Will You Be My Friend? by P.J. Night Read Free Book Online Page A

meeting with a teacher, or because a club that I was a member of had a weekend meeting. I should be able to walk into Glenside just like I belong there. But then again, nobody will know me.
    Beth sighed. What other choice did she have? She had to go for it.
    She loaded her camera, phone, laptop, directions on how to walk to Glenside from her house, and a printout of the photo of Lizzie into her backpack. Then she slipped out the front door and headed down her block. She was grateful that it was a warm, sunny day. It was at least a two-hour walk to Glenside, and Beth was happy she wouldn’t have to do it in the rain or cold.
    It didn’t take her long to realize that she really had never been out in the world on her own before. Any trips she made to town were with her mom or in a car with her mom driving, so she never really had to pay attention to where she was going.
    The farther from home Beth got the more lost she became. Soon nothing looked familiar—no streets, no houses, no stores. She believed that she was heading in the direction of Glenside Middle School, but she grew anxious.
    What if I get lost and I’m not home before Mom? Beth worried. Don’t be ridiculous. Mom won’t be home until tonight.
    She tried to calm herself down, but she was not doing a very good job.
    Beth kept walking. At each intersection she debated with herself which way to turn. Confused, she considered turning around, going home, and just giving up her quest. But something drove her to keep moving forward.
    Might as well keep going, she thought.
    She continued. And continued to have no idea where she was.
    After about a half hour, the feeling started—the feeling that someone was following her.
    Beth stopped and glanced over her shoulder but saw no one. She turned back and continued.
    Beth took a few steps forward and turned back again. Still no one there.
    Walking faster now, she heard a voice call out.
    â€œBess! Hey, Bess!” the voice shouted from behind her.
    Beth turned around and saw a girl a few years older than she. The girl smiled and waved at her.
    â€œBess, how are you?” the girl asked.
    Beth felt legitimately frightened now. She realized just how foreign it felt to be away from home. And it didn’t help that she was lost. And now a total stranger thought she was someone else, for the second time this month!
    She turned back and walked away even more quickly than before, not sure where she was going, but certain that she just wanted to be away from this girl.
    â€œSnob!” the girl yelled after her. “You’re too good for me now? I haven’t seen you in years and you can’t even say hello?”
    Beth kept walking. She felt bad that the girl thought she was being snobby, but she had bigger things on her mind, and the last thing she needed was another mystery to solve related to her past.
    At least I know that I’m not going crazy, she thought. Someone really was following me .
    But even after Beth had lost the girl who called her Bess, she still felt like she was being followed. She caught the sound of footsteps scraping on pavement, but when she spun around to confront whoever might be there, she saw no one.
    Beth picked up her pace, hoping both to get to the school sooner and to put some distance between her and whoever might be after her.
    The feeling of being watched gripped her like a pair of hands. Again she spun around. This time she caught a glimpse of something or someone disappearing behind a nearby row of bushes.
    â€œWho’s there?” she called out, surprising herself with her boldness. “Why are you following me?”
    But she only received silence in response.
    On Beth walked, feeling more uneasy with every step.
    What am I doing? she chastised herself. I don’t know where I’m going. I don’t know what I’m going to do when I get there . . . if I get there. And someone is still following me. I just know