Free The Best Friend by R.L. Stine

trying to escape from she didn’t know what.
    The dreams collided with other dreams.
    She and Lilah were riding the same bike. Then Honey was running alongside.
    Then all three of them were on the bike and the bike toppled over.
    Such strange dreams, disturbing dreams.
    One right after the other.
    The phone rang at three-fifteen.
    It took three rings for Becka to realize what the sound was.
    â€œHello?” Her voice was choked. She coughed hard to clear her throat.
    â€œOh. You’re home,” a familiar voice said on the other end.
    â€œTrish?”
    â€œI didn’t think you’d be home,” Trish said.
    â€œHuh? Why not?”
    â€œWell, I thought maybe you were in the hospital, Becka. I’ve been so worried. I couldn’t wait to get home to call you.”
    The room was spinning around Becka. Gripping the phone tightly, she closed her eyes and sank back onto the pillow.
    â€œTrish, why on earth would I be in the hospital?” “Well,” Trish hesitated on the other end of the line. “Honey told everyone about your breakdown.”

chapter

13
    B ecka’s throat tightened.
    She suddenly felt cold all over. Chilled.
    â€œTrish, what did you say?” she asked in a quivering voice.
    â€œWell, when you weren’t in homeroom this morning, I asked Honey where you were. And she said she had really bad news. She said you’d had a breakdown.”
    â€œHuh? She did?”
    â€œYeah, she said it was because of Lilah’s accident.”
    Becka tried to talk, but the words wouldn’t come out. She suddenly realized she was gripping the phone receiver so tightly her hand was aching.
    â€œHoney said you totally freaked out,” Trish continued. “She was telling everyone. I was sure you were in a hospital or something. I was so worried, Becka.”
    â€œI don’t believe it!” Becka managed to cry in a high-pitched voice. “I don’t believe it!”
    â€œSo, you didn’t have a breakdown?” Trish asked timidly.
    â€œTrish, I have a virus,” Becka told her. “A stupid virus. That’s all.”
    â€œWhew.” Trish exhaled noisily.
    â€œWhy would Honey do that?” Becka cried. “Why?”
    â€œBeats me,” Trish replied. “She must have gotten mixed up, I guess. I’m just so glad. I mean, I’m not glad you have a virus. I’m just glad you’re not—”
    â€œIs she crazy?” Becka interrupted. “Is she some kind of compulsive liar, or something?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Trish said. “I don’t know what to say. Honey is strange. That’s for sure. Listen, Becka, I have good news about my party.”
    â€œParty?” Becka’s head was spinning. Her thoughts were all jumbled, falling one on top of the other the way her fever dreams had.
    â€œYou know. My Christmas party.”
    â€œOh, right.”
    â€œI’m sure you’ll be feeling okay by then,” Trish continued. “The good news is my parents agreed to go out. So we won’t have anyone in our faces, watching our every move.”
    â€œThat’s great,” Becka replied weakly, trying to concentrate.
    â€œThat means my parents won’t know that Bill is at the party,” Trish continued. “They won’t be able to tell your parents. So you’re safe. No problem!”
    â€œGreat,” Becka muttered.
    â€œGee, you sound terrible,” Trish said sympathetically. “Can I bring you anything? Chicken soup. A hot fudge sundae ...”
    Becka groaned in reply.
    â€œI talked to Lilah. Last night,” Trish said. “Shesounded pretty good, considering what she’s been through.”
    â€œYeah. I visited her yesterday,” Becka said. “She’s doing really well. She’s desperate to get out of the hospital now.”
    â€œPoor thing,” Trish replied, tsk-tsking. “It’s going to be a really long