Broken Hearts by R.L. Stine Page B

angel.
    â€œHi, Rachel. Would you like me to brush your hair?” Josie asked softly. She stepped into the room and picked up the hairbrush from the dresser.
    Rachel didn’t reply. Her expression was thoughtful, and she seemed to be staring off into the distance.
    â€œIt’s very late,” Josie said. She stepped behind Rachel, tenderly pulled her long hair back over the armchair, and started to brush it.
    As she brushed, she saw a smile form on Rachel’sface in the mirror on the far wall. “You like to have your hair brushed, don’t you,” Josie said, yawning.
    Rachel’s smile grew wider. “Somebody hates you, Josie,” she whispered.
    â€œHuh?” Josie wasn’t sure she had heard correctly. “What did you say, Rachel?”
    â€œSomebody hates you,” Rachel repeated a little louder. She giggled. “Somebody really hates you.”
    Josie lowered the hairbrush to her side. She moved around the chair and stared at the gleeful grin on Rachel’s face. “Rachel, do you know more than you’re letting on?” Josie asked. “Do you?”
    Rachel stared straight ahead, her smile mysterious. She giggled again. “Somebody hates you,” she said teasingly, turning her green eyes on Josie.
    Staring back at her smiling twin, Josie felt a stab of cold fear.

Chapter 12

MAYBE JENKMAN
    A fter school on Friday afternoon, Josie slammed her locker shut. After brushing her hair out of her eyes, she pulled her wallet from the back compartment of her backpack and started to count her money.
    â€œWhere you going?”
    Josie saw Erica standing beside her, ready to brave the snow, her wool muffler wrapped several times around the collar of her winter coat.
    â€œI’m going to that new card shop,” Josie told her, shoving her wallet back into the backpack and lifting the heavy bag onto her shoulder. “You know. It’s called Greetings. It opened next to The Corner. I’ve got to buy a valentine for Steve. Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and I’ll bet all the good ones are already gone.”
    â€œCan I come with you?” Erica asked somewhat forlornly.
    â€œYeah, sure,” Josie replied, zipping up her down jacket.
    â€œMom is home today to take care of Rachel,” Erica said, “so we have plenty of time.”
    â€œYou have any money?” Josie asked, leading the way to the front doors. “I’m down to about three dollars.”
    â€œI think I have a five,” Erica replied. “But you have to promise to pay me back.”
    â€œPromise.”
    They headed out of the school into the gray afternoon. The snow had become hard and icy. Patches of dark ground were showing through. A cold wind gusted and swooped around them, cutting one direction, then the other.
    Erica buried her face under her wool muffler. Josie pulled her blue and white ski cap lower and leaned into the wind as they turned up Park Drive, walking quickly.
    â€œI got my math exam back,” she told Erica. “I got a ninety-two.”
    â€œThat’s great,” Erica said from under the muffler. “I have so much homework, I’m going to be up all night.”
    â€œPoor thing,” Josie replied with mock sympathy. Then she shrieked in fright at the loud burst of sound just behind her.
    I’ve been shot! she thought.
    Her breath caught in her throat. Her heart seemed to stop.
    â€œJosie, are you okay?” Erica asked, startled by hersister’s terrified reaction. “It was just a car backfiring.” She turned and gestured toward an old Chevy station wagon that had rumbled past.
    Josie let her breath out slowly. She forced a laugh. “Oh. Sorry. I-I’m just so nervous ever since . . .” Her voice trailed off.
    â€œYou got white as a sheet,” Erica exclaimed, shaking her head. “Did you think it was a gunshot?”
    Josie nodded. “I’ve been so jumpy and sad since Muggy