Free Getting REVENGE on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook Page A

isn’t going to do anything but hurt you.”
    “You don’t think she deserves it?”
    “I can think of few people who would deserve it more than she does, but that’s not the point. The point is whether you should be the avenging angel. People like her usually get what they’ve got coming.”
    “What if they don’t?”
    “There is usually more going on in people’s lives than we know. Maybe her life isn’t as good as you think.”
    “She’s popular; she has friends and a boyfriend. She’s in the drama group and destined to star in the play. She’s captain of the cheerleading team. It’s not fair after what she did to me to get there.”
    “You want revenge? Be happy. Live your life. Make some friends, good friends. Push your talents. Make yourself even better.”
    “Fine.” I picked at the tape on the box and didn’t meet her eyes.
    “One of the benefits of being an old lady is you get some perspective. I’m not trying to rain on your parade. If I thought destroying her would make you happy, then I’d jump right in and help out, but it won’t.”
    “Okay,” I said. I didn’t say anything else, as I was pretty surethat if I tried, I would start crying. Instead I pulled the long strip of tape off the greasy box and breathed slowly through my mouth.
    “All right then. You get rid of that thing, and I’ll get the stuff together, and we’ll make ourselves some proper fish-free brownies. I think Casablanca is on TV tonight. Chocolate and Bogart, it doesn’t get better.”
    I walked out to the garage and dumped the box into the trash. It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate what my grandma was saying; it was just that I thought she was wrong. It could be better than chocolate and Bogart. I wasn’t giving up on the revenge plan. I was just getting started.

Chapter Fifteen
    Brenda’s hand kept wandering up to touch her hair as if she expected to find it gone. The salon had done a great job. They cut her hair about six inches shorter, so it hung just below her ears with layers all over. With the length gone, her hair had bounced right up into great curly waves—it was a pixie cut with moxie. They put in a semipermanent color just a shade or two warmer than her own natural brown along with what must have been industrial conditioner designed to tame hair that had survived a nuclear blast. I’d also convinced her that wearing lip gloss and mascara would not put her at risk for looking like a Cover Girl dumping ground.
    “Stop touching your hair,” I said as I paused to look at one of the window displays. Bailey hadn’t been kidding when she said this place was a fashion wasteland. It was one chain store after another.
    “It’s pretty short.”
    I turned to give her a look. “You cannot tell me that you don’t like it.”
    She reached up to touch it again, tucking a small piece behind her ear. The corners of her mouth pulled up slightly. Then I saw it across the hall.
    “That’s it, over there.” I dragged her by the arm behind me.
    “This is a guy store.”
    I pointed at the crisp, white shirt in the window. “One of those.”
    “What’s wrong with the white shirt I already own?”
    “Wrong style.” I wandered past her and into the store. I held the shirt out in front of her. “We’re going for an Audrey Hepburn–inspired look. You already own about six zillion capri pants, so that’s a start, and we’ll add a nice black skirt. You’ve got a great figure—why not use it? We’ll make some of your Eddie Bauer cardigan collection work until you can afford to replace them. You need a few men’s-style button-down shirts and ballet flats. That should give you enough to mix and match so you have stuff to wear. ”
    “I don’t know.” Brenda looked at the shirt doubtfully.
    “You’re supposed to trust me. Plus the shirt is half off,” I said, pointing at the hanger tag. “They are practically giving it away. The Hepburn look suits you. You have similar body types.”
    “I don’t