Free Holly's Heart Collection One by Beverly Lewis

innocent.
    “You’re ruining my life.”
    “What’s happened to you? You’ve changed so much. Honestly, I thought you’d be happy for me…for us.” She was pouring it on like honey, though her words were anything but sweet.
    “You want me to congratulate you for stealing away Jared’s affections?” I yanked at my shoestrings.
    “But you weren’t really—”
    “This is truly the end of our friendship,” I said, kicking my tennis shoes down the hall.
    “You’ll change your mind if you want to be on choir tour.”
    “Meaning what?”
    “The director told us—Jared and me—about the theme for the tour. It’s unity. ‘Our hearts in one accord,’ Mr. Keller said. You know—getting along. Which doesn’t allow for fighting over boys or anything else.”
    I’d had it with her preaching. “If you don’t make it into the choir, getting along will be the easiest thing in the world,” I said, a bit surprised at how sarcastic my words sounded. And how easy it was to say them.
    “I’m in —the choir, that is,” she announced with way too much pride.
    “How do you know? Auditions aren’t till Tuesday.”
    “Mr. Keller wants me no matter what. If there are too many sopranos, he’ll use me as an accompanist at the piano.” Downright haughty, that’s how she sounded. “Uh, excuse me, Holly. Jared’s calling. They’re bringing a tray up from the cafeteria for me. I’ve got a dinner date with You-Know-Who. Bye.”
    Andie’s words stung. Hanging up the phone, I stumbled back to my room. I fell into bed and stared at the underside of my canopy, feeling terribly cheated. My best friend had trespassed—on my heart .

BEST FRIEND, WORST ENEMY
    Chapter 10
    I don’t know how long I stared at the canopy, but soon I had the urge to grab Bearie-O and throw him across the room. I didn’t need him reminding me of Andie. Not anymore. So I tossed him off my bed.
    Mom called me downstairs to play caroms with her and Carrie. I played even though I didn’t feel like it. “Please, will you take me to see Jared?” I begged Mom when Carrie’s turn came around.
    Then, when it was Mom’s turn, she placed the white shooter on the board, aimed, and shot. “I don’t know the family very well,” she said.
    “Why couldn’t you get to know Mrs. Wilkins?” I pleaded as two of my green caroms slid into a side pocket. “Please, Mom?”
    It took three more turns and saying “please” at least five more times before Mom even considered taking me. Finally, after I talked about how the Wilkins family attended our church and Jared was in the youth group, she agreed to drive to the hospital on the way to evening church.
    “We’ll stop there briefly,” Mom said.
    Briefly, momentarily…whatever. I was beyond thrilled.

    Dressel Hills Hospital was small but well decorated. Cozy couches and chairs were scattered around the waiting area. Potted palms and spider plants gave it a comfortable feeling. Oil paintings of local spots—mountains, waterfalls, and meadows—were spotlighted on the wall.
    Mom asked for Jared’s room number at the receptionist’s desk. As we walked down a long, narrow hall, I became more nervous with every step. What would I say to Jared? Would Andie still be hanging around?
    We rounded a corner, and I spotted Mrs. Wilkins chatting with Andie’s mother in the waiting area near room 204—Jared’s. So Andie was here. Mom shot me a glance. I nodded and pointed back at her. I wanted her to make the necessary introductions.
    Somehow, I don’t know how, I managed to smile and shake hands with Mrs. Wilkins, a small woman with blue eyes and a smile just like Jared’s. “Why don’t you go on in and see Jared?” she said. “Andie’s with him.”
    “Are you sure it’s all right?” I asked.
    “Well, to tell the truth, he might already be sleeping,” Mrs. Wilkins said. “He just had some medication for pain.”
    Jared in pain? My heart jumped. I wandered over to his room.
    Pausing at the