Chapter 25

The Slugs ’n’ Hisses gathered in a circle at the edge of the track. Dorothy looked around at the weary, disheartened faces.

Juana fixed her intense, dark eyes on Dorothy. “We needs you,” she whispered.

“But I’m skating the best I can,” Dorothy said. She couldn’t help that the team was falling apart.

“Not for the skating,” Juana said. “For the coaching.”

“Me? Coach?” Dorothy said, stunned. But that was Grandma’s job. She scanned the entrance hall. Still no Grandma.

“You are the logical choice,” Geekzilla said. “Your observations have proven accurate.”

“They have?” Dorothy said.

Jade looked up from her sweat-drenched towel. “Now that I think of it, Geekzilla’s right. You’re the perfect coach, Undead.”

“Coach! Coach! Coach!” Dinah chanted, and the rest of the team joined in.

“All right, all right!” Dorothy said. “I’ll coach.” She took a deep breath. “But you all are going to have to listen to me. Okay?”

Everyone nodded. Everyone except Gigi, that is.

“Come on, Gigi. That means you, too,” Dorothy said, her voice growing more confident.

“Okay, fine. We’ll do it your way,” Gigi said. “But you better have a good plan. We’re getting eaten alive out there.”

“Don’t worry,” Dorothy said. “I have a plan.”

• • •

“Nice work, team!” Dorothy said. “We’re over halfway there!”

“I have to give it to you,” Gigi said. “You’re a great roller derby coach.”

Suddenly the lights flickered and went dark. There were gasps and hoots from the audience.

Dorothy held her breath. Was Eva Disaster going to take her revenge now?