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  Dennis and I were sitting close together at an end of a couch. He was leaning forward, picking up handfuls of tortilla chips from the bowl on the glass coffee table. I was leaning back against the cushiony couch, not really part of the conversation.

  Actually, I was wondering if Dennis liked me or not. He hadn’t been unfriendly. But he hadn’t spent much time talking with me either.

  The couch was jammed with kids. Dennis and I sat so close together, our legs were touching. He didn’t seem to notice. Or was he just pretending not to notice?

  All night I had been trying to relax and have a good time. But it was hard. This just wasn’t my crowd. I didn’t take private tennis lessons, so I couldn’t gossip about the different tennis instructors. And I couldn’t compare Jamaica to Bermuda or Aruba.

  Everyone had been friendly to me. No one had acted at all snobby. But I could see that they were all better dressed than I was.

  And Melody’s house was so luxurious compared to my run-down old house on Fear Street. Even though I kept telling myself that it all didn’t matter, I just couldn’t relax and feel comfortable.

  I wasn’t really listening to the conversation. But when Dennis suddenly draped an arm around my shoulders, I instantly tuned back in.

  And then Dennis totally surprised me by announcing to everyone, “Johanna and I are going to murder Mr. Northwood!” He turned to me, a big smile on his face. “Right?”

  chapter 11

  “Uh … right,” I reluctantly agreed.

  “We’re doing it!” Dennis proclaimed, squeezing my shoulder.

  Everyone laughed and cheered.

  What’s going on here? I asked myself. Isn’t Dennis taking this joke a little too far?

  “I want to help!” someone exclaimed.

  “Me too!”

  “Let’s all kill him!”

  “Tonight!” someone added.

  Everyone laughed.

  “I dare you!” Lanny cried. “I really dare you!”

  “Do it!” someone shouted.

  Lanny turned to me. “How are you going to do it?” he demanded.

  I formed a gun with my thumb and pointer finger and aimed it at Lanny.

  Everyone laughed again.

  Climbing to his feet, Zack pulled up his hair until it stood straight up on his head. Then he stooped his shoulders and did a pretty good impression of Mr. Northwood: “I don’t like your smiles. You’re all staying after school for the rest of the century. We’re having a short quiz. Take out a sheet of paper and number from one to three thousand.”

  We were all in hysterics. Zack really was a riot. He sounded just like Mr. Northwood, and he kind of looked like him with his hair straight up like that.

  “Did you hear what Northwood did to Carter Philips?” Lanny asked, shaking his head. “Northwood took five points off Carter’s final exam because she forgot to put her name on top. The five points lowered Carter from a B to a C!”

  Everyone groaned.

  “He made me stay an hour after school on my birthday!” a girl on the other couch cried.

  “What a jerk!” someone said.

  “He really hates us all,” Melody murmured.

  “Not as much as we hate him,” Lanny said.

  “Don’t worry,” Dennis told them, grinning. “Johanna and I are going to take care of him. We’ve been making plans.”

  “When?” someone demanded. “Before the next unit test?”

  Dennis smiled at me. His arm tightened around me. “It’s a secret,” he told them, his green eyes flashing excitedly. “We don’t want to spoil the surprise.”

  I laughed along with everyone else.

  But I felt a sudden chill.

  Was Dennis getting serious about this?

  The idea of killing Mr. Northwood had started out as a joke.

  It was still just a joke—right?

  I was so surprised when Dennis kissed me.

  When he drove me home, the car radio was on so loud we couldn’t talk. He pulled up my driveway, then switched off the engine and the lights.

  And he reached across the seat and pulled me close.

  The kiss was awkward at first. I was just so startled.

  But then I slid my hands behind his head, wrapping my fingers through his silky dark hair, holding his face against mine.

  The kiss lasted a long time. When it ended, I was breathless.

  He likes me, I thought.

  I can tell. He really likes me.

  Waiting for my breathing to return to normal, I glanced up at my house. It was entirely dark except for the light over the front stoop.

  The bare branches of the two entwined maple trees in the center of the front yard shivered in the cold breeze. Fat brown leaves scrabbled like dark shadows over the frosted grass.

  “I’m glad I asked you out,” Dennis said softly.

  “Me too,” I murmured.

  He reached out his arms for me again. This time I slid comfortably to him, and we kissed for a long time.

  Thoughts about Caitlin forced their way into my mind as I wrapped my arms tighter around Dennis and kissed him. I shut my eyes and willed Caitlin away. Far away.

  I opened my eyes when the kiss ended.

  What was that tingling feeling on the back of my neck?

  Still tasting Dennis’s lips on mine, I had the sudden feeling that we were being watched.

  I pulled away from him.

  “Johanna—what is it?” Dennis whispered.

  I gazed out the windshield, my eyes searching the darkness—and gasped in horror.

  chapter 12

  Mr. Northwood!

  He was just standing there in his yard. Like a statue.

  He had a large stick in one hand. A fallen tree branch. He was leaning on it like a cane.

  Standing in deep shadows a few yards from the driveway. Leaning on the stick. Staring into the car.

  Just standing and staring at us.

  Dennis turned toward the windshield and followed my gaze. “Hey—” he cried. “What’s he doing?”

  “I—I don’t know,” I stammered. “He’s watching us, I think.”

  Behind us a car rolled quietly down Fear Street. As its headlights played over the still form of Mr. Northwood, I caught the stern, disapproving expression set on his face.

  “What a creep!” Dennis declared. “What a total creep.”

  “Let’s just ignore him,” I suggested, turning to Dennis with a devilish smile.

  Dennis scowled in Mr. Northwood’s direction. “No. I’d better go, Johanna.”

  “Want to come in for a while?” I suggested.

  Dennis shook his head. His eyes were still on Mr. Northwood. “I’d better go. See you Monday, okay?”

  “Okay.” I pushed open the car door. A burst of cold air greeted me. Waving good-night to Dennis, I climbed out and ran to my front door.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Mr. Northwood still standing there, frozen like a snowman in his long gray overcoat.

  Why is he standing there? I wondered angrily.

  Is he really spying on me?

  Dennis’s headlights slid over me as he backed down the drive. I was so furious at Mr. Northwood, my hand shook as I tried to slide my key into the front door.

  What right does he have to spy on me?

  What business is it of his?

  What is he doing out here?

  Finally I got the key in the lock, twisted it, and pushed the door open.

  The house was warm and smelled of the roast chicken we’d had for dinner. I was trembling all over as I tossed my coat over the banister.

  Mr. Northwood spoiled my date, I thought bitterly.

  Dennis and I were feeling so close to each other—and that creep Northwood spoiled it all.

  My anger boiled up into a rage.

  I realized my hands were balled into tight fists.

  Without thinking, I made my way to the little green side table against the living room wall.

  The liv
ing room was dark. I pulled open the drawer in the table. My hand fumbled around inside it until I found what I was looking for.

  The pistol.

  The pistol my dad had left us for protection when he moved out.

  It felt sleek and cool in my hot, hot hand.

  I wasn’t thinking clearly. I was too furious to think clearly.

  Why was he spying on me?

  Why?

  Without realizing it, without thinking about what I was doing, I made my way to the window. The pistol was gripped tightly in my hand.

  Leaning against the glass, I peered out into the darkness.

  There he was. Mr. Northwood hadn’t moved. He was leaning on the tree branch, smoking a pipe. I could see the gray smoke swirl up against the purple sky.

  Why did you spoil my date, Mr. Northwood?

  What right do you have to spy on me and ruin my life?

  Don’t you know how much tonight meant to me?

  I was trembling with anger. With a shaking hand I pulled up the window. The cold air felt good against my face.

  My eyes on Mr. Northwood, I pulled back the hammer of the pistol, the way my dad had shown me.

  Killing Mr. Northwood is so easy, I told myself.

  So incredibly easy.

  Leaning against the windowsill to steady myself, I raised the pistol.

  I aimed it at Mr. Northwood.

  Steady, steady.

  I slid my finger over the trigger.

  So incredibly easy. So easy to kill him.

  I aimed for his chest.

  And suddenly the living room lights flashed on.

  “Johanna!” my mother exclaimed, bursting into the room. “What are you doing with that gun?”

  Too late, Mom.

  I pulled the trigger.

  chapter 13

  Of course the pistol wasn’t loaded. The cartridge with the bullets was still in the drawer.

  Lowering the pistol to my side, I turned to my mom. “I—I thought I heard a burglar,” I lied.

  “A burglar!” Mom cried, her eyes widening in alarm. “I’ll call the police!”

  “No. Wait,” I told her. “There’s no one there. I just heard the wind or something. You know how I get freaked at night sometimes.”

  “Close the window,” my mom said, eyeing me suspiciously. “It’s cold enough in this drafty old house.”

  Peering out into the dark front yard, I pushed the window down. To my surprise, Mr. Northwood had disappeared.

  I guessed he had finally returned to his house.

  I wish I could really make you disappear, I thought, still feeling shaky.

  “You shouldn’t take that gun out,” Mom said, tightening the belt on her pink terrycloth robe. “I really don’t want it in the house. It’s just one more example of your father’s poor judgment.” She sighed.

  “It isn’t loaded,” I said softly. I dropped it into the drawer and slid the drawer shut.

  “How was your date?” Mom asked, her dark eyes boring into me, studying me.

  “Great,” I told her. “Really great.”

  As I hurried up to my room, I wondered if Dennis would ever ask me out again.

  Melody cornered me in the girls’ locker room in school Monday morning.

  We had just played Volleyball in gym. Melody’s normally perfect hair was actually a little messed up. “I want to tell you something,” she said, her pale blue eyes narrowed at me.

  “We’re going to be late,” I told her. “The bell is going to ring.”

  “It won’t take long,” she replied, keeping her voice low. “You know, Caitlin found out about you and Dennis.” She stared hard at me, watching my reaction.

  I didn’t react much. I let my mouth drop open in surprise, but I didn’t say anything.

  “I didn’t tell her,” Melody said, letting the towel she was holding drop to the bench between the lockers. “But she found out. There were so many kids at my house Friday night. I mean, she was bound to find out.”

  “So?” I asked, glancing up at the clock.

  “So she’s very upset,” Melody continued. “I don’t know what Dennis told you. But Caitlin can be very jealous. I just thought I should warn you. Caitlin doesn’t want anyone else going out with Dennis.”

  “I think that’s up to Dennis, isn’t it?” I asked shrilly. I didn’t mean to sound so intense, but I couldn’t help it.

  “Well, don’t have a cow!” Melody exploded nastily. “I was just trying to give you a friendly warning.”

  The bell rang, startling us both. Applying lip gloss as she ran, Melody hurried away.

  What’s going on? I wondered.

  I knew that Caitlin and Melody were pals. Did Caitlin send Melody to warn me? Did Dennis lie when he told me that he and Caitlin sometimes go out with other people? Was Melody just being vicious, just trying to stir up trouble?

  The questions repeated in my head as I hurried to class. But no answers came to me.

  After school I was making my way through the crowded halls to the library on the second floor. I had to get some material on cloning for a science project Margaret and I were working on together.

  I passed Caitlin going the other way on the stairs. I was pretty sure she saw me, but she kept on talking to the girl beside her and stepped right by me.

  At the top of the stairs, I turned toward the library. I stopped when I heard a familiar voice calling my name.

  “Oh, hi, Dennis,” I said, flashing him a warm smile. “What’s up?”

  He was wearing his maroon and gray Shadyside jacket over baggy faded jeans. He had a half-eaten granola bar in his hand. Smiling back at me, he offered me a bite.

  I shook my head. “No, thanks.”

  He pulled a piece of thread off the shoulder of my blue sweater. “Want to study together tonight?” he asked. “I could come over after track practice.”

  He does like me! I thought happily.

  Melody suddenly pushed her way into my mind. Again I saw her eyeing me sternly, warning me about Caitlin.

  Dennis took a bite of the granola bar, waiting for my answer.

  “That would be great!” I told him. I probably shouldn’t have let myself sound so excited. I should have acted more casual about it. But I couldn’t help it.

  Sorry, Caitlin, I thought. I really like Dennis. And if Dennis really likes me, it’s just too bad for you.

  “Later,” Dennis said, giving me a funny little two-finger salute.

  “Later,” I repeated happily.

  By the time I got home, I was having second thoughts.

  I mean, my house is so shabby and run-down. It’s embarrassing.

  Melody’s house is like a palace compared to mine. It’s five times as big, for one thing. And forget about chrome and white leather. Our living room is filled with a worn-out corduroy couch and two beat-up vinyl armchairs.

  Pitiful. Really pitiful.

  Gazing unhappily around the living room, I was tempted to call Dennis and make up some excuse why he couldn’t come over. I wanted him to like me so much. And I was really afraid when he saw what my house looked like that he would decide I couldn’t be part of his crowd.

  Crazy thinking, I guess.

  But Dennis had me a little unbalanced. I admit it.

  I made myself a tuna fish sandwich for dinner and piled the plate high with potato chips. That’s one great advantage of being as skinny as I am. You can eat as many potato chips as you like.

  When the phone rang after my lonely dinner, I ran to answer it.

  It’s Dennis calling with an excuse for why he can’t come over, I thought.

  “Hello?” I swallowed hard, expecting to hear his voice.

  “Hi, Johanna, it’s me.” Margaret. “What time should I come over?”

  “Huh?” Margaret’s question caught me by surprise.

  “You said we’d work at your house tonight—remember?” Margaret said. “You know. On our science project?”

  “Oh. Right.” Dennis had me so cra
zed, I had totally forgotten about my plan to get together with Margaret.

  “Uh … I can’t do it tonight, Margaret. I … uh …”

  I didn’t want to tell her I was dumping her for Dennis. She and I really did have to work on the project. It was due on Friday.

  “I think I’m getting the flu,” I blurted out.

  I’m such a bad liar. It was the first thing that popped into my head.

  “You seemed fine in school today,” Margaret insisted. I could tell she didn’t quite believe me.

  “I just started to feel sick after school,” I told her, feeling really guilty. “I’m going to bed early. Maybe I’ll be okay tomorrow. Want to get together tomorrow night?”

  “Yeah, I guess,” Margaret replied. “Feel better, okay?”

  She hung up.

  I stood there, thinking about Margaret, about what a good friend she was.

  Why did I lie to her? I asked myself. Why didn’t I just tell her that Dennis was coming over to study tonight?

  Margaret would be happy for me.

  No, she wouldn’t, I decided. She’d be angry and hurt that I stood her up for Dennis. I did the right thing by telling a little white lie.

  The doorbell rang. I hurried to answer it.

  “Dennis—hi!” I called eagerly.

  I pulled open the front door—and stared in amazement.

  chapter 14

  “Hey, how’s it going?” Dennis grinned at me.

  Four other faces peered in at me. Dennis had brought a whole group—Melody, Zack, Lanny, and even Caitlin!

  They pushed past me into the house, all talking at once. I flashed Dennis a what’s-going-on-here? look, but he didn’t seem to notice.

  After tossing their coats on a chair, they sprawled around the living room, talking and laughing, dropping their backpacks to the floor, pretty much ignoring me.

  Melody stretched her legs over the arm of a brown vinyl armchair. She was wearing a long red sweater over black tights. Her blond hair was twisted up in a tight bun behind her head. “What are we doing here?” she asked Dennis. “Are we studying, or what?”

  “We’re partying,” Zack said, grinning. He had dropped his large Hulk body onto the floor. He was wearing his blue sunglasses, as usual. He turned to me. “Do you have anything to drink?”