Rivals by Tommy Greenwald (top 100 novels of all time .txt) 📕

As Ms. Vallone walks around to collect the tests, I keep my eyes glued to my desk. A few seconds later, I feel her hovering over me.

“Mr. Haswell, everything go okay? You never came for extra help like I asked you to.”

I don’t look up. “I think so. I studied a lot.”

“That’s good to hear.” She picks up my test and moves on to Eddy. “All good, Mr. Dixon? Can I expect another A?”

“I hope so,” Eddy mumbles.

“What’s wrong with you boys today?” asks Ms. Vallone. “You’re usually two of my loudest customers!”

I shrug. “Just tired after taking the test, Ms. V.”

She smiles. “Well, I guess in its own way, math is just as much of a workout as basketball, wouldn’t you say?”

I try to look at her, but the best I can do is look past her.

“That’s for sure,” I say.

ALFIE

I gather up my books, with Mr. Rashad’s words ringing in my ears.

The truth is the only thing that matters.

I see Janeece, and we walk out of the classroom together. I don’t want to talk about the test, so I ask about her upcoming game against Roseville.

“They played us tough last year,” Janeece says, “but I think we got this. You going to broadcast the game?”

“You bet,” I tell her. “Looking forward to it.”

We keep talking about basketball as we walk down the hall, but I’m only paying half-attention.

The truth is the only thing that matters.

And then I think about another thing Mr. Rashad said.

Can we do anything about it?

I stop suddenly. “Oh shoot, you know something, Janeece? I think I forgot my book. You go ahead without me, I’ll see you at gym.”

And before she can say anything, I turn around and head back toward Ms. Vallone’s room.

CARTER

I can immediately feel something weird between me and Eddy.

As we walk down the hall, we don’t look at each other. Sham and Lucas are making jokes, keeping things loose, but Eddy and I don’t laugh. It’s like some invisible wall went up and we’re on opposite sides of it.

“Let’s meet up before practice for some quick MasterBlaster,” Sham says. He’s talking about this new video game that everyone loves. “Bet we can get, like, fifteen minutes in.”

“I’m down,” says Lucas. “My turn to kick butt.”

“Not going to happen, my friend,” says Sham.

Lucas smacks him in the arm. “We’ll see.”

They turn to Eddy and me. “Boys? You in?”

Eddy shrugs. “I don’t know. I might have some stuff I have to do.”

“Before practice?” Sham asks.

My eyes flare. “He said he didn’t know! Leave the guy alone.”

“Whoa,” Lucas says. “No need to get testy. What about you, Carter, you in?”

“I doubt it,” I say. “I hate that freakin’ game anyway.”

Sham stops walking and stares at me. “Dude, what’s up with you? You got this test behind you, you’re gonna pass, Coach Benny’s gonna be happy, we’re gonna keep winning, it’s all good.”

But I don’t answer him. Instead I veer off toward the bathroom.

It’s all good.

Is it though?

ALFIE

Ms. Vallone is sitting at her desk when I walk in. I think she might already be grading the tests we just took.

She looks up, sees me, and smiles. “Alfie, hi! Did you forget something?”

“No, I . . . I just wanted to ask you a question.”

“Sure thing, what’s up?”

“Well, if, um . . . if you saw something that you knew was wrong, but if you said something about it then someone you know and like would get in really big trouble, what would you do?”

“Well, I guess it depends on what they did wrong. Can you tell me what you’re referring to?”

I’m standing in front of her desk, and I suddenly feel very alone. “I think I might have seen something.”

“What kind of something?”

“Someone . . . I mean, I’m not sure . . . but I thought maybe . . .” I stop talking, because now that I’m really doing it, I’m suddenly filled with doubt. Maybe I actually didn’t see what I thought I saw, and after what happened with Clay, I can’t make that mistake again. Or, maybe it did really happen, but for a good reason, like Carter couldn’t study because he had to take care of a sick parent or something.

Or maybe I just can’t tell on another student.

“Alfie?” Ms. Vallone is staring at me.

For a second, I think about saying what happened without using any names, but then I realize that would probably just make things more confusing.

“Are you trying to tell me something, Alfie?” Ms. Vallone asks. “Are you saying someone did something wrong? With the test?”

I’m frozen, because I’m not able to say what I think I saw, but I’m not able to lie either. She must see it in my face, because her smile disappears. “I see,” she says. “Well, this is a very complicated situation. I don’t want to put you in a position where you jeopardize a friendship. At the same time, if you saw what I think you saw, it’s a very serious matter, and you would be doing the right thing by telling me. I can assure you we would keep it totally confidential.”

I realize I’ve been biting my nails, because I have to stop biting them to answer her. “I’m uh, I’m actually not sure, so, uh, I think maybe I shouldn’t have come talk to you.”

“I know you’re nervous,” Ms. Vallone says, in her gentlest voice. “That’s understandable.”

“I’m really sorry. I need to go.” I turn and start to leave, just as the door to the classroom opens. I jump back like I’ve just seen a ghost.

But it’s not a ghost.

It’s Carter Haswell.

CARTER

I see Alfie standing there, in front of the teacher, and I freeze.

What could they be talking about?

Ms. Vallone stands up. “Well, this is certainly a busy afternoon,” she says. “Normally students run from my classroom as fast as humanly possible, but today, it seems like you kids just can’t stay away.” She smiles at me, but I can tell there’s other stuff going on in her mind. “What can I do for you, Carter?”

“I