5

Chapter

1 It was Monday morning. Emma

was on her way to school. She went to

TrentonHigh.

Hermomwasdrivinghertoschool.

Emmasaid,“Icanhardlywaittoget

toschool.IhopeJordynisalreadythere.”

“Why?”hermomasked.

“I’m in a hurry to talk to Jordyn,”

Emmasaid.

Jordynwasherbestfriend.

Emma and her family had been out

of town all weekend.And she had not

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6

talkedtoanyofherfriendssinceFriday.

Emma said, “I want to ask Jordyn

who won the debate.We got home too

latelastnightformetocallher.”

The debate team had a big debate

overtheweekend.Andfourteamswere

inthedebate.

Jordyn was on the debate team. So

Emma knew she would know which

teamwon.

EmmahopeditwasTrentonHigh.

Hermomstoppedthecarinfrontof

theschool.AndEmmaquicklygotout

ofthecar.

Emma said, “Bye, Mom.Thanks for

theride.”

“Haveagoodday,”hermomsaid.

“Youtoo,Mom,”Emmasaid.

Emmaclosed the cardoor.Thenshe

lookedforJordyn.Butshedidn’tseeher.

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Emmahoped Jordyn was already at

school.Andshehadgonetoherfirstclass.

Emma hurried up the walkway to

the school. She started to walk to her

firstclass.

Emmahad the same first class that

Jordyndid.Andshealsohadaclasswith

Jordynrightbeforelunch.

Emmagottoherclassroom.Andshe

hurriedintotheroom.ShesawJordyn.

Emmawalkedovertoherdesk.And

shesatdown.SheandJordynsatnextto

eachother.

Jordyn said, “Did you have a good

timethisweekend,Emma?”

“I guess. But I wanted to be here. I

wantedtocallyou lastnight.ButIgot

hometoolatetocallortext,”Emmasaid.

“I thought that was why you didn’t

call,”Jordynsaid.

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Emmasaid,“Sowhowonthedebate?

Didwewin?”

But Jordyn didn’t look excited. So

Emmadidn’tthinkTrentonHighwon.

“Wedidagreatjob.IguessIshouldn’t

brag about my own team like that,”

Jordynsaid.“Butwediddoagreatjob.

AndMrs.Chensaidwedidagreat job

too.”

Mrs.Chenwasthedebatecoach.

“Butwedidn’twin.Wecameinsecond.

AndI’msureyoucanguesswhichteam

won. Camden High.We never can beat

them.ButIguessyou’resortofgladthey

won,”Jordynsaid.

EmmaknewwhyJordynsaidthat.

“You know I always want our team

towin,Jordyn.Butourteamdidn’twin.

So,yes, I’mgladCamdenbeatus,”said

Emma.“And not some other team. Did

Dariusdoagreatjob?”

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DariuswasEmma’sboyfriend.Andhe

wasonthedebateteamatCamdenHigh.

“Dariusalwaysdoesgreat.That’sone

reason why Camden always beats us,”

Jordynsaid.

“Butyousaidwecameinsecond.That’s

stillgoodnews,”Emmasaid.

“Iknow.Camdengetstogotothestate

finals.Andwegettogotoo,”Jordynsaid.

“Somaybewe’llwinthen,”Emmasaid.

Jordynlaughed.Butitwasn’tahappy

laugh.

“Noway.Wehaveonelittleproblem,”

Jordynsaid.

“What?”Emmaasked.

“The littleproblemisCamdenHigh.

Their team is too good.And there’s no

waywecanbeatthem,”Jordynsaid.

“Don’tthinkthatway,Jordyn.Orour

teamwillloseforsure,”Emmasaid.

“You know we’ll all do the best we

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10

can. But it just won’t be good enough.

Butthere’sonethingforyoutobehappy

about,”Jordynsaid.

“What?” Emma asked. But she

thoughtsheknewwhyJordynsaidthat.

“Yourboyfriend’steamwillwin.Soit

won’tbeallbadforyou,”Jordynsaid.

“I likeDariusa lot.AndIwanthim

todowell.ButIgotoTrentonHigh.Not

Camden High.And I want our team to

win,”Emmasaid.

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11

Chapter

2 Itwasthenextday.Theendofschool

bellrang.EmmaandJordynhurriedout

oftheschool.

Emmahadalotofbooks.Jordyndid

too.AndJordynhadathickfolderfullof

papersontopofherbooks.

Emma’s mom was picking them up

after school. So both girls looked for

hercar.

Emmasaid,“IseeMom’scar.”

“Iseeittoo,”Jordynsaid.

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Thetwogirlsstartedtowalkquickly

tothecar.

Jordynwaswalkingtoofast.Andthe

folderslidoffofherbooks.Anditstarted

tofalltotheground.Thefolderopened.

Andmanypapersfellontheground.

Jordynstartedtopickupsomeofthe

papers. Emma started to help Jordyn.

And theybothbegan toput thepapers

backinthefolder.

Jordynsaid,“Thanks forhelpingme

pickupallofthis,Emma.”

“Glad to help. What’s this folder?

It suredoeshavea lot ofpapers in it,”

Emmasaid.

Jordynsaid,“It’smydebatefolder.It

hasmydebatenotes in it.Andsomeof

the research I use to get ready for the

debates.”

Thegirlspickedupallofthepapers.

Andtheyputtheminthefolder.

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Thentheyhurriedovertothecar.They

quicklygotinthecar.AndEmma’smom

startedtodriveawayfromtheschool.

They rode for a few minutes. And

EmmaandJordyntalkedaboutschool.

ThenEmma’smomsaid,“Lastnight

Emma told me the good news, Jordyn.

That your debate team will be in the

statefinals.Goodlucknextweek.Ihope

TrentonHighwins.”

“Thanks.ButIdon’tthinkwe’llwin,”

Jordynsaid.

“Whynot?”Emma’smomasked.

“Because of Emma’s boyfriend,”

Jordynsaid.

“Darius?Howwillhekeepyou from

winning?”Emma’smomasked.

“Becausewe’lldebateCamdenHigh.

AndDariusisthebestoneontheteam.

Andhealwayswinshisdebates,”Jordyn

said.

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