The Dare Read Free Page B

seeing me for the first time.
    â€œI could kill him. Really,” Dennis repeated. He turned away from me and started fiddling with his combination lock. “You know how?”
    â€œHow?” I asked a little too eagerly.
    â€œI don’t know,” Dennis said, scowling.
    â€œWell, let’s see,” I replied, thinking hard. “You could glue that little tape recorder to his ear and make him listen to all the classes he records. That would
bore
him to death.” I snickered.
    Dennis didn’t smile. “Not painful enough,” he grumbled. He tugged at the locker door, but it wouldn’t open. He let out a frustrated groan and started furiously twirling the lock again.
    Suddenly he stopped and turned to me. “I’d like to stuff him into that briefcase he always carries,” he said. “And lock it shut. And toss it in the trash.”
    â€œHe’s too tall,” I replied. “He wouldn’t fit.”
    â€œI’d fold him up,” Dennis said. “That would be the fun part. Folding him.”
    â€œYuck!” I made a disgusted face. “You’re really sick.”
    â€œNo. Just angry” Dennis sighed. “He’s going to mess up my life. He really is.”
    â€œWell, maybe you should just shoot him,” I joked.
    â€œNot as much fun as folding him up first,” Dennis replied. He wasn’t smiling. I stared at him, trying to determine just how serious he was.
    I mean, I knew he couldn’t
really
be serious about killing Mr. Northwood.
    â€œYou could fold him up and
then
shoot him,” I suggested.
    Dennis’s eyes lit up.
    I think Dennis likes me, I thought. He keeps staring at me, studying me with his eyes.
    â€œI could fold him up, shoot him, then
drown
him!” Dennis exclaimed.
    â€œYou could fold him up, shoot him, drown him, then
hang
him!” I added, getting into the game.
    Dennis laughed.
    Hey, I made him laugh! I told myself.
    I suddenly wondered if my hair was messed up. I brushed a hand through it.
    â€œYou could fold him up, shoot him, drown him, then—”
    I stopped when I saw Mr. Northwood standing in the classroom doorway, staring hard at us.
    Oh, no!
I thought, feeling my heart leap to my throat.
    How long has he been standing there?
    Has he heard everything?

chapter 4
    M r. Northwood glared at Dennis, then at me.
    I let out a choking sound. I was sure he had heard me. I could feel my face grow hot. I knew it must be bright red.
    But then, without saying a word, Mr. Northwood turned and headed away from us down the hall.
    I just stood there, watching his head and shoulders bob as he took his usual long strides. I didn’t start breathing again until he disappeared around the corner.
    â€œI have to be nice to him,” I whispered to Dennis. “He’s my next-door neighbor. On Fear Street.”
    Dennis’s mouth dropped open. “Huh? You live next door to Northwood?”
    I nodded. “Do you believe it? I see him all the time. He’s always messing around in the backyard, even in winter. It’s like … it’s like having a spy from schoolnext door. I always have the feeling he’s checking up on me. I mean, I know he isn’t. But still—”
    I realized I was running on a bit at the mouth. I guess I was just so relieved that Mr. Northwood hadn’t heard my diabolical plans to bump him off.
    And I liked being able to confide in Dennis.
    I’m usually really shy around boys. The old self-confidence problem. You know. But I suddenly had this feeling that I could talk to Dennis, that he and I were on the same wavelength.
    â€œNorthwood’s neighbor. Weird,” Dennis muttered, zipping his maroon and gray school jacket. “Weird.” He slammed his locker shut and swung his backpack onto his shoulder.
    â€œWeird enough living on Fear Street,” I muttered.
    Dennis snickered. “You believe all those stories? About ghosts and