Cheerleading Can Be Murder (Horror High #1) by Carissa Ann Lynch Read Free Book Online Page A

your fault, so don’t worry.” She stepped out, waving goodbye to my mom. I blinked hard, considering her words. Never once had it occurred to me that anyone might hold me responsible for the accident. But I was, after all, supposed to be the one holding Teresa up in the lift and bringing her down safely from the stunt.
    That accident made me look bad. So bad, indeed, it might cost me a spot on the team! I realized. Instantly, I felt guilty for thinking such selfish thoughts. Here I was worried about something frivolous like cheerleading while Teresa was probably lying in a cast somewhere.
     
    ***
     
    I tried to go to bed early. After such a stressful day, I needed to relax and decompress. I also needed to think about what Brittani did and what I should do about it. Once again, I reached the conclusion that there was nothing I could do. I just wished I could tell somebody.
    I felt like calling Sydney, but after the way she acted at school today, I didn’t see the point. She obviously didn’t want to talk to me or she would have made time for me at school. I suddenly had a thought. Maybe I could talk to Amanda. She was right next door after all, and I trusted her not to say anything.
    I wondered if she was still awake, or already in bed like me. I got out of bed, pulled my robe tight around me, and walked over to my bedroom window. It was a full moon tonight—not surprising after the day I’d had—but there wasn’t a star in the sky. Amanda’s house was mostly dark, but the front porch light still shone brightly, illuminating the front yard and entranceway.
    I squinted out at the hazy glow, noticing movement in the shadows. That’s when I saw Amanda leaning down in front of someone on the stone porch steps. She seemed to be kissing someone. Whoever it was, they were sitting on the steps, and she was leaning down with her face pressed to theirs.
    I stood on my tiptoes, squinting into the silvery darkness. When Amanda finally came up for air from the kiss, I could see the sharp outline of his face. I don’t know why I was so surprised. It was Ronnie, of course.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Thirteen
     
     
    The next day at school, I avoided Amanda like the plague. In fact, I pretty much avoided everyone. At lunchtime, I skipped eating and hid out in the girls’ bathroom. I knew I’d regret not eating later, as my stomach was already growling angrily. You’d think I’d be worried about the psycho-breather, but he/she was the least of my concerns when I was dealing with a real psycho, like Brittani Barlow. How could she do that to Teresa? Why was my best friend giving me the cold shoulder? And why was my new friend making out with my ex behind my back?
    I didn’t want to see anyone right now.
    I couldn’t avoid Amanda any longer by the time our Phys Ed class rolled around. By some miracle, she and I were chosen for different sides in a basketball scrimmage. I avoided all eye contact, trying to sit the bench as much as possible. I couldn’t wait for the school day to be over.
    To make matters worse, I had to see Brittani in Study Hall next. She immediately came over and tried to chat with me, but I stuck out my hand crisply, stopping her mid-sentence. “If you ever pull a stunt like that again, Brittani, I will—”
    It was her turn to cut me off. “You’ll do what , Dakota? Go tell my mom, the principal ?” she let out a loud, creepy cackle. What was wrong with her?
    “I’ll tell the police,” I answered seriously. That seemed to shut her up. “You could have broken her neck,” I hissed.
    “Well, I didn’t. She got hurt just bad enough to keep her from trying out for the team,” Brittani said crudely, biting her lower lip. Then she added, “Don’t pretend like you actually liked Teresa. She got what she deserved…”
    Somewhere deep inside her, I hoped she felt at least a glimmer of guilt. If not, I was starting to seriously worry about her sanity. I stuck my nose in a paperback