Why Did She Have to Die? Read Free Page B

She’d promised Kathy that she wouldn’t breathe a word about Russ. Now she’d made Joy suspect something was going on.
    “Of course not. It’s just that I don’t know everything that’s going on in my sister’s life. I certainly don’t know who she’s going to the dance with.”
    “Well, you don’t have to get all huffy about it. I just wanted to know if I had a chance with Dan or not.”
    “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bite. But this whole dance thing is so stupid. I don’t even think I’ll go.”
    “You can’t desert me!” Joy cried. “If we can’t get guys to ask us, at least let’s go together. We could have a worse evening.”
    Elly wasn’t so sure, but she promised Joy she’d think about it.
    That night, Elly made a list of all the boys in her school she thought were cute and would be returning the following year. It was dismally short. Only Kenny Hughes made it. “Face it,” she told herself out loud, “even after Kathy goes to high school, I’ll still be one step behind her.”
    Kenny Hughes
. Elly mulled the name over as she thought about Kenny’s dark hair and blue eyes. He was all right. Maybe she could get him to take her to the dance. Then she’d feel less like Kathy’s kid sister and more like her own person. Her heart thudded in anticipation. Why hadn’t she thought about Kenny before? She’d really like showing up at the dance with him. Despite what she’d told Joy, she did want to go. And her father was buying her a new outfit. It might just work out if she put her mind to it.
    Tomorrow I’ll put Plan A into gear. Tomorrow, I’ll start getting Kenny to notice me.
As Elly climbed into bed, she told herself she’d go to the dance with a date—and not with a bunch of girls.

    * * * *

    Elly spent a whole week giggling at everything Kenny said. She even dropped a bunch of papers at his feet to get his attention. Finally, he sat with her at lunch in the cafeteria on Friday. Elly sipped her milk and gazed across the table at him.
    “You—uh—you’re on the decorating committee for the dance, aren’t you?” Kenny asked.
    “Sure am,” Elly said. Things were going better than she’d hoped.
    “I hear it’s going to be a great time.”
    “I’m doing my share.” She smiled broadly at him.
    Kenny shuffled his feet and glanced nervously around the crowded room. “You—uh—you finished with your lunch?”
    “All done.”
    “I thought maybe we could go outside before the bell rings.”
    “Sure.” Elly picked up her tray. Her hands were shaking, but she moved quickly and hoped Kenny didn’t notice. She was so nervous there was a knot in her stomach.
    They walked out into the bright noon sunlight and wandered onto the common patio area of the school. The air smelled clean and warm. Sunlight cut jagged patterns across the old cement tiles. Elly studied the tiny blades of grass pushing up through the cracks.
Get on with it, Kenny
, her mind pleaded silently.
    “I was—uh—you know—thinking about the dance. Are you going?” He turned to face her.
    Elly tipped her head and gazed up at him. She remembered to flutter her eyelashes like she’d seen Kathy do when she talked to a boy. Kenny’s ears turned red. She desperately wanted him to say the magic words and put them both out of their misery. “I haven’t decided yet,” she hedged.
    “Well, since it’s the last dance of the year and summer’s coming . . .”
    Elly swallowed hard. Her hands felt cold and clammy. She thought of the new outfit she’d bought—a soft, flowered shirt and the coolest jeans ever.
I’ll look great for you, Kenny
, she promised him inwardly.
    “I mean, it’s short notice and everything . . . but I was wondering . . . if you—uh—well, if maybe you could tell me if your sister has a date yet.”

FOUR
    E lly stared at Kenny and let his words sink in. Briefly, she contemplated murder, but gave up the idea. They were standing in too public a place.
    “If you want to know Kathy’s