Twisted by Jo Gibson Page A

he wasn’t smiling. “What you’re saying is . . . well . . . it’s just impossible! I haven’t known Amy as long as you have, but I know she didn’t send those cards.”
    Kevin nodded. “That’s right. Amy would never do something like that. You’re accusing the wrong person.”
    â€œAnd you’re accusing her behind her back.” Colleen spoke up. “That’s not fair.”
    â€œI think the stress is getting to you, Gail.” Michele sighed deeply. “You might not realize it, but you’ve changed completely since this contest started. Now all you think about is being queen. It’s like you’ve turned into another person.”
    Jessica nodded. “You used to be our friend, and we want you back the way you were. This contest is making you crazy. Maybe you should think about taking your name out of the running.”
    Gail gave a mean little laugh. “Oh, sure. That’s what you’d like, isn’t it, Jessica? You’ve got the most votes after me. If I pulled out, you’d be queen!”
    There was an uneasy silence at the table. And then Brett stood up. “Come on, Gail. Get your coat. We’re going out for a walk.”
    â€œBut it’s snowing outside, and I’ll ruin my hair.” Gail turned to scowl at him. “That’s the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard! Do you have any idea how cold it is out there?”
    Brett nodded, and pulled her to her feet. “It’s twenty degrees above zero.”
    â€œBut that’s below freezing!” Gail shivered. “Give me one good reason why I should go for a walk with you!”
    â€œBecause you need it. It might help you chill out before you lose all your friends.”
    Â 
    Gail was fuming as she walked down the hall to her locker. School was over for the day, and the afternoon had been a disaster. Brett had been impossible when they’d gone on their walk. He’d talked about the value of friendship, and how she’d let this contest for queen go to her head. He’d lectured her the whole time they were outside, and Gail had been on the verge of telling him that she didn’t want to go to the dance with him after all, when the bell had rung and they’d been forced to come inside.
    Even though she’d been free during fifth period, Gail hadn’t helped to count the votes. There was no way she wanted to spend a whole hour with Colleen and Amy. She’d gone to the library instead, but that had been a mistake. Everyone there had wanted something from her.
    Gail had promised Jessica and Neal that she’d study with them, but she’d pleaded a headache. And when Kevin had come in, halfway through the period, to ask to borrow her history notes, she’d lied and told him she’d left them at home.
    Sixth period had been just as bad. She’d refused to help her Chemistry partner because she just hadn’t felt like being charitable to a bonehead who couldn’t remember the formulas for idiotically simple compounds like sodium chloride and hydrogen peroxide. And when the girl at the next table had asked if she knew how to figure out atomic weight, Gail had lied and said that she didn’t have a clue.
    Naturally, Gail had blown her part of the oral report in seventh-period English class. The other students on her panel had been depending on her to bring up their grades, but that was just tough. It was a dog-eat-dog world, and she didn’t see why she should knock herself out when she already had an A in the class. And after the final bell had rung, she’d sat at her desk for a full five minutes so she wouldn’t have to run into Brett in the hall, and risk another boring lecture.
    Gail stashed her books in her locker, and sighed. There was an emergency cheerleader practice after school today. Now that Tanya was dead, they had to work out some three-person cheers before the next game. But Gail just