Cutting Up The Competition (Horror High #2) (12 page)

Chapter Forty

I stood under the shower head, letting the hot water run over my face and body, keeping the temperature hot enough to burn my skin.

Filled with doubts, I closed my eyes, trying to think about the last conversation I had with Sydney.

“Amanda, open up!” Dakota shouted through the bathroom door, startling me and interrupting my thoughts.

I turned the water off and stepped out, drying off quickly with a still-damp towel from this morning.

When I opened the door, Dakota was standing in the hallway smiling.

“Did you hear the news?”

Before I could answer, she flung her arms around me, pulling me in for a hug so fast I nearly dropped my towel on the floor.

“Get dressed. We’re going to see her. She’s at the station. And guess what? Her tongue is still intact. I was right…this asshole who’s been harassing us is all talk. A stupid prankster,” she said.

“Would you call Genevieve getting murdered “all talk”?” I asked, stunned.

Remembering Genevieve, Dakota frowned. “Well, not in her case…no. You’re right. But aren’t you happy Sydney’s all right? I didn’t want to say it out loud before, Amanda…but I was really starting to think she was dead.”

Unsure of how to break the news to Dakota, I pulled on a pair of orange leggings and a thin grey tee. The only shoes I could find were my worn out flip flops, but I slid them on anyway and pulled my wet hair up in a ponytail.

“Ready?” Dakota asked, pacing excitedly around my room.

“I think so,” I said, grabbing my purse and following her downstairs.

“I’m going with Dakota to talk to Sydney at the station,” I told Mom and Grandma. They were still sitting at the table, talking quietly over cups of coffee. My mom looked up, alarmed.

“Let me get my shoes on,” she said, starting to get up.

“No, I need to do this on my own. I need to talk to Sydney. I’ll be safe. It’s a police station.” I looked at Grandma Mimi. She nodded her consent, urging my mom back down in her seat.

“Why are you acting so weird?” Dakota asked as we climbed in the Cavalier.

“I have something to tell you,” I said, taking a deep breath before I told my theories for a third time today.

Chapter

Forty-One

“Get out of my car.”

Shocked, I sat frozen in the passenger’s seat of Dakota’s car, unsure what I should do.

Dakota made my decision for me. “Get. The. Hell. Out,” she angrily demanded.

This wasn’t the reaction I’d expected. Disbelief, yes. But downright hostility? No. I didn’t expect this at all…

Hastily, I unfastened my seatbelt and climbed out, holding Baby Annie and my purse. I watched Dakota pull away without a second thought, burning rubber on her car’s new tires in the process.

Defeated, I turned back toward my house, walking slowly and ignoring the baby’s cries.

The sun was nowhere to be seen, a storm brewing in Harrow Hill. Wind whipped through the trees, sending a chill across my skin and through my bones.

I regretted not bringing a jacket or wearing normal shoes. It was September and that’s usually a warm month around here, but tonight the air felt cold and damp.

I crossed Brixton Avenue, taking a shortcut through a few neighbors’ yards. I was two blocks from my house when I heard a car coming up behind me.

Part of me hoped it was Dakota…maybe she’d changed her mind…

But the girl who pulled up beside me had long, curly, red hair and bright green eyes. I scowled at Mariella Martin.

“Get in. I’ll drive you home,” she said.

I hesitated, then kept walking.

“Do you really hate me that much? You won’t even accept a ride from me? I heard about Sydney. Are you okay?” Mariella inched along beside me.

She heard
what
about Sydney?

Making a quick decision, I turned around and walked around the car to the passenger side door.

It was a cute two-door car with fancy necklaces dangling around the rearview mirror and a stack of boy band CDs crudely stacked in the center console.

Mariella smiled at my decision, pulling off and heading toward my house.

“What did you hear about Sydney?” I asked.

Mariella glanced at me, her lips parting in surprise.

“She was just arrested.”

I gasped. I’d expected Detective Simms to question her, but I didn’t really think he believed me.

“Dakota is on her way to the station to see her…” I realized, talking out loud.

“If she sees her, it will be in handcuffs. She was charged with Genevieve’s murder and attempted murder too. Not only did the police find no evidence that she’d been kidnapped, but they traced her back to a hotel in Crimson County,
and
they found a crowbar in her bedroom.”

“
Where
in her room?” I asked, instantly feeling uneasy.

“Under her bed, of all places!” Mariella pulled up in front of Grandma Mimi’s house, shaking her head back and forth as she parked.

“For someone so stupid, she sure she was dumb…who leaves a bloody murder weapon right under their bed? And I know some people didn’t like Genevieve, but who knew Sydney was so unhinged…”

Mariella rambled on, but my mind was spinning.
Me, Winter, and Dakota were in Sydney’s house a couple nights ago and there was
definitely
no crow bar under her bed…right?

“And her parents just got in from Prague. Those assholes didn’t even know their own daughter was missing! I actually feel a little bad for her. No wonder she was sort of screwed up, negligent parents and all that…” Mariella rambled.

“Thanks for the ride,” I said, darting out the passenger side and running into the house.

I closed the front door of the house behind me, panting.

I was wrong. The police had the wrong girl. Someone must have set Sydney up
.

Chapter

Forty-Two

Jordan was waiting for me, leaning up against the locker in a handsome green polo and Lucky jeans.

I’m not in the mood for this crap…

Ignoring him, I turned the dial to my locker, lifting up on the lock to open it. I started pulling out books for my morning classes, trying not to look at Jordan.

He spoke, his breath smelling like peppermint and something chocolate…

“I’m sorry about the other night, Amanda. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. And I should have helped out more with the Child Development project, I’ll admit…but I want you to know that I
am
still planning to break up with Lauren, so don’t worry...you are the next girl I want to be with,” Jordan said.

I scoffed at him.

Seriously, where did this guy get the nerve?

And speaking of girlfriends, I could see Lauren moving through the hallway, pure perfection in a baby doll tee with the words
“Kiss me”
sewn on the front. She wasn’t the most humble person in the world, and she was so…
annoyingly perfect
. But she still didn’t deserve to be treated like this. She could do better than this asshole.
And so could I, for that matter.

“Listen Jordan, even if you break up with Lauren, I will
never
be interested in dating you,” I said, slamming my locker shut.

Jordan looked shocked, his lips tensing and eyes narrowing.

His initially confused expression turned to one of anger.

“I knew what everyone said about you was true! You are crazy, like your dead dad!” he said, stomping off to chase after Lauren.

It wasn’t the first time someone had used my past against me to hurt my feelings. But for some reason, this time it bounced right off.
I don’t know what I ever saw in that guy…

Good riddance, Jordan.

Chapter

Forty-Three

The Sociopath

Dear Ashleigh,

Once again, you pulled off a great performance. Amanda believed your story hook, line, and sinker. I owe you big time for this one…

We did it. We got away with murder and framed that bitch Sydney in the process. The only name they’ll find on the receipt to the hotel will be Sydney’s…

You should be released any day now, just in time for cheerleading tryouts…then you can claim your rightful position on the squad. Finally. I told you this day would come.

Go Dragons!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Chapter

Forty-Four

Amanda

3 weeks later…

As much as I hated to admit it, life at Harrow High had been quiet since Sydney’s arrest. Life was returning to normal, events from a few weeks ago nearly forgotten. School was business as usual—chemistry tests, pop quizzes, and plans underway for the annual homecoming dance…

But there was one thing that wasn’t normal…Dakota still wouldn’t talk to me. Not even once since that night in her car.

I missed my friend…and not just Dakota. I missed Sydney too. I stared at her empty seat in Brit Lit and thought about her at lunchtime.
What kind of food do they serve in juvenile detention?

Sydney was so picky and health conscious. I couldn’t imagine her liking anything they served besides lettuce or other vegetables…

Did she see Ashleigh often? Were they bunkmates? Arch enemies?

Best friends?

After three weeks of getting life back on track, Coach Davis finally made the announcement—cheerleading tryouts would be held today after school. We had one shot to impress her, and one shot only. Tomorrow morning she would announce the six girls who made it, and two girls who would serve as alternates.

We had already missed two pre-games, and Coach Davis—although wanting to give us adequate time to mourn Genevieve and recover from the shock that Sydney killed her—needed to make her choices and get us prepped to cheer for the upcoming games. Not to mention the competition in Dallas this June…

The day moved slowly, anticipation building for what Coach Davis had in store for us…

I made my way down to the gym, walking alone as usual. The last time I’d done this on the first day of tryouts, I’d found a dead body in the locker room.

Shuddering, I waited for other girls to enter the gym before I walked into the locker room to get changed. Lauren, Blakely, and Mariella were getting dressed, talking amongst themselves.

They got quiet when they saw me come in.

Frowning, I found a semi-private corner of the locker room and quickly changed into my tights and sports bra.

I wonder what that was all about…

I stuffed my feet in my tennis shoes and pushed my way through another gang of freshman girls. Standing on the other side of the door was Dakota. My eyes widening, I let out a cry of dismay.

Standing behind Dakota was Ashleigh Westerfield.

Chapter

Forty-Five

“Watch out! Ashleigh’s behind you!” I shouted to Dakota. Images of Ashleigh stabbing her in the back flashed before my eyes…

“I know. You’re the one who pointed the finger at Sydney, remember? Ashleigh’s innocent, according to the police. And she’s been back for days now. What rock have you been living under?” Dakota stared at me with a blank, tired expression.

Ashleigh obviously heard us talking, but she politely excused herself, slipping past us to go in the locker room. There were more hushed whispers about Ashleigh coming from the other girls in the gym.

“I guess when you don’t have any friends, it’s easy to miss out on current events.” Dakota tried to move past me too, but I moved over, blocking her path.

“Please, Dakota. I don’t want to fight with you. I’m really sorry. But all signs pointed to…”

I couldn’t even get Sydney’s name out.

“You’re a traitor, simple as that. Now move out of my way! I have to get ready for tryouts. And by the way, I
don’t
wish you luck!”

It was stupid and childish, but it hurt all the same.
How could she be so mad at me?

I remembered the first day of school, Sydney taking her side over mine…Dakota was the same way. They were close, and would always choose each other’s friendship over mine.

It hurt. But I had to move on and focus on tryouts.

I took a seat on the bench, waiting for the other girls to come sit beside me. Coach Davis came in, giving me a familiar wave, just as Lauren came plunging across the gym, showing off her double back hand spring and ending with a full.

So much for being humble…

I got off the bench and started stretching. Winter joined me, smiling and perky as ever. Brittani Barlow came over too, strangely wearing a thin knit turtleneck. To cover up her neck, I supposed…

Brittani looked around the gym wildly, still paranoid despite Sydney’s arrest.

Dakota came out of the locker room and took her spot on the floor—which was as far away from me as possible.

Maybe I don’t have many friends and maybe Dakota hates me…but I’m going to make the squad, one way or another
, I decided.
At this point, it’s all I had left to look forward to.