Halloween Party Read Free Page A

years he and Alex had been best friends. They had grown up together, played tennis together, even gone out with girls together—until last year when Niki had stopped going with Alex and started dating Terry. Alex had never gotten over his feelings for Niki—and sometimes Terry wondered if Niki was over her feelings for Alex.
    â€œThis whole list is bizarro,” Niki was saying. “None of us hang out together, except maybe Murphy and David.” David, like Murphy, was on the football team and also played basketball. Angela was a slim, pretty redhead with a fast reputation, and Les was a science whiz who kept to himself. Terry couldn’t think why any of them had been invited.
    But if Alex Beale was on the list, he was suddenly glad that he was too.
    â€œOh, look,” said Niki. “Here comes Justine. Maybe she’ll explain the list.”
    Justine came walking briskly out the front door of the school. As she did, the crowd moved closer to her. Reluctantly Terry followed Niki up on the steps.
    â€œWhere have you been all day?” someone asked Justine.
    â€œI had a doctor’s appointment in Waynesbridge,” said Justine. “I just got back for last period.”
    â€œCome on,” said Lisa. “Explain your guest list.”
    â€œWhat’s to explain?” said Justine sweetly. “I’m just having a party.”
    â€œI’ve got it!” said Murphy Carter. “If you look atthe list, everyone invited is either a jock or a wimp, or someone’s girlfriend. Is that it, Justine?”
    â€œI’m sorry. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said with a shrug. “I just invited some people I want to get to know better.” She was wearing a body-hugging white wool dress, and with her frosty blond hair and green eyes she looked more like a model than ever.
    â€œI like Murphy’s idea,” said David. “The wimps and the jocks.”
    â€œSo what do you think, wimp?” asked Murphy, spotting Terry. “You got the guts to go to the party—and stay all night?”
    â€œI hope you’ll all come to the party,” said Justine. She turned her dazzling smile on Murphy. “Can I count on you, Murphy?” she said.
    â€œUh—sure,” he said, suddenly looking goofy.
    â€œYou can count on me too,” said David.
    â€œI’m glad,” said Justine. “Now, both of you have to promise that you’ll dance with me. I have a really rad sound system, and I bought a lot of excellent dance CDs.”
    Justine was laying it on pretty thick, and Terry could see that Murphy and David were buying it.
    â€œHey, I’d like to dance with you,” said Bobby McCorey, who had appeared from somewhere with his buddy, Marty Danforth. Bobby was on the varsity football team, but he had a bad temper and most of the other guys didn’t hang out with him. He and Marty were the biggest bullies in the school.
    â€œWell, I’d like to dance with you too, Bobby,” said Justine, her voice suddenly sarcastic. “Why don’t you come to my aerobics class?”
    The other kids laughed, and Bobby glared at them before turning back to Justine. “Why don’t I come to your party instead?” he said. “You probably just forgot to send me an invitation, right?”
    â€œNo,” said Justine, smiling again. “I didn’t forget.”
    â€œWell, you’d better change your mind,” said Bobby with a scowl. “Me and Marty don’t like to be left out of things.”
    â€œI’m sorry you feel that way,” said Justine. “But this is a small party, and you guys just aren’t on the list.”
    â€œWe’ll see about that!” said Bobby menacingly. “Come on, Marty,” he added. “Let’s leave these dorks and go have some fun.” He and Marty stalked away, then jumped on their motorcycles and roared off. Terry had a