Chapter 6
In the locker room after practice, one of the other dancers, a girl named Emily, came up to Hannah.
“You looked great out there, Hannah,” Emily said. “Are you going to try out for one of the solos?”
“Maybe,” Hannah replied. “Are you?”
“I don’t know,” Emily replied. “I’m thinking about it. I just wonder how many people are going to be trying out.”
Just then Caitlin walked up. “Want to come to the mall with me?” she asked. “I finally saved enough to buy those red boots!”
Hannah glanced over at Emily. “I don’t know,” she began. “I have to write an English paper tonight. And I really wanted to have time to get some extra practice in, so . . .”
“Please?” Caitlin said. “We haven’t been to the mall together in forever! It won’t kill you to have some fun too, you know.”
Caitlin looked so hopeful that Hannah couldn’t refuse. “Okay,” she said finally. “Just let me call my mom.”
“Yay!” Caitlin said happily. She linked arms with Hannah and pulled her out the door.
* * *
As soon as they got to the mall, Caitlin made a beeline for her favorite store and bought the red boots. She ran over to a bench and immediately put them on.
“They look awesome,” Hannah said.
“Thanks! Hey, let’s go see who’s at the arcade,” Caitlin suggested. She walked off toward the gaming area.
Hannah hesitated. She really needed to get home to practice, but she didn’t want Caitlin to be mad at her. Finally she ran to catch up with her friend.
Inside the dark arcade, there were a few kids were playing video games. Hannah didn’t recognize anybody. Then she felt Caitlin elbow her. Hannah turned to see where she was looking.
Connor Beale, a boy from school, stood in the back corner playing a video game. Caitlin had been talking about Connor nonstop since they’d worked on a big project together in English class.
“Do you think I should go over?” Caitlin asked in a whisper. She didn’t wait for an answer. “I’m going over.”
Hannah followed Caitlin as she walked over and said hello to Connor. She quickly became interested in how to play the game and started asking Connor lots of questions.
Hannah sighed and sat down on a nearby bench. She watched Caitlin flip her hair and giggle at something Connor said.
I wish I hadn’t told Mom that I’d get a ride home from Caitlin’s mom, Hannah thought. It’s going to be a long afternoon.