She any good? Don't know. Then a third voice, different in quality from the others. Quieter, actually, which made it carry further, which Mia thought was either strategic or just natural to him. Doesn't matter if she's good.
The third voice said, "She's not from here. " Something in the phrasing of it, not hostile. Exactly. More like establishing a fact. Setting a boundary before anyone had asked to cross it. Maya turned the page of her book.
She'd heard that particular kind of voice before. Knew what it meant. Filed it away in the notebook of her mind under things to understand before you respond to. After lunch in the hallway outside the gymnasium, she saw him. She knew it was him before she knew how she knew.
He was tall, 6'2, maybe 63, broad- shouldered in the way that was real, not performed. He wore a Greystone Falls Hawks jersey, number seven, over a gray long sleeve shirt. His hair was dark, cut short. Face was the kind of face that photographed well, which in Ray's experience often meant it was very good at looking like things it wasn't. He was talking to two other boys, laughing at something.
Easy, effortless laugh. On his left forearm, visible below the jersey sleeve. There was a scar long old. He noticed Mia before she looked away. That happened.
Their eyes met for maybe two seconds. His expression didn't change. He just looked at her with the particular assessment that said, "I see you ciding what you are. " Then he went back to his conversation. Maya walked on. She thought, "That's Garrett Win.
I don't know his name yet, but that's the one I need to understand. " She was right. She met Coach Burch at the end of the day. Ranata Burch was 48. Closecropped dark hair going silver at the temples. A whistle around her neck she never actually blew unnecessarily, and eyes that moved quickly and saw more than they let on.
She met Mia in the gym hallway and shook her hand the way adults shook hands with each other, not the modified, condescending version adults gave teenagers. Mrs. Pellegrino said, "You want to try out? " Burj said. "Yes, ma'am. " Thursday at 4:00. It's not tryyouts.
It's open practice. I'll watch. No pressure. Thank you. Birch looked at her for a moment.
You done this before? Not official cheer. Gymnastics until I was 12. Bur nodded. Said nothing for a moment.
Then how many schools is this for you? Mia thought about it. Fifth. Something moved through Bir's expression. Not pity.
More like recognition. You know how to work hard. Bur said it wasn't a question. Yes, ma'am. Thursday at 4:00.