Cheerleaders: The New Evil Read Free

even though they had barely begun to practice. “Let’s really shout!”
    As co-captain with Corky, Kimmy saw it as her job to cheer the others on when their energy was low. That day they all were like lumps in their gray sweats and T-shirts. No energy at all.
    â€œWhoa,” Ms. Closter repeated. Her favorite phrase. “One word, girls.” She cleared her throat. “It’s our first practice without Hannah, and we all miss her—right? We all feel bad that she’s in the hospital.”
    â€œI talked to her mother this morning before school,” Corky reported.
    â€œAnd what did she say?” Ms. Closter asked, restingher hands on her slender waist. “How is Hannah doing?”
    â€œShe—she’s stable,” Corky replied, glancing at Kimmy. And then she added, “Whatever that means.”
    Ms. Closter nodded solemnly. “I hope that means they’ve stopped the internal bleeding.”
    Corky shrugged. “The doctor just said she was stable. Her mother said Hannah’s face was really cut up. She needed a lot of stitches. And she broke her collarbone. But she should come through it all okay.”
    Debra let out a low sigh. Naomi and Heather shook their heads.
    â€œIt could have been worse,” Ms. Closter murmured, fiddling with the string that held her whistle. “She could’ve broken her neck. In a way, Hannah was lucky.”
    â€œYeah. Real lucky,” Debra muttered, rolling her eyes.
    â€œI know this sounds a little cold,” Kimmy said, pushing back her dark bangs. “But we have to think about the Holiday Tournament. What are we going to do about replacing Hannah?”
    Ms. Closter knitted her brow. “We’ll hold tryouts Monday after school. If you know anyone who’s interested—”
    â€œBut the tournament’s just two weeks away!” Heather protested. “How will the new person learn the routines?”
    â€œPractice,” Ms. Closter replied, turning her caparound to the front. “A lot of practice.” She motioned with both hands. “Okay, everyone. Line up. Spread eagles. Again. This time with some energy. Think light. Light. You’re light as feathers.”
    Naomi sneezed loudly. She rubbed her nose. “I’m allergic to feathers!” she cried.
    The girls all laughed. Corky forced a laugh too. But her mind wasn’t on practice. She was thinking only about Hannah.
    Ms. Closter said Hannah was lucky, Corky thought fretfully. I don’t think Hannah would agree.
    And if Kimmy is right, if the evil has returned, then none of us are lucky.
    Kimmy can’t be right, though, Corky decided.
    She took her place at the end of the line. Shaking her head hard, she tried to chase away all scary thoughts.
    Across the gym, the door to the boys’ locker room swung open. The boys’ basketball team came jogging out and began dribbling in wide circles.
    Corky waved to Alex, but he didn’t see her. He and his best friend, Jay Landers, started passing a basketball rapidly back and forth.
    â€œSame cheer!” Ms. Closter instructed. “Really shout. Make the backboards shatter!”
    Ms. Closter’s words made Corky gasp. She saw the broken windshield. Hannah’s body sprawled over the hood.
    The cheer started. Corky came in a beat late. She struggled to catch up.
    Down the floor,
    Shoot two more!
    Down the floor,
    Shoot two more!
    Go, TIGERS!
    Up into her spread eagle now. Her eyes on Alex. Why doesn’t he turn around? Corky wondered. Why doesn’t he watch?
    A good jump. Her legs straight out. Down now. Into a split.
    Yes! Looking good!
    Everyone up at the same time. Jump. Clap. Cheer. And run off.
    â€œBetter!” Ms. Closter shouted over the drumbeat of dribbling basketballs. “A lot better. Let’s try it again. Debra, that was your best jump yet. Come on. Line up.”
    â€œUh—I’ve got a leg cramp,” Corky called to