First Evil Read Free

week, you know.” She fixed Jennifer with an icy stare.
    â€œIs this a cheerleading squad or a debating team?” a harsh voice rang out loudly.
    All of the cheerleaders turned to see Miss Green, their advisor, step quickly from her small office in the corner and move toward them with long, quick strides. Dressed in tight white tennis shorts, a gray short-sleeved T-shirt, and black high-tops, Miss Green was a compact woman with frizzy brown hair, a plain face that naturally seemed to fall into an angry expression, and a husky voice that always sounded as if she had a bad case of laryngitis.
    She taught health and phys. ed., and had a reputation for being tough—a well-deserved reputation.
    â€œWe have three new routines to learn by Friday night,” she called out loudly, her voice echoing off the tile walls of the vast gym. “So what’s holding things up? Or have you learned the new routines already?”
    â€œWe’re trying to decide about them ,” Kimmy said, glancing first at Jennifer, then pointing to the Corcoran sisters, who had climbed to their feet.
    â€œIt’s up to Jennifer,” Miss Green said, staring at Jennifer. “The captain decides.”
    Kimmy, obviously miffed, made a face.
    â€œI’d like to see what they can do,” Jennifer said, staring defiantly at Kimmy. “I really think we should give them a chance.”
    â€œOkay. End of debate,” Miss Green said brusquely. She waved to Corky and Bobbi. “Okay, you two!” she shouted. “You’re on!”
    â€œI don’t believe this,” Kimmy muttered darkly to Debra as they went to join the other girls against the wall. They stood beside Ronnie, and the three girls whispered among themselves, their expressions unhappy, as Corky and Bobbi made their way across the gym.
    â€œAre you nervous?” Corky whispered to Bobbi, her eyes on the cheerleaders huddled against the wall.
    â€œWho? Me? ” Bobbi replied with a peal of nervous laughter. “Hey, come on. Why should we be nervous, Cork? We know we’re good!”
    â€œTell that to my shaking knees!” Corky exclaimed.
    Their sneakers squeaked as they hurried across the gleaming wood floor. The gym suddenly grew silent. The air felt heavy and hot.
    â€œShow us whatever you like,” Jennifer told them, flashing them an encouraging smile.
    Corky and Bobbi each took a deep breath, glanced at each other for luck, stepped to the center of the floor, and huddled together.
    â€œWhat should we do first?” Corky asked her older sister.
    â€œLet’s start with some synchronized walkovers,”Bobbi suggested. “Then let’s show them our double cartwheel.”
    â€œWhy are they staring at us like that?” Corky asked, glancing over Bobbi’s shoulder at the silent cheerleaders. “Like they hate us or something.”
    â€œLet’s give them something to stare at,” Bobbi replied, grinning.
    â€œBreak a leg,” Corky said.

Chapter 3

First Scream
    â€œO hh!”
    The cry from one of the cheerleaders told Bobbi that her spread eagle was as spectacular as she had planned.
    Up, up, she leapt until she felt as if she could take off and fly. And then she shot out both legs, raising them up until they were perfectly straight. And then in her most startling move, Bobbi kept her legs outstretched as she gracefully floated down, hands high above her head like a diving bird, into a perfect split.
    Then, before her stunned audience had recovered, she and Corky were into a powerhouse chant:
    â€œFirst and ten,
    Do it again!
    First and ten,
    Do it again!
    Go Tigers!”
    It’s going okay, Bobbi thought. At least they’re not glaring at us anymore.
    She glanced at her sister, gave her a quick nod, their signal for their big finish, and jumped.
    Onto Corky’s back. A perfect pony mount.
    Then one swift move. Up. Arms up. And up again. Into the shoulder stand they had