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Mind? I repeated, batting my eyelashes. Why would I mind?
Good, he said with a satisfied smile. Maybe you know that I m dating Elisabeth Turner. I don t really want to break up with her right now. I know that sounds
bad, but it s complicated. I don t think you d understand. Elisabeth is just so possessive and she wouldn t be happy if I broke up with her to go out with you. But I do
like you, WB, don t get me wrong. So, I guess what I m trying to ask is, do you think you could keep our plans for Friday on the down low?
I beamed up at him. Oh, of course I can! I wouldn t want anything to mess up our date! I don t want to make things hard for you.
Jason grinned and I knew he figured he had his main competition wrapped tightly around his athletic-taped fingers.
I m so glad you see it my way, WB, he replied before he jogged off to join his friends on the opposite side of the field.
I looked over to see Scott staring back at me.
Wow, he said. You sure football is the way you want to go? A few more performances like that and you could add an Academy Award to your resume.
I laughed. Just doing what I gotta do.
Scott grinned and looked over at Jason and his friends running a few plays on their own time. Well, he said thoughtfully. He thinks you re smitten for sure. I don t
see how you can lose. You know, you can cancel on him after Harrington s announcement Friday. But why don t we go out for some celebratory pizza instead?
Sure. Sounds great to me.
I smiled as Scott grinned and jogged off. Maybe it was possible to have everything you wanted, after all.
For the rest of the week, convincing Jason that I was into him was much easier than I d expected. With Scott, Brenden, and Dirk helping me around every turn,
Friday s practice went horribly wrong for last season s star quarterback.
He missed his wide open receivers, dropped snaps, threw four interceptions, and didn t get the ball into the end zone once. I couldn t stop smiling and after I
connected with Tommy Wolnecky for my third touchdown of the day, Scott and Brenden kept telling me that I had a roster spot in the bag.
Of course I did. How couldn t I? Anyone could see who the best quarterback on the field was.
Hint: It wasn t a boy.
The stands were somewhat full when practice ended and Coach Harrington gathered his team at the 50-yard line to announce his big decision. Word about the
quarterback drama had apparently spread around campus.
Good luck, Whitney! I heard a few people in the stands call out.
I turned around, along with the rest of the team. Matt Victorino, Sophie, and Dirk smiled at me and I heard a few other cries of encouragement from people I didn t
recognize.
Some brother, I overheard Jason mutter behind me.
All right, all right. Settle down now, that s enough, come on, that s enough, Coach Harrington said. I know you all want to hear who will be leading the team this
season. I m not really a wordy kind of guy, so here goes. Third string is Lee Engall and our back-up will be Aaron Kierley.
Scott patted me on the shoulder. This had to mean that Jason didn t even make the team. My plan had worked so much better than I ever thought it could.
And our starting quarterback, Coach Harrington continued. will be Jason Victorino. Congratulations to all.
And our starting quarterback will be Jason Victorino.
The words reverberated throughout my entire body. No one on the team moved or offered Aaron, Lee, and Jason any congratulations. Apparently, I wasn t the only
one who felt cheated by Harrington s announcement, but that wasn t of any comfort to me.
The crowd in the bleachers sat in stunned silence as Elisabeth Turner hurried onto the field to greet Jason.
WB, about tonight-- Jason began before Elisabeth reached him.
Save it, I snapped. I never wanted to go out with you. I knew what you were doing this whole time, Jason, and I m going out with Scott Marino tonight.
He looked like I d slapped him, his cheeks grew red and his brow furrowed. I faltered for only a second.
What? Whitney, I...I really did want to go out with you.
Then you would have broken up with your girlfriend first, I shot back. Oh, look, here she comes now.
Whitney, I m so sorry. Scott pulled me away from Jason s stunned stare. You deserve that spot more than any one of the guys who made the roster at any
position. If you don t want to go out tonight, it s okay. I understand.
The last thing I want to do is go home and sit around alone and feel sorry for myself.
He smiled. Okay, good. I ll still come get you at eight then.
I nodded.
Look, if you don t mind, I m going to go ask Coach why you didn t make the team.
Don t bother. I shook my head. I can tell you why. I didn t get cut the first time because I m a girl and that would have made Coach Harrington look bad. But I
also didn t make the team because I m a girl. Now he can say he gave me a chance but he just didn t think I could do it.
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