Elite Ambition by Jessica Burkhart

things on my mind, like doing my best on the YENT.
    Mr. Davidson walked into the classroom and picked up a binder and his worn copy of
The Secret Garden
from his desk. He took his seat in our circle, running a hand over his blond hair. He was one of my favorite teachers—I’d had him last year for English and he’d pushed me into becoming a better writer and had deepened my love of books.
    â€œHello, everyone,” Mr. Davidson said. He smiled at us, and we all smiled back. “Did you all have a good break?”
    Everyone in the class nodded except for Aaron, who raised his left arm which was in a cast.
    â€œBroke it,” Aaron said. “I was at a new skate park by my house, and I lost my board on a half-pipe.”
    â€œOuch,” Mr. Davidson said. “Sorry to hear that. At least it wasn’t your right arm, though. Then, we would have had to get you help with your homework.” Mr. Davidson smiled.
    Aaron nodded. “It would have been
so
tragic.”
    The entire class laughed and Mr. Davidson shot Aaron a mock stern look. But he smiled, too, and opened his notebook.
    â€œOkay, let’s get started,” Mr. Davidson said. “We’ll be finishing
The Secret Garden
this week, so that means you’ll have a test on Monday. I’ll hand out a study guide, butmost of the material on the test will come from your notes.”
    I wrote
ENG TEST :/
on Monday’s slot in my assignment notebook.
    â€œWe’ll review for the test on Friday,” Mr. Davidson continued. “It’ll be your last chance to ask any questions you might have about the book, and we’ll run through a few potential exam questions.”
    â€œI know what
we’ll
be doing all weekend,” Paige whispered to me.
    â€œYep,” I whispered back.
    That
and
I’d be showing.
    â€œLet’s talk about the reading you did over break,” Mr. Davidson said. “Who wants to start?”
    A couple of students raised their hands, but I sat back and pretended to pay attention until the class was dismissed.
    When I finally got to lunch my brain was fried. Every class had been a blur of questions, quizzes, and assignments. It was only Tuesday and teachers usually piled more work on us as the week went on. But I had to get everything done as early as I could since I wanted to devote the weekend to prepping for the show.
    I stood in the lunch line, my shoulders sagging from the weight of my backpack. Today’s menu was grilled cheese and fries—yum. I snagged a Diet Coke from the fridge and walked into the caf. Paige, sitting by Geena, waved me over. I glanced over toward the Trio’s table and Heather caught my eye with a clear
come-sit-by-us
look.
    â€œOne sec,” I mouthed to her.
    I walked over to Paige, not sitting on the seat she’d pulled out for me.
    â€œAre you going to eat standing up?” Paige teased.
    Being torn between Paige and the Trio was the worst.
    â€œNo, actually, um, Heather asked if I wanted to sit with them. She invited Brit to lunch and I’m trying to make her feel welcome.”
    â€œOh,” Paige said. “I get that. I thought I noticed a look in her eye that vanished quickly. “No big deal. I’m leaving lunch early anyway and Geena and I are just going to be talking about cooking class.”
    â€œCool,” I said. “We’ll catch up and talk later, okay?”
    Paige smiled. “Definitely.”
    I turned around and started toward the Trio’s table. Halfway across the cafeteria, I realized I hadn’t asked Paige why she was going early. But she would have told me if it had been something important.
    I slid onto the empty seat next to Alison. The Trio and Brit were already seated and starting on their lunches.
    â€œIf anyone else tells me that they didn’t get a ton of homework in every class so far, I’m going to scream,” Heather said.
    â€œAgreed,” Brit said.