Twisted Read Online Free Page A

up her book bag and her shoes, and gave her dad a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for the ride, Dad. And thanks for the carbohydrates and cholesterol.”
    â€œAnytime, kiddo. And don’t tell your mom. See you tonight.”
    Amy waved good-bye as her dad drove away, and then she walked up the sidewalk. Even though her dad had dropped her off right in front of the school, she was shivering as she pushed open the heavy double doors at Hamilton High and stepped into the semiwarmth of the entryway. She stamped the snow off her boots on the rubber grid that was provided especially for that purpose, and opened the inner door that led into the school, itself. The moment she stepped inside, Amy took her shoes from her tote bag, removed her boots, and slipped on her shoes. Then she headed up the stairway to her locker, carrying her boots with one hand. Boots weren’t allowed on the wooden floors of Hamilton High hallways. Students were required to carry them up to their lockers, and leave them there until it was time to go home.
    â€œHey, Amy.” Colleen, who had the locker next to Amy, greeted her with a smile. “How about this weather? It’s supposed to warm up to above zero today.”
    Amy nodded. “I heard that. But then it’ll be warm enough to snow again. You just can’t win in the winter.”
    â€œYou’re a regular prophet of doom. Lighten up, Amy. Aren’t you glad that Mr. Dorman gave us permission to hold the Valentine’s Day Dance?”
    â€œYes. Of course I am. But I probably won’t have a date.”
    â€œCome on, Amy.” Colleen’s frown deepened. “I just can’t take all this doom and gloom first thing in the morning. Isn’t there anything that’ll make you happy?”
    Amy began to grin. “Sure. If Tanya Ellison slipped on the ice and sprained her ankle, it would definitely cheer me up.”
    â€œI get it.” Colleen began to grin, too. “Then she wouldn’t be able to go to the dance, and you’d ask Brett. Is that right?”
    Amy nodded. “That’s the general idea. Of course I don’t wish her any permanent injury . . . that wouldn’t be nice. I’ll settle for a little sprain that’ll keep her out of action for—oh, my God!”
    â€œWhat?” Colleen looked puzzled. Amy’s face had gone pasty white.
    â€œIt’s . . . it’s Tanya!”
    Colleen swiveled around to see. And then she gasped, too. Tanya was standing at her locker, and she was leaning on two crutches.
    â€œOh-oh!” Amy looked very guilty. “You don’t suppose?”
    Colleen shook her head. “No way. Things don’t happen just because you want them to.”
    â€œI know. But, Colleen . . . I said it, and then it happened!”
    â€œWrong.” Colleen looked very serious. “It happened before you said it. Tanya must have sprained her ankle last night. She’s already got the crutches.”
    â€œThat’s true, but I still feel guilty. I was wishing that something would happen so she couldn’t go to the dance.”
    â€œHi, girls. What’s up?”
    Amy turned around to find Brett standing directly behind her, carrying a large box. How much had he heard? Amy did her best to maintain her composure; but her cheeks began to feel hot, and she knew she was blushing.
    â€œHi, Brett.” Colleen spoke up when she realized that Amy was practically speechless. “Amy and I were talking about poor Tanya. Do you know what happened?”
    â€œPoor Tanya?” Brett looked thoroughly mystified.
    Amy took a deep breath and managed to find her voice. “Yes. We just noticed that she was on crutches.”
    â€œOh, the crutches!” Brett started to grin. “Tanya borrowed them from the hospital. Her first-aid class is having a drill this morning, and she’s playing the part of an accident victim.”
    â€œYou mean she didn’t sprain her