Emma Harrison - Sacked: A Rival High Novel - Hardcover

Chapter One

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You guys! You know what I just realized? Its the penultimate Thursday of May! Tamara Glenn announced, stepping out into the sunshine with two huge, whipped-cream-topped iced mocha lattes. Do you realize what that means?

Drew Benson looked at his friends, amused, and a couple of them rolled their eyes. Tamara was always psyched up about something. In fact, a lot of Drews friends found her constant optimism irritating. But Drew kind of liked it. It was nice to have someone around who was always looking on the bright side. Plus, Tamara was not bad to look at, with her perfect dancers bod and her long blond hair. Drew hadnt been interested in her that way since theyd gone out back in eighth grade (back when everyone called them Ken and Barbie), but she had always been a good friend. So he decided to humor her.

No. What does that mean? Drew asked, kicking back in his chair outside Washingtonvilles very own Starbucks. The sun was shining as it started to dip toward the horizon, and half the school was either loitering on the sidewalk in the center of their quaint Pennsylvania town or hanging out inside the coffee shop. In the warm air, Drew could practically taste the impending summer and all the delicious freedom it would bring.

It means that in exactly six weeks, graduation will happen, and we will officially be seniors, Tamara announced.

That got the entire tables attention. Drew and his friends whistled and cheered, lifting their iced teas and lattes toward the sky. Drew reached across the table to slap hands with Jason Szonyi, his best friend and fellow football player, enjoying the camaraderie of the moment. Every time Drew thought about being a senior, he felt a lightness in his chest that hed never experienced before.

Senior year. The entire social hierarchy of Washingtonville High was going to change, and Drew Benson, as president of the senior class and starting quarterback of the football team, was going to be on top. He and his friends were going to rule the school and dominate on the field. Best of all, Drews older brother, Trey, would finally, finally, be gone. The great Trey Benson was actually going to be forced to abdicate his throne.

Yeah, everyone except me, Sally Chou lamented with a sigh. Sally was Tamaras sophomore friend and the new girlfriend of Clay Carradinea defensive lineman from the team. She rested her chin on her folded arms and pulled her long, black ponytail over her shoulder to chew on the end.

Hey. Dont be harshing my vibe, Tamara joked, shoving her lightly.

Dude, I cannot wait, Clay said, leaning his elbows on the table, causing his massive linemans biceps to bulge. A whole new flock of freshmen females to plunder.

Ew! Clay! That is so not what I meant, Tamara said, whacking his hulking shoulder.

Yeah, man. Have a little respect, Drew said.

Drews friends jeered , but Tamara shot him a thankful look. Drew smiled back but then, the second her back was turned, wagged his tongue at her comically. All the guys cracked up.

Shes right, though, guys, Drew said, lifting his red and white Washingtonville High baseball cap off his head to scratch at his blond hair. This is big stuff. Senior year. We have to make sure that we dont waste a second of it.

Yeah, the guys muttered in agreement, nodding and looking around.

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Drew felt a rush of adrenaline. For a second he thought of his brother. This must be what Trey felt like whenever he made his captains speeches before taking the football field. This was how Drew was going to feel every Saturday next year.

No matter what, we have got to make sure that this is the best year ever, Drew said, standing, enjoying the attention that was riveted on him. From the first day of the first practice, we have to

Hey. Isnt that your brother? Clay asked, looking through the plate glass window into Starbucks.

Drews jaw dropped in indignation at having his very first speech truncated so abruptly . But sure enough, there on the TV screen behind the counter was Trey himself, smiling and chatting with the hot reporter woman from the local news.

Hey! Trey is on the news! Tamara shrieked.

And instantly, every single kid on the sidewalk crowded through the doors and into the tiny coffee house. Unbelievable. The adulation these people heaped on Drews brother was simply unbelievable. Drews shoulders slumped as he reluctantly followed the throng inside. Part of him wanted to stay out in the sun, away from the Trey Benson love-in, but he didnt want to appear perfidious . Because he wasnt. Drew loved his brother. He truly did. No matter what triumphs Trey achieved or how many accolades were heaped upon him, his brother was always both humble and magnanimous . An indisputably good guy. But Drew still could not wait for Trey to get his butt in the car and move out of the house. He had lived in Treys shadow for far too long.

Turn it up! Tamara shouted to the kid behind the counter.

He did, and just then the cameraman gave the world an extreme close-up of Treys handsome, smiling face. The whole Starbucks crowd exploded with cheers.

Shhhhhh! Jason scolded.

Everyone fell silent to listen to Treys response. The whole shop was captivated .

Of course I cant wait to get to Penn State and get to work with the team, Trey said. But that doesnt mean Im not going to miss all the people back at Washingtonville High.

More cheers. One of Drews friends slapped him on the back. Little did he know Drews heart felt nothing but sour.

Well, Im sure theyre going to miss you, too, Trey. You became a sort of paragon for that team last season, hot reporter lady said.

Well, I dont know about that. But I do know that Im not leaving the team totally bereft of talent. Theyve got a ton of returning starters, and, in fact, my brother Drew is gonna be taking over as starting quarterback. And let me tell you, the rest of the league better watch out, Trey said, looking into the camera and winking. They wont know what hit them.

This time, the place erupted in an even bigger cacophony , and Drew couldnt help smiling. Treys mention of him assuaged his jealousy a bit. The guy really had a penchant for saying the right thing. It was as if he knew Drew was watching and knew exactly how hed feel.

There you have it, former Washingtonville High football star Trey Benson, future quarterback for the Penn State Nittany Lions... as humble as ever, hot reporter lady said. And now for a story that could have a major impact on Treys alma mater, Washingtonville High, we go back to Jane in the studio. Jane...

Omigod! This is it! Tamara cried.

Everyone shut up! Drew shouted.

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The place went deathly silent as Jane Grady, the news anchor, faced the camera. Its a story of slashed budgets and broken hearts, a story that may reach its conclusion this very evening, Jane said seriously. It was announced in January that, due to budget cuts, the state had decided to close the doors of Corinth High School in Corinth, Pennsylvania, for good this coming fall. But the question remained, where would the students of Corinth High wind up?

Not at our school! Clay shouted, earning a round of cheers.

Tamara glared at him and rolled her eyes, but Drew held his breath.

It was believed that one of three local schools would absorb Corinths students. Either Jefferson High, Plainsboro High, or Washingtonville High. Well, tonight the school boards of Washingtonville and Corinth are meeting to decide whether their two schools would make a good fit. There has been no official decision as of yet, but we will be keeping an eye on the story and let you know as soon as anything new develops.

Groans abounded , and Drew and his friends headed back outside to reclaim their table.

How could they even think about combining us with Corinth? Marisa Wise whined, shaking her black curls back from her face. Marisa was a cheerleader and daughter of one of the Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coaches, which basically made her one of the richest girls in the already wealthy suburb of Washingtonville. And the most popular. Were too different. Wed never coalesce .