over. “Why aren’t you in the locker room?” Tamara asked. “We have practice.”

  “I need to do something first.” Ava was waiting by Corey’s locker on Wednesday afternoon, hoping he’d stop by. He still hadn’t shown, and the halls were nearly empty. “Did you talk to your mom after we beat Saint Francis? Is she going to change her mind?”

  “She’s actually thinking about it,” Tamara said. “That’s pretty impressive.”

  “What about PJ?”

  “Oh, he’s leaving.” Tamara fixed her braid. Ava wished Tamara didn’t sound so sure.

  “Well, at least for you it’s not like Saint Francis is building a super team for girls’ basketball,” Ava pointed out.

  “Exactly what I told my mom!” Tamara grinned. “You know, I had you all wrong. I thought you didn’t like me, because you’re a Sackett.”

  “I thought you didn’t like me, because I’m a Sackett,” Ava said.

  “Oh, no.” Tamara shook her head. “I didn’t like you because you’re almost better than I am.”

  “Almost? I’m just rusty from being injured. I am better than you—much better,” Ava bragged playfully.

  “Then you better bring your A game today,” Tamara taunted.

  “Step back, because I’ll bring my A-plus game!” Ava grinned.

  “Aren’t you supposed to save the put-downs for the other team?” Corey sauntered over.

  “They’ll get theirs, won’t they?” Tamara slapped Ava’s back.

  “When we hit the court together tomorrow, the other team will need sunglasses,” Ava agreed.

  “For what?” Corey asked.

  “We shine so bright,” said Ava.

  “ ’Cause we’re stars,” finished Tamara.

  “Think fast.” Ava sent the basketball back to Tamara.

  Tamara caught it and began to dribble toward the locker room. “Later.”

  Ava watched her walk off. Something had changed. She still wanted to be better than Tamara, but she also wanted to play with her and win games together. PJ had done that. He might have messed up her dad’s football team, but he’d helped the middle school basketball team. Ava had a feeling she and Tamara would be a force for the rest of the season.

  “O’Sullivan, we need to talk.” Ava turned her attention to Corey.

  He shot her a funny look. “Why are you wearing Alex’s coat?”

  “I kind of like it. We’ve been sharing this coat.” Ava turned up the collar. “I think I’m rocking the hot pink—even with the jersey and ripped jeans.”

  “It’s nice, I guess.” He reached to open his locker. “Sackett, can you move? I need to get my books.”

  “No.” Ava folded her arms.

  “No?”

  “I’ll move when you tell me what’s up.” Ava had originally planned to go about this in a more subtle way, but now that she was late for practice, she just wanted answers. Alex was going to strangle her. “Do you like Alex or not?”

  “What does that matter?” he asked.

  “It matters a lot,” Ava insisted. “To Alex.”

  Corey snorted. “I doubt it. She sure doesn’t like me.”

  “Where’d you get that idea?” Ava asked.

  “I have eyes. I can see. It’s obvious that I’m not sophisticated enough for her.” Corey shook his head in disgust. “She should go out with that older guy, if that’s who she’s into.”

  “Whoa! Hold on.” Ava tried to process this information. “What older guy?”

  “How should I know? But she’s always with him. I bet they use big words together.”

  “Back up,” Ava commanded. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

  “I saw her twice with the same guy. I even saw them hold hands,” Corey insisted. “And they were laughing together. He’s in high school.”

  “Alex does not have a high school boyfriend,” Ava said confidently.

  “Maybe she never told you about him.”

  “Corey, I know you don’t have a twin sister, but let me tell you, if Alex had a boyfriend—especially a high school boyfriend—I would know about him.” Ava pushed the long hair back from her face and narrowed her eyes. “Describe what you saw.”

  “Both times were in the mall food court. He had blond, shaggy hair and was kind of tan, I guess.” Corey leaned against his locker. “Oh yeah, she was wearing that same pink coat.”

  “Were they eating burgers and fries one time?” Ava asked.

  “Exactly.”

  “Corey, I suggest you make an appointment at the eye doctor. That was me,” Ava said. “I’d borrowed Alex’s pink coat. I think I was even wearing her pink headband.”

  “You? You have a high school boyfriend?” he asked.

  “No!” Ava laughed. “That was Luke. He’s my brother’s best friend and my tutor. We were just hanging out, waiting for Tommy.”

  “Well, I was kind of far away,” Corey admitted. “But what about the other time? I know that was definitely Alex.”

  “You’re right, Sherlock.” Ava grinned. “Alex dragged Luke to the food court to come see you while Tommy was buying a present.”

  “Me? Why?”

  “Even though she’s extremely intelligent, for some reason my sister still seems to like you,” Ava explained. “Go figure.”

  “Really? She does?” Corey couldn’t hold back his smile.

  Ava nodded. “You like her back, right?”

  Corey nodded, but then his face clouded. “But, wow, she must hate me now. I’ve been horrible.”

  Suddenly Ava realized that Alex wasn’t the only twin who was good at fixing things. She had another idea—and this one was about to make her sister very happy.

  “I can fix that,” Ava assured him.

  “Don’t you have a basketball game to get to?” Alex asked Ava the next afternoon.

  “It’s an evening game. It doesn’t start until six.” Ava walked quickly down the sidewalk toward the main street in Ashland. “I have plenty of time.”

  “But I’m not even in the mood for ice cream,” Alex protested, hurrying to keep up.

  “Yes, you ar
e.” Ava kept up her rapid pace.

  Alex stopped walking. “No, I’m not. Let’s go home. I have homework.”

  Ava pivoted. “You’re turning down double fudge with caramel peanut-butter swirl? Mom gave me money.” She waved a ten-dollar bill.

  Alex did love chocolate with peanut butter. “Fine. I’ll get a cone to go.” She caught up to Ava. “Why are we suddenly getting ice cream again?”

  “I’m trying to do something nice. Because you’ve been so bummed about the boyfriend thing.”

  “Don’t remind me.”

  “I wasn’t going to. That’s what the ice cream is for,” Ava said.

  Alex was surprised. Ice cream pick-me-ups were more of her thing, not Ava’s. “Thanks.”

  Her phone buzzed, and she glanced down. She didn’t recognize the number.

  T said you wanted to talk to me? I’m here. C.

  Then a picture appeared. Cassie holding up her bookmark.

  Love it! T said you helped. Thanks!

  Alex showed Ava the photo. “Look how cute! I hope Tommy doesn’t mess it up,” Alex said. “I like Cassie.”

  “Me too,” Ava agreed. “Why’d you want to talk to her?”

  “It doesn’t matter now.” Alex brushed it off. She’d been silly to think Cassie could help.

  They passed the hardware store, a book store, and a boutique called Bling. The display window featured brightly colored clothes festooned with rhinestones and sequins. Alex paused briefly to check them out. Even though she loved sparkles, all that shine was tacky. The shirts looked like something her grandmother might wear.

  Of course, Ava hadn’t paused. Alex had to jog past the old single-screen movie theater to catch up to her. In front of Rookie’s, the ice cream shop, Alex peeked through the huge picture window under the green-and-white awning that allowed passersby to see inside.

  “Oh!” Alex stiffened. Was that him?

  She peeked again through the window, then stepped back on the sidewalk. “Ave, I’ve changed my mind. Let’s bail on the ice cream.” She continued to back away.

  “Where are you going?” Ava demanded.

  “Home. Or how about we go get a slice of pizza?” Alex tried to pull away, but Ava clasped her hand.

  “We’re having ice cream.” Ava yanked her forward toward the door.

  When had her twin gotten so strong? Alex wondered. “Ave, I can’t. Corey’s in there.”

  “Who cares?” Ava tightened her grip on Alex’s hand and barreled through the door, nearly knocking down a mother balancing two cones in one hand and holding a crying toddler’s wrist with the other. “Sorry!”

  Alex found herself standing alongside Ava in the entrance of Rookie’s. The chilled air smelled of sugar cones and hot fudge. Corey sat in a booth in the far back corner. He appeared to be alone. She scanned the line of people waiting to order. Was he here with Greg and Tim? Or some girl?

  She didn’t recognize anyone in the line. And there were no other girls their age in the shop. She took another glance at Corey. An enormous sundae topped with whipped cream, bananas, and gummy worms sat uneaten in front of him. Her eyes drifted back toward the bathroom door slowly opening. She tightened her ponytail and readied herself to see some cool, popular girl who would be sharing the sundae with Corey. That would make sense.

  I’m not going to react, she told herself. I’m not going to care. He’s nothing to me. She fixed a blank expression on her face.

  Then out of the bathroom walked an elderly woman with a shellacked helmet of gray hair. His grandma? The woman passed Corey and sat with another lady. Not his grandma.

  Why do I care? she thought. I don’t care. She turned her attention to the list of flavors on the blackboard. Rocky Rodeo. Lone Star au Lait. Bluebell Blueberry. But the words jumbled together. She wasn’t hungry—she was still curious. She stole another glance over her shoulder at Corey.

  He waved.

  She blinked. She must be seeing things.

  He waved again. And smiled. At her.

  Alex couldn’t figure out how to react.

  “Surprise!” Ava whispered in her ear.

  Alex turned to her sister. “What is going on?”

  Ava made a big deal of shrugging. “Oh, you know what? I just remembered that I need to go . . . shopping.”

  “Now?” Alex gazed back again at Corey. He continued to smile at her.

  “Exactly,” Ava said. “That store back there. What was it? Bling? The sign said they were having a sale, and I need to get there before they run out of what I want.”

  “You want something in there?” Alex narrowed her eyes at Ava. “No, you don’t. You hate shopping and you hate sparkly things.”

  “Well . . . still . . . got to go.” And before Alex could protest further, Ava ran out the door and disappeared down the sidewalk.

  For a moment, Alex wondered if she should chase her. Then she looked again at Corey. Still smiling, he waved her over.

  Hesitantly, she walked toward him.

  “Want to share?” He pointed to two spoons besides the melting sundae.

  “Yeah?” He’d been so cold all week, and now he was grinning like he’d won a football trophy.

  “Yeah.” He scooted over, making room for her on his side of the booth.

  She slid onto the vinyl seat beside him. She had no idea what to say. She had no idea why she was here. And why had Ava run off like that? She grabbed for a spoon and swiped the top of the whipped cream. Letting the sweetness slowly melt in her mouth, she waited.

  “So, I got things messed up,” Corey finally confessed. “I was mad, because I thought you liked some high school dude.” He explained that he’d thought she and Luke were a couple because he’d mistaken Ava in the pink coat for her.

  “Me and Luke?” Alex laughed, but secretly she was flattered. He thought she could get a high school guy to be her boyfriend! “That’s why you were freezing me out?”

  “Yeah. Sorry.” Corey dug into the chocolate ice cream. “Ava set me straight.”

  Alex felt relief flood through her. It had all been a big mix-up. And Ava had talked to Corey after all. And set up this ice cream thing. She loved her twin!

  Alex joined Corey in demolishing the sundae. “You really think I look like Ava?”

  “Well, you do. I mean, I was far away. And she had on that pink coat. She was eating a burger with that Luke guy and he was holding her hand—”

  “Hold up. I would never eat a burger!” Alex cried. “I’m a vegetarian, remember?”

  “Wow! True.” Corey seemed embarrassed. “I told you that I flubbed, botched, and blundered it.”

  “So you found the thesaurus app!” Alex cried.

  “I had to. I’ve got to know what you’re talking about if we’re going to hang out.”

  Alex didn’t know which part of that sentence she liked more—that he’d looked up vocabulary words to impress her or that he wanted them to hang out.

  “You should have just asked me about Luke,” she said.

  “I just thought—”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  For a few minutes, they ate in silence. She grew aware of how close he was. How he smelled more of hot fudge than laundry detergent.

  “Alex?” he said quietly. She turned her head. His face was inches away. She was pretty sure she’d stopped breathing.

  Then his lips softly brushed hers. For a moment, she wasn’t sure if this were really happening.

  But it was! Corey O’Sullivan had kissed her!

  He pulled back and busied himself searching for a paper napkin that had fluttered to the floor. Finally he looked up again, his face pink from his cheeks to the tips of his ears.

  Alex was still smiling. That crazy, happy smile that probably made her look like a clown. But she was too excited to care. She’d just had her first kiss! So what if things were totally out of order and it had happened before she officially had a boyfriend or been out on a date!

  “So we’re back on for going to the movies
tomorrow night with everyone, right?” she asked Corey. “I’d been kind of psyched about our first time going out.”

  “No.” Corey looked away. “That won’t work.”

  Alex’s stomach twisted. They had kissed. She was sure he liked her. There was no way she had read this all wrong.

  “Why not?” she demanded. She had learned her lesson about confronting things early.

  “The way I figure it, we’re already here together. So tomorrow technically can’t be our first time going out. We would have to count it as the second time, right?” He grinned mischievously at her.

  Alex grinned back. A second date. She liked the sound of that.

  CHAPTER

  ELEVEN

  “Will you stop that already?” Ava asked. Music and laughter carried in from the backyard as the entire varsity football team and their families enjoyed the Sunday afternoon barbecue. She piled extra hamburger buns onto a tray in the kitchen.

  “Stop what?” Alex asked. She rummaged in the pantry for more ketchup. She thought she’d done such a good job planning, but she’d way underestimated these boys’ appetites.

  “Stop all that grinning. You haven’t quit smiling all weekend,” Ava said.

  Alex shrugged, then smiled again. “I’m happy.”

  “We need more iced tea, pronto,” Cassie announced, carrying in two empty pitchers. “Why are you so happy?” She’d caught the tail end of their conversation.

  “Alex has Corey-itis,” Ava reported. Ever since coming home from the ice cream shop on Thursday, Alex had pranced about as if sprinkled by fairy dust. She was so happy that last night, she’d sneaked into Ava’s room while Ava was taking a shower and cleaned it. She’d even hung all of Ava’s jerseys in numerical order! Just because. Well, because of Corey.

  “What’s Corey-itis? A disease?” Cassie asked, leaning against the table.

  “Alex has a boyfriend,” Ava explained.

  “Ohhhh, is this what you wanted to talk to me about?” Cassie patted the seat next to her.

  “What about the iced tea?” Alex asked.

  “Those guys out there can wait. This is way more important.” Cassie’s eyes glittered with excitement. “Tell me all about him!”