Cheerleaders: The New Evil by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page A

think of an excuse? Corky wondered. Even a lame excuse would be better than no excuse at all.
    They talked for only a few more seconds, then said good bye. After hanging up, Corky lingered in the kitchen. He isn’t telling the truth, she thought sadly. There’s definitely something going on.
    When she returned to the living room, she was startled to find Naomi there. Still in her red and blue ski jacket, Naomi had dropped down into Corky’s chair and was talking heatedly to Debra.
    â€œIf we can’t practice, we can’t do the fire baton routine,” Naomi was saying. “It’s going to take a lot of work—especially with a new girl on the squad.”
    Both girls raised their eyes to Corky as she entered the living room. “Naomi, I didn’t hear you come in,” Corky said.
    â€œHow are you? Okay?” Naomi asked. “Kimmy said that you and Debra were here, so I—”
    â€œWant a diet Coke or something?” Corky offered. “Take off your jacket.”
    Naomi unzipped the jacket but didn’t pull it off. The pale late-afternoon sun through the window made her fiery-red hair glow. “Did you hear about Lauren?” she asked.
    Corky lowered herself onto the arm of the couch. “Huh? What about her?”
    â€œShe went to Ms. Closter and begged to be an alternate,” Naomi replied.
    â€œAn alternate? We’ve never had an alternate before.”
    Naomi nodded. “I know. But she got Ms. Closter to agree to it. Lauren will be like the seventh member of the squad. She told Ms. Closter she’d come to every practice and learn all the routines. Just in case—”
    â€œJust in case what?” Corky demanded.
    â€œIn case something bad happens to one of us,” Naomi replied softly. “Then Lauren would be ready to take her place.”
    â€œWhat else could happen?” Debra declared, rolling her eyes.
    â€œLauren said it was Ivy’s idea,” Naomi revealed.
    Corky shook her head. “Well, fine,” she said. “If being an alternate will make Lauren happy—fine. But Debra is right. The worst has already happened. Nothing else is going to happen to us. Right?”
    â€œRight,” Debra and Naomi replied in unison.
    A tisket, a tasket,
    We want a BASKET!
    A tisket, a tasket—
    â€œOw!” Heather cried. “Stop!”
    The other cheerleaders landed heavily, still cheering.
    Heather hobbled away from the line, holding her left calf. “Ow! Man!” she moaned.
    â€œHeather—what’s wrong?” Ms. Closter hurried up to her.
    â€œJust a leg cramp,” Heather groaned, bending to rub the calf. “There. It’s better.” She shook her head. “What a sharp pain!”
    â€œShould I step in for her?” Lauren called from the sidelines.
    â€œIt won’t be necessary,” Ms. Closter replied. “I think you know this routine well enough. I want to drag out the confetti cannons and see if we can get them to work.”
    Corky glanced up at the gym clock. Eight-twenty. Thursday night. The cheerleaders seldom had night practices. But Ms. Closter had called this one since they’d had a couple of days off. And since the pep rally for the tournament was scheduled for the following day, the last day of school before winter vacation.
    Corky smiled as Heather flashed her a thumbs-up sign and returned to the other girls. The practice had started slowly.
    I think everyone is uncomfortable being back in the gym, Corky told herself. Every time we glance up at the bleachers, we’re reminded of what happened to Rochelle.
    But once they’d warmed up with a long aerobics routine followed by some double cartwheels andseveral cheers, the girls seemed to be in the right spirit.
    â€œIvy is really a fast learner,” Kimmy whispered to Corky. “She already knows some of the routines better than Naomi.”
    â€œYeah, she’s good,” Corky