“Maybe we’d better get me home,” Chip said, avoiding her eyes, staring out the passenger window, which was beginning to steam up. “I just feel so weird.”
“Okay.” Bobbi put the gearshift into Drive and pulled away from the curb. As he directed her to his house on Canyon Road, she repeatedly glanced over at him. He seemed to flicker on and off in the light of the passing streetlights, so pale, so ghostly pale and worried looking.
“Bobbi, what happened to me tonight?” he whispered, staring out of the passenger window.
Bobbi had no reply.
Chapter 14
Kimmy Has a Problem
“Bobbi—can I talk to you?”
Kimmy came bounding across the gym before practice on Monday afternoon, her cheeks flushed, her eyes angry.
“I just got here,” Bobbi said distractedly, searching the gym. Everyone seemed to be ready. Megan and Heather were already working on one of the new routines. Miss Green was standing behind her desk in her office, talking on the phone.
“Sorry I’m late,” Bobbi called to the others.
“I really need to talk to you,” Kimmy insisted, hands on her waist. Her black crimped hair was more disheveled than usual. The sleeves of her sweater were rolled up, one above the elbow, the other below.
Bobbi waved to Corky. She tossed her backpack against the wall. “What about, Kimmy?” she asked impatiently. “I’ve had the worst day. First I forgot about a chemistry quiz. Then—”
“About Chip,” Kimmy said through clenched teeth.
Bobbi’s eyes widened in surprise. She could feel her face growing hot. “Chip? What about him?”
Kimmy glared at her.
“Well—what about him?”
“You made a little mistake, Bobbi,” Kimmy said, tapping her sneaker nervously on the gym floor, like a thumping rabbit foot. One hand played with the silver megaphone pendant she always wore around her neck.
“Huh?”
“Chip is my boyfriend,” Kimmy said heatedly.
Bobbi glanced past Kimmy and saw that the other girls had stopped their practicing and were standing around staring with unconcealed interest at this unpleasant confrontation.
“Could we talk about this after practice?” Bobbi asked, gesturing to the audience they had attracted.
“No way,” Kimmy insisted, fingering the silver pendant. “Chip is my boyfriend. We’ve been going together for a long time. Ask anyone.” She gestured back to the other girls, who shifted uncomfortably and avoided Bobbi’s eyes.
“Kimmy, listen—” Bobbi said quietly, backing away.
“You made a little mistake, Bobbi. A little mistake,” Kimmy repeated, raising her voice, following Bobbi, moving very close to her.
Bobbi felt herself losing her temper. What right did Kimmy have to do this to her? She was only trying to embarrass Bobbi in front of the other cheerleaders. She was only trying to turn the girls against Bobbi even more.
“You’re the one who made the mistake,” Bobbi blurted out. “You’re forgetting one little detail, Kimmy—I didn’t ask Chip out. He asked me!”
Kimmy’s eyes grew wide. Then, uttering a cry of anger, she lunged at Bobbi, grabbing the sides of her hair with both hands, pulling hard.
Startled, Bobbi gasped. She tried to duck out of Kimmy’s hold. But Kimmy had a firm grasp on her hair. Bobbi yelped in pain and struggled to pull Kimmy’s hands off.
Suddenly a voice was calling, “Stop! Girls—stop! Please!”
And Jennifer wheeled her chair right between the two combatants. “Stop it—please! Kimmy! Bobbi!”
Both girls stumbled backward. Surprised to see Jennifer appear out of nowhere, they hesitated, panting noisily.
Bobbi’s head throbbed. She raised a hand and tried to smooth her hair.
“Girls—what is going on?” Miss Green came trotting out of her office, a look of alarm on her face. “I was on the phone and when I looked up—”
“It’s okay,” Jennifer told her, backing her wheelchair up, her eyes on Bobbi. “A slight disagreement.”
“Good Lord!” Miss Green cried, staring first at Bobbi, then at Kimmy, who had bent down to pick the silver megaphone pendant up off the floor.
Embarrassed and upset, Bobbi stared at the bleachers at the other end of the gym. Taking in big gulps of air, she struggled to catch her breath. Her throat felt as dry as cotton.
Kimmy fiddled with the clasp of the pendant chain, her hands shaking visibly. Her face was crimson, and a damp clump of her hair had fallen over one eye.
“I think you two had better apologize to each other right now,” Miss Green said sternly, talking to them as if they were four-year-olds.
Neither girl replied.
Jennifer backed her wheelchair out of the way.
Kimmy fastened the megaphone pendant around her neck, glaring at Bobbi as she did it.
“This is very bad timing,” Miss Green said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “Especially since you two have to work together so closely on the new routine.”
The new routine.
Bobbi had forgotten they were going to work on the new routine. She sighed. The new routine was long and difficult. And it ended with Kimmy doing a pike, diving off Corky’s shoulders—and being caught by Bobbi!
“Maybe we should practice something easier today,” Bobbi muttered glumly.
“We’re not practicing anything until you and Kimmy apologize to each other for acting like spoiled babies,” Miss Green said, frowning.
Bobbi glanced past Miss Green at the other girls. Corky was making funny faces at her. Helpful. Very helpful.
The other girls all looked terribly uncomfortable. Debra and Ronnie had gone back to practicing their splits. They were pretending that the little drama wasn’t taking place.
“There’s nothing to apologize about,” Kimmy said defiantly.
Nothing to apologize about? Bobbi thought, rolling her eyes. She attacked me!
“Well, if you really feel that way,” Miss Green said angrily, her arms still crossed, “I’ll have no choice but to suspend both of you from the squad.”
A few of the girls gasped. Ronnie and Debra stopped their exercises.
“Well . . .” Kimmy said slowly, avoiding Bobbi’s eyes.
“I’m willing to apologize,” Bobbi said softly. Even though this is entirely Kimmy’s fault, she added to herself.
“I guess I am too,” Kimmy said grudgingly, her blue eyes flashing.
“I should hope so,” the advisor said, lowering her arms. “After all, this is a cheerleading squad—not the wrestling team.”
Bobbi glanced at Jennifer, who had backed up nearly to the wall. Jennifer flashed Bobbi an encouraging smile.
“I’m sorry,” Kimmy said sullenly, and extended her hand.
Bobbi took her hand. It felt hot and wet. “I’m sorry too,” she said softly.
“That’s better,” Miss Green said, more than a little relieved. “I’m sure you girls can find a more civilized way to work out your differences.”
Bobbi and Kimmy both nodded.
Bobbi let go of Kimmy’s hand. The two eyed each other warily.
Kimmy will never be my friend, Bobbi realized.
Her next thought: Will she always be my enemy?
“This new routine is so tricky,” Miss Green was saying, “so complicated. The timing is split-second. You two girls have to be able to rely on each other. You have to have confidence in each other.” She called the other cheerleaders over to begin the practice.
Bobbi wasn’t in the mood to work on anything new. She still felt strange, out of sorts. How could Kimmy have attacked her like that? Didn’t she have any pride?
“Let’s try the last part of the routine first,” Miss Green suggested. “Why don’t you explain it again, Bobbi.”
“Actually, Corky should explain it,” Bobbi replied, turning to her sister. “Corky invented it. We used it at the state finals last year, and it really got a big reaction.”
&nb
sp; Bobbi saw Kimmy mutter something to Debra. Both girls snickered quietly to themselves.
“It’s easier to demonstrate it,” Corky said. “Bobbi—do a shoulder stand. We’ll do this now without the rest of the pyramid. But in the real routine, she’d be up much higher. We’ll show you how the pike works. Miss Green, will you catch Bobbi when she dives?”
Bobbi and Miss Green obediently moved into place as the other girls watched intently. “You’ll be doing this pike, Kimmy,” Miss Green said, “so watch carefully. If you have any questions—”
“I’m watching,” Kimmy said sharply.
Bobbi stepped behind Corky and grabbed Corky’s hands. Then she placed one sneaker on Corky’s bent knee and, with a boost from Heather, who was standing behind her, raised her other sneaker to Corky’s shoulder, and pulled herself up until she was standing on Corky’s shoulders. Corky brought her hands up to Bobbi’s ankles, gripping them tightly, locking her in place.
Miss Green moved in front of Corky and readied herself to catch Bobbi as she dove. “Ready, Bobbi?” Corky asked, keeping her shoulders steady, bracing herself.
“Here goes,” Bobbi said. She leapt up off Corky’s shoulders, bringing her feet up, folding her body into a perfect V, and dropped in a sitting position right into Miss Green’s waiting arms.
Some of the girls burst into enthusiastic applause. “Excellent!” Miss Green cried as Bobbi lowered her feet to the floor. “You really made it look easy.”
“We’ve practiced it a lot,” Bobbi said modestly.
“Kimmy—are you ready to try it?” Miss Green asked.
“I guess so,” Kimmy said reluctantly, eyeing Bobbi.
“Bobbi will catch you. Run through it slowly,” Miss Green instructed as Kimmy stepped behind Corky. “Take as long as it takes. Don’t worry about the number of beats. We’ll practice the timing later.”
The girls who were not involved in this part of the routine stepped back to make room. Ronnie was talking excitedly to two of them, shaking her head, glancing at Bobbi.
“I really don’t believe this. My life is in your hands,” Kimmy told Bobbi dryly.
“No problem,” Bobbi replied. “I haven’t dropped anyone in weeks.”
Kimmy didn’t smile at Bobbi’s joke. Corky braced herself. Kimmy pulled herself up quickly into a standing position on her shoulders. Corky grabbed her calves to brace her.
Bobbi moved into position to catch Kimmy. “I’m ready whenever you are,” she called up to her.
“Shouldn’t she go on a diet first?” Debra cracked.
Kimmy glared down at her. “Since when do you make jokes?”
Debra shrugged. “Ronnie made me say it.”
“Let’s get serious, girls,” Miss Green scolded. “This stunt could really be dangerous.”
“Corky and I have done it a million times,” Bobbi reassured her, looking up at Kimmy. “Ready?”
“I guess,” Kimmy replied with a shrug. “Wish I had a safety net.”
“You can do it!” Jennifer yelled encouragement from against the wall.
“Okay. On three,” Corky said. “One, two—”
Bobbi braced herself, spreading her feet far apart in preparation for the catch. She arched her back. And started to raise both arms above her head.
“—three!”
Bobbi sucked in a mouthful of air. My arms, she thought. What’s wrong? What’s happening to me?
I can’t raise my arms, Bobbi thought, frozen in horror.
I can’t move. I can’t move anything.
She could feel beads of cold sweat run down her forehead.
Stop! Bobbi thought. You’ve got to stop this! Hold everything! Please! Just stop!
But to her horror, she couldn’t speak out. She couldn’t make a sound.
I can’t move. I can’t speak.
She strained to raise her arms, to get into position.
No! Please—no! Bobbi cried, only no sound came out.
What is happening to me?
She could see herself standing there, as if she had floated out of her own body.
She could see herself looking up as Kimmy prepared to dive, looking up with her arms still at her sides.
Unable to move them, to raise them.
Unable to catch Kimmy.
Unable to warn her.
No! Please—Kimmy, don’t dive! Don’t dive!
Can’t you see I’m paralyzed here?
Can’t you see something is holding me here? Holding me in its grip? Holding me so I can’t move a single muscle, cannot even blink?
Can’t you see?
Corky’s shoulders bobbed under Kimmy’s weight as Kimmy bent her knees and began her jump.
No! No! Kimmy—don’t!
Kimmy’s eyes narrowed, her features tight in intent concentration. Her knees bent, the muscles tightened.
No! Stop!
Kimmy—stop!
I can’t catch you!
I can’t even move to break your fall.
Kimmy—please!
Kimmy took a deep breath. Held it.
And then she leapt off Corky’s shoulders.
Chapter 15
The Accusations Fly
Kimmy hit the floor hard.
She landed first on her knees and elbows.
Everyone heard a sickening crack. And then a heavy thud as her forehead smashed against the floor.
Her head snapped back and her mouth let out a whoosh, like air escaping a blown-out tire.
And then her eyes closed, and she didn’t move.
At first no one reacted. Everyone seemed as paralyzed as Bobbi.
But then Heather’s shrill scream pierced the air, echoing off the high gym ceiling.
Several other girls cried out.
Corky dropped to her knees beside Kimmy’s unmoving body and stared up at Bobbi.
Her eyes locked on Kimmy, Bobbi stumbled back. One step. Two.
She raised her hands to her cheeks.
I can move, she realized.
I can move again.
I’m me again.
Jennifer was wheeling her chair frantically toward Kimmy.
Miss Green leaned over Kimmy, took her hand, slapped at it.
Kimmy groaned.
“She had the wind knocked out,” Miss Green announced. She raised her eyes to the girls huddling around the fallen cheerleader. “Quick—call for an ambulance. Call nine-one-one.”
Megan and Heather, pale and shaken, went racing from the gym.
I can move now, Bobbi thought. But what happened to me?
“You didn’t try to catch her!” Debra’s words stung Bobbi. Stepping close, Debra pointed an accusing finger. “You didn’t even try!”
“No—” Bobbi didn’t know what to say. She took a step back, away from Debra’s accusing finger.
“You just let her fall!” Ronnie cried shrilly. She had tears running down her cheeks.
“No!” Bobbi cried. “I tried, but—”
“You didn’t try!” Ronnie screamed. “We saw you. We all saw you!”
“You just stood there!” Debra cried angrily.
“It was deliberate,” Ronnie said. “She did it deliberately.”
Corky, still on her knees beside Kimmy, stared up at her sister. “What happened?” She mouthed the words silently.
“I couldn’t catch her,” Bobbi explained, knowing how lame her words sounded. “My arms—”
Bobbi stopped. It didn’t make any sense to her. How could she make it make sense to them?
“You were mad at her. So you let her fall,” Ronnie accused.
“How could you?” Debra cried.
Kimmy stirred and opened her eyes.
“You had the wind knocked out of you,” Miss Green said softly, still holding her hand.
Kimmy groaned. Her eyes darted from face to face. “My arm,” she groaned.
“Your arm?” Miss Green lowered Kimmy’s hand to the floor.
“The other one,” Kimmy groaned. “I can’
t move it. I think it’s—”
“We heard a crack,” Miss Green said. “Maybe you broke it.”
Kimmy tried to raise herself.
“No.” Miss Green pushed her gently back down. “Don’t try to get up. There’s an ambulance on the way.”
“Ohhh, it hurts.” Kimmy stared up at Bobbi. “You—you did this to me. On purpose,” she said, her voice a pained whisper.
“No!” Bobbi protested.
“You just let me fall,” Kimmy accused, wincing from the pain in her arm.
“Lie back,” Miss Green instructed her. “You’re going to be okay, dear. You’re going to be just fine. Don’t worry about Bobbi now, okay?” She glanced up at Bobbi, and her expression became hard and cold. “Bobbi and I will be having a good, long talk. Bobbi has a lot of explaining to do.”
“I’m sure it was an accident,” Corky said, suddenly bursting, into the conversation. “We’ve done this dive a million times. Really.”
“She tried to hurt her,” Debra insisted. “I watched her the whole time.”
“It’s attempted murder!” she heard Ronnie tell Megan, deliberately loud enough for Bobbi to hear.
“Ronnie—you’re going too far!” Miss Green scolded.
“We saw her!” Ronnie shot back angrily.
“No!” Bobbi screamed, tugging at the sides of her hair. “No! No! NO!”
She couldn’t take any more of this.
She couldn’t take the eyes, so many eyes, staring at her with so much hatred.
She couldn’t take the accusing frowns, the pointing fingers.
She couldn’t take the sting of their words.
“No! No!”
And without realizing it, she had turned away from them, away from their eyes, away from their hatred. And now she was running, her sneakers loud against the hard floor, running blindly, her eyes blurred by hot tears, running with her arms outstretched, running to the double doors.
And pushing through them. Into the coolness of the hallway. Out of the heat, away from their eyes, their unforgiving eyes.
She turned and ran toward the stairs. Past the white-coated paramedics hurrying toward the gym, carrying a stretcher and black bags of equipment. Past a surprised group of students gathered in the middle of the hall.