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brakes—!”
    The tire squeals grew to a roar in Bobbi’s ears. She covered them with both hands. She tried to scream, but the sound caught in her throat.
    The impact was fast and hard.
    What had they hit? A tree? A rock? The curb?
    The bus seemed to bounce, to fly up off the road, to bounce again.
    Staring in horror and surprise at the front, Bobbi saw Jennifer’s eyes open wide. And then as the bus jolted and spun, she watched as Jennifer flew out the open door.
    Jennifer’s startled scream was drowned out by the squeal of the skidding tires.
    By the crunch of metal.
    By the shatter of glass.

Chapter 5

Death of a Cheerleader
    I t all took a second. Maybe less.
    Bobbi blinked—and it was over.
    The screams swirled around her, surrounding her.
    She wasn’t sure whether she was hearing the squeal of the tires or the cries of the cheerleaders.
    And then the world tilted on its side.
    With a silent, choked gasp, Bobbi toppled onto Corky. And the two of them, arms flailing helplessly, fell sideways toward the far window.
    Which was now the floor.
    No time to scream.
    It took only a microsecond. Or so it seemed.
    The window glass beneath them cracked all the way down the pane like a jagged bolt of lightning.
    And still the bus bumped and slid, metal grating against pavement, invading their ears.
    Bobbi felt another hard bump. A stab of pain jolted her entire body, made her shake and bounce.
    And then all movement stopped. Such an abrupt stop. Such a shattering stop.
    I’m okay, Bobbi realized. Her first clear thought.
    She was on top of her sister, their arms and legs tangled.
    Corky is okay too.
    Corky stared up at her openmouthed, her green eyes wide with fear.
    All sideways.
    She heard muffled cries. Whimpers, like frightened puppies.
    â€œOh, man.” A loud groan from the front of the bus. From Simmons.
    Bobbi pulled herself up. Simmons was trying to stand. But everything was tilted. Everything was wrong.
    â€œAre you okay?” Corky asked in a tiny voice.
    â€œYeah. I think so,” Bobbi replied uncertainly.
    â€œThen get off me!” Corky cried.
    She sounded so angry, it made Bobbi laugh.
    Hysterical laughter, she realized, and forced herself to stop.
    Got to keep control. Control. Control.
    Bobbi looked up to find a row of windows above her head.
    â€œOh,” she said out loud. She finally realized what had happened. The bus was on its side.
    It had rammed into a tree or something, bounced off and toppled onto its side, then skidded to a stop.
    â€œHow do we get out?” She heard Kimmy call even though she couldn’t see her.
    In the darkness she saw a tangle of arms and legs.
    She heard a girl crying. She heard groans and whispers.
    â€œThe emergency door. In back!” someone shouted.
    Bobbi reached for the emergency door, and tried pushing it open. It was stuck.
    â€œThe windows are faster!” someone else cried.
    Kimmy stood up, raised both arms high, struggled to slide one of the windows open. Bobbi, balancing uneasily, tried to do the same.
    â€œCan’t you get off me?” Corky asked impatiently.
    â€œI’m trying , okay?” Bobbi replied, not recognizing her own tight, shrill voice.
    The window slid open.
    Raindrops hit Bobbi’s upturned face. Cold. Fresh.
    So clean.
    â€œIs anyone hurt?” Simmons was calling, a tall shadow in the front. 44Is anyone hurt? Who’s crying?”
    Bobbi raised herself up, grabbed hold of the window frame.
    â€œIs anyone hurt?”
    The rain was just a drizzle now. The rumble of thunder was low and far in the distance.
    Bobbi pulled herself halfway out of the bus.
    The whole world was shimmering, glistening, wet. Fresh and clean.
    The bus tires were still spinning.
    Where are we? Bobbi wondered. It all looked so familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
    Another face appeared. Debra was emerging from a window closer to the front. “Are you okay?” she called, squinting at Bobbi