Secret Admirer Page 5

  “I said all along that someone crazy was after you,” she scolded Selena. “But I’ll do everything I can to help you find out who it is. We know it’s someone in drama, right? So we’ll keep an eye on everyone working on the play.”

  “Thanks,” Selena breathed. “But he knows where I live. He knows—”

  “Selena, do you think maybe you should quit?” Katy asked softly. She sounded very frightened. “If this nut is serious about his threat …”

  “Quit the play?” Selena gasped. “I can’t!”

  “You don’t have to give up acting forever,” Katy suggested. “Just the spring play.”

  “But this play is the most important one! It’s my only chance for a scholarship to Northwestern.”

  “Well, you have to tell Mr. Riordan what’s going on,” Katy insisted. “It’s too serious not to tell him.”

  “What if he calls off the play?”

  “Your life is more important than the play,” Katy told her sharply.

  “You’re right.” Selena sighed. “I’ll tell him.”

  “Good. Don’t forget. Tell him first thing tomorrow.” She paused. “Are you okay? Want me to come over?”

  “Thanks, but I’m okay,” Selena replied. “I feel better just talking to you.”

  Katy sighed. “Well, the more you can keep your mind off this creep, the better. Which reminds me—have you thought about which videos we’re renting for our sleepover on Friday?”

  “Oh, wow, Katy! I totally forgot we were doing that. I just made a date for Friday.”

  For a moment Katy didn’t speak. “Couldn’t you change it?” she asked.

  “I don’t think so,” Selena replied. “Why don’t we do the sleepover Saturday instead?”

  “All right,” Katy agreed. “It’s not like I have any other plans. Who are you going out with?”

  Selena knew she was supposed to keep it a secret. But she couldn’t keep the news from her best friend. “You’ll never believe it. Eddy.”

  “Eddy, the intern? But he goes to college. Isn’t he a little old for you?”

  “Not really,” Selena replied. “I mean, he’s only two years older than me. And he’s so sweet. I’ve only talked to him a few times, but I already feel as if I’ve known him my whole life. And I feel as if he knows me.”

  “Well, you know what you’re doing,” Katy said dryly. “I’ve got to get back to my homework.”

  ‘Okay,” Selena replied. “Thanks for understanding.”

  “No problem,” Katy told her. “But, Selena, please be very careful. I really think you’re in danger.”

  Katy’s last words lingered in Selena’s mind as she hung up the phone. Even if it’s true, she decided, I can’t think about it all the time.

  She propped the script on her pillow and dropped onto her stomach, studying the lines again. She couldn’t seem to memorize a single speech.

  The rain drummed against her window. The wind howled, making the window rattle. Selena realized she couldn’t concentrate because of the booming thunder.

  Selena remembered the night she and Katy had found the ladder out in the yard. She sat up quickly and looked out the window.

  No one there. No one is looking in, she told herself. But she stood up and closed the curtains, making sure they overlapped in the center.

  The lights flickered, and again Selena set the script down with a sigh. There was no way she could memorize any lines till the storm stopped. But maybe she could at least get a start on her history paper.

  She reached over to her desk and slipped her history book from the bottom of a pile of schoolwork.

  A deafening thunderclap shook the house.

  No one out there, she told herself. Stop scaring yourself, Selena. Stop it right now.

  But what if the stalker had returned?

  If he was out there, she realized, how could she know? If he broke into the house, how could she hear him over the storm?

  Selena shut her eyes to force away her frightening thoughts. But in her imagination a silent, dark figure appeared. She watched him steal into the house, creep up the stairs, approach her door.

  Selena’s eyes flew open.

  Another bolt of lightning sent long shadows across her room.

  Stop it! she scolded herself again. You’re letting y our imagination run away with you. It’s just a stupid rainstorm. She shut her eyes again.

  Maybe I should just forget homework and go to bed early, she thought.

  She settled back on the bed, trying to relax. The world outside flickered on and off as lightning crashed and rain thundered against the trees of the Fear Street Woods behind her house.

  And then she heard something over the noise of the storm.

  The thud of heavy footsteps.

  Footsteps in her house.

  Selena’s breath caught in her throat. She sat up in bed, her heart hammering in terror.

  Had she forgotten to lock the back door? Had someone broken in through one of the windows?

  She sat silently, her breathing shallow, trying not to hear the rhythmic sounds.

  Thump … thump … scrape.

  The footsteps came closer. Someone was on the stairway.

  Someone was in the house.

  The Sun?

  Scrape … scrape … thump.

  Closer. He was almost at the top of the stairs now.

  Moving silently, Selena slid off her bed. She unplugged her metal reading lamp. She grasped it by the base, felt its comforting weight in her hand.

  Then she stepped behind the door and waited.

  13

  Selena hunched behind the door, waiting … waiting for the stalker.

  Holding her breath, she gripped the lamp.

  A flash of lightning lit up the hall. In the white glow, Selena saw a shadow.

  She drew in a sharp breath. The stalker had reached the top of the stairs. She heard his footsteps over the hall carpet.

  “Selena?”

  Selena raised the lamp higher.

  “Are you up here, honey?”

  Selena felt a rush of relief so strong she almost dropped the lamp.

  “Mom!” she sobbed. “You’re home!”

  She tossed down the lamp, plunged into the hall, and hugged her mother.

  “I’m so glad you called my name!” Selena cried. “I was getting ready to nail you with my lamp”

  Her mother laughed. “Sorry I scared you. I know how you hate to be by yourself in a storm. The lightning knocked out the electricity in town, so the restaurant had to close. Which means I get to see my daughter for a change!”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re here,” Selena said again.

  “I have an idea,” her mother said, smiling. “Let’s light a big fire in the fireplace, and I’ll make a big pot of hot chocolate.”

  “Great!” Selena agreed.

  While her mother built the fire, Selena prepared the hot cocoa in the kitchen. Then she settled on the sofa next to Mrs. Goodrich.

  She loved looking at her mother in the firelight. She thought her mother was beautiful. Selena had inherited the same pale blond hair and green eyes.

  As they sipped the hot chocolate, Selena told her mother about the spring play.

  “You’ll be a wonderful Juliet,” her mother gushed. “Even if I have to call in sick to work, I’m going to see you in this one.”

  “Great,” Selena replied. “I just wish Dad could see it, too.”

  “So do I, honey,” Mrs. Goodrich said softly. “He’d be so proud of you.”

  Selena nodded sadly. Her dad hadn’t lived to see Selena on stage, had never known about her acting talent. “I miss him so much,” Selena told her mother. “It’s been three years, but I still keep expecting him to come home as if nothing had happened.”

  “I know,” her mother replied, glancing away. “But you know, honey, he’ll always be with us, both of us, as long as we remember him.”

  They sat in silence for a moment, then Mrs. Goodrich turned to Selena,
forcing a smile to her face. “Tell me more about school,” she urged. “I want to know everything that’s going on.”

  Selena couldn’t help thinking about the stalker, the dead rat, the ugly threats. Should she tell her mother?

  “I’ve got a couple of term papers due,” she said. “But other than that, there’s not much happening, except …”

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” Selena shrugged.

  I’ll tell Mr. Riordan instead, she thought. There’s no sense worrying Mom. She’s got enough to handle.

  “I’m a little stressed,” she told her mother with a smile. “But believe me—the play is the only thing I care about.”

  The next morning, Selena was hurrying from math class to English when she bumped into Jake, nearly knocking him over. “Whoa!” she cried. “Sorry, Jake! I didn’t see you.”

  “Hey, Moon,” Jake muttered lifelessly.

  “Is something wrong?” she demanded.

  He frowned. “Mr. Riordan just posted the cast list for the spring play.”

  “Really?” Selena cried. She stepped up to the bulletin board to see.

  “No surprises,” Jake told her. “You’re Juliet, naturally. And Danny is Romeo.”

  “Yuck!” Selena wrinkled her nose. “I was hoping you would get it.”

  “I should have gotten it!” Jake exclaimed with surprising heat. “You saw the auditions! I was a thousand times better than that jerk.”

  “You were both good,” Selena said carefully.

  “Danny only got it because he’s always kissing up to Mr. Riordan,” Jake raged. “I thought maybe once talent would make a difference. But Danny always gets his way.” He kicked a balled-up piece of paper across the hall.

  “I’m really sorry you didn’t get the part,” Selena told him honestly. “But I’m surprised you even tried out for it. I mean, until now, you only wanted character parts.”

  “Is that what you thought?” Jake cried shrilly. He glared at her. She took a step back, startled by his anger.

  “Did you really think I was happy to take character parts while you were the star?” he demanded.

  “Well, I—I just assumed—” Selena stammered, not knowing what to say.

  Jake scowled. “We’ve been friends for a long time, Selena, but there’s still a lot about me you don’t know.”

  “Jake, I’m sorry—”

  “Forget it!” Jake shook his head. He turned away from her. “I’ll tell you one thing. Danny isn’t going to get everything he wants. Not this time!”

  “Jake, stop saying things like that,” Selena pleaded. “You’re scaring me. You really are.”

  He didn’t seem to hear her. He had turned and was already halfway down the hall, his hands clenched into tight, angry fists.

  “I’m psyched about working on the play,” Katy said as she and Selena waited for the bus. “I can’t wait for rehearsal tonight.”

  “Me neither, except …” Selena’s voice trailed off.

  “Except what?” Katy demanded. “Are you thinking of dropping out of the play?”

  “No. No way,” Selena told her. “But I’m definitely going to say something to Mr. Riordan—and who knows what he’ll do.”

  “We’ll just have to wait and see,” Katy said.

  Selena changed the subject. “I’m really worried about Jake. I don’t know why he’s so messed up. But he’s been acting as if I’m his enemy instead of one of his oldest friends.”

  “You mean you don’t know?” Katy asked incredulously.

  “Huh? Don’t know what?” Selena demanded.

  “Selena.” Katy sighed. “I thought for sure Jake had said something to you. I can’t believe he didn’t.”

  “Didn’t say something about what?” Selena shrieked. “Will you stop keeping me in suspense?”

  “Well, I found out yesterday why he’s been so weird and moody all the time. It’s because of his parents. They’re splitting up.”

  “Oh, no!” Selena gasped. “Mr. and Mrs. Jacoby? I can’t believe it!”

  “I guess it’s been pretty tough on Jake,” Katy continued. “To tell you the truth, I’m really worried about him, too. He’s just been so unpredictable lately. It’s like you never know what he’s going to do next. And he’s letting everything get to him.”

  “Well, that’s true,” Selena agreed. “Like this thing with Danny. I know they never liked each other, but it’s really getting out of control.”

  Katy nodded. She stepped out into the street, searching for the bus. No sign of it.

  She sighed. “So you’re really going to tell Mr. Riordan about the stalker?” she asked, her expression turning serious.

  Selena nodded. “I guess.” Deep down, she still wasn’t sure she wanted to tell the drama coach what had been happening.

  He’ll have to cancel the play, she thought. And if the play is cancelled, I won’t get a scholarship. And that’s the end of all my big plans.

  “Don’t say you guess. You should tell him right away,” Katy scolded. “I mean, who knows what that creep is planning next?”

  Selena heaved a big sigh. What a bad-news time, she thought. Jake’s parents were splitting up. Danny was playing Romeo. And she was being stalked.

  The only bright spot in her life right now was her date with Eddy on Friday night.

  “We’ve been waiting for you,” Danny called from halfway up a tall ladder. “O, Juliet, Juliet—wherefore art thou, Juliet?” he boomed.

  Kids laughed.

  Selena rolled her eyes. “Give it up,” she snapped. This was not the way she wanted to start the first rehearsal. She climbed onto the stage, trying to ignore Danny.

  He dropped from the ladder and landed in front of her. “Listen, we have to work together until the play is over. Can’t you at least try to get along with me?”

  “You’re right,” Selena admitted. “I’m just a little on edge.” She took a deep breath. “And I’m really scared of the balcony scene,” she added, glancing up at the ladders being used to build the set.

  “Oh, right.” Danny laughed. “I forgot. Juliet is afraid of heights!”

  “Maybe we should make it a basement scene!” someone suggested from out in the auditorium.

  More laughter.

  Selena ignored it. She pulled her script from her pack and joined the others at center stage.

  “Where’s Jake?” Mr. Riordan called. “We need him for the first scene.”

  “Jake?” someone called. “Hey—Jake!”

  Jake shuffled onto the stage, a scowl creasing his face. “Hey, what’s the big deal?” he muttered.

  “Come on, everyone,” Mr. Riordan insisted. “Let’s get down to business. Now, Act One, Scene One. Let’s just read through it.”

  Concentrate. Concentrate, Selena ordered herself. On cue, she began speaking her lines, and within a few moments she was into her part. Without even trying, she felt herself relax. Selena was surprised at how well the first rehearsal went. Once they got started, everyone was into it, even Jake.

  As she said her lines, moving about the stage, a part of her stayed aware of Eddy, seated next to Mr. Riordan in the front row.

  Was she just imagining his eyes on her, following her every move? Was he watching the others as intensely?

  During a scene break, she glanced down at him and saw him respond with a smile, obviously meant for her.

  As she read her lines for the next scene, she almost felt as if she were speaking them directly to him.

  “Okay, people, it’s going well,” Mr. Riordan announced after about an hour. “Now I’d like to try something a little different. Juliet, I want you to stand upstage and say your lines more quietly. I also want Juliet’s father—Jake? Where did Jake go?”

  “Sorry,” Jake called. “I went backstage for some water.”

  “Next time, wait for a break,” Mr. Riordan snapped. “Anyway, I want you to stand over there.” He pointed toward the rear of the stage. “When she starts to speak, move up
stage. Get it?”

  “Of course I get it,” Jake grumbled. “How hard is that?”

  Mr. Riordan sighed. “Is everyone ready?” he asked.

  Selena stepped to where Mr. Riordan had indicated and began to read her lines.

  “Again,” the teacher called. “Try to get more feeling into it, while your father looks on.”

  Selena repeated the lines. She loved this part of rehearsal. She loved the sense that she was a part of something that was always changing, always developing.

  “Excellent!” Mr. Riordan called.

  “That was great!” Eddy echoed.

  “Let’s try to get the same feeling in the next scene,” Mr. Riordan instructed. “Juliet, I want you to—”

  His voice was cut off by a shrill scream.

  “The lights! The lights!”

  Selena recognized Katy’s voice. Gasped as Katy dove into her.

  The pages of her script flew out of her hand.

  Katy tackled her to the floor.

  Selena didn’t even see the bank of spotlights fall.

  But she heard the crash. Felt the stage rock. Heard the shatter of glass. The crunch of metal.

  Heard the high screams of horror all around.

  And knew that she was dead.

  14

  I’m dead, Selena realized.

  Katy and I … we’re both dead.

  Crushed under the big metal lights.

  Again she heard the crash. The crunch of metal. The splintering of glass.

  And waited for the pain.

  But she felt no pain. No pain at all.

  Because I’m dead, she knew.

  I’m dead now, floating in silence.

  She opened her eyes to see the horrified faces of her friends. Mr. Riordan leaned over her. Shouting. What was he shouting?

  She saw Eddy too. His face so pale. His eyes so wild.

  With grief?

  The sounds of their cries finally reached her ears.

  She swallowed. She breathed.

  Not dead.

  She tried to raise herself. No pain—except for a throbbing in her right knee.

  No pain.

  I’m alive. I’m okay. The lights fell to the stage—and missed me. Missed me because Katy …

  Katy?!

  Selena raised herself to her knees. Saw Katy lying on her stomach. At such a strange angle. Her body twisted. Her arm … ?