Free My Name Is Evil by R.L. Stine Page A

afternoon.”
    She unzipped the coat and crossed the hall to her locker. “It’s just so weird,” she said. “How could she spin out of control like that? It’s crazy!”
    â€œI—I want to see her,” I stammered.
    Jackie had opened the locker. She was kneeling to pull some books from the bottom. But she turned and gazed up at me. “Not a good idea,” she said, frowning.
    I opened my mouth to say something, but the words caught in my throat.
    â€œShe blames you,” Jackie said, standing up. “She thinks you cast a spell on her or something. To make her spin out of control.”
    â€œBut that’s totally insane!” I screamed.
    A group of kids turned to stare at me.
    â€œOf course it is,” Jackie said. She sighed again. “But Jilly keeps talking about that fortune-teller at the carnival. She keeps saying the fortune-teller wasn’t joking. The fortune-teller told the truth. Jilly says what happened to her last night proves it.”
    â€œBut—but—” I sputtered.
    â€œThe doctors tried to explain to Jilly,” Jackie continued. “They tried to tell her she probably got carried away last night by the excitement of the dance tryout. She wanted to show everyone what a great dancer she is, and she just lost control.”
    â€œYes. That explains it,” I said in a whisper. My throat suddenly felt so tight and dry.
    â€œBut Jilly isn’t buying it,” Jackie said. “Jilly says she could feel a force—a really strong force—making her spin. She says she tried desperately to stop. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t stop no matter what she did! Something was forcing her to spin!”
    I grabbed Jackie’s shoulder. “You don’t believe that—do you?”
    Jackie shook her head. “I don’t know what to believe,” she muttered. She raised her eyes sadly to me. “I guess I should tell you. There’s more.”
    â€œHuh? More?” I realized I was holding my breath.
    â€œJudy isn’t in school,” she said softly. “She and Mom had to take Plumper to the animal hospital this morning.”
    â€œOh, no,” I whispered.
    â€œThe cat lost his fur. On his back. Where Judy says you petted him. And now he’s getting big red and purple sores all over his back.”
    â€œNo …” I repeated. I grabbed Jackie’s arm. “You don’t believe that’s my fault, too—do you? I mean, Judy doesn’t blame me for that. She can’t. She can’t!”
    Jackie started to reply. But the bell rang. It was right above our heads, and the jarring electronic buzz made me jump a mile.
    Jackie closed her locker and clicked the lock. “Gotta run,” she said. “I’m sorry about all this, Maggie. But—”
    â€œCan I come over after school?” I asked desperately. “You and I could study together. Or just talk. Or—”
    â€œNot a good idea right now,” she replied. “Maybe I should come to your house instead.”
    So after school Jackie and I walked to my house together.
    We talked about our classes. And our teachers. And a movie Jackie had seen. And about guys in our class.
    We talked about everything except Judy and Jilly. I think we both wanted to pretend that none of the bad, frightening stuff from the last week had happened.
    In the kitchen I grabbed a bag of pretzels, a couple of apples, and some cans of Sprite. And Jackie and I made our way up to my room.
    â€œI need to see your government notes,” I told her. “I know we’re supposed to write down everything Mr. McCally says. But I can’t listen to him. He puts me right to sleep.”
    â€œI think I have the notes with me,” Jackie said. “But—first things first.” Her eyes lit up as she crossed the room to my dresser and began going through my cosmetics collection. “You’re so lucky,