Hunted by T.M. Bledsoe Page B

sidewalk, she pointed herself toward The Craft Emporium, hoping the Spirit Squad had found everything they needed.  It seemed to take those girls forever to do the slightest thing and her pet peeve was waiting!  She hated it!  When she wanted to go, she wanted to go!
    Moving along past the shops, Lanie again found herself beset by that feeling of eyes boring into her.  But, this time, she refused to give into it.  There was no one watching her, so she would not acknowledge that urge to look around for someone who was not there!  It was silly!
    Lanie hustled back along the tidy brick sidewalks, past all the colorfully painted storefronts and iron lamp posts hung with baskets of brightly hued fall flowers, and made it back to The Craft Emporium just as the Spirit Squaders came spilling out the door, their arms laden with their bounty. 
    Seeing her, Devyn waved her over to the group.  “Lanie, I just heard from Finn,” Devyn began in a slightly somber tone, “and the parents think it’ll be a good idea if we have a candle light vigil for Stacy.  That way, nearly everyone in town will be able to come if they want to.”
    A candle light vigil?  That actually sounded like a nice idea.  “What do you need me to do?”
    “Nothing.  We can handle it,” Heather Langley said icily.
    Johnna shot the girl a nasty look.  “Actually, Lanie, we’re going to need some pictures of Stacy.  And since you know her family…”
    “Johnna, no!” Devyn gasped in horror.  “Lanie doesn’t really need to do that!  One of us can go to her house!”
    Lanie took a long sip of coffee, needing that jolt of high octane bliss.  “It’s no problem.  I’ll go and ask her mom for some pictures,” she said easily.
    Devyn’s eyes looked stricken.  “Lanie, I don’t want you to do that!  It’s too much for you.  I mean, you…you haven’t even dealt with your grief yet.  Looking at pictures of her might be too hard.  Oy !  You’ll be all ferklempt !”
    “I’ll be fine,” she said to her friend.  She might be a little shaken up having to look at pictures of Stacy, but she’d deal with it.  She was not that fragile and breakable.
    “Can we get going?  We still have a lot of stuff to do before tonight and we’re wasting time standing here listening to people talking gibberish,” Angie Barker said, sounding bored.
    “I’ll go to Stacy’s house,” Lanie said, heading for her Bug in an effort to spare Angie Barker a fat lip.  “Where should I meet you?”
    “We’ll be working at Heather’s house,” Devyn stated.   
    “I’ll go with Lanie and we’ll meet you guys over there,” Johnna stated, following Lanie to the car.
    Lanie climbed in and started her Bug, threw it into reverse, and wheeled out of the parking space, wanting to put a bit of distance between herself and the Spirit Squad, who were continuing to shoot her death glares.
    “Well, that wasn’t awkward or anything,” Johnna said with a sigh, settling into her seat.  “I can’t believe they still hate you so much.  It’s ridiculous.”
    Lanie could not agree more.  But, girls were dumb, for the most part anyway.
    “Just because you’re pretty and some of their boyfriends have asked you out!” Johnna spat.  “You’ve never said yes!  I don’t understand what their problem is!”
    “Eh.  They’re girls,” was Lanie reply.
    What did she care if the Spirit Squad hadn’t warmed up to her in the past four years?  She had better things to worry about.
    “Are you sure you want to help with the memorial?” Johnna asked her as they navigated through the quiet streets and toward the West end of town, where Stacy lived.
    “I should help.  She was my friend,” Lanie answered.
    Johnna was quiet for a moment.  “It’s going to hurt, Lanie.  When it finally hits you, it’s going to hurt.  Do you want it to happen in front of Heather Langley ?”
    “I know she’s gone, Johnna,” Lanie told the girl, trying not to sound