Free Thea at Sixteen by Susan Beth Pfeffer Page A

Claire was silent. She filed out of the room with Thea and Sybil. They climbed the stairs slowly, trying to hear any conversation between Nicky and Megs. If there was any, it was whispered.
    â€œI’ve never seen her that mad,” Thea said, walking into Claire and Sybil’s room with them. It no longer mattered that she was angry with them. This was no time to be alone.
    â€œI thought she was going to start crying,” Sybil said. She looked like she might cry as well. “I never meant to make her that mad.”
    â€œIt wasn’t just you,” Thea said. “It was all of us. Except maybe me.”
    â€œSure,” Claire said. “Little Miss Perfect would never do anything to upset Big Miss Perfect.”
    â€œYou make me sick,” Thea said. “And you do, too, Sybil.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Sybil said. “I’ll go with you if you still want me to.”
    â€œCongratulations,” Claire said. “You finally bullied Sybil into doing what you want her to.”
    â€œI’m glad,” Thea said. “If it took bullying, fine. She’s going to make a very sweet girl feel a little bit happier. It’s about time Sybil agreed. If she’d agreed when I first asked her, none of this would have happened.”
    â€œIf she’d agreed, when you first asked her, we’d still be scrubbing the dining room walls,” Claire said. “I’d rather be here. Thanks, Syb.”
    â€œYou’re welcome, I guess,” Sybil said. “Is it scary in the hospital, Thea? Are there a lot of dead people all over?”
    â€œI haven’t seen a dead one yet,” Thea told her. “It’s just a few sick kids in a big room. It’s kind of like that room we had in Harrison, only nicer. And some of the kids are bald. That’s all.”
    â€œIs Gina bald?” Sybil asked.
    Thea shook her head.
    â€œThe hell with Gina,” Claire said. “Is Kip bald?”
    Sybil laughed. Thea was torn between laughing and throttling Claire. Laughing won out.
    â€œWhat do you think they’re doing down there?” Sybil asked.
    Claire checked the clock. “By now?” she said. “By now, they’re probably showing the dining room some sex,” she said.
    â€œClaire!” Thea said.
    â€œWanna bet?” Claire asked.
    â€œAbsolutely not,” Thea said.
    â€œI’d rather they were having sex there than fighting,” Sybil said. “Wouldn’t you, Thea?”
    â€œThea doesn’t like to think about sex,” Claire said. “All she likes is love.”
    â€œLove’s what’s important,” Thea said.
    â€œYeah, but sex is what’s fun,” Claire replied.
    â€œI don’t care about either one of them,” Sybil declared. “Just as long as I never end up dying in a hospital.”
    â€œYou won’t,” Thea promised her. “Not as long as I’m around to protect you.”

C HAPTER S IX
    â€œI think I’ve changed my mind,” Sybil muttered as they stood outside the hospital door. “Do I have to go in?”
    â€œYou promised,” Thea declared. “It really isn’t so bad in there, Sybil. You won’t mind once you get used to the place.”
    â€œWhy can’t you and Claire go without me?” Sybil asked. “Hospitals are scary. They’re full of sick people and dead bodies.”
    â€œYou’ll be a dead body if you don’t move it,” Claire said. “Come on, Sybil. The sooner we get in there, the sooner we can leave.”
    â€œYou’re going to owe me one,” Sybil declared. “A big one, Thea.”
    â€œAnd I’ll pay you back, I promise,” Thea replied. “Come on. Gina’s going to be so thrilled.”
    â€œAnd I’m going to be so sick,” Sybil said, but she followed Thea through the corridors. Her complexion, Thea noticed, had turned pale green, but she needed