“Not even breaking a sweat out here,” she announced loudly enough for everyone, especially Brody, to hear.

He bellowed something in response, but she was already moving, already hustling so hard that Ms. Meijer didn’t even need to yell “Hustle!” the way she always had before when they’d competed against the guys.

Sophie grunted as she scored again.

Hayley came up to her, and they bumped chests like boys did and then laughed at how it hurt.

“Ouch! Let’s not do that again!” Hayley cackled as Sophie practically galloped back to her spot on the field.

Sophie hadn’t forgiven Hayley for what she’d said about her, but she’d team up with her against these kids any day.

As they all took a water break, Brody and Caleb practiced headbutting the ball. Ms. Meijer told them to quit it, and the teams faced off again.

“Looks like I’m not gonna be second place, after all,” Sophie chirped in a sugary sweet voice to Brody.

“Yeah!” His eyes darted to the sides as if to check to see if everyone heard him. “But no guy wants to take Larry Bird to the Halloween dance, right?”

Caleb and Tariq snickered.

“Explains a lot,” he said even louder.

“Hmmm.” Sophie raised him a level in volume. Everyone was listening. “That’s weird because it doesn’t explain why you tried to kiss me at your house last month.”

Boom.

She heard a few “Awwww, mans!” and several kids in the crowd snickered.

Brody Dixon’s face froze midjeer. His cocky mouth turned downward, and for a moment he looked like he had old man jowls.

Sophie couldn’t stop herself.

She’d pretended for so long.

He’d been at the top, and she’d been at the top; how dare he try to bring her down? What made him deserve to stay there more than her?

Gets-everything-he-wants Brody Dixon couldn’t handle a girl not wanting to kiss him? Please. And she was supposed to act like that was okay? She was supposed to act like any of this was okay? No.

She raised her volume once again. She wanted every single kid to hear.

“Poor Brody. It must be so sad for you that I didn’t kiss you back and I’m beating you now so hard!”

Sophie heard the whistle blow, and she didn’t look back at the damage she’d caused. Without one more glance toward Brody for the rest of the game, she took her team to victory.

25

THE CHOIR ROOM TRIO

NESSA: Soph, what did you say to brody today???

SOPHIE: why

EVE: What??? Is that why he seemed all quiet?

NESSA: because every single human on earth is talking about it. he tried to kiss you?? you turned him down????

SOPHIE: whatever moving on did he text u tonight

EVE: He won’t STOP texting me.

SOPHIE: good

NESSA: btw lara is pretty upset about the list. its sad. she really might transfer schools

SOPHIE: yeah like she has anything to complain about. shell transfer to Greenmount. shell go to a BETTER school!