Free Step It Up by Sheryl Berk Page B

motioned toward her backpack. “If you must …”
    It took Bria another twenty minutes, but the sticks finally sparked and the pages burst intoflames. As the sun set, they gathered around a roaring fire. It was warm and cozy.
    â€œI wish I had some s’mores to roast,” Anya said.
    â€œDon’t look at me,” Liberty said, propping her knee up on her lamb Pillow Pet. “I gave you all the chocolate I had.”
    Scarlett dug in the bottom of her bag. “I still have a banana. Anyone got something that would go well with it?”
    Gracie held up a ketchup packet that had been crammed in her jacket pocket. “How ’bout this?”
    â€œThat would be great with my potato chips,” Bria suggested. “Chips and dip!”
    â€œI have a little trail mix left,” Rochelle said. “How ’bout we sprinkle some nuts and granola on your banana?”
    It wasn’t exactly a gourmet dinner, but it was a fun feast that they had created together.
    â€œWho wants to tell scary stories?” Rochelle asked.
    â€œNot me,” Gracie said, hugging her stuffed pig. “I hate scary stories.”
    â€œOh, good … Then I’ll go first!” Liberty smirked. “Once upon a time, there was a fabulous and very fashionable ballerina …”
    Rochelle rolled her eyes. “Seriously? I said a scary story. Not your
E! True Hollywood Story
.”
    â€œI’m getting there,” Liberty protested. She cleared her throat. “As I was saying: Once upon a time, there was a fabulous and very fashionable ballerina. But she led a tragic life. Her evil, rotten, wicked-witch dance teacher put her high up in a tower where no one could see her loveliness.”
    â€œThat’s Rapunzel,” Gracie said. “I saw that movie like a million times.”
    Liberty placed her hand over Gracie’s mouth. “Let me finish! Anyway, this beautiful ballerina spent all her days and nights captive in the tower, until one day, she heard a strange noise below her window.”
    â€œWas it the evil wicked witch?” Gracie asked.
    â€œWorse!” Liberty replied. “It was the Creature from the Rock Lagoon and it burped fire and smelled like moldy cheese …”
    â€œWatch it,” Rochelle warned her. “Unless you want me to fix your other knee …”
    Liberty kept right on going, unfazed. “This monster was hideous. It had snakes for hair and yellow eyes that gleamed in the darkness. And when she found out the beautiful ballerina was trapped inside, she offered her a deal: trade me your beauty and I will set you free.”
    Bria mulled over the story. “Let me get this straight: the ballerina has to become the hideous Rock Monster to escape? Oh, that’s good …”
    Rochelle pulled her hood over her ears. “I am not listening to this. It’s ridiculous.”
    â€œThe Rock Monster promised the change in appearance would not be permanent. She would return the ballerina to her original gorgeousness if she would do one tiny little thing for her.”
    â€œWhat? What?” Gracie asked anxiously.
    â€œSlay the wicked witch!”
    Anya raised her hand. “Okay, let me get this straight. The ballerina has to give up her beautyand take down the wicked witch? What’s in it for her?”
    â€œFreedom!” Liberty replied. “She never has to listen to that witch nag her ever again.”
    â€œOf course there’s a catch,” Scarlett guessed. “Like it’s impossible to kill the witch? Or you need some crazy spell and eye of newt to do it?”
    â€œNope,” Liberty replied. “All the ballerina has to do is click her toe shoes together three times and say, ‘There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.’ ”
    Gracie scratched her head. “That’s
The Wizard of Oz
. This story is really mixed up.”
    â€œYou mean Liberty is really