Little Lost Angel Read Online Free Page A

said.
    Shanda’s cousin Amanda Edrington, who also went to Hazelwood, knew that Amanda Heavrin was a lesbian and she was concerned about Shanda’s friendship with her. “Shanda had always been a mother-hen type, even to me,” Amanda Edrington said. “She was always taking people under her wing and looking out for them. I thought she felt sorry for Amanda. I thought they were just friends. I never suspected what was going on until later.”
    There was one friend, however, with whom Shanda did confide. Michele Durham, who lived down the street from Shanda’s father, went to school in Jeffersonville but she saw Shanda nearly every weekend. One night Shanda opened up to her.
    “She said, ‘I’ve got to tell you something and I hope you don’t think badly of me when I do,’” Michele remembered. “I asked what she was talking about. She said, ‘Please, don’t think I feel this way about you. Please don’t be scared of me. But I’ve done things with Amanda, and she says we’re lesbians but I don’t feel that way. I must be bisexual because I really like guys more.’ She didn’t really say much more about it. But I could tell it was bothering her. You’ve got to know Shanda. She’d do anything for anybody. She justwanted to fit in so bad. I think Amanda kind of pushed her to it.”
    *  *  *
    Melinda’s suspicions were also on the rise.
    “Amanda told me that she and Shanda were just friends,” Melinda said later. “But I would see them in the halls laughing and passing notes. I’d be at Amanda’s house and Shanda would call all the time, and she’d hang up when I answered. Stuff like that started happening, so I was upset.”
    At first Melinda tried being diplomatic. She knew that Shanda liked boys and she wasn’t sure how far Amanda had gone with her. She hoped that Shanda would back off from Amanda once she knew that her friend was a lesbian. One day she dropped the following note through a slot in Shanda’s locker:
Shanda,
Don’t be scared of me please! I just want to be your friend. I just don’t like when you speak to Amanda when I’m not there! I mean, why can’t we all three be friends?! You act as if you got something going with her! Amanda and I are going together and she loves me and I love her and she only wants to be friends with you. You need to accept that! I don’t want you sneaking behind my back! Why don’t you speak to Amanda when she’s with me? You need to find you a boyfriend because Amanda is mine and you can even ask her! Please talk to both of us or you can forget about Amanda! You, me and Amanda need to have a talk together and get this squared away, then we could all be friends! Can you meet us at lunch?
    Your friend,
Mel            
    But when the note didn’t deter Shanda from seeing Amanda, Melinda stepped up her efforts to break up their friendship. She cornered Shanda in the hallway one day and threatened to hurt her if she didn’t stay away from Amanda. Intimidated by the older girl, Shanda promised that she would do as she was told.
    Melinda thought her threats had worked until she opened Amanda’s locker one day and found a note in the shape of a heart. Written on the note were the words “Shanda Loves Amanda.” Infuriated, Melinda surprised Shanda in the hallway, grabbing her by the hair and pushing her against a wall. She shoved the note into her face.
    “Did you write this?” Melinda demanded.
    Shanda stuttered and insisted that it wasn’t her handwriting.
    “You’re a lying bitch!” Melinda crumbled the note and threw it in Shanda’s face. “You better cool it, girl. Amanda is mine,” she said as she stormed away.
    Melinda had had enough of this bullshit. She told Amanda that they were through and that she could have Shanda if she wanted her. But after a few days Melinda calmed down and apologized to Amanda. In turn, Amanda promised to stay away from Shanda. But it was an empty promise.
    After her meeting with Melinda, Amanda