Golden Girl (25 page)

I was sweating like crazy when we finished the last number and finally managed to crawl offstage and into the packed auditorium. As I wove my way through the crowd, I was assaulted with congratulations from strangers, friends, and fellow Mountain Academy students. When Coach Basil had learned of the gig, she'd rented a bus and offered a ride to anyone who wanted to watch me sing. Pretty much the whole school had gotten on board. Even Olivia, though she claimed she just wanted to hear with her own ears how much we stunk.

But I didn't care. Because the one person I wanted to be there more than anyone else suddenly stepped into my line of sight. As sweaty from dancing as I was from singing. And just as happy.

“Becca!” I cried, waving my hands wildly to get her attention.

“Lexi! That was amazing!” she squealed as she bounced over to me. “I just knew you guys were going to win the second you got onstage. You totally blew everyone else away.”

“Thanks,” I said, accepting her congratulatory hug. “It was pretty awesome, I have to admit.”

Becca shook her head proudly. “On the slopes and onstage. You truly are a golden girl,” she teased.

“Yeah, yeah.” I waved her off, but inside I was dancing.

I hadn't seen Becca since the day of the race three months ago, when she came to my dorm room to say good-bye. Her meeting with the school board had gone as well as could be expected, she'd told me. They'd accepted her resignation and thanked her for being brave enough to come forward.

“So how have you been?” I asked, looking her over. “Do you like your new school?”

“I love it,” she replied. “It's actually refreshing to have friends who have no ambition whatsoever.” She laughed.

“As long as you don't start joining them.” I gave her a wink.

“Please. I could never,” Becca assured me. “In fact, I already have a huge thing lined up, I'll have you know.”

“Oh?”

“Girl's hockey!” she exclaimed. “They have this league in my hometown. It's so much fun. You know I've always been into team sports. But with my schedule here I never got a chance to play much. But I tried out and somehow I made the team. I'm going to be their new goalie.”

“That's awesome!” I cried. I raised my hand to give her a fist bump. “I can't wait to see you play!”

We talked a little more and then hugged and parted ways. Becca's parents were waiting outside to drive her back home. I felt the tears spring to my eyes as we said good-bye. But I knew it was for the best. After all, she had her own dreams to follow.

And I had mine. As I watched her go, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I whirled around to see Logan standing behind me, a big grin on his face.

“You were amazing,” he said. “But you already know that, don't you?” He reached over and pulled me into a sweaty hug.

“No more amazing than you,” I reminded him. “After all, I'm not the only one who scored a win today.”

Logan had also competed that morning—on the slopes, that was—and managed to walk away with first place on the half-pipe. A first place that came with a season pass to Green Mountain, I might add. Meaning no more dead-of-night stealth snowboarding. We could ride together anytime we liked.

Logan blushed. “Yeah, that was pretty cool,” he admitted. “I was glad my mom could be there to see it, too.”

“You should have seen her face,” I exclaimed. “She was so proud.” I grinned. “Who knows? Maybe someday we'll both be up there on that podium, winning Olympic gold.”

“Maybe so,” he said. “Or maybe you'll win a Grammy someday.”

“Ooh. That'd be cool,” I agreed. “Or maybe a Nobel Peace Prize? Or a Pulitzer?”

“What about an Emmy? Or at least a Golden Globe?”

I laughed. “How about all of the above?”

“Why not?” he declared. “I mean what is that saying above your school again? ‘What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?' ”

“Oh, I know very well I can fail,” I said with a laugh. “But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop attempting anytime soon—whether it's on or off the slopes.”

“I know you won't,” he assured me. “And for that—no matter what happens—you'll always be a golden girl to me.”

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020

www.SimonandSchuster.com

First Aladdin hardcover edition December 2015

Text copyright © 2015 by Marianne Mancusi Beach

Jacket illustration copyright © 2015 by Lucy Truman

Also available in an Aladdin M!X edition.

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

ALADDIN is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and related logo is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-866-506-1949 or
[email protected]
.

The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at
www.simonspeakers.com
.

Jacket designed by Jessica Handelman

Interior designed by Hilary Zarycky

The text of this book was set in Goudy Oldstyle.

Library of Congress Control Number 2015933119

ISBN 978-1-4814-3763-9 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-4814-3762-2 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-4814-3764-6 (eBook)