Stacey And The Cheerleaders by Ann M. Martin Read Free Book Online

we can find something in here."
    The girls leaned forward to look. Kristy pulled out an old rag doll, some dinosaur figurines, and a few small puzzle books.
    "Ooh, word searches!" Maria cried out. "I love those." She reached for one of the books and a pencil.
    Tiffany crinkled her nose. "Thafs baby stuff." She rummaged around and pulled out an old yo-yo.
    Maria sat on the floor next to the coffee table. As she opened the book and began working on a puzzle, Tiffany experimented with the yo-yo.
    Kristy was proud of herself. She settled onto the couch.
    "Sub . . . ma . . . rine," Maria muttered, circling a diagonal word in a puzzle.
    Tiffany was swinging the yo-yo in an arc now. She was also moving closer to her sister.
    "Ooh! Tug ... boat!" Maria said. "Look! I got them all!"
    Whack. The yo-yo smacked Maria on her elbow. "Owww!" She whirled around. "You did that on purpose!"
    Tiffany rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right."
    "Uh, Tiffany," Kristy said. "That's a little close. Maybe you could do that in another room?"
    "Let's go to the TV room," Tiffany replied. "Can you teach me some tricks?"
    "Sure." Kristy looked over at Maria. "You okay in here by yourself?"
    "Kan ... ga ... roo," Maria mumbled.
    Tiffany led Kristy into a large, wood-paneled room just past the kitchen. A long Haitian-
    cotton couch faced a huge TV set. Next to the TV was a cabinet with glass shelves above and drawers below.
    Kristy noticed a few trophies and awards on the shelves, so she stepped closer to look. The top two shelves were obviously Shannon's — a drama plaque, a framed honor society certificate, and an archery trophy from summer camp, among others. The third shelf held a few swimming trophies. " 'League of Independent Schools Athletics, Swimming, Elementary Division, First-Place Butterfly,' " Kristy read. "Is this yours?"
    Tiffany exhaled impatiently. "Read the namel"
    "Oh." Sure enough, Maria Kilbourne was engraved at the bottom of the plaque. "Wow. I didn't know she was a swimmer," said Kristy.
    "Can you teach me the yo-yo stuff now?" Tiffany asked impatiently.
    "Oh! Sorry." Kristy reached for the yo-yo. "Do you know 'Walking the Dog'?"
    Maria's voice responded with, "Did you see the one for school record in the breaststroke?"
    Kristy 'turned to see Maria peeking in the room. Beaming, she ran to the case.
    Tiffany slumped onto the couch. "Bo-ring!"
    "Jealous." Maria stuck out her tongue. She opened the case and took out a gaudy plastic trophy.
    "Maria, I am impressed!" Kristy said. "I remember you used to hate athletic things."
    Maria beamed. "I did! But now I love swimming. My coach says I'm a natural. I even got a write-up in the Stoneybrook Day School newspaper!" She reached into the top drawer and pulled out the article.
    "You are so conceited!" Tiffany snapped. She leaped up and grabbed the article. "Kristy was teaching me something."
    •Maria held tight to her end of the paper. "Give me that!"
    Rrrrrrip!
    Each sister now held half an article. "Look what you did!" Maria cried.
    "What's the difference, baby! You have a hundred and three copies of it!"
    "Don't call me that!"
    "Whoa! Truce!" Kristy called out. She had reached the end of her patience. "Okay, look. Maybe you two need to get out of each other's hair. Why don't you go upstairs and start your homework — peacefully, in your own rooms. Uh, do you have separate rooms?"
    "Yeah," Maria replied. "Want to see?"
    "Sure." Anything to get them upstairs, Kristy thought.
    She followed Maria up the steps. Halfway there, she turned around. "Tiffany? Are you coming?"
    "I don't want to do my homework! You didn't teach me those yo-yo tricks, like you said you would."
    "Okay, okay. If I come down and teach you, then will you do your homework?"
    Tiffany said something under her breath. It didn't sound like yes.
    At the top of the stairway, Maria led Kristy down a hallway, then proudly showed off her room. It had pink wallpaper with a heart pattern, and stuffed animals were propped up all over the place.