Free Prank List by Anna Staniszewski

me be in the Bake-Off.”
    â€œWhat about Whit?” Evan asks. “Will he be in it?”
    â€œProbably, at least if you listen to him. He thinks he’s the best pastry chef in the world and that he’ll win the Bake-Off with his eyes closed. Isn’t that obnoxious?”
    I expect Evan to agree with me, but he’s frowning at the TV, which is weird since there’s still a commercial on. Then again, I guess I have been whining about my class a lot.
    â€œSorry to complain so much,” I add. “It’s just that the class isn’t what I thought it was going to be.”
    Evan nods. “I understand. It’s okay.” But his voice sounds strange.
    I wish I could ask him what’s wrong, but I’m afraid what his answer might be. Even though he’s sitting here with his arm around me, he might be starting to wonder if he’s made a huge mistake. Maybe that’s why he hasn’t asked me to be his girlfriend yet.
    When the show is almost over, Briana marches through the living room on her way to the kitchen. She shoots us a disgusted look.
    â€œGet a room,” she mutters. As she walks away, her phone beeps. She glances down at it and then puts it in her pocket. A minute later, it beeps again. Briana ignores it as she digs around in the fridge.
    Almost immediately, I hear her phone start to ring.
    Evan shakes his head in amusement. “Angela’s been stalking her all day,” he says.
    â€œAngela Bareli?” I ask stupidly, as if it could be anyone else.
    â€œYeah, I think Briana’s getting pretty sick of her, but Angela can’t take the hint. She keeps calling and texting and—”
    Ding dong!
    â€œAnd coming over,” he finishes as the doorbell echoes through the house.
    I turn to Evan, my mouth open. “Do you think that’s her?”
    He nods. “She’s always ‘in the neighborhood’ whenever my sister doesn’t answer her calls.”
    â€œCreepy,” I say as the doorbell rings again.
    â€œBriana!” Evan calls into the kitchen. “Are you going to let your stalker in?”
    Briana rushes back through the living room. “Tell her I’m not here,” she says before darting up the stairs.
    Evan chuckles and waves for me to follow him. Whatever weirdness was between us seems to be gone. I guess I have Angela to thank for that.
    When Evan opens the door, sure enough, Angela Bareli is standing on the stoop grinning back at us.
    â€œHi, Evan!” she chirps. Then her eyes go over to me and her smile dims a little. “Hi, Rachel.” I have to give her credit for at least pretending not to hate me. “Is Briana home?”
    â€œUm, no,” says Evan. “She’s out. I can tell her you stopped by.”
    â€œCould I wait here until she gets home?” she says.
    Evan blinks, clearly surprised by the request. “Um, I don’t think that’s a good idea. She’ll probably be gone a while.”
    Angela’s face falls. “Oh. Okay. Well, I’ll try back later.” She smiles her totally fake smile and hurries away.
    As we watch her prance down the street, Evan turns to me. “You don’t think she’s going to lock my sister in a basement and try to take over her identity, do you?” he says.
    â€œHmm, just in case, you might want to tell Briana not to go anywhere by herself.” I sigh as my mom’s car pulls into the driveway. “Time to go.”
    Evan reaches out and takes my hand in his. Then he squeezes my fingers and waves as I walk away.
    My hand doesn’t stop tingling for what feels like hours.

Chapter 17
    On Monday morning, Marisol and I watch as Angela hops into Mrs. Riley’s car all decked out for the beach. She can barely fit in the backseat, thanks to a sun hat that’s easily the size of a satellite dish.
    My body is pumping with nervous energy when the Ladybugs pull into the Barelis’ driveway