The Dare Read online

  “I think there are some Cokes in the fridge,” I replied.

  “I like your house,” Lanny said, tapping a hand on the shabby corduroy couch. “It’s real … comfortable.”

  “Is anyone else home?” Caitlin asked, glancing around. She stood very close to Dennis, who was sitting on the windowsill. She brushed something off the shoulder of his sweatshirt.

  Caitlin had a navy blue baseball cap pulled down over her short brown hair. Her cheeks were red, from the cold outside, I guessed.

  I told her my mom was at work. Then I went to see if there were enough Cokes for everyone.

  Why didn’t Dennis warn me? I wondered as I made my way to the kitchen. Why didn’t he tell me he was bringing over all his friends?

  I was disappointed that he hadn’t come alone. But I was also happy to have them all in my house. I mean, maybe this meant they were accepting me into the group. Maybe this meant we were all going to be friends.

  I bent down and started pulling cans of Coke out of the fridge. I could hear Caitlin laughing about something in the other room.

  I felt a little uncomfortable having Caitlin there. Especially after what Melody had told me. But Caitlin didn’t seem to be angry or anything. In fact, she seemed to be in a really good mood.

  Did she really tell Melody to warn me to stay away from him? Did she even care?

  It was all too confusing. I decided to just stay cool and try to enjoy my new friends.

  “Hope you don’t mind the crowd scene.” Dennis suddenly appeared in the kitchen doorway. He smiled at me, a little-boy smile.

  “No problem.” I returned his smile. I had a sudden impulse to run over to him and throw my arms around him. He was just so great-looking.

  Uh-oh, Johanna, I thought. Watch out. You’re really falling for him. Watch out!

  Dennis helped me carry in the Cokes. When we returned to the living room, the mood had changed.

  Zack had climbed to his feet and was lumbering back and forth in front of the window. “Do you believe that jerk?” he was demanding. He scratched his curly red hair as he paced. “Do you believe him?”

  “Who are you talking about?” Dennis asked him, sitting down on the floor beside Caitlin.

  “Northwood, of course,” Zack replied bitterly. “Didn’t you hear about it, Dennis? I’m sure it was all over school.”

  “What was?” Dennis asked. He took a long swig from his Coke can, his green eyes locked on Zack.

  “Northwood called Zack up after class. He caught him cheating on the quiz,” Lanny said, an amused grin on his face.

  “I wasn’t cheating!” Zack screamed, glaring at Lanny.

  “Then why were you leaning over Deena Martinson’s shoulder?” Melody demanded.

  “I was asking her what time it was,” Zack replied. “I wasn’t looking at her answers. I was asking for the time.”

  Melody and Lanny laughed scornfully. Caitlin rolled her eyes.

  “We don’t believe you,” Dennis said softly, snickering.

  Zack exploded, letting out a string of curses. I couldn’t see his eyes behind the blue sunglasses. But I didn’t need to see them to know he was really angry. He is so big and powerful-looking, I was afraid he might shove his fist through the window or smash all the lamps.

  I had a momentary fantasy of Zack going on a rampage in my living room. I pictured Mom getting home, walking in, and finding nothing left but sawdust.

  Which would be an improvement.

  “It’s no lie,” Zack declared. “No lie. I wasn’t cheating. But Northwood grabbed me and pulled me out of the room. He said he could have me suspended again, this time for good.”

  “Did you tell him you were asking for the time?” Dennis asked.

  “Of course,” Zack shot back bitterly. “But Northwood wouldn’t listen. He wouldn’t even let me talk!”

  “He won’t listen to any of us,” Lanny broke in, his handsome features set in a hard frown beneath his blond hair. “And he won’t give us a break. You know why? You know why Northwood is always on our case?”

  “Because he’s a jerk?” Zack answered.

  “No. Because we’re rich,” Lanny said heatedly. “We’re rich and he’s poor. And that’s why we’re the ones he always picks on.”

  “Yeah, you’re right,” Melody murmured.

  “He never gives us a break,” Caitlin agreed.

  Zack suddenly bent over and hoisted up his backpack. “That’s okay,” he muttered. “That’s okay.” He unzipped it and reached one of his beefy hands inside. After a few seconds of fumbling through the stuff in the backpack, he appeared to find what he was looking for.

  When Zack turned back to the rest of us, his expression quickly changed. Beneath the round blue sunglasses, an evil smile crossed his face.

  “Hey, man, what’s in there?” Dennis demanded.

  “I’m going to take care of him,” Zack replied, his grin growing wider, his expression menacing. “I’m going to take care of Northwood—tonight.”

  chapter 15

  Dennis and Lanny started to laugh. But something about Zack’s expression made them cut it short.

  I was standing behind the couch, my arms crossed tensely in front of me. Everyone stared at Zack.

  He let his backpack drop to the floor at his feet. It took me a while to recognize what he gripped in his big, chunky hand.

  A test tube.

  Still grinning, Zack held it up so we all could see it.

  “Wh-what is it?” I stammered.

  “Zack’s going to drink it and turn into a werewolf,” Melody commented dryly.

  The yellow liquid inside the test tube glistened in the light.

  “It’s nitroglycerin!” Lanny declared, jumping to his feet. “He’s going to blow us all up!”

  Zack let out an evil, mad-scientist laugh and held the slender glass tube above his head.

  “Give us a break,” Caitlin pleaded. “What is it, Zack?”

  “Skunk juice,” Zack revealed.

  “Huh?” We all let out cries of surprise.

  “It’s skunk scent,” Zack repeated, stepping toward us, stretching the test tube toward us. “Here. Want a sniff?” He reached to remove the cork cap.

  “Yuck!”

  “No way!”

  “Get out of here!”

  “Is it really skunk scent?” I asked, staring hard at the yellow liquid.

  Zack nodded. “Yeah. My brother got it for me. From a science lab at the university.”

  “That’s really gross,” Caitlin murmured, making a face.

  “Want a sip?” Zack held it out to her.

  “Get away!” Caitlin screamed. She buried her face in Dennis’s sweatshirt.

  I felt a pang of jealousy. I wanted to be sitting where Caitlin was—next to Dennis.

  But I didn’t have time to think about that. Suddenly everyone was standing, following Zack to the front door.

  “What are you going to do?” Caitlin demanded, pulling on her parka.

  “He’s going to drink it and then go breathe on Northwood,” Dennis suggested.

  Everyone laughed.

  “Way to go, man!” Lanny slapped Zack hard on the back, nearly making him drop the test tube.

  “Whoa!” I cried. I had a nightmare vision of my entire house smoldering with skunk scent.

  “Come on, Zack, what’s your plan? Where are we going?” Melody asked, turning at the front door and blocking the way. “I’m not going with you guys till I know what you’re doing.”

  Zack grinned at her beneath his blue glasses. “Simple,” he said, holding the test tube waist-high. “One of us will pour this stuff on Northwood’s front stoop. That’s all. My brother said it’ll take months for the stink to go away.”

  “One of us?” Dennis demanded. “What do you mean, one of us?”

  “Well, I got the skunk juice,” Zack replied. “So someone else should drop it. Here, Dennis. I dare you.”

  He tried to hand the test tube to Dennis, but Dennis
raised his hands and backed away. “No way, man!” he cried. “I’m in enough trouble with Northwood!”

  “It’s revenge, Dennis!” Zack insisted, holding out the glass tube. “Revenge! You know you want to do it. Come on. I’m daring you!”

  “No way,” Dennis repeated. He rested a hand on Caitlin’s shoulder.

  “It’s your skunk juice. You pour it,” Melody told Zack.

  “I’m too big. Northwood will see me—” Zack started to say.

  ‘I’ll do it!” I exclaimed.

  Don’t ask me why I volunteered. The words just popped out of my mouth.

  I think it had something to do with seeing Caitlin rest her hand on Dennis’s shoulder. I think I really wanted to impress Dennis. I wanted to show everyone that I was one of them, one of the group. And I wanted to show Dennis that I was more fun than Caitlin.

  I didn’t think of those reasons until later. I didn’t have any reasons in my head when I just blurted out that I’d do it.

  “Way to go, Johanna!” Lanny cried.

  Zack slipped the test tube into my hand. It felt warm from the tight grip he had had on it. “Johanna’s a shrimp,” Zack explained to the others. “She can sneak up there, do the job, and then sneak away without being seen.”

  “You’re just a wimp,” Dennis accused Zack.

  Zack playfully shoved a big fist into Dennis’s face. “Say that again. I’ll mess you up, man.”

  Dennis made a disgusted face. “Hey, Zack, that skunk juice came off on your hand. Phew!”

  “Huh?” Zack let out an unhappy cry and started furiously sniffing his hand.

  Dennis laughed. “Gotcha!”

  Zack pounded him hard in the shoulder.

  “Hey, are we going to stand here all night? Let’s go do it!” Lanny exclaimed.

  We stepped out into a still, cold night. A bright half-moon hovered low over the bare trees. Nothing moved. Not a leaf stirred. It was eerily quiet.

  I led the way to Mr. Northwood’s house. I was glad to see that the house was entirely dark. Maybe he isn’t home, I thought. Or maybe he went to bed early.

  We crossed my driveway and stopped at the side of Mr. Northwood’s house. Two rather pitiful evergreen shrubs grew there, and we all ducked behind them.

  “His car isn’t in the driveway,” Dennis whispered. “So he probably isn’t home.”

  “It might be in his garage,” I whispered back.

  I realized I was gripping the test tube so tightly, I might smash it. I loosened my hold on it as I stared over at the dark front stoop.

  Why am I doing this? I asked myself. Have I lost my mind totally?

  I glanced at Dennis. He winked back at me encouragingly.

  My heart skipped. Yes. Maybe I have lost my mind, I told myself.

  Would I do anything for Dennis? I wondered.

  There was no time to think about that. The others were all whispering, urging me on.

  I took a deep breath and started jogging across the grass to Mr. Northwood’s front stoop. I held the test tube carefully in front of me.

  Somewhere down the block a car horn honked, interrupting the eerie silence.

  I hoped no car would drive by.

  I stopped beside the low concrete stoop. My heart was pounding so hard, I could hear it.

  I climbed onto the first step and raised the test tube.

  Hurry! Hurry! I urged myself silently.

  I reached a trembling hand to pull off the cork top—and the porch light came on.

  chapter 16

  “Oh!” I cried out in shock.

  The test tube tumbled from my hand.

  It shattered on the concrete stoop.

  I turned and bolted for the safety of the evergreen shrubs.

  Behind me, I heard the front door open.

  “Who’s there?” Mr. Northwood’s angry, shrill voice broke through the silence.

  I dived behind the shrub, joining the others.

  And then I heard Mr. Northwood let out a groan of disgust. “Oh, my heavens!” he exclaimed weakly. I heard him utter a curse. And then the front door was slammed shut.

  My new friends immediately moved to congratulate me. Zack wrapped me in a tight bear hug. “Johanna—you were awesome!” he whispered.

  “You were great!” Dennis told me, grinning.

  We were all laughing, slapping each other high-fives, celebrating silently behind the evergreens.

  Did Mr. Northwood see me? I wondered, glancing toward the front stoop. Does he know who it was?

  Our celebration didn’t last long. The disgusting, sour stench traveled fast.

  We all breathed it in at the same time. It was so gross!

  I never smelled anything as sickening as this. My stomach lurched. I thought I was going to heave!

  “We’re out of here!” Dennis cried.

  “Let’s get something to eat!” Zack urged.

  We piled into Melody’s parents’ Mercedes, and a few seconds later, backed down the driveway and roared off down Fear Street.

  Zack, Lanny, Caitlin, and I somehow squeezed in the back. Dennis rode in the front beside Melody. It was really uncomfortable, but I didn’t care. I had never ridden in a Mercedes before!

  We laughed and joked all the way to The Corner. We were all so happy that Mission Skunk Juice had been a success.

  The restaurant was nearly empty. Shadyside High students usually hung out there till all hours on weekends. But this was a school night. We squeezed into a booth near the back and all ordered hamburgers and french fries.

  Zack offered to pay for mine, which was a great relief since I didn’t have any money with me.

  I was so happy. Here I was with the most popular kids at Shadyside. And they were all being so nice to me. I really was part of their crowd.

  Caitlin made sure that she sat next to Dennis. I was unhappy about that. But Dennis kept flashing me secret smiles. And I was thrilled to be the star of the evening.

  “Did you see the look on Northwood’s face when he smelled the skunk juice?” Zack cried ecstatically.

  “No. I was running too fast!” I admitted.

  “His hair really stood up on end!” Caitlin declared.

  “Glad I don’t sit in the front row in his class,” Melody said, holding her nose. “His clothes will probably stink for a month too!”

  We all laughed and joked and had a great time.

  It was nearly ten-thirty when they dropped me off in front of my house. I turned and waved as the silver Mercedes rolled away.

  I was smiling to myself, thinking about my triumph, as I made my way up the driveway.

  But my smile quickly faded when a dark figure stepped out to meet me.

  chapter 17

  Mr. Northwood!

  That was my first thought.

  Thank goodness I was wrong.

  “Johanna!” Margaret called. She stepped up to me on the driveway. I saw that she carried an aluminum pot in her hands.

  “Margaret, what are you doing here?” I cried.

  Even in the darkness I could see the accusing glare of her eyes. “You said you had the flu, Johanna.”

  “Yeah. Well …”

  A sour aroma rose on the wet night air. Skunk smell.

  “Ooh. What’s that?” Margaret twisted her features in disgust.

  “It’s a long story,” I said. I led her into the house. The lights were on. I could hear Mom moving around in the back.

  I called to her that I was home. Then I turned to Margaret. She wore a pink down parka, a hand-me-down from her cousin. The hood flopped awkwardly behind her head. Her carrot-colored hair was disheveled, and it clashed with the pink coat.

  She raised the pot to me. “I brought you chicken soup. My mom had some in the freezer. You said you had the flu.”

  “I’m sorry—” I began to say.

  “You could have told me you had other plans,” Margaret interrupted shrilly. “You didn’t have to lie to me.”

  “I didn’t really have plans,�
� I said. Pretty lame.

  I could see the hurt in Margaret’s eyes. “If you didn’t want to study with me tonight, you should’ve just said so, Johanna.”

  “You’re right,” I said, taking the soup from her. “I’m sorry. Dennis came over and—”

  “You don’t belong with them,” she said bitterly.

  “Huh?” Her words caught me by surprise.

  “They’re different from us,” Margaret continued, staring hard at me. “They’re used to doing whatever they want. They don’t care who they hurt.”

  “You’re being a little dramatic, aren’t you?” I shot back. “You’ve been watching too many soaps, Margaret.”

  “I’m right,” Margaret said. “You’ll be sorry.”

  “Thanks, Mom,” I said sarcastically.

  “Enjoy the soup,” Margaret said. “See you around.”

  She turned quickly and hurried out the door.

  * * *

  In the weeks to come, Dennis and his friends started hanging out at my house. They would come over after dinner, and we’d kid around and have a lot of laughs and study together.

  My house wasn’t as big or as fancy as theirs. But I think they liked hanging out there because there were no parents around. Since my mom was almost always at work, we had the house to ourselves.

  I spent a lot of time daydreaming about Dennis, trying to figure out how I could make him dump Caitlin for good and start going out with me.

  Most everyone was still having trouble with Mr. Northwood. I think he suspected that Dennis and his friends were responsible for the skunk juice attack. And so he was meaner than ever to them.

  He gave both Dennis and Zack failing grades for the term. That meant that Dennis was no longer eligible for the track team. Dennis’s parents came to school and argued with Mr. Hernandez. But this time the principal backed up Mr. Northwood.

  Mr. Northwood also made Caitlin and Melody come in for an hour after school every day for a week—just because they were laughing together during a class discussion. And he threatened to keep us all from going on our spring class trip if our projects weren’t handed in on time.

  So, as the days went by, we continued to joke about how we wanted to murder Mr. Northwood.

  And then, late on a Thursday night, it stopped being a joke.