Twisted, Amy Black [best fiction novels of all time .txt] 📗

has been asking the same thing every time Becky gets home from a date with Sam.
“It was great, mom. We met at the Pizza Joint, and then went to see a comedy at the theater. I love being with him!”
“My little girl. You’re growing up so quickly,” her mother smiled and patted her daughter’s head. She also said this same thing every time they had this talk. “I’m glad you had fun, honey,” she said, then kissed Becky goodnight.
“Good night, mom,” Becky closed the door after her mom left. Smiling, she walked over to her dresser and got a pair of shorts and a tank top out, then walked to her bathroom to take a shower.

“I don’t understand who could be doing this. I thought that it might be an ex girlfriend, but none of them seem to be the type to do this. Besides, the last girl before Becky was three months ago, and the last I heard, she was with someone else,” Sam immediately called Pete after getting home. Pete and Sam met about five months ago at a mutual friend’s party. They seemed to have a lot in common and quickly became friends. Sam felt like he has known Pete his whole life.
“Do you think it could be one of Becky’s friends? Maybe one of them has a crush on you,” Pete offered.
“I could mention that to her. But I doubt it. She only has one good friend, and that’s Diane. And she’s cool. I doubt she’d do this,” Sam took a long swig from his coffee cup. “Anyways, how is the studying coming along?”
“It isn’t. I hate math. It doesn’t make any sense to me. I mean, why does X times Y equal such and such? I should ask the teacher that. I’d like to see her come up with an answer!” That made Sam laugh. He could imagine Pete doing that too.
“That would be hilarious. You should do that,” Sam set the cup back on top of his desk and stood up from the chair he’d been sitting on since he got home. He started to walk toward his bed, but stopped when he heard a beep. “Hey, man, hold on a sec. I got a call coming through,” he switched over by pushing the flash button. “Hello?”
“Did I wake you?” it was Becky.
“Not at all. Hang on, ok?” he switched back over. “Hey Pete, it’s Becky. She sounds upset. See you at school tomorrow?”
“Sure. Tell her I said hi. Bye man,” with that, Pete hung up, which automatically switched the call back over to Becky.
“What’s up, hun?” Sam walked back to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door to grab a can of pop.
“Something happened again, tonight. On the way home, I was being followed. I didn’t think anything about it at first, but they turned when I turned and almost blinded me with their bright lights. “
“When did you get home? Why didn’t you call me before, Becky?”
“Mom came in and we talked. Then I wanted to get my bearings together, so I took a shower,” Becky explained.
“Did you tell your mom?” Sam was scared.
“No. I should have, but I didn’t want to worry her. She has so much going on now, what with the divorce and all.”
“I guess I know what you mean. I’m just scared for you, Becky. Someone is stalking you.”
“It probably won’t last too long.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t see each other. I mean, I don’t want to have to do that, but I don’t want you to be in any more danger,” Sam suggested.
“No. That’s the last thing we should do. I love being with you. I don’t want that to change. Whatever is up with this weirdo, hopefully they’ll see it isn’t having an effect. That’s exactly what they want, for us to break up.”
“I’m glad you said that, Becky. I was scared you’d have agreed with me. I love being with you too. Do you really think this person will stop soon?”
“Yeah. Probably just some girl from school who has a crush on you. I kind of feel special, actually,” Sam heard Becky giggle. He smiled.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I talked to Pete and told him a little of what’s going on. Is that ok?”
“I guess that’s fine. Has he thought of anything?”
“Well, actually, yeah. He thought maybe it was one of your friends. Maybe one of them could have a crush on me. At least that’s what Pete said,” Sam took another drink from his second coke.
“The only real friend I have is Diane. I just can’t see her doing this. We’ve been friends for a long time.”
“That’s exactly what I told him.”
“I was going to talk to her about this anyway tomorrow, so I will see how she acts.”
“That’s a good idea,” Sam told her. They talked for a little bit longer, and then Becky said she was getting sleepy. They said goodnight and hung up.

Becky walked up the steps of Soviet High School. She had thought about what Sam suggested last night. She wondered if it could be Diane. She kept telling herself no, but she still wondered. She walked through the glass doors and turned right towards her locker. As she was opening it, Diane walked up.
“Hey girl, what’s up?” Diane’s locker was next to Becky’s. Becky was placing the books she took home the previous night into her locker.
“Oh, nothing much. I do need to talk to you about something,” she put two more books for the next two classes into her backpack.
“Sure, what’s wrong?” Diane and Becky both closed their locker doors and walked down the hall side by side.
“Well, some things have been happening to me lately,” Becky explained the situation beginning with the rose and ending with the incident the previous night.
“Omigod, Becky. Who do you think is doing it?” Diane looked genuinely shocked.
“I don’t know. At first, I thought it was an ex girlfriend of Sam’s, but he says he can’t figure out who it would be,” she shrugged. “Part of me thinks it will all blow over soon. But the other part of me is scared. What else is this person up to?” She already decided it isn’t Diane. She felt guilty for even suspecting her. They soon got to the end of the hallway. This is where they split for their classes. “I’ll see you at lunch. Main table, right?”
“Of course. See you then,” Diane hollered behind her as she walked away.
Becky started to speed up so she wouldn’t be late for class. By the time she got there, the bell had rung. She slipped through the door and slid into her seat. She glanced over and seen Sam smile at her. She smiled back. The teacher was writing something on the board as Becky got her textbook out. She turned it to the page marked and gasped. The words “He’s Mine!” stared out at her. She glanced at Sam and he was looking at her with a concern look on his face. She looked back down at the words in her textbook.
“Is something wrong, Miss Manor?” The teacher startled her.
“Uh, no. I’m fine,” she smiled and glanced over at Sam again. She mouthed “After class,” and he nodded.

She opened the textbook to show Sam what was written in it.
“Who on earth is doing this?” Sam ran his hands through his hair. Becky closed the book and put it back into her backpack. They walked down the hall.
“I don’t know. I’m trying to figure out how they got into my locker. I didn’t think anyone knew my combination number. I’m going to have to get it changed now,” Becky said as they turned a corner. She was heading for the principal’s office to get a different code. Sam put his arm around her.
“I’m going to do whatever is necessary to keep you safe, Becky,” he promised. She thanked him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before walking through the door to the office.

Diane motioned for Becky. After seeing her, Becky walked over to the table with tray in hand and sat down. She told Diane about the writing in her book and Diane shook her head.
“What do you think it meant? Do you think Sam is cheating?”
“What? No way! Just some chick with a huge crush on him,” Becky took a bite of taco salad. Although she told Diane that, she was beginning to wonder. Once again, she rejected the thought. She was wrong about Diane. Chances are, she was wrong about this too.
“Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Guess who called me yesterday?” Diane changed the subject.
“Who?” Becky took a quick drink from her cup of pop.
“Regina. Can you believe her? Like I would still be friends with her,” Once again, Diane went on and on. Becky let her thoughts drift. Was Sam cheating? Is that what that message meant? No, of course not. He wouldn’t do that. She forced herself to think of other things. Like that night. She had a study date with him. That made her smile. Not that they’d actually study.

Sam opened the door for Becky. They hugged as soon as she walked through the door. He led her to the dining table and offered her a drink. While he left to go to the kitchen, the phone rang. She heard him pick it up in the kitchen. She started to get her books out of her backpack when Sam walked into the dining room.
“Bad news, Becky. That was dad. He needs me down at the shop,” he said as he set the phone down onto the table.
“Oh, okay. For how long?”
“Probably for the rest of the evening. Something about one of the bikes being messed up and his mechanics aren’t available. That’s where I come in. I’m sorry. I wish I could keep our plans. But, he said he’d pay me and I really need the money.”
“That’s okay Sam. I understand. Maybe we could try this again tomorrow,” she suggested.
“Of course. Come over around three. We can eat an early supper together,” Sam hugged her. “Again, I’m really sorry!”

Did he really have to go in? Was that just an excuse? No. He really did. His dad really needed his help. Stop thinking like that Becky, she told herself. She was laying on her bed and listening to a local radio station. She felt depressed. She didn’t want to think that Sam was cheating. She thought about calling his dad’s Harley shop. But then decided against it. If she called and Sam was there, he’d wonder why she was checking up on him. I just have to trust him, she thought to herself.

The following Monday afternoon, Becky had swimming practice again. She swam her last round and headed for the showers. Usually, she would take a shower, then go straight home to do her homework. But on this day, she decided to relax in the sauna. She walked to her gym locker and got her shampoo and towel. She walked to the showers and let the cool water run over her body before removing her bathing suit and wrapping a towel around her. She left her shampoo in the shower stall, and walked to the door of the sauna. The temperature