Avery Appreciates True Friendship

By Paige Ashley Brotherton

Playing softball for the Lady Tigers had always been the key to Avery, Charlotte, and Bianca’s friendship. It was the common interest they shared.

But when Charlotte grows closer to a new girl in the neighborhood, Avery worries that her friend’s new interest in clothes and shopping will tear the trio apart. Suddenly, Avery finds herself surrounded by worry, stress, and jealousy that affects the whole team. Can the girls come together for the upcoming tournament, or will insecurities get the better of the Lady Tigers?

And can Avery learn to accept her friend’s new interest...and herself?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blue Dragon Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Apr 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9781939696366

Paige Ashley Brotherton

Currently a high school sophomore, Paige Ashley Brotherton is interested in everything, but she always comes back to writing. She has competed nationally for rowing and is a state-ranking track runner during the winter. As an honor roll and arts’ magnet school student, Paige is excited for the possibilities of the future. Currently, her favorite books include The Candymakers by Wendy Mass and the Harry Potter series, while her favorite movie is The Intern. She loves drawing and reading, but every story inspires her to create more of her own.

Book preview

Avery Appreciates True Friendship

Lady Tigers Series

By

Paige Ashley Brotherton

Avery Appreciates True Friendship

Lady Tigers Series

by Paige Ashley Brotherton

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved

Published by Blue Dragon Publishing, LLC

www.blue-dragon-publishing.com

Copyright 2018 Paige Ashley Brotherton

ISBN 978-1-939696-35-9 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-939696-37-3 (hardback)

ISBN 978-1-939696-36-6 (eBook)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018933094

Illustrations and cover by Vineet Siddhartha

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/PaigeAshleyBrotherton

This book is available in print at most online retailers.

Discover other titles about the Lady Tigers

Trish’s Team

Margie Makes a Difference

Nicole’s New Friend

Tammy Tries Baseball (coming soon)

http://LadyTigersFastpitch.com

Dedication

To every friend who accepts her friends as they are and loves them always.

Chapter 1

Run, run, don’t stop! Coach Sam yelled from the coach’s box next to first base. He moved his arm in a circular motion and pointing toward second base.

Avery Todd hit the corner of first base and headed to second. As she rounded second base and headed for third, she fixed her eyes on the little white bag partly covered in brown dirt. She bent lower and dug the toes of her cleats into the soft ground.

Get down! Coach Kory called, pointing at the dirt with one finger. Coach Kory was the head coach for the Lady Tigers and was usually found in the coach’s box next to third base.

Avery gritted her teeth, picked up her left foot, and turned to the side. In an instant, she was on the ground with her arms behind her head and her left foot planted firmly on the side of the bag.

Nicely done, Avery, Coach Kory said, offering a hand to pull her to her feet.

Thanks, Avery grinned. She brushed off her side to remove the large brown mark on her side and pants. The dry dirt came off easily. Avery moved out of the way of the bag and watched as one of her best friends, Charlotte Hayden, rounded second and charged third base.

Get down! Coach Kory called again. One moment Charlotte was running at top speed, the next there was a cloud of dust, and Charlotte was in the same position Avery had been in a minute ago. Charlotte jumped up from the ground and jogged toward Avery.

Nice one, Avery said, offering Charlotte a high-five.

Same to you, Charlotte replied with a nod. I think I swallowed a lot of dust though.

Avery smiled as Bianca Lopez, her other best friend, sprinted toward third. The coaches were running a sliding drill in preparation for the tournament this weekend.

The girls had all lined up at home plate and took turns running, stepping on first and second, then sliding into third. Avery was glad for the extra practice. She loved running but sliding always made her nervous—unlike her best friend Bianca who lived for the joy of sliding into any base and getting as dirty as she could.

Bianca was last in line, and everyone on the field watched as she slid into third. At the last second, she turned her foot and used her momentum to pop up to a standing position in one fluid motion. Avery and Charlotte clapped as Bianca ran to join them.

Whoo! Bianca cheered. That was fun! I totally thought I was going to miss the bag though. I couldn’t see ‘cuz someone kicked up more dust than a tornado. Bianca nudged Charlotte playfully.

What can I say? Charlotte replied with mock seriousness. I’m just too powerful for my own good.

I’m just glad it’s over, Avery said, brushing her clothes off again. That was a spectacular pop-up slide, by the way. I’m lucky if I can just reach the bag!

And now for round two! Coach Kory said, walking onto the field with a large bucket. Charlotte and Bianca laughed as Avery groaned.

Chapter 2

Coach Kory stopped by the line of dirt in the baseline between second and third. The dirt was no longer smooth after eleven girls had slid through it. Coach Kory lifted the bucket he was carrying and turned it upside down, pouring water on the ground. Moving quickly around the area in front of third base, Coach Kory soaked the dirt with water. When the bucket was empty, he tossed it aside and clapped his hands.

All right! he called. "This weekend is supposed to be a wet one. It’ll be yucky, sticky, rainy, and perfect for putting our softball skills to the test. An important thing