The Best Friend Read Online Free PDF

other, then adjusting the hood of her parka. “Doesn’t she know what a tramp Mary is?”
    â€œShe has no idea,” Lilah replied, an amused grin on her face. “Mary’s mom lives on some other planet. Billy Harper told Lisa Blume that he was making out with Mary Saturday afternoon on the couch in Mary’s living room. Mary’s mom walked up to them with a tray and asked if anyone wanted homemade fudge!”
    This story made them both laugh gleefully.
    â€œWow!” Becka exclaimed. “And my mom monitors every phone call I get!”
    â€œSpeaking of phone calls,” said Lilah, turning serious, did you hear from Bill again?”
    Becka shook her head. “No. He’s probably angry with me because I wouldn’t sneak out and meet him at the mall Saturday night.”
    They crossed the street. Becka had to hurry to keep up with Lilah’s long strides.
    The blare of a car horn startled them both. They turned to see a station wagon rumble by, filled with kids they knew from school. It stopped in the middle of the intersection. The driver’s window rolled down, and Ricky Schorr poked his grinning head out.
    â€œWant a ride?”
    â€œThere’s no room,” Becka told him, pointing to the crowd jammed into the back of the wagon.
    â€œYou can sit on my lap!” Ricky yelled. The car exploded with raucous laughter.
    â€œI’d rather walk home barefoot,” Becka shot back. She and Lilah turned and continued on their way. The station wagon rumbled on.
    â€œRicky’s friends think he’s a riot,” Becka muttered.
    â€œSince when does he have friends?”
    â€œSince he began driving that station wagon to school,” Becka replied.
    â€œSo did you tell your parents you want to start seeing Bill again?”
    Becka shook her head. “I haven’t been in the mood for World War Three.”
    â€œAre you going to sneak out and see him?”
    â€œNo. Maybe. I don’t know. I can’t decide.”
    â€œYou sound pretty undecided,” Lilah said. She stopped to wave to a man and a woman in the yard across the street. The man was up on a ladder, stringing a row of Christmas lights along his roof edge. His wife was on the ground, helping to untangle them.
    â€œThe Andersons really get into Christmas,” Lilah said softly. “Look at all those lights. Their house looks like one of those Las Vegas casinos! Can you imagine their electric bill?”
    â€œWell, at least I’ll get to see Bill at Trish’s Christmas party,” Becka said, sighing.
    â€œHe’s coming?”
    â€œYeah. Who isn’t? It’s going to be a mob scene. Trish has invited everyone in the world!”
    â€œDid you buy a dress?” Lilah asked, kicking a clump of hardened snow along the walk.
    â€œI got a great skirt,” Becka said enthusiastically. “It’s really short and really silky. It’s silver. I’m going to wear it over that black catsuit I bought at the mall.”
    â€œI can’t wear a catsuit. I look like a broom,” Lilah complained.
    â€œI can’t believe you’re unhappy about being tall,” Becka told her. “I would kill to be as tall as you.”
    â€œNo, you wouldn’t.”
    â€œWell. . . almost as tall as you!”
    Both girls laughed. They said their goodbyes, promising to call each other later. Becka watched Lilah jog over the snow toward her house, her long brown ponytail bobbing out from under her blue wool cap. Then Becka turned and headed for Fear Street, thinking about Bill and about Trish’s party.
    â€œAnyone home?” she called, stepping inside the kitchen and closing the door behind her. The kitchen was warm and smelled of cinnamon. There was no reply.
    Becka made her way through the back hall and started up the stairs to her room to get rid of her backpack. She stopped halfway up and listened.
    A voice upstairs.
    A voice from her