CHAPTER 1 She shoots Annie Roger leaped into the air and released the basketball in a beautiful arc The ball hit the backboard rattled off the front of the metal rim and dropped through the hoop she scores Sure thirteen-year-old Annie was just shooting hoops in her driveway but she envisioned herself making the game-winning 4
shot her teammates hoisting her into the air as she held up a gigantic trophy The crowd goes wild Ahhh The ball bounced lazily back to her and she scooped it off the asphalt The ball a bit lopsided its bumps worn away with time and use once belonged to her dad when he was her age It was now Annie’s most prized possession From inside the house Annie heard the screeching of nine-year-old girls Annie’s sister Olivia was having a birthday party Shooting hoops was Annie’s way of getting away from the madness As she dribbled the ball on the driveway with one hand Annie texted her friends with the other Rescue me Let’s shoot hoops 5
She pocketed her phone and then shot the ball It landed short bouncing off the rim and ricocheting back toward her Annie snatched it up and dribbled in for a layup She’d been playing for some time and as much as she didn’t want to brave the party inside she needed a drink of water The side door was barely open an inch before Annie heard her sister shrieking I can’t believe it My very own Fabulous Princess Pony Annie clapped her hands over her ears and tried hard to shut out the sound of sugar-powered nine-year-olds gathered in the living room Olivia jumped up and down in the middle of the frenzy She wore a purple dress with a ruffled tutu and a plastic tiara She hugged a toy in a pink box 6
It’s just what I wanted Olivia screamed Thanks Mom Thanks Dad You’re welcome sweetie Annie’s mom said She smiled but Annie could tell her mom was super tired She’d spent a lot of time preparing for the party It looked like a birthday monster had thrown up all over their living room Balloons Signs Confetti Even a piñata shaped like one of the ponies that the girls were screaming about Wow Annie thought If their screeching gets any louder the windows are going to shatter Annie poured herself a glass of water from the pitcher in the fridge Then she walked into the living room snatched up the remote and turned on the TV She rifled quickly through the channels ending on a sports station broadcasting an NBA 7
