Page 1 of Stealing for Keeps
Chapter One
Claire
Don’t be afraid to sparkle.
My best friend, Lacey, holds up the poster board with that phrase written in big, blue bubble letters—all except the last word, which is covered in glitter—and waits for my reaction.
“It’s…sparkly,” I say from my spot on the grass outside the high school where we’ve set up for this activity, leaning back and soaking up the last of the summer sun.
“I know, right? It’s perfect.” She lets out a little squeal of excitement and places the poster on the ground with a dozen more, all with similar sayings.
We start back next week, and if Lacey has her way, the entire school will be wallpapered with uplifting signs.Best year ever. Be stronger than your excuses. Dreams don’t work unless you do.
I love her optimism. One of us needs it.
“Are you going to help or just lie there?” she asks in a tone that sounds less like a question and more like a judgment.
“You keep telling me mine are boring.”
Her mouth pulls into a wide smile, and her brown eyes light up with amusement. “Well, they’re not very colorful.”
“I used blue and white.” The school colors of Frost Lake High School and ninety percent of Lacey’s wardrobe. It doesn’t matter that it’s still officially summer; she’s always decked out in school spirit. Mine is buried somewhere underneath layers of contempt and disappointment.
My gaze drops from her Knights Cheer T-shirt to the posters scattered around us. I went with a more classic and straightforward approach to balance out Lacey’s cheery mantras.Welcome back, Knights. Now entering Knights territory. Knights pride.
I can’t be the only one who doesn’t want to walk into school on the first day and be assaulted with pep and optimism at every turn. Or maybe I am. My crankiness about summer ending is making it hard to see reason.
“You should at least add some sparkle,” she says, arching one dark brow.
“Not every sign has to be covered in glitter.”
“I disagree. Glitter makes everything better.”
“Agree to disagree.”
She sticks out her bottom lip, gives me big puppy dog eyes, and leans forward, letting her long hair fall over her shoulders. No one can refuse Lacey’s pleading expression. Especially me. Not even at my grumpiest.
I feel myself relenting even before she says, “Please? I’m finally captain. I’ve waited years for this, and I want it to be perfect.”
Nothing like setting your expectations at an unreasonable level. But I know how much it means to her. We’vebeen best friends since middle school, and being cheer captain is everything she’s dreamed of.
“Fine. Fine. Hand over the glitter.” I sit up and hold out my hand. The girls’ soccer team is practicing behind us, and the faint shouts and whistles are background noise, along with the music playing from my phone.
“Actually, we’re out. Can you run in and grab the extra glitter bottles? They’re in my locker.”
“I don’t know about running, but sure, I can go get them.”
Her happy expression falls, grazing over my right foot for only a second. “I’m sorry. I completely forgot. I’ll go.”
“It’s fine. I was only teasing. I’m perfectly capable of walking.” Not well, but I am mobile.
“Right. I know.” She gives me a sad smile that makes my throat tighten.
I’ve gotten pretty good at getting up and down with the boot on my right foot. It is a very unstylish black plastic with Velcro, but it’s better than the hard cast and crutches I had earlier in the summer.
I’m standing when she speaks again, this time without pity in her tone. “Uh-oh. Here comes your ex.”
Without fully preparing myself, I turn in the direction she’s staring. The first sight of him makes my breath catch.
