Free Pretty Please (Nightmare Hall) by Diane Hoh Page B

own flawless good looks, their self-confidence, their ability to wear clothes as if the designer had had them in mind all along.
    Perfect teeth, Jo found herself thinking…my friends all have perfect teeth. Look at all that shiny white enamel. Incredible!
    And it occurred to her then that she’d been thinking far too much about looks lately. I never did that before, she thought, a little bit stunned. What’s wrong with me?
    “What’s the matter with you?” Evan asked suddenly, yanking Jo out of herself.
    For a second, she thought she’d spoken aloud. And quickly realized he wasn’t referring to her sudden preoccupation with looks. He was talking about how quiet she’d been since they’d come from town.
    “Sorry. I guess I’m still a little off-balance from last night.”
    “Yeah. Well, I heard Tina’s going to be okay.” Evan smiled. “That should make you feel better.”
    Jo nodded. “It does. I’m going to call her later.”
    “You are?” They got up then and left the diner. “What for?” Evan asked as he opened the door. “I didn’t know you knew her that well.”
    Jo slipped red leather gloves on her hands. “I know her well enough to want to find out if she was pushed down those stairs. I thought you’d want me to find out.”
    They had decided to walk back to school. It wasn’t that far, and it would give them some time alone. “I do,” Evan answered as they crossed the highway. “But she’s only been in the hospital since last night. I figured you’d wait a while, that’s all.”
    “No time like the present,” Jo quipped lightly. “But first, I have to stop off at the infirmary and talk to Dr. Trent. My stitches are driving me nuts.”
    “You’re not going to have her take them out already, are you?” Evan sounded alarmed.
    “No. But maybe she can give me something to stop the itching.”
    “Want some company?”
    Jo shook her head. She hated the way she was feeling, wondering about Evan and the beauty supply shop, but she couldn’t help it. She didn’t really know him all that well, did she? He hadn’t seemed put off by her damaged face, but maybe that was just an act. Someone who liked only new and perfect houses might like only new and perfect faces, as well.
    Until she was sure of Evan, maybe she shouldn’t spend a lot of time alone with him.
    Telling him she’d see him later, she hurried off toward the infirmary. She glanced over her shoulder only once.
    He was still standing there, watching her go. She thought he looked puzzled.
    No wonder. Last night, they’d been getting along so well. And now, here she was, the very next day, acting like she’d rather have someone poking at her stitches than spend time with Evan. He must be very confused.
    Join the club, Jo thought, and yanked the infirmary door open.
    When Dr. Trent had checked the stitches, announced that they were a “little inflamed” and given Jo a small tube of ointment, Jo slid off the examination table and said casually, “Dr. Trent, did you know that girl who disappeared? Sharon Westover? The freshman the police have been asking about?”
    Dr. Trent nodded. “Yes, I knew her. She had a lot of problems after she came back to campus following her accident. The incisions on her face weren’t healing properly. I saw quite a bit of her. She was horribly depressed. Can’t say that I blame her. She’d been a very pretty girl.”
    “Couldn’t she have plastic surgery?”
    “Oh, of course. But there’s only so much they can do, Jo. Her face was badly crushed. Most of her facial bones were shattered. And the major reconstructive work couldn’t be done right away. She wasn’t handling the wait very well.”
    Saddened, Jo fell silent.
    “I’m not surprised that she left campus,” the doctor continued as she returned supplies to a cabinet over the sink. “It was hard for her. She was homecoming queen at her high school, I understand. The change in her appearance was probably impossible for her to