Sarah grabbed the pink-colored phone from her purse and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's me - Melissa." Melissa Smith was one of Sarah's closest friends and was also a fellow cheerleader. "Did you notice something odd about Jessica today?" Jessica Davis was a friend, but not a close friend. She was also on the cheerleading squad.
"No. What's wrong with her?" Sarah asked.
"I don't know. She's acting really reserved. Sullen even."
"That doesn't sound like her. Is she sick?"
"No one knows. She won't talk to anyone. But ..."
"But what?" Sarah asked, after waiting a few seconds.
"I saw her talking to one of those Goth freaks," Melissa said. "I think it was that Athena girl. It was only for a minute or two, but ..."
"What was she talking about?"
"I don't know. I tried to ask her about it afterward, but she just blew me off. Maybe you could call her and see what's up."
"I'll do it right now."
"Thanks. I'll talk to you later. Kay, bye," Melissa said.
Sarah stood there for a moment. Jessica Davis was talking to one of those Goth freaks? Maybe she was sick after all.
She searched for Jessica's number on her phone, then hit send. A moment later, she heard a voice on the other end. It was Jessica's, but it sounded different for some reason.
"Jessica?"
"Yeah? Who is this?" she asked. There was a bit of irritation in her voice.
"It's Sarah."
"What do you want?"
"I want to talk. I want to know why you've been acting weird all day. Melissa told me that ..."
"I'm not acting weird," Jessica said.
"Then why ..."
"Just leave me alone, okay?"
Then the line went dead.
Sarah was stunned. What was going on?
