First Evil by R.L. Stine Page B

everyone!” Bobbi called out, ignoring Kimmy’s anger.
    Slowly the girls moved away from the wall and formed a line in front of Bobbi. Bobbi started up the tape player. They began their aerobic exercises, the same routine they had followed since school began.
    But they performed halfheartedly, grudgingly, without enthusiasm.
    â€œCome on—let’s work up a sweat!” Bobbi cried, working doubly hard, as if to make up for their feeble effort. But the girls ignored her. Debra and Ronnie, she saw, were carrying on a conversation while going through the motions.
    Bobbi glanced toward the wall. Jennifer gave her a thumbs-up, but it didn’t cheer her. The girls, she knew, were deliberately not cooperating.
    She stopped the music. “Let’s work on Steam Heat,” she suggested. “Ronnie, do you want to take the end this time?”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œDo you want to take the end? You can lead it.”
    â€œI don’t know.” Ronnie shrugged. “Whatever.” She turned back to her conversation with Debra.
    Without Corky, I don’t have anyone on my side,Bobbi realized, suddenly overcome by a powerful wave of depression. Only Jennifer, I guess. But even she doesn’t want to speak up for me in front of the girls—not after what happened to Kimmy.
    â€œOkay, line up for Steam Heat,” Bobbi called out, struggling to keep up a show of enthusiasm.
    â€œI think we should wait for Miss Green,” Kimmy said defiantly.
    â€œYeah. Let’s wait,” Debra added quickly.
    â€œNo reason to wait,” Bobbi said unsteadily. She glanced up at the scoreboard clock. Three forty-five. “We know what we have to work on, don’t we?”
    â€œI still think we should wait,” Kimmy said, a definite challenge to Bobbi’s authority.
    â€œYeah. Wait,” Debra muttered nastily. Heather and Megan nodded in sullen agreement.
    It’s a mutiny, Bobbi realized, suddenly dizzy.
    â€œLine up!” she insisted, glancing at Jennifer, whose smile had faded. She was watching the proceedings with a look of concern. “Kimmy, if you have something to say to me—” Bobbi started.
    â€œI think Miss Green has something to say to you,” Kimmy replied smugly. Beside her, Ronnie snickered out loud.
    The double doors swung open, and Miss Green entered, taking long, rapid strides, carrying a bulging briefcase. “Sorry I’m late,” she called out, heading to her office in the corner.
    Seeing them on the floor, Bobbi by herself in front of the sullen-looking group, Miss Green stopped. “You’ve started?”
    â€œNot exactly,” Kimmy told her, shooting Bobbi a meaningful glance.
    â€œNo one seems to be in the mood to work today,” Bobbi reported reluctantly.
    Miss Green shifted the heavy briefcase to her other hand. “Bobbi—could I see you in my office for a minute?”
    â€œYeah, sure,” Bobbi replied, dread building in the pit of her stomach, her throat tightening.
    â€œEveryone—let’s cancel practice for today, okay?” Miss Green said, her eyes on Kimmy.
    Uh-oh, Bobbi thought. She could feel the blood pulsing at her temples.
    â€œWe’ll regroup tomorrow afternoon,” Miss Green said.
    Talking quietly among themselves, the cheerleaders obediently moved off the floor and began to collect their belongings. Bobbi realized that all of them were avoiding looking at her. She caught a smug grin on Kimmy’s face, but Kimmy quickly turned her head and walked away with Debra and Ronnie.
    They all know what Miss Green is going to say to me, Bobbi realized.
    And I know too.
    As the gym quickly emptied out, Bobbi followed Miss Green to her office, her heart pounding, her legs suddenly feeling as if they weighed a thousand pounds.
    Miss Green dropped the briefcase onto her desk. She sifted through a few pink phone-message sheets, then looked up at Bobbi. “Health forms,” she