The Second Evil Read Free Page B

“Where are Mom and Dad?”
    Sean reluctantly let go of Kimmy’s sleeve. “Next door.”
    â€œCome on in,” Corky told the three girls, motioning to the living room. “I’m going to run into the kitchen and put on the kettle. I’ll make hot chocolate.”
    â€œThat sounds great!” Debra exclaimed, rubbing her shoulders, still shivering.
    â€œI
hate
hot chocolate,” Sean offered loudly.
    â€œSean, please!” Corky cried. She pointed. “Upstairs. Now.”
    â€œYou’re a jerk” was his reply, one he used about ahundred times a day. He stuck his tongue out at her, then loped up the stairs to his room.
    Corky clicked on the floor lamp beside the leather couch against the wall. Pale light washed over the living room, which was decorated mainly in greens and browns.
    â€œI’ll be right back,” she told the others. She hesitated at the doorway. “What were you doing there? I mean, at the cemetery?”
    Debra flashed Kimmy a hesitant look. “Well …”
    â€œWe were looking for you,” Kimmy explained. “We were headed to your house. But we stopped when we saw you … uh …” She hesitated to finish her sentence.
    Corky’s pale cheeks reddened. “I was at Bobbi’s grave. I go there sometimes.”
    No one could think of a reply. A heavy silence hung over the room.
    â€œI’ll go put on the kettle,” Corky said and hurried out of the room.
    As she held the kettle under the tap, her mind whirred from thought to thought. She tried to figure out why the three cheerleaders had come to find her.
    Corky hadn’t spent time with any of them since dropping off the cheerleading squad. They always acted very friendly when she passed them in the halls at school. But Corky really hadn’t talked with them in weeks.
    Hearing an odd noise, Corky glanced out the kitchen window into the darkness. Two cats were chasing each other over the deep carpet of brown leaves that covered the backyard. Their chase reminded her of being pursued by the strange hooded man with thecold gray eyes. With a shudder she hurried back to her visitors.
    She found Kimmy and Debra seated on opposite ends of the couch. Kimmy was tapping her fingers nervously on the arm. Debra had her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
    Ronnie was standing by the window, hands on her slender hips, staring out at the driveway. She turned when Corky reentered the room. “I think we’re warming up,” she said.
    Corky moved quickly to the armchair that faced the couch. She sat down, and a rude noise erupted from under the chair cushion.
    â€œSean!” she screamed angrily, jumping to her feet. She reached under the cushion and pulled out her brother’s pink whoopee cushion.
    Her three visitors laughed.
    â€œMy family
loves
practical jokes,” Corky explained, rolling her eyes. She tossed the flattened whoopee cushion across the room.
    â€œYour brother’s funny,” Debra said, tucking her legs under her.
    â€œYou want him?” Corky offered. She resumed her place on the chair. Ronnie moved in front of the couch and flopped down on the carpet, crossing her legs in front of her.
    â€œCorky, how
are
you?” Kimmy asked finally in a concerned tone.
    â€œOkay, I guess,” Corky replied quickly, avoiding Kimmy’s eyes.
    â€œWere you at the game last night?” Ronnie asked.
    â€œNo. Huh-uh.” Corky shook her head.
    An uncomfortable silence.
    Corky cleared her throat. The repetitive electronic music of Sean’s Nintendo game drifted down from upstairs.
    â€œSo why’d you want to see me?” Corky asked.
    â€œWe want you to come back on the squad,” Ronnie blurted out.
    â€œYeah. That’s why we came,” Kimmy said, locking her blue eyes on Corky’s.
    â€œI don’t know,” Corky replied, shaking her head. She brushed away a strand of blond hair that had fallen over an