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

Friday at 4:53 pm

Eddy Oh I know it

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Friday at 5:02 pm

Clay If anyone knows how Carter is doing please let me know, also what hospital is he in coz I’d like to send him a card or something, I don’t know him but I hear he’s a good dude

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Friday at 5:05 pm

Janeece He is a good dude

I’ll find out the hospital

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Friday at 5:08 pm

Austin Hi Alfie, I don’t know you but thank you for doing this. Sorry I’m a little late to the party but I’ve been reading these posts so far and they’re really cool. First off, I want to apologize to Janeece for not dealing with Chase at the game, after that disgusting thing he said to you . . . that was pathetic of me and I’m really sorry. And secondly, yeah I can confirm that Carter Haswell is a good guy. A lot of you probably don’t know this but I remember Carter from a long time ago, we used to play basketball in the park. I was taller than him back then and almost as good lol. Anyway we’re also on the AAU team together so I’ve gotten to know him again and he came over to my house earlier in the week and we hung out. I guess my point is that rivalries are fun but making them personal is stupid, and everyone says and does things they don’t mean and wish they could take back. I hope everyone is doing okay and Carter if you’re reading this I hope you’re doing okay and I’m sorry about the other day at my house too

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Friday at 5:11pm

Janeece What happened the other day?

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Friday at 5:12 pm

Austin I was totally uncool that’s what happened

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Friday at 5:14 pm

Alfie Austin thanks for what you said and I’m really bummed I’m not going to be able to call the game tonight, you guys have a really good team

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Friday at 5:17 pm

Austin Thank you

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Friday at 5:19 pm

Lucas I totally remember free shoot! Hey Clay I was really looking forward to that rematch dude, I’m glad your leg is better

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Friday at 5:21 pm

Clay Thanks man, appreciate it

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Friday at 5:22pm

Lucas Next year on freshman team, teammates?

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Friday at 5:23 pm

Clay For sure, unless I make varsity lol

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Friday at 5:25 pm

Sham Oh you’re playing varsity, you and Carter for sure

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Friday at 5:26 pm

Clay We’ll see but thanks

#teammates

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Friday at 5:27 pm

Lucas #teammates

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Friday at 5:28 pm

Kevin #teammates

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Friday at 5:30 pm

Sham #teammates

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Friday at 5:31 pm

Janeece #teammates

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AUSTIN

Over the next week, it turns into a bit of a thing.

People go on Walthornespirit.com every night. More and more kids join, just saying hey, comparing schools, talking about nothing, getting to know each other. I realize that even though we’re in the same town, our school and their school are incredibly different. We have new tennis courts with new nets. They have old basketball courts with no nets. It doesn’t seem fair. No wait—it’s NOT fair. Next year, a lot of us are going to be in high school together, so we might as well start figuring out what we all have in common.

But there’s one person who hasn’t joined the party.

I texted Carter five times the day after it happened, but he never responded. A few days later, his friend Lucas posted about all of Carter’s injuries. As bad as it sounded, it could have been so much worse. Lucas said Carter hasn’t been back to school since it happened.

I try texting a bunch of times over the next few days.

No answer.

So I decide to do something shocking.

I decide to not rely on my phone.

CARTER

The pain is bad, but the boredom is worse.

It’s been ten days, and it still hurts to move. A big day for me is going from the bed to the couch. I’ve watched pretty much every episode of every bad reality show there is.

I know every SportsCenter announcer’s first name, last name, and middle initial, because I stare at them all day long.

For the first week, I played a lot of guitar, but then I broke a string and my mom hasn’t had time to get it fixed.

The other day I even read a book that wasn’t assigned in school!

Okay, fine, I started a book.

But as bored as I’ve been, the one thing I haven’t been interested in is seeing other people, or even talking to them. I just don’t feel like it. Besides, I know exactly what they would say.

I can’t believe that happened.

I’m so glad you’re going to be okay!

How are you feeling?

Are you bored?

When can you play basketball again?

So I’m lying here, trying to do my math homework (as if things aren’t bad enough), when there’s a knock on the door.

My mom’s at work, so she can’t answer it.

My dad doesn’t live here, so he can’t answer it.

You can probably guess by now that I don’t really feel like answering it.

So I just shout, “WHO’S THERE?”

It takes a few seconds, but then I hear, “It’s Austin. Austin Chambers.”

“Who?” I ask, even though I heard it pretty clearly.

“Austin Chambers.”

“Oh. Um, can you come back later? I can’t really get to the door right now.”

“Uh, sure, no problem. You weren’t answering my texts so I thought I’d come by. Hope you’re doing okay.”

“Yeah, I’m okay, thanks man.”

“Okay, take care.”

I hear his footsteps drift away, and I lie back and close my eyes, relieved that that’s one less thing I have to deal with.

My relief lasts two minutes.

Because then the door opens, and my dad walks in with a brown paper bag in his hand. Austin is right behind him.

“Hey ho!” my dad says. “I found this fellow just leaving. He says he was here to see you.” My dad doesn’t come close enough for me