Chapter One

You guys! You know what I just realized? Its the penultimate Thursday of May! Tamara Glenn
announced, stepping out into the sunshine with two huge, whipped-cream-topped iced mocha lattes.
Do you realize what that means?
Drew Benson looked at his friends, amused, and a couple of them rolled their eyes. Tamara was
always psyched up about something. In fact, a lot of Drews friends found her
constant optimism irritating. But Drew kind of liked it. It was nice to have someone around who was
always looking on the bright side. Plus, Tamara was not bad to look at, with her perfect dancers bod
and her long blond hair. Drew hadnt been interested in her that way since theyd gone out back in
eighth grade (back when everyone called them Ken and Barbie), but she had always been a good
friend. So he decided to humor her.
No. What does that mean? Drew asked, kicking back in his chair outside Washingtonvilles very
own Starbucks. The sun was shining as it started to dip toward the horizon, and half the school was
either loitering on the sidewalk in the center of their quaint Pennsylvania town or hanging out inside
the coffee shop. In the warm air, Drew could practically taste the impending summer and all the
delicious freedom it would bring.
It means that in exactly six weeks, graduation will happen, and we will officially be seniors, Tamara
announced.
That got the entire tables attention. Drew and his friends whistled and cheered, lifting their iced teas
and lattes toward the sky. Drew reached across the table to slap hands with Jason Szonyi, his best
friend and fellow football player, enjoying the camaraderie of the moment. Every time Drew thought
about being a senior, he felt a lightness in his chest that hed never experienced before.
Senior year. The entire social hierarchy of Washingtonville High was going to change, and Drew
Benson, as president of the senior class and starting quarterback of the football team, was going to be
on top. He and his friends were going to rule the school and dominate on the field. Best of all, Drews
older brother, Trey, would finally, finally, be gone. The great Trey Benson was actually going to be
forced toabdicate his throne.
Yeah, everyone except me, Sally Chou lamented with a sigh. Sally was Tamaras sophomore friend
and the new girlfriend of Clay Carradinea defensive lineman from the team. She rested her chin on
her folded arms and pulled her long, black ponytail over her shoulder to chew on the end.
Hey. Dont be harshing my vibe, Tamara joked, shoving her lightly.
Dude, I cannot wait, Clay said, leaning his elbows on the table, causing his massive linemans
biceps to bulge. A whole new flock of freshmen females to plunder.
Ew! Clay! That is so not what I meant, Tamara said, whacking his hulking shoulder.
Yeah, man. Have a little respect, Drew said.
Drews friends jeered, but Tamara shot him a thankful look. Drew smiled back but then, the second
her back was turned, wagged his tongue at her comically. All the guys cracked up.
Shes right, though, guys, Drew said, lifting his red and white Washingtonville High baseball cap off
his head to scratch at his blond hair. This is big stuff. Senior year. We have to make sure that we
dont waste a second of it.
Yeah, the guys muttered in agreement, nodding and looking around.
Drew felt a rush of adrenaline. For a second he thought of his brother. This must be what Trey felt
like whenever he made his captains speeches before taking the football field. This was how Drew was
going to feel every Saturday next year.
No matter what, we have got to make sure that this is the best year ever, Drew said, standing,
enjoying the attention that was riveted on him. From the first day of the first practice, we have to

Hey. Isnt that your brother? Clay asked, looking through the plate glass window into Starbucks.
Drews jaw dropped in indignation at having his very first speech truncated so abruptly. But sure
enough, there on the TV screen behind the counter was Trey himself, smiling and chatting with the
hot reporter woman from the local news.
Hey! Trey is on the news! Tamara shrieked.
And instantly, every single kid on the sidewalk crowded through the doors and into the tiny coffee
house. Unbelievable. The adulation these people heaped on Drews brother was simply unbelievable.
Drews shoulders slumped as he reluctantly followed the throng inside. Part of him wanted to stay
out in the sun, away from the Trey Benson love-in, but he didnt want to appear perfidious. Because
he wasnt. Drew loved his brother. He truly did. No matter what triumphs Trey achieved or how
many accolades were heaped upon him, his brother was always both humble and magnanimous.
An indisputably good guy. But Drew still could not wait for Trey to get his butt in the car and move
out of the house. He had lived in Treys shadow for far too long.
Turn it up! Tamara shouted to the kid behind the counter.
He did, and just then the cameraman gave the world an extreme close-up of Treys handsome,
smiling face. The whole Starbucks crowd exploded with cheers.
Shhhhhh! Jason scolded.
Everyone fell silent to listen to Treys response. The whole shop was captivated.
Of course I cant wait to get to Penn State and get to work with the team, Trey said. But that
doesnt mean Im not going to miss all the people back at Washingtonville High.
More cheers. One of Drews friends slapped him on the back. Little did he know Drews heart felt
nothing but sour.
Well, Im sure theyre going to miss you, too, Trey. You became a sort of paragon for that team last
season, hot reporter lady said.
Well, I dont know about that. But I do know that Im not leaving the team totally bereft of talent.
Theyve got a ton of returning starters, and, in fact, my brother Drew is gonna be taking over as
starting quarterback. And let me tell you, the rest of the league better watch out, Trey said, looking
into the camera and winking. They wont know what hit them.
This time, the place erupted in an even bigger cacophony, and Drew couldnt help smiling. Treys
mention of him assuaged his jealousy a bit. The guy really had apenchant for saying the right thing. It
was as if he knew Drew was watching and knew exactly how hed feel.
There you have it, former Washingtonville High football star Trey Benson, future quarterback for
the Penn State Nittany Lions . . . as humble as ever, hot reporter lady said. And now for a story that
could have a major impact on Treys alma mater, Washingtonville High, we go back to Jane in the
studio. Jane . . .
Omigod! This is it! Tamara cried.
Everyone shut up! Drew shouted.
The place went deathly silent as Jane Grady, the news anchor, faced the camera. Its a story of
slashed budgets and broken hearts, a story that may reach its conclusionthis very evening, Jane said
seriously. It was announced in January that, due to budget cuts, the state had decided to close the
doors of Corinth High School in Corinth, Pennsylvania, for good this coming fall. But the question
remained, where would the students of Corinth High wind up?
Not at our school! Clay shouted, earning a round of cheers.
Tamara glared at him and rolled her eyes, but Drew held his breath.
It was believed that one of three local schools would absorb Corinths students. Either Jefferson
High, Plainsboro High, or Washingtonville High. Well, tonight the school boards of Washingtonville
and Corinth are meeting to decide whether their two schools would make a good fit. There has been
no official decision as of yet, but we will be keeping an eye on the story and let you know as soon as
anything new develops.
Groans abounded, and Drew and his friends headed back outside to reclaim their table.
How could they even think about combining us with Corinth? Marisa Wise whined, shaking her
black curls back from her face. Marisa was a cheerleader and daughter of one of the Pittsburgh
Steelers assistant coaches, which basically made her one of the richest girls in the already wealthy
suburb of Washingtonville. And the most popular. Were too different. Wed never coalesce.
Its never gonna happen, Drew said confidently, even though he felt anything but confident on the
inside.
Uh, I hate to break it to you guys, but if the state decides that Corinth is going to Washingtonville,
theres nothing our school board can do to preclude that event, Jason said. My mom and dad were
up all night talking about it.
Jasons mother was president of the school board, and Jason had, therefore, been the students eyes
and ears ever since this whole noisome mess had begun.
Our school board will find a way to circumvent the system, Drew said testily. Let those losers go to
Plainsboro. Theyd fit in better over there anyway, and everyone knows it.
The guys muttered their assent as they pulled out their chairs.
Oh, why? Because theyre not as affluent as we are? Because they dont all live in
ostentatious houses and get their own cars for their sixteenth birthdays? Tamara griped. You guys
can really be so obnoxious.
Whose house is ostentatious? Marisa asked defensively, knowing full well that her own McMansion
on the outskirts of town was one of the showiest homes around.
Look, all I know is, if they come to our school, our senior year is gonna be a calamity, Drew said.
Theyre gonna want to take over everything. Our clubs, our student government
Our starting positions, Jason mumbled.
Drew felt a dart of pain through his heart. This was, of course, what he was really worried about.
Everyone knew that Corinth Highs Samson Hill was one of the best quarterbacks in the state. Hed
been starting since he was a sophomore and had led his team all the way to the state semifinals the
year before. If he came to Washingtonville, it would mean that Drews dreams would be over before
he even had a chance to realize them.
Well, I think it could be beneficial, Tamara said, sipping her iced coffee. You guys could use a little
mind opening, if you ask me.
Yeah, you wont be saying that when they swoop in here and take half the spots on your precious
dance team, Clay snapped. You could be bilked right out of your spot, and you were one of the
people who founded the damn thing.
Tamaras blue eyes widened for a split second, but then she remembered herself and scoffed. I can
hold my own.
I hope I can, too, Drew thought, his fists clenching under the table.
Just then, a black Jeep Wrangler came zooming around the corner and careened to a stop right in
front of the cafe. Jackson Lyle, the editor of the school paper, put it in park and jumped out. He ran
through the door and stopped just inside, all out of breath and blotchy. Drews stomach clenched.
Jackson? Are you okay? Tamara asked.
They voted yes, Jackson said. Were absorbing Corinth.
Everyone gasped in shock. Drew felt as if his chair had just been yanked out from under him. No
way.
Its a ruse, Marisa said, forcing a laugh. One of your lame-o jokes, right Jackson?
Sorry, guys. Its true. I was covering the meeting for the paper, Jackson said, pushing his glasses up
for a second to rub his eyes. Its over. Its done. Our school is no longer our own.