model-like, with her flowing chestnut hair. Her face, skin as porcelain as a fine China doll's, shows happiness, poise, and grace. Class is obviously her "old" thing.
I walk over to one framed photo in particular: it's of the woman I saw in my mind. I pick it up in my hand, and memories—someone else's—rush through me. There's an older lady dressed in her Sunday best standing next to Becca, who's around age thirteen and wearing her Peanut Festival Queen crown. The woman's smile is so bright that her eyes are crinkled shut. Becca has never looked happier.
I have no words to amply describe the sorrow I feel near me. Misery fills my chest in an anvil of pain, heavy and burdensome. Doubts swirl overhead, and I don't know where they're stemming from. A baton lies abandoned in the corner of the room, as does a set of twirling knives and a tattered pair of ballet shoes.
What could have caused this immense grief that flows through this house like it's circulated by an HVAC unit? How did this amazingly gorgeous girl end up dyeing her hair black, piercing her lip and nose—and God knows what else—and turning into a social loner who hangs out with me, Ghost Girl?
Another wave of anguish splashes over me, causing me to grip the closest bookshelf for support.
"Oh, Becca..."
Then I hear, "What the hell do you think you're doing in here?"
Chapter Ten
"I'm ... I'm sorry, Becca."
She glowers at me and takes the photo out of my hands. She slams it back in place on the shelf, rattling some of the ribboned medals that hang loosely around one of the trophies.
Not knowing exactly how to cover up this bumble, I compliment her on all of the plaques and awards. "You should be wicked proud of all these. Why do you keep it all shut up in the dark?"
Becca's top teeth snag her bottom lip. Then she says, "It's really none of your business, Kendall. You shouldn't be in here."
"I said I'm sorry. I was just drawn in."
"How so?"
"There was this intense energy that called to me."
"It called to you, huh? Well, next time, don't answer."
"I didn't mean to offend—"
She hands me Jason's keys, which I left on the counter. "You know, I just remembered I have a lot of studying to do. I'm sure Jason needs his Jeep by now."
I've just been given the teenage equivalent of "Here's your hat, what's your hurry," I suppose. "Sure, I should get going." I nab the opened Fresca from the table and take it with me. "Thanks for the bevvie."
As I'm leaving, Becca stops me. "Look, Kendall. You're cool and we're friends. But there's no ghost investigating here, okay? This is my house and it's off-limits."
"Sure, Becca."
"As long as we're square."
"Whatever you say. See you tomorrow."
I hurry back to Jason's Jeep and back out of the driveway. When I turn to look at the house, I see one of the large, gold drapes in the trophy room fall into place. Becca's hiding something from me. Question is: how do I find out what?
"The bait is on the hook," Becca tells me Wednesday morning.
Celia and I are standing outside the girls' bathroom waiting to set the trap for Courtney. The aforementioned bait is Mina Moutzourogeorgos, who, according to Becca, just entered a stall. I sort of feel bad about what we're doing, but then again, I'm not the one who started this feud. I'm also not the one calling people names or spilling food on them. We're just trying to get Courtney to come clean and stop acting like head bitch in charge.
"Good luck," Celia says to me and then we swing into the ladies'.
I muster up my best acting abilities—I was in a Christmas pageant at church when I was ten, but I only played one of the sheep at the manger, so I don't know if that counts—and then I do my best to start crying.
"Are we alone?"
"I think so," Celia says, really trying to find Mina. "Why?"
"I have a secret. No one can know. Especially Courtney."
"Cross my heart," she says.
"J-J-Jason broke up with me," I say dramatically.
"Why?" Celia chimes in, even though she's bent over, looking under the doors. She gives me an okay sign when she sees Mina's trademark red stilettos lift off the floor. "Y'all are perfect for each other."
"That's what I thought too." I try to project my voice to where Mina's hiding, make sure she hears every word. "But he told me it's Courtney