Free The Girl Death Left Behind by Lurlene McDaniel

course. But once it’s done, even if they find out, what’re they going to do about it? It’s your little secret.”
    My little secret
. Terri and her crowd wouldnever do such a thing. Sloane was looking at Beth expectantly, and she realized that her answer would seal a sort of pact between them. They were from different worlds. Beth had always done what was expected of her; Sloane defied everybody. She was prickly and rude and … and
scared
. Despite all her bravado, Sloane Alonso was a scared little girl on the inside. Just like Beth.
    “All right,” Beth said. “I’ll do it. But you’ve got to come with me.”
    Sloane’s grin was quick and wicked. “Let’s do it right now.”
    That night Sloane supervised Beth as she dabbed hydrogen peroxide on the pierced area. It hurt, but Beth felt immensely pleased every time she looked down and saw the small, glittery silver ring. All that evening she smiled with self-satisfaction, until Terri groused, “What are you so happy about?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Well, you look dopey.”
    Sloane whistled casually, exasperating Terri so much that she shoved away from the table and marched out of the room.
    “Now what’s got into her?” Camille asked.
    “Can’t imagine,” Beth said.
    On Saturday night when the others had gone to bed, Beth and Sloane watched a movie on the VCR. Close to midnight, they heard a car horn give three short beeps. “That sounded like it came from our driveway.” Beth went to the window.
    Sloane bolted to the front door and flung it open. “It’s Carl,” she called over her shoulder. She signaled to him.
    “What’s he doing here? I thought you said he was out of town.”
    “He’s back. I left a message on his friend’s answering machine telling him where I was. He’s here to get me.”
    “Now?” Beth couldn’t believe it. “You can’t leave now.”
    “Sure I can.”
    Carl approached the front door cautiously. “You ready?” he asked, giving Beth a nervous glance.
    “Let me throw my stuff in my duffel bag.” Sloane stood on tiptoes and kissed him.
    “Missed you, babe.”
    “Is that your new car?” Sloane peered around him to the driveway.
    “Nice, huh? It’s got a lot under the hood. I averaged eighty all the way from Fort Payne.”
    Beth fidgeted. She didn’t want her aunt and uncle to wake up, but how was she going to explain Sloane’s slipping away in the night?
    “Be right back.” Sloane scooted down the hall, and Beth found herself alone with Carl. He was a big guy with muscular arms and a day’s growth of beard.
    “Thanks for letting her crash with you this weekend,” he said.
    “Um—no problem. We had a good time.”
    “I wouldn’t have left if I’d known her old man was going to slap her around.”
    “I—I like her.”
    Carl grinned. “Yeah, she’s pretty all right, to my way of thinking.”
    “You know, Fort Payne isn’t too far from where I used to live in Chattanooga,” Beth said to make conversation. “My dad took us to a concert there once.”
    Sloane came down the hall dragging her gear. “All set.”
    “I—I wish you wouldn’t go,” Beth stammered.
    “Got to. Besides, I don’t think Terri will miss me too much. Tell your aunt and uncle thanks. I had a good time.”
    Carl picked up Sloane’s things, and Beth watched them hurry out to the car and drive off. She stood in the doorway staring down the empty street, feeling oddly bereft. Sloane’s departure left silence and, for Beth, a void. While the two of them might never be the closest of friends, they had developed a connection that was important for each of them. When they’d needed someone, they’d found one another.

16
 
    “I heard you had a guest for Thanksgiving.” Jared caught up with Beth in the hallway on Monday after their algebra test. “Everyone’s talking about it.”
    She hugged her books to her chest. “All I did was take Sloane to my aunt’s so she wouldn’t have to camp out at school. What’s to talk