The Stepsister Read Online Free PDF Page B

you?! You deliberately erased my whole report!” Emily was screaming at the top of her lungs, but she didn’t care.
    All of those days and days of work. Gone forever. This was the worst thing anyone had ever done to her.
    â€œYou erased everything!”
    â€œI did not!” Jessie cried, backing away from Emily. “The computer was turned off when I came into the room!”
    â€œYou filthy liar!”
    Unable to contain her anger, Emily lunged at Jessie. She caught her by surprise, pushed her to the floor, jumped on top of her, and began pounding her with her fists in a rage that frightened even her.

Chapter

4
    â€œI Could Kill Her!”
    â€œW hat on earth —!”
    Mrs. Wallner was in the room first, followed by her grim-faced husband.
    Emily had already stopped fighting. She gave no resistance as Mr. Wallner pulled her off Jessie. She stood up unsteadily, jerking out of his grip, shaking all over, surprised to find that her face was wet with tears.
    When did I start to cry? she wondered.
    â€œJessie—what happened? Are you okay?” Mrs. Wallner leaned down and gently helped Jessie to her feet. Jessie’s normally perfect hair was wet and matted against her face. She was breathing hard, gasping for breath, unable to speak.
    â€œOh, no! I tore the sweater!” Emily wailed, seeing the long rip on Jessie’s sleeve.
    â€œIs that what this is about? The sweater?” Mr. Wallner asked, his hands on his hips. He was forcinghimself not to shout, to stay calm, but the veins on his temples throbbed, and his face was very red.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Nancy and Rich pushed through the doorway into the bedroom at the same time.
    â€œNothing,” Mr. Wallner said quickly. “You two—out.” He pointed to the door. They stared at Jessie and Emily for a long moment, then obediently backed out of the room.
    I’ve never been in a fight in my life, Emily thought. How did this happen? She grabbed up a handful of tissues from the box on her dresser and wiped her eyes and wet cheeks.
    If only I could stop shaking.
    â€œWhat is this about?” Mr. Wallner demanded.
    â€œAsk her,” Jessie said bitterly, fingering the tear in the sweater sleeve.
    â€œJessie deliberately erased my report,” Emily said, her voice as shaky as the rest of her.
    â€œThat’s a lie,” Jessie said. “A total lie.”
    â€œI went downstairs for a snack,” Emily started. “When I came back, Jessie was working on the computer, and my report—it was erased.”
    â€œOh, how awful,” Mrs. Wallner said sympathetically, shaking her head. “You’ve been working so hard on it. But, Emily, I’m sure it was an accident.”
    â€œAccident?!” Emily shrieked.
    â€œNow, calm down, Emily. You’re upset so you’re not thinking clearly,” her mother said.
    â€œIt’s clear she did it on purpose!”
    Emily cried. “Emily! Don’t say things like that!” her mother raised her voice. “No matter what happened. There’sno excuse for fighting. I can’t believe you attacked Jessie.”
    â€œI attacked her!” Emily shrieked, her voice so high and shrill, it hurt her throat. “I wasn’t the one who—”
    â€œStop. Just stop,” her mother said, balling her hands into tight fists at her side. “I don’t want to hear any more. I just know we can’t have this kind of fighting in our house.” She looked to her husband for support.
    He nodded somberly but didn’t say anything.
    â€œBut my whole report—!” Emily wailed.
    â€œYou two have got to work out your differences,” Mr. Wallner said. “You have no choice. You have to get along.”
    â€œThis must never happen again,” Mrs. Wallner said.
    â€œBut don’t you want to know what happened?” Emily cried, more a desperate plea than a question.
    â€œWe don’t