Free The Best Friend by R.L. Stine Page B

you had a breakdown. Trish is a liar, Becka. You’ve got to believe me.”
    Becka’s head felt as heavy as a bowling ball. She dropped back onto the pillow and shut her eyes. “Honey, I’m sick. I really have to sleep. Please—”
    â€œJust say you believe me,” Honey insisted.
    Becka took a deep breath. “Okay. I believe you.”
    Anything to get her off the phone.
    â€œOh, thanks,” Honey cried gratefully. “Thanks, Becka. I knew you wouldn’t believe such a dumb story. It’s just that we had such a bad visit this afternoon. I mean, I could tell you didn’t like my haircut, and—”
    â€œI didn’t say I didn’t like it,” Becka groaned. “I—it was just a shock, that’s all. I didn’t expect—”
    â€œYou mean you really do like it?” Honey asked.
    â€œYes, you look great,” Becka told her.
    â€œBut do you like it?” Honey pleaded.
    â€œYes. It’s wonderful,” Becka lied. “Listen, Honey, I really feel lousy. I’ve got to get back to sleep, okay?”
    â€œOkay. I feel much better about everything. I won’t call again, Becka, but I’m here if you need me, all right? I’ll call tomorrow morning. I hope you’ll be well enough to go to school. It’s the last day, you know.”
    â€œI know,” Becka said. “Good night.” She replaced the receiver without waiting for a reply.
    Honey is driving me crazy! Becka thought.
    Crazy!
    She pulled the pillow over her and pressed it down over her chest.
    What am I going to do about her?
    She gripped the pillow tightly, holding on as if her life depended on it.
    What am I going to do?
    Honey had upset her so much, it took Becka nearly two hours to fall back to sleep.
    Becka undid the combination lock and pulled open her locker door. She reached up to get a looseleaf binder from the shelf.
    â€œOw.” Her head throbbed when she looked up.
    She still felt weak. She probably should have stayed in bed one more day. But she didn’t want to miss the last day of school before Christmas break.
    â€œOh! Becka, you’re here!”
    Hearing a cry of surprise behind her, Becka turnedaround. “Oh, hi, Cari,” she said, balancing her backpack on one raised knee and struggling to stuff the binder into it.
    It was her friend Cari Taylor, a petite, pretty girl with bright blue eyes and straight blond hair tied to one side in a short ponytail. Cari had the locker next to Becka’s.
    â€œI—I didn’t think you’d be here,” Cari said awkwardly, studying Becka intently. “I mean, I heard ...”
    â€œI had a virus or something,” Becka said, frowning. Her math textbook slipped out and fell to the floor. “I’m a little better today.”
    Cari blushed. “I’m glad,” she said. “I mean, I’m not glad you were sick. I—I just heard you were really sick.”
    â€œWho said that?” Becka snapped, bending to retrieve the math text. Her head throbbed painfully again as she reached down for it.
    Cari shrugged. “Some kids said you’d had a breakdown,” she said, lowering her voice to a whisper.
    Becka shook her head. “No, I’m okay. Really.”
    â€œA stupid rumor, I guess,” Cari said, obviously embarrassed. “Who knows how these things get started?”
    â€œI know,” Becka muttered bitterly.
    She zipped up her backpack. The first bell rang. Locker doors slammed all down the long hallway. Combination locks clicked. Kids made their way, talking and laughing, to their homerooms.
    Becka snapped her lock and began walking down the hall with Cari.
    Honey is a total liar, Becka realized, feeling heranger grow. Honey did tell everyone I had a breakdown.
    She saw a cluster of kids waiting for the library to open. Their faces filled with surprise when they saw Becka pass by.
    They must have heard the rumor