Excerpt from ZOEY 101: A QUINN IN NEED
by Jane Mason and Sara Hines Stephens
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“Quinn.” Neil wheeled around. “Don’t tell me you built a ‘bot.”
“That’s right,” Quinn said. She pulled a tiny purple robot from behind her back and placed it on the ground. It was less than half the size of the other ‘bots. A small half-circle on wheels, Quinn’s robot was emblazoned with a red Q. It had four tiny flashing lights and was armed with only one small cannon.
“O-M-G,” Wayne exclaimed.
Andrew could not contain his laughter.
“See? This is exactly why girls don’t belong in the science club,” Neil said, shaking his head over the adorable ‘bot.
“You wanna talk or fight?” Quinn demanded. Her calm was gone, replaced by a low burning anger.
Lola, Zoey, and Nicole watched the exchange, loving it. Quinn was back and she was powerful mad — and not just at them!
“Let’s fight!” Andrew shouted.
“Let’s go, yeah.”
“Do it!”
“Fight!”
The crowd rushed to find their seats in the stands and take up the chant. “Fight! Fight! Fight!” they yelled in unison.
Quinn calmly held her teeny remote. It had a joystick, an antenna, and a single red button. The zippy little purple ‘bot wheeled across the amphitheater and boldly stopped in front of the big red-toothed ‘bot wrecker.
The geeks laughed. Why had Quinn even bothered? They could crush her ‘bot like a tiny purple bug!
Zoey looked at Chase. She wondered what Quinn was thinking. It didn’t look like she stood a chance. Chase didn’t look too sure, either.
Then, with the touch of a button, Quinn’s tiny ‘bot made a spacey noise. A blue ball of energy grew at the tip of its teensy cannon and suddenly shot out.
Kaboom!
The ball of energy found its mark, and the science club’s robot flew into flaming bits and lay, smoldering and shattered, on the concrete.
The crowd screamed, shielding themselves from the flying debris. Then they were silent.
Zoey was the first person to speak. “Wow!” she exclaimed.
“O-M-G,” Wayne reacted in geek speak. He sounded like he was about to cry. Neil and Andrew were speechless.
“Thanks for playing,” Quinn said sweetly, giving her rivals a little wave.
“All right!” Chase came running over to congratulate Quinn.
“Unbelievable!”
“You’re the best!” Zoey and her friends shouted as they surrounded the winner.
Quinn’s momentary look of happiness vanished. She looked down at her lacy red spaghetti-strap tank.
“We totally owe you!” Logan said, patting Quinn on the back.
“I only did it because I couldn’t stand to see those jerks win,” Quinn said sullenly. “Nobody owes me anything.” Quinn shook off the other kids and took the steps down to the amphitheater floor two at a time to collect her ‘bot.
“But Quinn . . . “ Nicole tried to stop her.
“Wait up,” Chase called.
But Quinn didn’t even turn around.
From Zoey 101: A Quinn in Need. Copyright © 2007 by Duo Entertainment Vertriebs GmbH. All rights reserved.
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