Why Did She Have to Die? Read Online Free

plans, ask her!” Elly turned and strode toward the girls’ bathroom. Behind her, she heard Kenny mumble, “. . . don’t have to bite my head off . . .”
    Inside the bathroom, her anger turned to tears. Elly leaned against the cool green tiles. The smell of disinfectant made her sick to her stomach. But it wasn’t really the odor that bothered her. It was what had happened with Kenny.
    Stupid!
she told her reflection in the mirror. She had been stupid to think that Kenny might be interested in her. It had been Kathy he wanted all along. It was always Kathy.
    Joy ambled into the bathroom. “I thought I saw you rush in here. Hey! What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing,” Elly said, suddenly resenting her friend’s nosiness. “Can’t a person go to the bathroom without making a public announcement?”
    “Excuse me!”
    Elly raked a brush through her hair. She didn’t want to tell Joy that Kenny had rejected her. Instead, she asked, “Do you know that Kenny Hughes had the nerve to ask me if Kathy had a date for the dance yet? Where does he get off anyway? I told him to ask her himself.”
    “I thought you looked angry. But you shouldn’t get so mad about it. I mean, Kenny acted like a jerk, but so what? You don’t like him, do you?”
    Elly shrugged. “Don’t be ridiculous. He’s a nerd and I wouldn’t look twice at him.”
    “So, no real harm done.” Joy flashed her a smile. “Are we going to the dance together?”
    Elly sighed. “You’re the best offer I’ve had.” She forced her voice to sound happy. “Come to think of it—you’re the
only
offer I’ve had.”
    “Thanks a lot!” Joy poked Elly in the ribs, but they left the bathroom together laughing.
    At least I’m laughing on the outside
, Elly thought.

    * * * *

    By Monday, Elly had decided Joy would be an okay date for the dance. She felt sort of satisfied that the great Russ Canton hadn’t called Kathy again. He hadn’t followed through on his promise to drive by the school to see her, either.
Justice does triumph
, she told herself as she and Kathy walked home in the late afternoon sunshine.
    “So, did you decide which frog you are going to kiss and turn into a prince for the dance?” Elly asked.
    “Very funny. Actually, I don’t want to go with anyone who’s asked me. All the guys keep pestering me to go with them. I don’t care a bit about any one of them!”
    “Tough problem.”
    “I guess that sounds vain to you, doesn’t it? I mean, why can’t I just say yes to one of them and go to the silly dance?”
    Elly tried to see too many date offers as a problem. “Maybe the right guy hasn’t asked yet.”
    Kathy gave a shrug. “I wish I’d never met Russ Canton.”
    The crunch of car tires pulling up next to the curb interrupted Elly’s reply. Both girls turned toward the sound.
    “Want a ride, beautiful?” a deep male voice asked.
    No one had to introduce Russ Canton to Elly. Nor did she wonder for a minute who the grinning, blond, green-eyed boy was talking to. Elly hung back as Kathy stepped casually to the side of Russ’s red Mustang.
    “Russ?” Kathy asked, as if she hardly recognized him. Elly rolled her eyes. Her heart was pounding against her rib cage. Although she’d seen his picture in the paper many times, nothing had prepared her for seeing him in person. She admired her sister’s cool. Only the faintest rush of pink in Kathy’s face revealed her excitement.
    “Sorry I couldn’t stop by sooner. The basketball team’s been in strict training for the playoffs. Then baseball season started. I’m the pitcher.”
    “No problem,” Kathy said, flipping her shiny brown hair off her shoulders. “I figured you’d make it sooner or later.”
    “Listen, I’m wasting gas. Get in the car and I’ll drive you home.”
    Elly saw Kathy hesitate. “Oh, that’s all right. My sister Elly and I only live a few blocks away. We were just saying how nice it was to walk, weren’t we, Elly?”
    Elly fumbled for an answer,