Best Enemies (Canterwood Crest)

Other books in the
CANTERWOOD CREST SERIES:

TAKE THE REINS

CHASING BLUE

BEHIND THE BIT

TRIPLE FAULT

B
EST
E
NEMIES

JESSICA BURKHART

If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ALADDIN M!X

Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

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www.simonspeakers.com

First Aladdin M!X edition October 2009

Text copyright © 2009 by Jessica Burkhart

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

ALADDIN is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and related logo is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

ALADDIN M!X and related logo are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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.

Designed by Jessica Handelman

The text of this book was set in Venetian 301 BT.

Manufactured in the United States of America

2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1

Library of Congress Control Number 2009929573

ISBN 978-1-4169-9037-6

ISBN 978-1-4169-9692-7 (eBook)

To Twitter and HorseChick
for pulling a 007
that Bond would envy

Alyssa Henkin, thank you for always being excited to read the latest adventure with Sasha & Co.

Kate Angelella—the Eric and Sasha date scene is my favorite of the series because of your sparkly note. Let’s discuss.

Thanks to my friends—both online and RL—who cheered me on through this draft.

Ross, thanks for showing me your version of NYC life, which is fast becoming mine.

And, Kate, you already know, but “lifesaver” doesn’t even begin to cover it. LYB!

Finally, to the fans who e-mail me photos and drawings and ask for boy advice—you’re the best!

1
THE VERDICT

THE LEADER OF THE TRIO STOOD FROZEN IN
the doorway of the Winchester common room. I never imagined I’d live to see perfect, fierce Heather Fox looking this way. Her face was pale. Her usually glossed lips were bare and her mascara smudged.

My stomach tightened. The news about Julia’s and Alison’s fate couldn’t be good.

“Heather, what
happened
?” I asked again. “What? Tell me.” I slid off the couch and stood, facing her.

She walked to the fireplace and wrapped her arms across her chest.

“Heather—” I started.

Her blue eyes were teary when she looked at me. “It’s so awful,” she said. “Julia and Alison. They—” Heather
buried her face in her hands and, in that moment, I forgot we were enemies.

“C’mon,” I said. I put my hand on her elbow and guided her toward the couch. I sat beside her, surprised when she didn’t snap at me to get out of her space.

After a few seconds she sat up straighter and began to talk.

“I waited in Orchard for Julia and Alison,” Heather said. “When they finally showed up, they were a mess. They were sobbing. I mean, I could barely understand them.”

“Okay,” I coaxed. “Then what?”

“Julia said that Headmistress Drake called their parents,” Heather said. “She told them that Julia and Alison had cheated on their history exam. Alison said they told the headmistress a million times they hadn’t, but Drake insisted there was proof.”