Free Spiral by Jacqueline Levine Page A

screwed up of all three. Chloe says he has to keep the outside looking perfect because the inside is so effed up. He would never sit and just talk like we are now. He’s always locked up in his room like a hermit, and God help you if you invade his space.”
    Cherie seems to laugh at this. “That’s just ‘cause he’s closed off.”
    “Closed off?” I’m glad Claudia’s asking because I don’t know what that means, either. I strain my ear muscles and try not to breathe to hear what she says.
    “He probably has a hard time with trust, and that’s why he doesn’t open up to anyone,” she says. “I’ll bet if you try to talk to him about his dad – ”
    “Oh, no, don’t do that,” Claudia says quickly.
Good girl
, I think, feeling the steam rising into my ears again.
    “What? Why not?”
    Claudia’s voice goes real low again, and this time it’s harder to make out what she’s saying. “He does not…his... That’s one…things our Dad…promise not to do…got a serious temper…in school… therapist …he runs…” There’s a long pause.
    “Really?” Cherie whispers, sounding shocked.
    “Yes,” Claudia hisses. “He doesn’t talk about it. Like I said, textbook example.”
    Cherie seems unconvinced. “I don’t know; I bet I could get him to open up.”
    Nope. No way.
    Claudia scoffs. “Your funeral.” They’re quiet for a moment as she realizes her poor choice of words.
What a dummy.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”
    Cherie lowers her voice. “It’s okay.” But she drops the conversation and clams up completely. I lay as still as I can, listening as they sit in deafening silence. There is some pounding on the steps and someone swishes by. Based on the heavy cupcake-smelling perfume that follows, I am positive it’s Chloe.
    “Hey,” she says as she enters the kitchen.
    “Hi,” Claudia replies. Cherie says nothing.
    “What time are people going to start coming over for Shiva?” Chloe asks. I hear the refrigerator door open behind me.
    Claudia sighs and continues to be insensitive. “Six. It’s always six.”
    “Right.” She pulls out a chair and sits down. “What’re you guys up to?”
    “Nothing. I was just telling her about…” I don’t hear her say my name, but I can only imagine she’s pointing in my direction when Chloe groans, “Oh.”
    Finally, Cherie excuses herself from the table, murmuring, “I’m gonna go lay down,” and she retreats downstairs.
    Chloe whispers, “What’s her problem?”
    “Who knows?” Then Claudia snickers, “I think she likes him.”
    “Ugh, serious?”
    Wait – what?!
    “Yeah,” her twin laughs. “She was saying how he’s such a nice guy and all. Idiot.”
    Chloe dismisses her. “Grief makes you say lots of crazy things, trust me. Plus there’s not much else to look at in this town.”
    I don’t have a chance to be offended; their words echo in my mind and almost make me start to believe them.
Cherie likes me? Is that really possible?
    Claudia “Mmm-hmm”s her. “You see the article on Dirterazzi.com ?”
    Chloe is the one to “Mmm-hmm” this time.
    “Do you think it’s true?”
    Chloe guffaws. “No, but it would be hilarious if it was. That’s a train wreck waiting to happen.”
    What is
? I’m irritated they’re speaking in code. Even more, they’re openly defying my mom’s orders of not going on gossip sites.
    Claudia snickers then sighs again. “We’d better wake them up and clean the living room before Eva gets home. You know how she gets when people are coming over.”
    “Yep, nothing can be out of place,” Chloe chortles.
    “I’ll get Britney,” Claudia mutters. Suddenly, she pushes her chair backward on the floor noisily and approaches the couch. I can feel her bear down on the top cushions as she leans over the side.
    “Britney, wake up,” Claudia sings softly, and I feel my sister’s weight lift off of my chest. “We have to get you ready, sunshine.”
    I hear Britney whimper and