Alana Oakley Read Online Free Page A

the cargo net with her hands and feet. That was until Coach Kusmuk shouted out the order to let go. Alana adjusted her body to shoulder the extra weight, and gripped the netting as she heaved. They inched towards their goal. Soon, Khalilah was not the only one regretting the extra donut. The class stopped to watch the girls’ progress. Alana’s back and calf muscles strained with each step. Her knees wobbled. Sweat collected on her forehead and dripped down her neck. Alana glanced at Coach Kusmuk who looked on in glee. She refused to give Coach Kusmuk the satisfaction of giving up. Alana gritted her teeth and pushed on. When they reached the top, there was a burst of applause. Khalilah raised Alana’s hand in victory, but Khalilah’s foot got stuck in the rope and she lost her balance, flinging Alana backwards. Before Alana could regain her grip, she found herself tumbling to the floor in an untidy heap. Khalilah, meanwhile, was left hanging upside down. Her long plait swayed from side to side as her arms dangled like a rag doll. Even that reprieve did not last long as, with a sharp yell, she plummeted to land on top of Alana with a bone-crunching thud.
    Coach Kusmuk tutted and placed doll-like hands on her narrow hips. “Hey, Flynn,” she called out to the new boy, “take these two to The Clinic, will you? They’re done for now.”
    Flynn ambled over. He, of course, had had no difficulty with any of the activities. Alana shook off his helping hand with an impatient shrug, still smarting from her mum’s embarrassing TV appearance. Khalilah, however, wrapped an eager arm around the boy’s waist.
    â€œI’ll see you at kickboxing later. Don’t be late this time,” Coach Kusmuk warned Flynn as he helped Khalilah limp towards the door, Alana stubbornly hopping behind. It was only later, when the shock of being squashed had faded, that Alana realised what Coach Kusmuk had said. Why was Flynn doing kickboxing, when it was only for Troubled Teens? Was New Boy a Troubled Teen, and if so, what was his crime …?
    â€¦
    â€œSnap! I win again!” Nurse Cathy put down her hand of playing cards when Alana and Khalilah hobbled in. “Ooh goodie, we’ve got company,” she exclaimed.
    Alana looked at the patients and shuddered. Last year there had been one patient wrapped in bandages from head-to-toe, like an Egyptian mummy. Now there were two ! Patient Y sat next to a new Patient X, a pile of cards in front of each of them – the latest pair looked to be the victims of Nurse Cathy’s well-thumbed volume of “A step-by-step guide to orthopaedic care.” Patient Y’s body shape was shorter and rounder than its companion’s. No-one knew how long the new mystery patient had been in the clinic, although the lines scratched into the wall in groups of five gave some clue. Alana suppressed a tiny shudder.
    The sight of them made Alana even more determined to play down her injury. It didn’t pay to be sick at Gibson High.
    It was only through some slick double-talking that Alana and Khalilah escaped the nurse’s clutches with just a small bandage, a packet of painkillers, and an ice-pack for swelling. They knew without looking that Nurse Cathy was gazing hungrily after them.
    â€œMake sure you follow the dosage carefully, now,” Flynn said to Alana with barely concealed mirth. “Wouldn’t want to see your bike on Speedsters .” With a wink he slouched away, hands in pockets, whistling.
    Khalilah gave an appreciative chuckle, and then shrugged her shoulders at Alana’s outraged expression. “What?” she said. “That was funny.”
    Alana gave an impatient growl and took off … with as much speed and dignity as hopping allowed.

CHAPTER 4
    Say, Ahhh not Arghhh
    The dental clinic was deserted. A receptionist in gloomy, tie-dyed satin and violet lace sat at the front desk. Dark, ghoulish make-up accentuated