Read Online Twisted by Jo Gibson - Free Book Online Page B

I think she meant king. How could she know who’d get the most votes for queen?”
    â€œBecause Brett’s voting for her now. And he told me that they’re going to the Valentine’s Day Dance together.”
    â€œOh. I see.” Amy tried not to show how disappointed she was. She’d known that Gail was moving in on Brett, but she hadn’t expected it to happen quite so fast. “Shall we count the votes for queen now?”
    One by one, the red hearts were unfolded and counted, and Gail’s total grew steadily. She had received nineteen votes out of the first twenty.
    â€œYou were right, Kevin.” Colleen glanced at Amy’s tally sheet. “It looks like Gail is going to get most of the votes today.”
    Kevin nodded. “Most . . . but not all. Here’s one for you, Amy.”
    â€œFor me?” Amy’s face mirrored her surprise. “I know we’re not really supposed to do this, but do you recognize the writing?”
    â€œIt’s printed.”
    Kevin handed the heart to Colleen, who nodded. “It’s just like last Friday, Amy. I think it’s the same printing, but it’s hard to tell.”
    â€œI wish I could figure out who was voting for me.” Amy looked wistful.
    â€œWhy?” Kevin stared at Amy. “What possible difference does it make?”
    â€œBecause I’d really like to have a date for the Valentine’s Day Dance. And the person I was planning to ask is already going with someone else. If I knew who was voting for me, I’d ask him instead.”

Seven
    I t was one-thirty in the afternoon, and Tanya’s funeral started at two. Mr. Dorman had excused the whole Senior class at lunchtime, so that they could go home and dress for the funeral. Since school was over at three, and the funeral would last for at least an hour, they weren’t expected to come back to school until the following morning.
    Amy shivered a little as she walked down the street toward the Porter Fine Furniture Store, where she was to meet Jessica, Michele, and Colleen. She’d borrowed her mother’s trench coat, which wasn’t very warm, but her bright pink flowered parka had seemed inappropriate for such a somber occasion.
    â€œAmy! Wait up!”
    Amy turned and began to smile. Colleen had never been very athletic, but she was running as fast as she could, her long black dress coat flapping behind her like the tail of some gigantic crow.
    â€œI’m glad I caught you!” Colleen was panting as she arrived at Amy’s side. “Your mom said you’d just left, and there’s been a change of plans. Danny’s taking us.”
    â€œDanny’s going to Tanya’s funeral?”
    Colleen nodded proudly. “I talked him into it.”
    â€œYou’re kidding!” Amy was totally surprised. “When I asked Danny if he was going, he told me that he hates funerals. And he swore that he was never going to another one . . . except for his own.”
    â€œI know. He always says that. I must have heard it a million times by now. Come on. We’re all meeting at the Hungry Burger. We’ll leave from there.”
    Amy nodded, and started to walk again, in step with Colleen. The Hungry Burger was only a block and a half away, so they didn’t have far to go. “Tell me, Colleen. How did you get Danny to change his mind?”
    â€œI explained that since Tanya had been his classmate, it was his duty to attend her funeral.”
    â€œAn appeal to his social obligations . . . that’s good.” Amy nodded. “What else?”
    â€œI said it might seem like an insult to Tanya’s parents if he was the only member of the Senior class who didn’t show up.”
    â€œApplication of peer pressure, and a concern for the emotional well-being of others . . . that’s good, too. What else?”
    â€œI told him that we really wanted to go, but it was too far to walk and he was