CHAPTER 8
Hannah and Brian bolted from the chalet as fast as they could.
They grabbed their boards and headed back outside and toward the snowboard cross course.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Brian asked. “He’s pretty good, and he’s got way more snowboard cross experience than you do.”
“I don’t care,” Hannah said.
They rushed to the chairlift and hopped on a chair.
The ride seemed to take forever.
As they rode up the lift, Hannah practiced the words she would say to Zach when she saw him.
When they hopped off the chairlift and headed to the course, they saw Zach right away.
He was at the top of the course, talking to the three other boys.
He was giving them advice on tackling the course.
Hannah cruised over to him and used only two words: “Prove it.”
“Prove what?” Zach said. “I’ve got nothing to prove.”
“Prove that I don’t belong on the team,” Hannah shot back. “Race me.”
“Why would I do that?” Zach said.
“All I’m asking for is a chance,” she said. “You win, and I won’t bother you again. I win, and I’m on the team.”
With that, the other boys chimed in.
“Come on, Zach,” Ray said. “Give her a chance. It’s only fair.”
Zach took a deep breath. “Fine,” he said. “Whatever. If I have to blow you away to make you stop complaining, I’ll do it.”
Hannah was a little surprised.
She hadn’t been sure she’d be able to convince Zach to race her.
After all, he had nothing to gain by doing it.
As they moved over to the start of the course, Zach turned to his three new teammates. “I’ll get this over with once and for all,” he muttered.
At the starting line, Zach stared directly at Hannah.
Hannah looked a little nervous. But Brian gave her some final words of encouragement.
“Come on, Hannah,” he said. “You can do this.”
Will agreed to be the starter, and he counted to three.
The snowboarders took off quickly, but Zach got the faster jump.
He immediately cut in front of Hannah, nearly knocking her board off track in the process.
Zach held the early lead through the first set of hairpin turns.
Every time Hannah tried to move past him, Zach quickly changed his course to cut her off.
They zoomed around the third turn and into the moguls.
Brian could tell that Hannah had learned a lesson from her earlier run.
This time, she stayed low and let her knees absorb the bumps.
She zoomed to the outside of the track to try to pass Zach.
Zach again moved to cut her off, but this time he was too late.
Hannah was alongside him.
Still, Zach pushed outward.
Hannah neared the edge of the course and lost her balance.
Zach continued to push out until Hannah had no choice but to leave the course.
She tumbled off to the side as Zach continued down the hill, laughing.
Zach yelled, “Whoo!” as he cruised away.
Hannah didn’t give up, even though she knew it was hopeless. She got back on her feet and back on the course.
By then Zach was two full turns ahead of her. Now, he was doing tricks on the run, showing off.
Hannah lost sight of him as she made the final turn.
He probably already finished the course, she thought.
But when she approached the final jump, she saw him.
He was sprawled across the jump.
He was reaching down toward one of his legs.
He seemed to be in a lot of pain.
Hannah slid up to him and turned her board to the side, coming to a stop alongside Zach.
“Are you all right?” she said.
“My ankle . . . my ankle,” Zach said.
“Here, let me help you,” Hannah said, bending down to grab Zach’s hand.
Zach looked shocked. “Don’t you want to win the race?” he asked.
“It’s okay,” Hannah said. “Let’s get down the hill and over to the first aid office. Come on.”
Zach was amazed.
Hannah just smiled.
She helped Zach to his feet.
Then she let him lean on her as they gently glided down the rest of the course.
Hannah turned to Zach after they crossed the finish line together.
“So, did I win?” she said, smiling.
Zach didn’t say anything.
Hannah could tell he was thinking, hard.
Soon, Brian and the other boys joined them at the bottom of the hill.
None of them had seen what happened.
“Who won?” Brian asked urgently.
Hannah opened her mouth to speak, but Zach interrupted.
“She did,” he said.
Only Zach and Hannah knew what really happened. Zach looked at Hannah, and then said, “She’s on the team.”
