The Best Friend by R.L. Stine Page B

Becka replied coldly.
    Honey’s mouth dropped open. Her gray eyes narrowed. “What’s going on, Becka?” she demanded, sounding hurt. “There’s nothing you can’t share with your best friend.”
    â€œThat’s why I’m talking to Trish!” Becka said pointedly.
    There, Becka thought. That should be clear enough. Now maybe Honey will take the hint.
    Honey’s expression became a blank. It revealed no emotion, but her face turned bright red.
    She shoved her large hands into the pockets of herdown jacket and turned away quickly. “Talk to you later,” she called behind her and began jogging to the school.
    â€œThat was subtle,” Trish said dryly. She chuckled. “I think Honey got the point.”
    Becka didn’t smile. She suddenly found herself overcome with regret, with fear. “I shouldn’t have been so blunt,” she said, her voice a whisper.
    â€œYes, you should,” Trish insisted. “You’ve been patient for so long. It was the only way.”
    â€œYou’d better be careful, Trish,” Becka said, biting her thumb.
    â€œHuh? What do you mean?”
    â€œYou’d better be careful. I know it sounds crazy. I know it sounds paranoid. But I really think Honey could be dangerous. If she’s jealous of you, if she starts to really resent you, she might try to do something.”
    Trish laughed and shook her head. “Chill out, Becka,” she scolded. “I mean, really. What can she do?”

chapter

16
    â€œT ake care of yourself,” Trish said as they stepped into the warmth of the building. “You can’t miss my Christmas party Saturday.”
    â€œI’ll be okay,” Becka said, shivering. “Talk to you later, Trish. Thanks for walking with me.”
    Becka waved to her friend, then turned and headed down the crowded corridor to her locker. She still felt achy and sick.
    I probably shouldn’t have stayed out in the cold like that, she thought.
    She waved to some kids, then turned the corner and kept walking. Glancing at a wall clock, she saw that there were still ten minutes left in the lunch period.
    Good, she thought. It’ll give me time to go to the girls’ room and get myself together.
    After stepping around a group of guys who were huddled together, laughing about something, slapping one another high-fives, she stopped in front of her locker.
    â€œOh.” To her surprise, the locker door was open a crack.
    I know I locked it, she told herself.
    She pulled open the door and gasped.
    â€œBecka, what’s the matter?”
    Becka turned to see Cari Taylor beside her, starting to open her locker. “Look,” Becka said, pointing.
    â€œOh, wow!” Cari exclaimed, moving over to peer into Becka’s locker. “Someone trashed everything!”
    â€œEverything,” Becka uttered weakly.
    Her textbooks, usually neatly stacked on the top shelf, had been tossed to the locker floor. Her binders had been torn apart, pages pulled out. The wool scarf she kept in the locker had been balled up under a jumble of loose papers. The note cards for her research project were scattered over everything.
    â€œHow gross!” Cari exclaimed. “Who would do this?” She put a hand on Becka’s trembling shoulder. “You’ve got to report this.”
    â€œYeah, I know,” Becka replied.
    A wave of nausea swept over her. She forced herself to look away from the mess.
    â€œWho would do this?” Cari repeated.
    Several other kids had hurried over to see what the commotion was.
    I know who did it, Becka thought bitterly.
    I don’t have to guess.
    Honey did it.
    Of all the stupid, babyish things!
    Just because I hurt her feelings, she had to pay me back instantly by messing up all my stuff.
    â€œAaaagh!” Becka uttered an exasperated cry and lurched away from the noisy crowd that had gathered in front of her locker.
    â€œBecka, where are