On a Slippery Slope (15 page)

“Really?”

“Yes, really!”

“Um … well, thanks, but I don't think that looked very cool.”

“Hannah, everything about you is cool! Seriously! You have an entire film crew at the top of the hill, all there for you! You make stuff happen in your life.”

“I'm pretty sure stuff just happens and I go with it.”

“Stop it, Hannah, you're awesome,” A.J. protests. “I don't think you realize just how great you are. I mean you're brave, and smart, and crazy.” He brushes a snowflake from my cheek. “Someday … um …” he stammers, sounding almost nervous, “… I hope maybe, that you and I, I mean that you might want to be … um … my …”

Rinnnnnnng, rinnnnnng, rinnnnnng

Seriously? His phone is ringing now?

“Oh geez, I told them I'd call as soon as I made sure you were safe. They're all waiting for news.”

“Tell them I'
m still
in one piece,” I say with an embarrassed laugh.

“Hi …” A.J. says into his phone. By the astonished look on his face, I can tell that the person he's talking to isn't anyone here on the hill.

“Why are you calling … what's going on?” he asks softly.

I'm dying to know who's on the other end. Whoever it is must be important because it looks like he's in a different world, like he's totally forgotten where he is, and what he is supposed to be doing — calling everyone to tell them I'm okay.

Well, I guess, for that matter, I could call them myself, but then I'd miss out on the rest of the conversation, which is not going to happen. I'll just send a quick text to Gabby:

Hey, A.J. is with me. I
'
m fine. Lost one pole, bent the other. Can you let Andy know? See you in a few minutes.

“You're coming back?” A.J. says, rubbing his forehead. “When?”

After what seems like an eternity, he hangs up.

I'm trying hard to be patient, giving him a moment to digest whatever it was that he just heard, but it's really hard, like torturous, especially since he just keeps staring at his phone in a daze.

In the end, my patience dwindles, and I decide I can't wait any longer; I need to know. “Who was that? Who is coming back?” I demand.

A.J. looks up from his phone, and smiles. “Piper.”

A
fter
nearly a
twenty-year
hiatus from skiing, I thought it might be a good idea to head up to the ski hill to do some research, but as everyone from Nova Scotia knows, our weather doesn't always
co-operate
. My first thank you goes out to Mother Nature for giving us the winter of all winters, complete with a seemingly endless string of snowstorms! The conditions were great, but even better (for a girl like me, who doesn't fare winter well) was the chance to retreat to the cozy lodge at Martock where I would steal breaks to warm my fingers, soak in the atmosphere, and write while watching my teenage kids zoom down the hill.

Erin and James, thank you for understanding when Mom needed these “little breaks,” and, as always, for your unconditional love, your
teen-culture
expertise, and your excitement in watching Hannah grow along with you.

Snow
boarder extraordinaire, Clare Bennett Gibbs, and Gary Hubley, expert of all things
alpine-sports
-related, I am forever grateful to you both for your helpful insights and expertise.

The staff at
The Agenda with Steve Paikin
, thank you for helping with some of the TV terminology!

Teaghan, thank you for your advice, and for being one of my biggest fans! I am so happy that you have been part of this super fun adventure.

Tom, Mom, and Dad, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unwavering support and love.

Shelley Hartling, thank you for your help and for being amazing. Your love for Hannah warms my heart.

Evan Munday and Courtney Horner, I squealed with joy when I saw this cover! Thank you for totally capturing the spirit of the book! You nailed it.

Shannon Whibbs, how can I begin to thank you? You have understood me, encouraged me, laughed at me, corrected me, and believed in me since the very beginning. You are a
dream-come
-true editor, and I'm so proud to call you mine.

And finally, Kirk Howard and all the other amazingly talented people at Dundurn Press, especially Karen McMullin, Carrie Gleason, Synora Van Drine, and Margaret Bryant, thank you all for your tireless efforts in helping Hannah Smart reach kids everywhere!

Coming in Fall 2016, Hannah Smart is
In Over Her Head!
Here's a sneak peek!

“H
annah
, come on in,” Phillip says, pointing toward a chair. “Sit down. I've got something to discuss with you.

I look at him questioningly and plunk myself down in the armchair across from him.

“I'm not sure if you've heard, but lately I've been looking into some exciting projects
outside
of the news.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Okay …”

“I've always wanted to try my hand at reality TV.”

“What? You mean like
Big Brother
or like
The Real Housewives of
…”

“No, no, no.” Phillip laughs. “Nothing like that. Think adventure, Hannah!” He looks off into the distance, spreading his hands out in front of him.

“Adventure?”

“How would you like to be part of a treasure-hunting reality show? We could tie it into your Friday segments, but instead of filming in the station, you would be doing
check-ins
while on location.”

“So, by
location
do you mean, like, on some tropical island where I'd be searching for pirates' treas­ure?”
Wow, that would be exciting!

Phillip's eyes crinkle at the corners as he laughs heartily. “No, you'd be like on a boat searching for sunken treasure under the sea.”

“Under the sea?” I gulp and shift uncomfortably in my chair.

“Yes,
under
the sea.”

“Um …”

FYI
— I
hate
water! Believe it or not, I just learned how to swim last summer, and
only
because my parents forced me to. I've been afraid of pools, lakes, rivers, oceans … pretty much any body of water (I don't even really like bathtubs) since a
near-drowning
incident. When I was five years old I stupidly decided it would be great idea to do a running leap into the deep end of a swimming pool. It was a really hot day, and I had been eyeing this huge whale floaty in the pool that was staring back at me, like he was almost daring me to jump on. A minute or so into our “stare down” I was suddenly filled with all the courage and determination in the world. I was gonna do it! I figured that if I built up enough speed by running across the pool deck, I could jump on that whale's back and he would take me zooming
expertly
across to the shallow end, where I would hop off, triumphant. In that utterly magnificent moment, I would throw my hands in the air and then bow and blow kisses to the cheering crowd, who would be wildly applauding after witnessing such an amazing feat of bravery. Of course, I missed the whale altogether and immediately sank. Thank god, my mom was watching and was able to jump in and save me. Anyway, point being —
I HATE WATER
!

“Hannah …” Phillip wags his finger. “‘Um' … is not the answer I was expecting from my brave,
adventure-chasing
,
take-life
-
by-the
horns Hannah Smart! This is the chance of a lifetime. Probably one of the most exciting things you will ever do! Imagine, being out there on the open sea, with an entire crew of professionally trained treasure hunters! Haven't you always been fascinated by sunken treasure, Hannah?”

“Um …”

“Hannah! I'm surprised that you are not more excited about this!”

“It's just that I'm not much of a boat person.”

“Well, maybe you'll be more of a
boat person
when I tell you who else is coming along.”

“Who?” I can't imagine a single person who would make me feel like more of a
boat person.

Phillip grins. “Your good friend, A.J., actually.”

“What?”

“Oh, and a young lady around your age.” Phillip says, his smile broadening. “She's quite an accomplished sailor, from what I've heard.”

I have a sick feeling in my stomach.

“I believe she used to live in your house. I think her name is … Piper?”

My sick feeling was right. “Piper … fine,” I say grimly. “Count me in.”

Copyright © Melody Fitzpatrick, 2016

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise (except for brief passages for purposes of review) without the prior permission of Dundurn Press. Permission to photocopy should be requested from Access Copyright.

All characters in this work are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Editor: Shannon Whibbs Design: Laura Boyle

Cover Design: Courtney Horner

Cover Illustration © Evan Munday

Epub Design: Carmen Giraudy

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Fitzpatrick, Melody, author

On a slippery slope / Melody Fitzpatrick.

(Hannah Smart)

Issued in print and electronic formats. ISBN 978-1-4597-3157-8 (paperback).--ISBN 978-1-4597-3158-5 (pdf).-- ISBN 978-1-4597-3159-2 (epub)

I. Title.

PS8611.I8925O53 2016 jC813'.6 C2015-905333-1

C2015-905334-X

We acknowledge the support of the
Canada Council for the Arts
and the
Ontario Arts Council
for our publishing program. We also acknowledge the financial support of the
Government of Canada
through the
Canada Book Fund
and
Livres Canada Books
, and the
Government of Ontario
through the
Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit
and the
Ontario Media Development Corporation
.

Care has been taken to trace the ownership of copyright material used in this book. The author and the publisher welcome any information enabling them to rectify any references or credits in subsequent editions.

J. Kirk Howard, President

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