The New Boy
Author: R. L. Stine
Date: 1994-06-15 23:15:07+00:00
Keywords: Action & Adventure; Horror; General; Juvenile Fiction; Speculative
Description: What a hunk! When handsome, mysterious Ross Gabriel comes to Shadyside High, all the girls want to date him...even the ones who already have boyfriends! Janie, Eve and Faith go so far as to make a bet...which one of them will he go out with first?
Publisher: Pocket Books

This book made available by the Internet Archive.

NeM^%

chapter

1 wo weeks before the murder, Janie Simpson saw the new boy at Shadyside High for the first time.

The boy was good-looking. He had the smooth, graceful stride of a natural athlete. He was tall and lean. His slender face, topped by curly brown hair, had a solemn expression. Janie wondered if he ever smiled.

Studying him, Janie couldn't stop staring at his eyes. Dark, brooding eyes.

Troubled eyes, she thought.

Sad eyes.

She had to blink to interrupt her gaze. She could feel her face growing hot.

Big deal. So the guy has great eyes, Janie thought.

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turning her head into her gray locker as he passed her. Why am I being so melodramatic?

Two Tigers cheerleaders passed by in their short-skirted maroon and white outfits. Janie recognized Corky Corcoran and her friend Kimmy Bass. They were giggling and shoving each other playfully.

Janie turned back and watched the new boy disappear around a comer. Had he noticed her? She didn't think so.

"Janie, you've got to get a life," she scolded herself, muttering in a low voice.

The bell above the lockers rang loudly, startling Janie. She tossed her books to the floor of her locker. The hall was nearly empty now. Most kids had headed home or to their after-school jobs.

Janie wanted to get home to work on her social studies term paper. But she had a job to do first.

She started to slam the locker shut but changed her mind. Pulling the door open all the way, she glanced impatiently at herself in the small mirror attached to the door.

She smoothed her straight red hair with quick motions of one hand. She wore it long and layered. She rubbed a smudge of dirt off her pale, creamy cheek.

Blue eyes stared back at her. She straightened the blue shirt she had on over a yellow tank top.

Janie was short and very thin. She usually wore a lot of layers. It was the look she liked, but her friends Faith and Eve teased her about it, saying she was just trying to look bigger.

THE NEW BOY

"Boys don't notice you because they can't see you," Faith joked.

Janie could hear Faith's teasing voice in her mind. "You have the figure of a model and dress like a bag lady."

Faith had natural good looks. She was blond and fresh looking, bubbly, an ail-American cheerleader type. She never got tired of giving Janie tips on clothes and makeup.

But Janie never wore makeup. And she really didn't want to look like a faded version of Faith. She wanted to look like her own person. She just wasn't sure who that person was.

Where are Faith and Eve anyway? Janie asked herself, glancing down the empty hall. She slammed her locker shut. Maybe they're already at Mr. Hernandez's office, waiting for me. Maybe they've started counting the money without me.

She began jogging toward the principal's office at the front of the building. Two teachers walked by, buttoning their raincoats, heading to the parking lot. A rumble of cheers floated up from cheerleader practice downstairs in the gym.

I hope we can count the money quickly, Janie thought. I've got so much homework tonight.

She and her two friends had been in charge of the committee for the school dance. And now they had to count up the receipts and hand the money over to Mr. Hernandez, the new principal.

There was a lot of money to count. The dance had been a real success. A financial success, not a

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personal success, Janie thought with some bitterness.

Eve and Faith both had had dates. Faith showed up with Paul Gordon, of course. They'd been going together for weeks. And Eve came to the dance with her boyfriend, Ian Smith.

Janie sighed as she turned the comer and the principal's office came into view. Of the three, only Janie didn't have a boyfriend.

She had gone to the dance anyway. She really had to, since she was one of those in charge. She danced with a few guys. But she didn't really have a good time. She kept watching Faith and Eve with their boyfriends and had to fight back feelings of jealousy and loneliness.

That was Saturday night. Now it was the following Monday. The first day of the rest of my life, Janie thought. Whatever that means.

She passed the printed sign on the wall—

PETER HERNANDEZ, PRINCIPAL—puUcd OpCU the dOOr,
and burst into the outer office. "Sorry I'm late, guys—"

Janie stopped short when she realized the office was empty.

Where were Eve and Faith?

She took a few steps toward the inner office. The door was slightly ajar and the lights were on. "Anyone here?"

No reply.

I'll bet Faith is hanging out with Paul, Janie thought. She's probably making him late for basketball practice.

THE NEW BOY

But Where's Eve? She can't be with Ian. Ian has an after-school job.

Janie glanced at the big clock on the wall. Nearly a quarter to three. She pulled both hands through her long red hair, then shook her head to smooth it out.

Suddenly the door to the hallway swung open, and Eve hurried in. Eve had dark, dramatic looks. Her long, sleek hair shone almost blue-black under the ceiling light. Her olive eyes flashed excitedly.

"Did you hear the news?" she asked Janie breathlessly. "Deena Martinson broke up with Gary Rrandt!"

"Huh?" Janie's mouth dropped open. "They were at the dance together Saturday night. Where'd you hear that?"

"I was just talking with Deena," Eve said, pushing her black hair over the shoulders of her lime-green sweater. "She's upset, but not too bad. She said they're still friends."

Janie nodded thoughtfully. "How come you always know everything before anyone else?"

"It's easy to know things before you do," Eve teased. "You never know anything!"

Janie forced a halfhearted laugh. "Well, we can't wait for Faith," she said, moving to the round table against the wall. "Let's get started. Where's the money?"

"Huh?" Eve's dark eyes grew wide with surprise.

"The money," Janie repeated impatiently. "Where is it?"

"I thought you had it!" Eve cried.

FEAR STREET

Janie felt her throat tighten. She had a sudden heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Come on, Eve," she said, trying to stay calm. "You were supposed to pick the money up from Mrs. Fritz last period."

The light in Eve's eyes faded. Her expression grew solemn. "Faith picked up the money for me this morning," she told Janie. "She put it in her locker. But when it wasn't there after school, she figured you took it."

Janie gasped. "But I didn't!" she cried shrilly. "I didn't!"

"Oh, no," Eve moaned, shaking her head. "That means—that means it's been stolen!"

chapter

/.

anie felt her throat tighten even more. She swallowed hard, trying to fight down a sick feeling,

"Eve," she cried. "We—we're responsible. It's over a thousand dollars. If—if—" The room was spinning. She couldn't think clearly.

Eve tugged at her sleeve. "Come on. Let's go find Faith. Quick."

The two girls hurried down the empty hall. The shouts of the cheerleaders floated up from the gym. Several teachers were huddled in front of a water fountain, laughing.

Janie didn't feel like laughing. She felt like crying.

If the money really was stolen, how would they ever pay it back? And would they be accused of stealing it?

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No. No way. That couldn't happen, she assured herself.

They found Faith at her locker. She was brushing her blond hair.

"Faith—the money!" Janie cried in a shrill, frightened voice. "Did you find it? Do you have it?"

"Of course," Faith replied casually. She pulled a green canvas bag from her locker. "It's right here."

Faith turned to Eve, and her expression changed. "Oh, Eve—you promised you wouldn't pull that stupid joke on Janie!" she exclaimed.

Eve burst out laughing, her olive eyes sparkling.

"That was too mean!" Faith cried. "We decided not to do it."

"I—I couldn't resist," Eve declared through her laughter. She grabbed both of Janie's slender shoulders and hung on. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. But— the look on your face. It was worth it for the look on your face!" She started laughing all over again, hugging Janie and laughing at the same time.

Faith shook her head disapprovingly, but she also started to laugh.

"Some friends," Janie grumbled. Angrily she pulled away from Eve. "You're both awful. I can't believe you'd be so mean."

"It was just a joke," Eve said, wiping the tears of laughter from her eyes.

"Ha-ha," Janie replied bitterly.

"You really shouldn't have," Faith told Eve, tucking her hairbrush into the little compartment of her backpack. "You know what a worrier Janie is."

THE NEW BOY

"I'm sorry, Janie," Eve said again, forcing her dark features into a serious expression. "Really."

"Let's just go count the money," Janie said impatiently, picking up the canvas bag. "The sooner we turn it over to Mr. Hernandez, the better."

She started back toward the office, Faith and Eve following close behind.

Janie had just turned the comer when she saw the new boy again.

First she saw his dark, troubled eyes. Then she saw the twisted expression on his pale face.

She gasped when she saw the puddle of bright blood on the floor at his feet.

"Please—help me," he called to her.

And then she saw the blood dripping down his arm.

chapter

W.

ith a cry of alarm Janie rushed forward. Her two friends quickly followed.

The boy was breathing hard. His features revealed that he was in pain.

Blood spread over the white sleeve of his shirt.

"What happened?** Eve cried.

"It—it's not as bad as it looks," the boy said, holding his sleeve. "Really."

"But the blood—" Faith started to say.

Janie hung back, holding the money sack in both hands at her waist, like a shield.

"If you could help me find the nurse's office—" he said. "I'm new here. I don't know where it is."

"I'll take you," Faith declared, grabbing his uninjured arm.

THE NEW BOY

"Fll go, too," Eve said quickly. "Her office is up those stairs. She usually stays late. What happened?"

"A stupid accident," he said, shaking his head, his brown hair falling over his forehead. He glanced at Janie. "I was trying to help a girl. Outside. Her bike got stuck in the fence. You know. Behind the parking lot."

He grimaced in pain.

Janie glanced down at the puddle of blood on the floor.

"When I pulled her bike free," he continued, "the wire cut right through my arm. Just sliced it."

"Let's see if the nurse is still there," Faith urged, lidding on to the boy's arm. "What's your name?"

"Ross Gabriel," he said.

Faith and Eve were leading Ross away. "I—I'd better take the money to the office," Janie called after them.

Her two friends were talking to Ross and didn't reply.

"Meet me there, okay?" Janie shouted.

They disappeared around the comer.

Stepping around the bloodstain, Janie headed glumly toward the office, the heavy canvas bag under one arm.

"It's not fair," she muttered to herself. "I saw him first."

Janie had dumped the money onto the round table in the outer office and was sorting the bills when Faith and Eve returned. "Did you find the nurse?" she asked, glancing up from the piles of money.

FEAR STREET

Faith nodded, a smile on her face. "Yeah. We saved Ross's hfe. He owes us big now."

"I think Tm in love!" Eve gushed.

"He's real cute," Faith quickly agreed, taking a seat at the table. "Do you think he ever smiles?"

"Who cares?" Eve replied, picking up a stack of ones and flicking them through her lingers. "He's terrific. Where'd he come from?"

Faith shrugged. "I like his eyes. It's like they're staring right through you. He kept looking at me like—"

"You know, I saw him first!" Janie blurted out, surprised by the anger in her voice.

Faith's eyes widened in surprise. "Janie, you liked him? You didn't say a single word to him."

"Why didn't you come to the nurse's with us?" Eve demanded, taking a seat at the table.

"I—I don't know," Janie stammered. She could feel her face growing hot.

"Oooh, you're blushing!" Eve teased, pointing at Janie.

"You've got to stop being so shy around boys," Faith instructed her as she toyed casually with a stack of fives. "Boys can't guess that you like them."

"Listen to the expert," Eve commented, rolling her eyes.

Faith tossed her blond hair off her shoulders. "I might just walk up to Ross and say, 'Let's get a Coke after school.' Or maybe ask him to a movie Saturday night."

Eve dropped the money she'd been fiddling with.

THE NEW BOY

"Huh? You'd ask Ross out? Aren't you forgetting about Paul?"

A devilish grin was Faith's reply.

"Paul's such a jock. I really don't know what you see in him anyway," Eve said, avoiding Faith's eyes.

"You mean besides the fact that he's tall and cute and smart, and drives the coolest car in Shadyside, and made All-Conference last year?" Faith demanded defensively.

Janie could have added to that list. She had to confess she had a secret crush on Paul.

"Admit it, Faith. Paul is his own biggest fan," Eve said, still avoiding her friend's eyes. "He's so stuck-up. Frankly, it makes me sick to see you trail after him like a lovesick puppy."

Faith let out an angry cry. Then she took a deep breath. "I'm not going to let you get me mad, Eve," she said softly. "You're too pitiful."

"Huh? Me? Pitiful?" Eve cried.

"You're just jealous of Paul and me," Faith accused her friend. "You're the lovesick puppy. I watched you throw yourself at Ian at the dance Saturday night. You danced so close to him, I thought we'd need a crowbar to pry you apart!"

Eve gasped.

Janie laughed. "It's a good thing we're best friends," she said. "Otherwise, people might think we hated each other!"

"Ian may not be a jock like Paul," Eve continued breathlessly, ignoring Janie's attempt to lighten things up. "But I have a lot of respect for Ian. Did you know

FEAR STREET
he's working /wo jobs after school to try to save money for college? All Paul has to do is throw a ball and recruiters are camping out in his front yard to offer him scholarships. It's not fair."

"Can't lan's parents help him out?" Janie asked.

"They could if they wanted to, but lan's dad is such a jerk," Eve replied bitterly. "He thinks if Ian works himself to death to raise money for college, it'll improve his character."

She sighed. "Maybe it will—if he lives through it! But I never get to see him anymore except in the hall between classes or in the lunchroom."

Janie glanced nervously up at the wall clock. "We've got to stop yakking and get to work. I promised Hernandez we'd have the money counted and stacked and banded and ready for him when he gets here."

Eve pointed her thumb at the door to the inner office. "Hernandez isn't in there?"

"Not yet."

"So relax," Eve replied. She swept her hands over the table of money. "I didn't know there was this much. How much do you think it is?"

"Well, if you count the money from the concessions . . ." Janie did some quick calculations in her head. "There must be at least twelve hundred dollars. Maybe more."

"Twelve hundred dollars!" Eve's eyes grew wide.

Janie stared at her friend. She knew that both of Eve's parents were out of work. Even when they were working, the Mullers didn't make much money. The hole in the knee of Eve's faded jeans wasn't a fashion statement.

THE NEW BOY

Faith narrowed her eyes, her expression serious. "Hey, guys—let's spht up the money and make a run for it," she whispered.

Janie shot a suspicious glance at Faith. Faith's full pink cheeks darkened to red.

Was Faith serious?

No. Janie knew that Faith's parents were loaded. And they spoiled Faith rotten. Faith had everything she ever wanted.

Except maybe for Ross, Janie thought.

Janie started to stack five-dollar bills. The hallway door opened. Janie glanced up, expecting to see Mr. Hernandez. But it wasn't the principal.

Ian and Paul walked in together. Their eyes immediately shot to the table and the mound of money.

"Money!" Ian cried, rubbing his hands together greedily and making lip-smacking sounds.

"Wow! We're rich!" Paul cried. He dropped his basketball gear to the floor, grabbed a handful of bills, and started stuffing them into the pocket of his sweats. "My car needs a new transmission. This should cover it!"

"No way! It's all mine!" Ian cried. He started shoving dollar bills down the front of his T-shirt. "This is my scholarship! Thanks, girls!"

"Give that back!" Eve cried. She pounced on Ian, reached into his T-shirt, and started pulling out dollar bills.

Laughing loudly, Ian tried to squirm away. "Hey, come on! Cut it out! You're tickling me!"

Faith and Janie chased Paul around the table. "Give it back, Paul! Give it!"

FEAR STREET

They had him backed up against the wall when he spotted the stack of bills Janie had just banded together. Janie dived at him.

But Paul was too fast. He plucked the money from the table. "Ian! Go deep for the bomb!" he shouted gleefully.

Ian tore away from Eve's grasp, still laughing, and ran across the office toward the door to Mr. Hernandez's inner office.

Paul whipped the stack of money like a football over Eve's outstretched hands.

As he tossed it, the door to the inner office suddenly swung open.

Ian leapt for the money. But the pass was a Httle too high.

Mr. Hernandez stuck his balding head out through his doorway—and the stack of bills hit him hard on the forehead.

Thock.

Janie gasped. The others froze.

Mr. Hernandez turned bright red as his hand went up to his head.

Then his eyes narrowed as they swept from one face to the next.

*'You're all suspended for the rest of the year," he said.

chapter

J.

anie's breath caught in her throat.

She could feel the blood pulsing at her temples.

Immediately she thought of her parents. How upset they'd be. How disappointed in her.

Her eyes locked on Ian. Poor Ian. He had been working so hard. Working two jobs to earn the money to go to Yale next fall.

And now all his plans were ruined.

It's not fair! The words formed in her mind, but she didn't say them.

Then she noticed that Mr. Hernandez was grinning. "Scared you," he said, chuckling, his big stomach bouncing up and down.

Janie and her friends didn't react.

"Okay, okay. People say I have a sick sense of

FEAR STREET
humor," Mr. Hernandez said, still smiling. "Fm sorry. Principals have to have some fun, you know?"

"Ha-ha. Good joke!" Paul was the first to break the silence.

The others forced halfhearted laughter.

This is a day for mean jokes, Janie thought wistfully. Ross flashed into her mind for some reason. She wondered if he was okay. She wondered if he was still in the building.

"No way I could suspend you people," the principal said, his eyes on Janie. "You three girls just organized the most successful dance in the history of Shadyside High."

"That's great!" Eve cried.

"Wow. We're a hit!" Faith declared. She slapped Janie a high five.

Mr. Hernandez's expression darkened as he turned to Paul and Ian. "And what are you two doing here?"

"Uh ... I was just on my way to basketball practice," Paul said, scratching his thick, curly blond hair. His cheeks became bright pink.

"And why aren't you there now?" Mr. Hernandez demanded.

"Mrs. Fritz asked me to give this to one of the girls," Paul said. He reached into his pocket. Several dollar bills came tumbling out.

He turned both pockets of his sweats inside out, and more bills flitted to the ground. "Ah . . . hmmm .. . where is it?" Finally he found what he was looking for—a small silver key. He tossed the key to Eve.

Janie recognized it. It was the key to the filing

THE NEW BOY
cabinet where the dance committee kept its receipts and other stuff.

Mr. Hernandez fixed Ian firmly in his sights. "And what's your story?"

"I thought I could .. . ah . . . help them." He pulled his T-shirt free of his jeans, and money spilled out.

"Perhaps you could be more useful by leaving," Mr. Hernandez said dryly.

"Bye," Ian said, giving everyone a quick wave. He turned to Eve. "I'll... uh . . . wait for you."

Ian disappeared out the door. Paul quickly followed.

"I'm sorry about all the craziness, Mr. Hernandez," Eve said sheepishly. "Ian was supposed to give me a ride to the Division Street Mall after I finished counting the money. But then Paul showed up—"

"It was my fault, Mr. Hernandez," Faith interrupted. "I forgot the key when I picked up the receipts from Mrs. Fritz—"

Mr. Hernandez lowered his gaze to the money scattered on the floor. "I take it you haven't finished yet."

The girls shook their heads.

"Well, hurry up so we can get out of here." The principal sighed.

He started to disappear into the inner office, then poked his head back out. "By the way, girls, anything left on the floor, I keep!"

Ten minutes later Janie and her friends had finished. The money lay stacked on the table in neat little

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piles. The coins, now in rolls, were piled next to the stacks.

"And the grand total is one thousand two hundred and forty-one dollars and sixty-five cents," Janie announced. She jotted the amount down on a slip of paper. "I can't believe how great we did! It was having a live band, you know. That was so much better than just a deejay and records."

"That money sure could pay off a lot of bills at my house," Eve said with a sigh.

"Or it could pay for one totally decent shopping spree at Dalby's Department Store!" Faith exclaimed, her blue eyes lighting up.

"Keep your paws off!" Janie teased, shoving Faith's hands away. She stuffed the money back into the canvas bag, then dropped in the slip of paper with the amount written on it.

Eve opened the file cabinet drawer and put the canvas bag inside.

Janie knocked lightly on Mr. Hernandez's door.

"Come in."

The three girls entered the office. Mr. Hernandez was at his desk, on the phone, clearly annoyed. Rolling his eyes in a helpless gesture, he motioned to the girls to take seats. "Mr. Jefferson ... Mr. Jefferson, if you'd just listen to me ..." he said into the phone.

Eve leaned over to Janie and whispered, "I have a feeling Ian is still waiting for me in the hall. I'd better go tell him not to wait. I don't want him to be late for work."

THE NEW BOY

Janie nodded. Eve got up from her chair and silently left the room.

She returned a few minutes later. The principal was still on the phone, still pleading for Mr. Jefferson to give him a chance to talk.

Faith glanced at her watch. She leaned over to Janie. "I'd better call home and let them know Vm going to be late." Janie nodded, and Faith crept out of the room.

Janie's eyes searched the office for something of interest to help the time pass more quickly. She spotted a photograph of three young men in soccer uniforms, almost totally covered in mud, with their arms on one another's shoulders. The huge grins on their faces indicated they had just won a big game.

With a start Janie realized that the one in the middle was Mr. Hernandez. He was pretty good-looking way back when he had hair, she thought.

Faith quietly returned and sat down next to Janie.

Glancing at her watch, Janie noted with surprise that Faith had been gone for over five minutes.

With a weary sigh Mr. Hernandez finally hung up the phone. He rubbed his bald head as he turned to Janie and her friends. "So? What was the grand total?"

"One thousand two hundred and . . ." Struggling to remember, Janie turned to Faith and Eve. "How much was it again?"

They both shrugged.

"You wrote it down," Faith said.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Hernandez," Janie said, jumping

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up from her chair. "I wrote the amount down on a slip of paper and put it in the bag. Be right back."

Janie quickly made her way out of the office, closing the door gently behind her.

She was surprised to find Paul in the outer office.

He flashed her an embarrassed grin and held up his basketball shoes. "Forgot these. Can't practice without them."

He stuffed the sneakers into his gym bag and slung it over his shoulder. "Tell Faith Til call her later," he said, heading out the door.

Janie pulled open the drawer to the file cabinet.

She had started to reach inside to pull out the canvas bag when she realized the drawer was empty.

"Whoa," she murmured out loud. "Wrong drawer,! guess."

She pulled out the next drawer. It was filled with files and papers.

The third drawer was stuffed with old math workbooks.

Janie pulled out the original drawer—the right one—and stood frozen, gaping into it in disbelief.

Empty.

Totally empty.

She grew cold all over. Her knees were trembling.

"Mr. Hernandez!" she managed to choke out just above a whisper. She took a deep breath and tried again. "Mr. Hernandez!" she cried in a shrill, frightened voice. "Please—come quick! It's gone! The money is gone!"

This time it really was gone.

chapter

17,
p in her room after dinner that night, Janie stared at her social studies text until it became a white blur.

I can't study, she thought miserably. I can't concentrate on anything. My mind just keeps going back to this afternoon. I can't stop thinking about the stolen money.

With an unhappy sigh she slammed the book shut and jumped to her feet. Grabbing her down jacket from where she had tossed it on the floor, she hurried downstairs.

"I'm going out!" she shouted to her parents.

She ran out the door before they could ask where she was going and why she was going out on a school night.

FEAR STREET

She drove to Faith's house in North Hills. Faith greeted her at the door in baggy jeans and an oversize sweater, her blond hair disheveled, surprise on her face, "Janie—what's up?"

"I just had to talk to somebody," Janie replied, following Faith across the polished floor of the large living room filled with antiques, to the dark-paneled den.

Paul was standing by the fireplace, tending the fire with a brass poker. He glanced up in surprise as Janie entered. The firelight made his round cheeks and curly blond hair glow.

"Oh. Hi. I didn't know you were here," Janie said awkwardly.

Paul seemed uneasy too, which was unusual for him. "Faith and I were just. . . talking about school," he said, glancing at Faith.

They sat down on the long leather couch that faced the fire. The bright flames bent and crackled. The room smelled sweet.

"I can't stop thinking about this afternoon, about the stolen money," Janie said, clasping her hands in her lap.

"At least Hernandez doesn't suspect us," Faith replied, darting a nervous glance at Paul. "I mean, that's a relief, huh?"

"But who else could have known the money bag was in the file drawer?" Janie demanded. "I've been asking myself that over and over."

"Hernandez probably suspects Ian and me," Paul said, and then he let out a high-pitched, nervous

THE NEW BOY
laugh. "I mean, Ian was out in the hall the whole time, waiting for Eve. And I was in the office. You know. Picking up my basketball shoes."

"I don't know what Hernandez thinks," Janie said, biting her lower lip. "I don't know what to think about anything. Vm just so upset."

Janie suddenly wished she hadn't come to Faith's. Paul and Faith were acting weird, she thought. They kept casting nervous glances at each other. They seemed so uncomfortable.

"I keep feeling guilty," Janie admitted, staring into the fire. "It's stupid, I know. But I feel guilty. You know what it reminds me of. Faith?"

Faith frowned at her, the fire sending flickering shadows over her face. "What?"

"It reminds me of the time you, me, and Eve broke into that boarded-up old house on Fear Street. Remember?"

"Yeah. It was supposed to be haunted," Faith replied, smoothing her hand over the leather couch arm.

"Remember? The police came in and got us before we were halfway up those creaking stairs," Janie continued. "We were so surprised and frightened. I remember I was actually a little glad we'd been caught. I mean, if there were ghosts in that old house, I really didn't want to know about it."

Faith and Paul let out halfhearted laughs.

"You dared us to go in," Janie recalled. "Eve and I didn't want to do it. But you dared us, Faith. And I guess we were too embarrassed not to take the dare."

FEAR STREET

"We really got into trouble," Faith said, pushing her hair behind her shoulders.

"I was grounded for a month," Janie added. "The police made us feel like real criminals." She sighed. "That's how I felt today. That same guilty feeling— even though I know none of us could have done it."

There was an awkward silence. All three of them stared into the fire. A loud pop made them jump. Paul laughed.

"Let's change the subject," Faith said, getting up to put on another log. "Paul says he knows who Ross is. You know, that new boy we helped this afternoon."

"You know him?" Janie asked a little too eagerly.

"Well, I don't really know him, and I didn't know his name," Paul replied. "He's in my calculus class. But I remember him from last fall when we played New Brighton. First football game of the season."

"He's from New Brighton?" Janie asked. "I wonder why he transferred in the middle of the year."

Paul shrugged. "He was a running back. He killed us. It was that real rainy night, remember? The field was soft and muddy, like pig slop."

"Very colorful," Faith interrupted sarcastically.

"This guy Ross ran about eighty yards in the mud for a touchdown," Paul continued, ignoring her. "Our guy fell down, and Ross just kept going. Only score of the game." He made a disgusted face, his blue eyes shining in the light from the fire. "Big hero," he muttered.

"I think he's cute," Faith said, poking the fire.

"He's a jerk," Paul said sharply.

THE NEW BOY

"Just because he ran for a touchdown against the Tigers?" Janie demanded.

"No. Because he has an attitude," Paul told her. "After he scored the touchdown he ran past our bench, high-stepping and pumping his fist. What a hot dog. And he has a real attitude in math class, too. Like he knows everything. Like he's too smart for the rest of us. He's real stuck-up."

"Maybe he's just shy," Janie said.

"Maybe he's a jerk," Paul insisted.

"I still think he's cute," Faith said, grinning.

Paul scowled at Faith. "You have no taste."

They all laughed.

Paul left a little after ten. Janie knew she should go home, too, but something held her back.

She wanted to talk with Faith about the stolen money, see if Faith had any theories. She wanted to ask why Faith and Paul had acted so strangely, so tense all evening. But she didn't think she could.

Yawning, Faith dropped another log on the fire. "Fires always make me sleepy," she said. She slumped back onto the couch. "So are you going to ask Ross out, or am I?" she asked, her blue eyes glowing playfully.

"Huh? Ask him out?" The question caught Janie by surprise. "Well, how can you ask him out. Faith? You and Paul—"

"Paul won't have to know," Faith replied, grinning.

"Well, maybe ..." Janie felt her face growing hot.

"I know you're interested in him," Faith teased.

FEAR STREET

"Hey—how about a little bet? You know. Which of us can go out with Ross first?"

"A bet? You mean for money?"

Faith laughed. "Okay. For money. Ten dollars, say. It'll be a little race. The first to go out with Ross takes the money."

Before Janie could reply, the cordless phone beside the couch rang. Faith picked it up.

"Oh, hi, Eve. You want in on our bet?"

Janie listened to Faith explain the bet to Eve. "Ian is always working. He won't know," Faith assured Eve. "Yeah. Yeah. Janie, too."

They discussed it more. Then Faith turned to Janie. "Eve is in. See you tomorrow. Eve." She hung up the phone. "A date with Ross and twenty dollars. What do you say?"

Janie sighed. She knew she was probably too shy to ask Ross out. Faith wouldn't have any problem just going up to him and inviting him to a movie or something. Neither would Eve.

"I'll lose," Janie said softly. "But okay. Faith. Fm in."

A short while later Janie picked up her down jacket, and Faith walked her to the front door. "See you tomorrow," Janie said. And then the words flew out of her mouth: "Why were you and Paul so weird tonight?"

"Huh?" Faith reacted with surprise.

"You both acted sort of—nervous," Janie said. "Was there a problem or something?"

Faith hesitated. "Well—kind of," she said reluctantly, her blue eyes locked on Janie's.

THE NEW BOY

"I—uh . . ." Janie felt embarrassed. "What kind of problem?" she asked, lowering her eyes.

Faith hesitated again. "Well, Janie, it*s just that— uh . . . Paul and I know that it was you who stole the dance money."

chapter

Xxuh?" Janie cried, her mouth dropping open.

Faith's eyes burned accusingly into Janie's.

"You—you think that /—" Janie stammered in disbelief.

Faith burst out laughing. "April fool," she murmured. "I tried, but I couldn't keep a straight face."

Janie let out an angry roar. "Faith—it isn't April yet, and you're not funny!" she screamed. "Can't you take anything seriously?"

Faith's grin faded. "I'm going to take our bet about Ross seriously," she said.

As chemistry class began the next afternoon, Janie opened her lab book and started to set up her test

THE NEW BOY
tubes. But her mind wasn't on the lab assignment. It was on Ross Gabriel.

She had been thinking about Ross all day, asking herself again and again why she had been so foolish as to bet against Faith and Eve.

There's no way I can compete against either of them, Janie thought miserably.

"Janie," Mr. Mancuso's voice startled her from her thoughts. She glanced up—and was sure she must be hallucinating.

Next to Mr. Mancuso stood Ross Gabriel, his brown hair over his forehead, his dark eyes locked on her.

"Would you please work with Ross until Pam is better?" the chemistry teacher asked. Janie's usual lab partner, Pam Dalby, was out with the flu. Mr. Mancuso walked to the front of the room to demonstrate the experiment.

"Hi again," Ross said, dropping casually onto the high stool beside her. "You're Janie, right?"

Janie's heart was pounding so hard, she wondered if Ross could hear it. "Yeah. Hi," she managed to croak out. "How's your arm?"

"No problem. We'll ace this experiment," he told her, reaching across her to rearrange the test tubes. "I've done it before. At my old school. In seventh grade, I think. This is all Mickey Mouse stuff."

"Yeah, I know,'^ Janie quickly agreed. She actually thought the assignment was pretty hard, but there was no way she could admit it.

FEAR STREET

"Watch out for that one. That's ammonia," she warned him, pointing to a clear test tube. "I sniffed a test tube of ammonia once by mistake. My nose burned for a week!"

She expected him to laugh, but his expression remained solemn. "Yeah. You've got to be careful," he said, studying the test tubes. "Of course, I drink that stuff for breakfast!"

Janie laughed. His dark eyes flashed, but still he didn't smile.

"I guess we should start," Janie said, turning to the test tubes. "Is this the magnesium ferride?"

"Whatever," Ross replied. His attention was on the front of the room, where Mr. Mancuso was leaning over a table, helping a group get started.

Ross turned back to Janie and placed a hand over hers, stopping her from picking up a test tube. "Want to see something really bad?" he whispered, bringing his lips close to her ear, so close she could feel his warm breath on her face.

She shivered. "Something bad?"

He raised a finger to his mouth to signal that she should be quiet. He glanced up again to make sure the teacher still had his back turned. Then he quickly poured a green liquid into a clear liquid. "Watch," he instructed Janie.

The liquids rolled together. White steam rose up from the green mixture.

"What is it?" Janie whispered.

"It's a stink bomb," Ross replied, staring down at the test tube. The green liquid fizzed over the top. The wet steam rose up. "Take a sniff."

THE NEW BOY

Janie reluctantly inhaled. She made a disgusted face. "Yuck!"

The sour odor began to float over the classroom.

Kids began to groan and complain. A few heads turned back questioningly toward Janie and Ross.

"Oooh, what stinks?" someone cried.

"Ricky—is that youT' someone called to Ricky Schorr, the class clown who was always blamed for everything.

"No way!" Ricky cried.

Kids were coughing and gagging.

Janie slid off the stool and backed away from the table, her eyes watering.

Mr. Mancuso finally caught on that something was wrong. He raised his face and sniffed. "Oh." He let out a sick gasp.

"Mr. Mancuso, it's over here," Ross called. "I think Janie and I did something wrong."

"Huh? Me?" Janie cried. "I didn't—"

Mr. Mancuso hurried to Janie's lab table. "Janie and I got the steps wrong, I think," Ross said. "It—it smells like rotten eggs!" He winked at Janie.

Mr. Mancuso's eyes narrowed as he stared down at the bubbling green mixture. He was holding his breath, trying not to inhale the disgusting, sour aroma. "I'll take care of it," he told Ross.

The teacher picked up a test tube holder, lifted the green tube from the rack, and hurried from the room with it.

As soon as he was gone the room erupted in laughter and wild cheers. "Way to go, Ross!" Ricky Schorr cried.

FEAR STREET

"Let's party!" someone yelled.

"Open the windows—please!" someone else begged.

Ross turned to Janie. "Sorry," he said. "I just wasn't in the mood for that dumb assignment today."

Janie laughed. The air in the room was starting to clear. "Where did you learn to make that?" she asked, climbing back beside him.

"My mom bought me a chemistry set when I was eight," he told her. "It was the first thing I ever made."

Janie snickered. "You did a great job, Ross. You'll probably get an A."

"I like to mess people up," Ross said. She waited for him to smile, but he didn't.

What a weird thing to say, Janie thought.

/ like to mess people up.

She glanced up at the clock. She didn't want the class to end. She wanted to sit there beside him and talk for hours.

She thought suddenly of the bet.

Can I do it? Can I ask him out?

This was the perfect chance.

The bell rang. She collected her books and followed him out into the hall.

He stopped outside the door and turned back to Janie as if he were expecting her to say something to him.

She smiled, struggling to think of something.

Do it now! she thought. Ask him out for Saturday night.

"Maybe I'll teach you some more useful things

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tomorrow," he told her, brushing his hair off his forehead.

He's so great-looking, Janie thought. He's so great-looking, and he knows it.

Ask him. Ask him.

"Uh .. . Ross ..." she started to say, clearing her throat. She clasped her backpack tightly in front her. Uh—Saturday night. . ."

Janie stopped when she saw Ross's expression change.

His eyes, staring over Janie's shoulder, grew wide. His face went pale.

"Ross?" she cried, bewildered.

He didn't seem to hear her.

His mouth dropped open in shock. And his handsome features twisted in horror.

chapter
i3tartled, Janie spun around and followed Ross's gaze.

Across the crowded hall she saw a very tall girl with long, curly white-blond hair. The girl was staring hard at Ross.

Who is that? Janie wondered. I've never seen her before.

"Ross, what's wrong?" Janie demanded. "You look like you've seen a ghost!"

But to Janie's surprise, Ross had disappeared.

She searched for Ross after school but didn't find him.

She had thought about the girl with the white-blond hair the rest of the afternoon. The girl was tall and

THE NEW BOY
beautiful, with that spectacular curly hair cascading down her back.

Why hadn't Janie noticed her before?

Was she new to Shadyside High?

Janie pulled on her jacket and slammed her locker shut. She began walking slowly to the front exit when she saw Eve hurrying toward her.

"Guess what," Eve cried, her dark eyes flashing and a broad smile on her face. "Guess what—I win! I have a date with Ross Friday night!"

Friday night Janie lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, listening to a Beatles song on the oldies radio station. The phone rang. She reached toward the bed table, turned down the clock-radio, and yanked the receiver off the cradle. "Hello?"

"Tonight's Eve's big night." It was Faith.

"Tell me something I don't know," Janie groaned. "Eve borrowed my blue blazer."

"And she's wearing those sexy red denims she saves for special occasions." Faith was silent for a moment. Janie could almost picture her shaking her head. Faith really hated to lose bets.

"Eve just walked right up to Ross and asked him out," Faith said finally. "I wonder what she said."

"Whatever it was, it worked." Janie sighed. "I admit it—I am so jealous!"

"Hey—me, too," Faith said.

"At least you have Paul," Janie told her.

"Know what? I should tell Ian," Faith said nastily. "I should call him up and tell him where Eve is. He'll be furious!"

FEAR STREET

"No, you shouldn't," Janie said sharply. "You'd better not. You know how jealous Ian gets. Give the poor guy a break. He's working every night this weekend."

Faith hummed mischievously.

"This whole stupid bet was your idea," Janie snapped. "So why do you want to cause trouble for Eve?"

"Trouble is my middle name," Faith replied, snickering. Then she added, "Hey, Janie, I'm only kidding. I wouldn't call Ian."

"I can never tell when you're kidding," Janie admitted.

"That's why you're the perfect victim," Faith said.

"Thanks, pal," Janie replied dryly.

Faith sighed. "I've got my own problems."

"Huh? What problems?" Janie sat up on the bed and transferred the phone to her other ear.

"Oh . . . things aren't great around here," Faith answered reluctantly. "Wait. Let me close my door." She went away for a few seconds, then returned. "Things aren't great with my parents, I don't think," she said in a low voice. "They're almost never in the house at the same time anymore. When they are home, they keep closing their bedroom door and_ having long, heavy discussions."

"You mean—" Janie started.

"I think maybe they're going to split. I don't know. Faith sighed. "And then that creep Paul—"

"What about Paul?" Janie asked.

"Do you know what that creep wanted to talk to me about yesterday at lunch?"

THE NEW BOY

"When did he become a creep?" Janie demanded, unable to conceal her surprise.

"When he asked me for three hundred dollars so that he could buy a new transmission for his car. Can you believe that?"

Janie thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, actually I can."

"I was beginning to think he really liked me," Faith said unhappily. "But he goes out with me just because I'm rich."

"Eve said he was a loser," Janie commented.

"For once Eve was right," Faith said bitterly.

"So, you want to go to a movie or something?" Janie asked, trying to change the subject.

"Not really. I think Fm just going to stay in my room and think hateful thoughts all night."

Janie laughed. "At least you've still got your sense of humor."

"I wonder how Eve and Ross are getting along," Faith said wistfully.

"Yeah. Me, too," Janie replied. "I can't wait to hear about it. I'll bet Eve will have quite a story to tell "

chapter

8

/Ifter the movie Ross drove his tiny blue Civic to the edge of the Fear Street woods and parked.

He reached across the seat, pulled Eve to him, and kissed her. His lips felt dry and hot against hers.

Eve eagerly returned the kiss. She ran her hands through his tousled hair, then wrapped them around his shoulders.

They stopped to take a breath.

Ross started to kiss her again, then suddenly broke it off. He leaned back against the seat with a sigh. "Sorry," he said.

"Why?" Eve asked. Her heart was pounding.

He's terrific! she thought.

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lan's face kept popping into her mind. She kept forcing the picture away.

"I usually don't put a move on a girl the first date." He shrugged. His eyes locked on hers. "I usually wait until the second date!"

"Then I guess it's up to me," Eve said, pulling Ross to her. She pressed her lips to his and kissed him long and hard. Her hand became entangled in her blue scarf. She tugged it off and let it drop onto the seat.

"It's getting all steamed up in here," Ross said when the kiss finally ended. "Want to go for a walk? In the woods?"

"Huh? These are the Fear Street woods," Eve protested.

"So?"

"I forgot that you're new here," she said, squeezing his hand. "You don't know the horrible stories about these woods."

"And I don't want to know. My house is on Fear Street. Come on. A short walk will cool us off. What could happen? You're not afraid—are you?" ft was more of a challenge than a question.

Ross climbed out and walked around to the passenger side. Eve still hadn't made a move to get out of the car. He opened the door and held out his hand. Eve hesitated, then placed her hand in his and stepped outside.

Ross led the way into the woods.

The wind kicked up, swirling around them in gusts.

Eve felt a chill. She shivered, draped the blue scarf around her neck, and pulled up the collar of Janie's blue blazer.

FEAR STREET

"Where are we going?" she asked with a shudder.

"Not far," Ross replied softly.

She felt his arm wrap around her shoulder.

When Janie opened her eyes Saturday morning the sun was already streaming in the bedroom window. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and stretched.

She could feel a draft of cool air coming through the closed window. It's the end of March already, she thought. I wish spring would hurry up.

She snuggled deep under the warm comforter. Maybe I won't get up yet, she thought. What time is it anyway?

She glanced at the clock-radio. Only eight-fifteen.

She yawned. Something had been troubling her, keeping her from falling asleep the night before. What was it?

Oh, right, she remembered. Eve's date with Ross.

I'll have to call Eve and get the whole story.

A surprising question floated into her still-half-awake mind: if Eve starts going with Ross, should I try for Ian?

Janie pictured Ian. He was nearly as short and skinny as she was. He had wiry dark brown hair, cut very short. And he had serious, steely gray eyes behind his rimless glasses.

He's a great guy, Janie thought, turning onto her side. And he's really smart.

But Ian just isn't my type.

THE NEW BOY

Ross is my type. . . .

She hugged the pillow to her cheek and must have dozed off again. The phone ringing on the bed table made her sit straight up.

She reached for it, blinking herself awake. "Hello?"

"Hello, Janie?" It was Ian. "Is Eve there?" he asked breathlessly. "Is she at your house?"

Janie feU a stab of dread. "Uh, no. Why?"

"She's missing!" Ian cried. "She never returned home last night!"

chapter

I
anie nearly dropped the phone. The receiver suddenly felt like a heavy weight in her hand. She squeezed her eyes shut and felt the pain at the base of her skull slowly inch its way upward.

"Janie!" lan's shrill voice broke into her thoughts. "You still there?"

She brought the receiver back to her ear. "Yes," she said in a shaky voice.

"Eve didn't sleep over at your house?" Ian demanded.

"No. Did you call her parents?"

"Yeah. They're frantic, Janie. They called the police."

Janie's throat tightened. She felt a wave of nausea sweep over her.

THE NEW BOY
lan's voice was strained now. "Janie—did Eve go out with someone last night? Some guy? I went over to her house after work, but her little brother said she'd gone out. He wouldn't say where or anything."

"I'll give Mrs. Muller a call," Janie said, fighting back the waves of nausea.

Eve has got to be okay, she thought. She's got to be.

"What's going on, Janie?" Ian demanded. "Eve was out with some guy, wasn't she?"

"I—I don't know, Ian." Janie hated to lie. But she didn't want to break her promise to Eve either. "That's not important now," she told Ian. "What's important is finding Eve."

"Janie, can I come over? I'm really worried."

"I don't think so, Ian. I—" She really didn't want to see him now.

"Janie? Please?" He sounded so frightened. Like a little boy.

"Okay, Ian," Janie relented. "I'll be here."

"You're a real friend," Ian said. "I'll be right over." The line went dead.

Janie sat on the edge of her bed. She fought off the dizziness by closing her eyes.

What could have happened to Eve?

What?

Janie forced herself to her feet. She had to wash up and get dressed. Ian would be there any minute. She made her way across the hall to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. She felt as if she were moving in slow motion, as if she weighed a thousand pounds.

FEAR STREET

She slipped into jeans and a hooded sweatshirt, tugged on her sneakers, and went downstairs to wait for Ian.

"Mom? Dad?"

A note on the refrigerator told Janie they'd gone shopping.

"Maybe Faith has heard something," Janie said out loud, feeling her fear choke her throat. She punched in Faith's number. The line was busy.

With an exasperated groan she hung up and punched in Eve's number. Her fingers were trembling so badly, she had to try it three times before she got the number right.

Be home, Eve, she thought. Please be home.

Maybe I'm getting all worked up over nothing, Janie told herself, listening to the phone ring. Maybe Eve is home by now. Maybe she had such a great time with Ross, they stayed out all night.

Please be home. Please ...

Marky, Eve's little brother, finally answered after the fifth ring. "Marky? It's Janie Simpson. Is your mom there?"

"Hold on. I'll go get her, Janie." She heard sobbing in the background. Not a good sign.

Janie shuddered, listening to the muffled sobs. She heard Marky's voice. Footsteps.

Finally Mrs. Muller came on the line. "Janie, is Eve with you? Have they found her? Did you hear anything?" The frantic pace of her questions revealed her panic.

"No, Mrs. Muller," Janie replied in a trembling

THE NEW BOY
voice. "I—I thought she might have come home by now."

"No. She isn't here," Eve's mother sobbed. "Her father. The poHce. They're all looking for her. They— they—" She broke into loud sobs.

"Mrs. Muller—" Janie wanted to get off the line. She didn't want to upset the poor woman any more.

"They're all searching for her," Mrs. Muller managed to say through her tears. "Searching for Eve and that boy she was with."

"Huh?" Janie cried. "Ross? Is Ross missing, too?"

"Yes," Eve's mother replied. "I'm afraid the boy is missing, too."

chapter 10

1 an arrived a few seconds after Janie got off the phone with Mrs. Muller. He stood at the front door in wrinkled chinos and a stained sweatshirt, his eyes red-rimmed and bloodshot.

Janie offered a grim hello and held the storm door open for him. But he didn't come inside.

"Can we drive around a bit?" he asked in a weary voice, motioning to his yellow Ford Escort. "I don't feel like just sitting."

Janie nodded. "I guess. Let me leave my parents a note."

She ran to the kitchen, scribbled a note, and stuck it on the refrigerator door with a magnet. Then she grabbed her down jacket and ran out the front door.

It was an unusually cool day for early spring. The trees on the front lawn shivered in the swirling wind.

THE NEW BOY

Ian was sitting in his little yellow car with the motor running. He threw the car into gear and started pulling away from the curb even before Janie had her door shut.

"Janie, what's going on?" Ian asked frantically.

"I wish I knew, Ian."

"You know something," he accused her, turning onto Canyon Drive and speeding through a stop sign. "I know you do. You and Eve and Faith always tell each other everything." He stared hard at her, as if trying to read her thoughts.

"Did you come over just to give me a hard time?" Janie wailed. "If so, you can turn around and drop me back home. I'm scared to death about Eve, Ian. Scared to death. I don't want to be questioned by you."

Her angry outburst startled him. He adjusted his glasses and shifted uncomfortably in his seat, turning his gray eyes straight ahead to the windshield.

"Sorry," he said quietly. "I—I'm real scared, too."

They rode on in silence. Ian drove aimlessly around town. They drove past Eve's house in Old Village. No cars out front. No sign of life.

They drove past Shadyside High, dark and empty on a Saturday morning. On Old Mill Road the tall trees arched their bare branches over the road.

Janie had a strong impulse to tell Ian about Ross. About Eve and the bet. But why should she make him feel even worse?

Glancing out the window, she saw they were driving by the Fear Street woods now.

"Hey!" Janie cried out as Ian slammed on the brakes.

FEAR STREET

Her body jolted forward. She raised her hands just in time to keep her head from smashing into the windshield as the car screeched to a halt.

"Stupid dog!" Ian cried. He turned to Janie, swallowing hard. "Did you see it? Ran right in front of the car. I almost hit it."

"No. I—I guess I wasn't watching," Janie said shakily.

The car had stalled out. Ian made no effort to restart it. "Are you okay?" he asked her.

Janie started to reply but stopped.

What was that in the woods?

Something on the ground in front of the trees.

Something bright blue.

"Oh!" She pushed open the car door and leapt out.

"Janie—hey! Where are you going?" Ian called out to her.

Leaving the car door open, she started running toward the spot of blue in the woods.

"Janie—wait up!" Ian was right behind her.

"What is that?" she cried. "See it, Ian? The bright blue thing?"

First it was a blur. But as she ran closer the whole scene came into sharp focus.

She saw the blazer first. The bright blue blazer. Her bright blue blazer.

Then she saw Eve's lifeless body.

Then she started to scream.

chapter 11

£.

ve's face was turaed sideways, half buried in three inches of mud. The top of her skull had been bashed in, cracked like an eggshell A thick circle of dried blood was caked and matted in her dark hair.

Flies crawled over her body. Janie watched in horror as one fly slowly creeped across Eve*s face. It crawled over her eye and into her open mouth.

With a loud gasp Janie turned away and shut her eyes. But the gruesome sight stayed with her.

"Eve? Eve?" lan's tortured cry cut through the air. He fell to his knees beside the body. He took Eve's pale, limp hand in his and started rubbing it, as if rubbing the hand might bring her back to life.

"Eve? Eve?"

Janie slumped down into a pile of cool, damp leaves

FEAR STREET
and lowered her head between her legs. She thought she might faint.

Breathe. Just breathe, she told herself.

She raised her head slowly, struggling to breathe normally. The trees spun wildly all around her.

The wind seemed to surround her, carrying the sour aroma of the corpse. She tried to hold her breath, but started to gag.

Janie resisted the impulse to look again. She had already seen enough for a lifetime of nightmares.

"Eve? Eve?" Janie heard lan's repeated cry, a chant of his horror and disbelief. "Eve?"

We've got to get help. Got to get away from here, Janie realized.

She stumbled to her feet.

Ian continued his eerie chant. He was still frantically rubbing Eve's lifeless hand.

"Ian!" Janie's voice echoed through the woods. She grabbed Ian by the neck of his sweatshirt and yanked him up and away from the body. "Ian, let's go," she pleaded, shaking him. "We've got to call the police. Ian— please!"

A fly buzzed near Janie's ear—its sound seemed to swell and block out everything else. Was it one fly or a hundred? She closed her eyes, but she still saw them. She still heard them buzzing. Flies. They descended like black death over her once-beautiful friend.

The radio in the police cruiser crackled loudly. The two police officers had inspected Eve's body. Now they returned to their cruiser to call for more help.

THE NEW BOY

Janie stood at the edge of the road, watching them.

She had led Ian to his car and deposited him there while she ran to a house on Fear Street to call the police. They had arrived five minutes later, and she directed them to the body.

Where is Ross? she wondered, closing her eyes.

We found poor Eve. But where is Ross?

So far there was no trace of him.

Was he dead, too? Was his body in the woods?

Suddenly remembering Ian, Janie turned and spotted him sitting by himself in the yellow Escort, slumped forward, his head lowered to the steering wheel.

Janie tapped on the window of the police cruiser. The window slid down. "Excuse me, sir? I think my friend may need me," Janie said, pointing to lan's car. "Do you mind if I sit in the car with him?"

The officer glanced over at Ian, then back to Janie. He nodded grimly. "No problem. We'll get you kids home as soon as possible, okay?"

Janie hurried over to the car and slid into the passenger seat. "Ian?" she said in a soft voice. "They said we can go home soon."

Ian slowly raised his head. He covered his face with his hands.

He doesn't want me to see that he was crying, Janie realized.

"Maybe you should let me drive," Janie said. "I don't mind."

"It was the money," Ian said in a choked voice. He wiped the tears from his face with the sleeve of his sweatshirt.

FEAR STREET

"Huh?" Janie wasn't sure she had heard right. "What money?"

Did Ian know about the bet? Did he know the three girls had bet ten dollars each?

"It was the money," Ian murmured, avoiding Janie's eyes.

"Ian—what money?"

"I know why Eve was killed," he said, his gray eyes narrowing. "It was because of the money. Whoever did this killed Eve for the money."

Janie stared hard at lan's tearstained face. "Ian, what are you talking about?"

Ian turned to her, choking back a sob. "Oh, Janie. It was Eve who stole the dance money!"

chapter

12

/.

anie rested a hand on lan's shoulder. "Ian, Vm afraid you're not making any sense," she said gently. "Eve is the most honest person I know. She would never—"

Janie realized she was still talking about Eve as if she were alive. Fresh tears sprang to her eyes.

Ian turned to Janie. His eyes burned deeply into hers. "Janie, who did Eve go out with last night? Don't lie to me! I have to know."

Janie swallowed hard. There was no need to keep her promise to Eve now. Besides, the police already knew about Ross. They were searching for him, too.

"It was Ross," she told Ian. "Ross Gabriel. It wasn't like a real date, Ian. It was just a stupid bet."

"Huh?" lan's watery eyes narrowed in confusion. "A bet? What kind of bet?"

FEAR STREET

"The three of us—Eve, Faith, and me—made a bet," Janie said reluctantly, lowering her eyes. "It was a silly bet. The first one to go out with Ross would win. That's the only reason Eve went out with him—" Janie stopped.

The blood had drained from Ian*s face. His entire body began to tremble. With anger, Janie realized.

I should have waited, Janie told herself. I should have waited until Ian was calmer.

Ian turned the ignition key with a trembling hand. "Get out of the car, Janie," he said in a hard, cold voice.

"Huh?" Janie turned to face him, startled by the fury in his voice.

"Just get out of the car."

"Ian, what are you going to do?" Janie demanded.

"Get out!" Ian screamed.

"No way," Janie told him. "You've got to get yourself together, Ian." She quickly reached over, shut the engine off, and yanked the keys out of the ignition.

"I can't let you do something crazy," she said. "Can't you see how upset and out of control you are?"

Ian grabbed for the keys, but she pushed him away. "Give me the keys, Janie," he demanded in an icy voice.

Janie heard the low wail of a siren, not far away.

"Let's get you home safely, okay?" Janie said in a low and deliberate voice.

"Give me those keys," Ian repeated through clenched teeth.

The siren grew louder.

THE NEW BOY

"Give me the keys!"

"No!"

Without warning Ian grabbed Janie by the sleeve of her sweatshirt and pulled her toward him. Janie held Ian off with one hand and frantically rolled down the window with the other.

She tossed lan's car keys as far as she could. They landed in the brown matted weeds by the side of the road.

With an angry cry, Ian shoved open the door and jumped out of the car.

Her heart pounding, Janie rolled the window back up and locked both doors. By now the siren had become so loud, she thought it must be inside her head.

She glanced out the back window to see a police cruiser screech to a halt behind lan's car, its red lights flashing. An ambulance pulled up beside it, blocking the street.

The rear doors of the Emergency Service Unit flew open, and white-coated paramedics jumped out, dragging a stretcher behind them.

A police ofiicer directed the paramedics. They ran into the Fear Street woods, hauling the stretcher behind them.

There's no reason for them to rush, Janie thought sadly. Eve is dead, and no paramedic can bring her back to life.

A third squad car pulled up, siren blaring, lights flashing. And then another. Soon dark-uniformed police officers were swarming through the woods.

Swarming like flies, Janie thought bitterly.

S7

FEAR STREET

Like flies over a dead body.

Ian was still searching the dead brown weeds for his keys when the paramedics carried Eve's body out of the woods.

The police had found no sign of Ross.

Had Ross been murdered, too? Janie wondered with a shudder. Is he also lying dead in these woods?

chapter

13

L he police station looked like something out of a TV cop show. There was a gruff gray-haired sergeant behind the front desk. Phones rang constantly on battered gray metal desks. Computer keyboards clacked away. In the back of the squad room Janie saw two young officers shooting rubber bands at each other.

She glanced at Ian, who was walking beside her. His dark hair was matted to his forehead. Behind his glasses his eyes were still bloodshot and sad. He looked ghostly pale under the fluorescent ceiling lights. They had been at the station for over an hour.

"Fm sorry you had to come in this afternoon," Lieutenant Frazier said, guiding them to the waiting room in front. Lieutenant Frazier was a young man

FEAR STREET
with a soft voice and soothing manner. "I know you're both still terribly shaken by what you discovered this morning."

Janie nodded, fighting back tears.

She had been able to answer all the lieutenant's questions without crying. Why did she feel like sobbing and screaming now?

"I wouldn't have asked you to come in," the lieutenant said softly, a hand on each of their shoulders, "but you both knew the victim so well. I know that what you told me about Eve will help us find her killer."

Killer

The word tore through Janie's mind like a sharp knife.

She sucked in a deep breath and held it.

I'm not going to cry, she thought. I'm not going to cry here. I won't cry until I get home.

"Your parents are waiting out front?" Lieutenant Frazier asked.

Janie and Ian both nodded.

Suddenly the door to the squad room swung open, and Ross appeared. Two solemn-faced officers moved close behind him.

Janie felt her heart skip a beat.

He's alive, she thought. Ross is okay!

It took a while for Ross to recognize Janie and Ian. He seemed lost in his own thoughts, his expression tense and troubled.

"Janie, hi," he called softly when he finally noticed her. "Ian—"

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"Ross—you're okay?" Janie cried.

"I—I don't believe this is happening," he said, shaking his head hard, as if trying to shake it all away. "How can Eve be dead?"

Ian moaned as if in pain.

The two officers tried to make Ross keep walking. But he stopped in front of Janie, his dark eyes peering down into hers.

"I had to go back to New Brighton early this morning," Ross told her. "With my parents. I just got back a few minutes ago. The police—they were waiting at my house. They told me . . . about Eve. I—I—" His voice cracked. He lowered his head.

Janie rested a hand on his quivering shoulder.

"I just can't believe it," Ross repeated emotionally. "After our date I took Eve home. It was a little after eleven. I watched her run up the driveway. She was home, Janie. She was home safe and sound. I—"

"Please keep walking," one of the officers told Ross. "We need to talk to you, son. Back there." He pointed to one of the small rooms against the far wall.

His head still lowered, Ross obediently began walking past Janie and Ian. "You believe me—don't you?" he called back to Janie.

Janie hesitated. She glanced at Ian.

Before she could reply, Ross disappeared into the small questioning room.

"Thanks again. Your parents are waiting out here,"

FEAR STREET

Lieutenant Frazier said. He held open the squad room door for them.

"Do you believe Ross's story?" Ian asked as they stepped through the doorway.

Janie shrugged.

"I don't," Ian said coldly.

Sunday afternoon dark storm clouds hovered low, threatening rain. The air was wet and cold, bending the still-bare trees as Janie drove to Pete's Pizza at the mall to meet Faith.

They sat across from each other in a red vinyl booth near the front, struggling unsuccessfully to make conversation.

The doors to the sixplex movie theater across from the restaurant had opened, and a noisy crowd was spilling out. The restaurant quickly filled with laughter and loud voices.

A large pepperoni pizza lay untouched on the table between Janie and Faith. Faith played with her plastic knife and fork. Janie stared out the glass wall into the brightly lit corridor.

Finally she broke the silence. "Five more minutes."

"Until what?" Faith asked.

"Five more minutes and I will have gone an entire hour without crying," Janie said.

Faith uttered a mirthless laugh. "You and me both."

"Is Paul meeting you here?" Janie asked.

Faith shrugged. "Maybe," She sighed.

A cruel silence fell over the table again.

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"I still don't believe Eve stole that money," Faith said, frowning. "I don't care what Ian says."

"Why would he lie about it?" Janie demanded, resting her chin in her hands.

Faith chewed her lower lip. "I know Eve always worried about money. But did the police search her house? Or her locker?"

"I don't think Ian told anyone she took the money. Except me. And you're the only one I've told."

"Maybe we should keep it that way," Faith said.

"Yeah." Janie nodded.

Faith shook her head. "It just doesn't make sense. Eve has never been in any kind of trouble in her life."

"I know," Janie murmured, feeling the urge to cry again.

"I mean, we were her best friends," Faith continued heatedly. "If she even thought about stealing the dance money, we would have known. Sooner or later. No way could she keep something like that from us."

"Ian thinks Ross killed Eve for the dance money," Janie said, staring out through the glass wall.

"Huh? That's horrible! What a thought!" Faith cried, truly shocked. She stared across the table at Janie. "What do you think?"

"I—I don't know what to think," Janie stammered.

"About what?" a boy's voice interrupted.

Janie raised her eyes to see Ross standing beside her.

FEAR STREET

Without waiting for an invitation, Ross slid in next to Janie. The sleeve of his leather jacket brushed against her. She edged over to the wall.

Glancing across the table, Janie saw that Faith wasn't doing a very good job of concealing her horror. She was staring accusingly at Ross, her features tight with anger.

"How are you two doing?*' Ross asked quietly.

"Not too good," Faith said coldly.

A frosty quiet fell over the table. Janie found it hard to focus on Ross. Faith was staring at him with open disdain.

Janie struggled to think of something to say.

This was so awkward, so embarrassing.

Ross tapped the tabletop with a plastic fork.

Somebody—say something! Janie thought. The silence was suffocating.

But what do you say to a boy who may have murdered your best friend?

Finally Ross broke the silence. He leaned across the table, and his eyes burned into Faith's.

"Maybe I'll kill you next," he told her.

chapter

14

-Paith gasped.

Ross's expression hardened. He continued leaning across the table. "That's what you're thinking—isn't it?" he accused Faith. "You think I killed Eve. You really think I'm a killer, don't you? Some kind of psycho!"

"No, we don't—" Janie started to say.

Faith was gripping the table edge with both hands, her blue eyes wide with fright. "What do the police think?" she asked Ross coldly.

"They believed me," Ross shouted. "But I can see what you two think! Well, I had no reason to kill your friend. No reason at all!"

He was practically screaming now. Heads turned. A waitress stopped in the aisle, watching him warily.

"Give me one good reason!" Ross demanded, glar-

FEAR STREET
ing across the table at Faith. "One good reason why I'd kill Eve! Come on—Fm waiting!"

"You—you're crazy!" Faith cried. "Everyone is staring at us!"

"I don't care!" Ross hollered, slamming both fists on the tabletop. He let out an exasperated groan and started to pull himself out of the booth.

But Janie grabbed the sleeve of his leather jacket. "I don't think you did it," she told him.

He stared at her uncertainly.

"I really don't," she said. "Faith and I are just so upset and confused, Ross. We don't know—"

"Hey—there's Paul and Ian," Faith interrupted, waving at them through the glass. "I've got to go." She quickly slid out of the booth, not bothering to hide her eagerness to get away. "Are you coming, Janie?" she asked.

"Uh ... in a minute," Janie replied, her eyes on Ross.

Faith hurried away. Janie watched her greet the two boys outside the restaurant. Ian and Paul stared suspiciously at Ross and Janie.

Janie turned back to Ross.

"You've got to believe me," Ross pleaded, grabbing Janie's hand. His hand, she was surprised to discover, was even colder than hers. "I didn't kill Eve. I had no reason to kill Eve. Do you believe that? Do you?"

"Yes," Janie replied quickly.

But she realized she didn't know what she believed. Something horrible had happened. And she felt shattered. In a million pieces, like a jigsaw puzzle. The

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pieces were all jumbled up. And some of them were missing.

Why was she thinking about puzzles? Why were her thoughts so crazy, so scattered?

What did she believe about Ross? What?

"Ross, why did you go out with Eve?" she blurted out.

He narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Didn't she tell you?"

"Huh? Tell me what?" Janie demanded.

"Didn't Eve tell you?" Ross repeated. "I went out with her for the money."

chapter

15

/.

anie gasped. "The money?" she cried. "You mean—the dance money?"

Ross acted confused. "No. I—"

A waitress interrupted. "Is something wrong with the pizza?" She pointed at the untouched pizza growing cold on its metal plate.

"No. It's okay," Janie told her, her mind spinning. "We're just. . . talking."

The waitress frowned and headed away, wiping her hands on her white apron.

"I went out with Eve for the bet money," Ross told Janie. "You, Faith, and Eve made a bet, right?"

"Oh, right," Janie said, feeling her face grow hot. *'That money." She swallowed hard. "How do you know about that?"

"Eve told me," Ross replied. "She told me about

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the bet. She said she really wanted to win it. She said we could split the twenty dollars she'd win. It was just a goof. You know. We had a good laugh about it."

"Oh," Janie replied lamely.

A good laugh, she thought. But now Eve is dead.

Lost in her sad thoughts, she suddenly realized that Ross was still talking. "I can't believe this is happening," he was saying. "Especially after what went down back in New Brighton."

"What?" Janie asked, shaking her thoughts away.

"Nothing," Ross replied bitterly.

"What did you say happened in New Brighton?" she asked.

"Nothing," he snapped. "Just thinking out loud."

Faith, Ian, and Paul were waiting for her out in the corridor of the mall. Faith flashed Janie a disapproving look.

"So? Did he kill her?" Paul asked.

Janie let out an angry groan. "How can you talk about it so ... so casually?"

Paul shrugged. He ran one hand through his thick blond hair. "Sorry, Janie. I didn't mean anything. I was just surprised you'd stay in there with him."

"What did Ross tell the police?" Ian demanded shrilly. "Why did they let him go?"

"We didn't talk about it," Janie replied curtly.

"I'd stay away from him," Paul told her, snapping up his maroon and gray Shadyside jacket. "He's trouble. Really."

"You don't know anything, Paul," Janie said sharply. "Stop pretending to be so tough and wise."

FEAR STREET

Paul blushed.

"Why are you defending him?" Ian demanded. "He killed Eve. We all know it. I don't care what he told the police. We all know he took Eve to the woods and killed her. So why are you defending him, Janie?"

"Fm going home now," Janie said. "There's no point in our standing around discussing it."

"Yeah. Let's go," Faith said glumly. She took Paul's arm.

"Want a lift?" Paul asked Janie.

"No. I drove," she said, reaching into her jacket pocket for the key. "Hey, Paul—you got your car back?"

He nodded.

"I thought you needed a new transmission," Janie said.

"I got it," Paul told her.

"Where'd you get the money?" Ian asked.

Paul grinned. "What can I tell you? An early birthday present from a secret admirer." He and Faith walked on ahead.

Janie lingered, thinking hard.

How did Paul get the money? she wondered. Did Faith break down and give it to him? Faith had sworn she wouldn't.

So how did Paul get the money?

Monday night after dinner Janie was startled to find Ross at her front door. "Ross—what is it?" she cried, staring into his troubled face.

"It's my French homework," he told her, frowning. "I just can't get it. I heard you're good in French. I

THE NEW BOY
thought maybe you could help me. You know. Be my tutor tonight."

"Well, okay," Janie replied. She led him into the den.

How odd, she thought, to just show up at someone's house. There isn't anything shy about him.

She realized she was pleased, though.

He likes me, she thought.

She felt a chill down her back. If only I could throw away my doubts about him. If only I could know for sure that he's been telling the truth about Eve.

Janie realized she was very attracted to Ross, even with her doubts.

Sitting side by side on the couch, they studied French together. After about an hour Ross shut his book. "Well, I think I've got it now. You're a great tutor."

He touched Janie's shoulder lightly. Then he gently ran his fingers down her arm and took her hand in his. "Now let's go get something to eat. I'm starving," he said softly.

"Oh, Ross, I can't. It's a school night."

"Sure you can. It's only eight-fifteen. I promise to have you home by ten. So," he said as if the question were settled, "where should we go?"

Janie didn't want to risk running into Faith or Paul or Ian. They would only give her a hard time about being with Ross. So she suggested a little coffee shop in the Old Village.

"It's a neat place. And it's cheap," she told him. She hurried up to her room to get her down jacket.

Janie slid open her closet door, looking for some-

FEAR STREET
thing to liven up her basic jeans and long-sleeved T-shirt outfit. She found a wide black leather belt with a big brass buckle and wrapped it around her waist.

She still needed some color. She searched her closet again. Where was it? Where was that blue blazer .. .

She gasped as she remembered. She had lent it to Eve. Eve had been killed in it.

Janie dropped down on the edge of her bed, suddenly overcome with guilt. Was it wrong to be going out with Ross so soon after Eve's death?

She took a deep breath to let the feeling pass. Then she went back to h^ closet and pulled out a bright blue scarf to wrap around her neck. Still thinking about Eve, she made her way down to the den.

Ross was just sitting there, staring blankly at the wall. He didn't seem to see her come in.

What is he thinking about so hard? she wondered.

She watched him for a moment. Then she interrupted his thoughts. "Well . . . shall we go?"

Ross stood up and pulled on his leather bomber jacket. He motioned toward the door. "Apres toi."

They were about a mile from Janie's house when Ross's blue Civic sputtered, made a strange coughing sound, and died.

"What's the matter?" Janie asked shrilly. She glanced out of the passenger window. She could see only dark woods. No houses, no stores, no streetlights.

They coasted to the side of the road and stopped.

Ross flicked the gas indicator with his finger, and the needle, which had been sticking straight up, sank down to E.

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"Out of gas," Ross moaned.

He turned to her, his dark eyes glowing.

Glowing with excitement, Janie realized.

She shrank back against the car door.

No, she thought. No. This isn't happening.

Faith, Paul, and Ian warned me. They warned me not to go with Ross.

Cold panic rolled through her body.

They were out in the middle of nowhere, she realized.

There was no one to help her.

No one.

chapter

16

1 'm really sorry," Ross said softly, his eyes locked on hers. His face, hidden in shadow, moved closer. "Fm sorry, Janie."

What does he mean? Janie wondered, frozen in terror. Why does he keep apologizing?

Is he apologizing for what he*s going to do to me?

"We'll have to walk to a gas station," Ross said. He turned away from her and pushed open his door. A burst of cold night air invaded the car. "There's got to be one nearby. We're not far from the Old Village. You coming?"

Walk with him? Walk with him through the woods?

The thought made Janie tremble.

But she didn't want to be left alone in the car either.

"You must think I'm a total jerk," Ross said. He

THE NEW BOY
had climbed out of the car and was leaning in to talk to her. "I really thought I had half a tank." He shook his head. "At least it's not raining or anything. Come on, Janie. Let's go."

She hesitated. Her breathing slowly returned to normal.

He isn't going to hurt me, she told herself. He really ran out of gas.

I'm frightening myself. I'm shaking like a leaf. I got myself so scared, so scared of Ross. And it's all in my mind.

She felt embarrassed. And confused.

If I don't trust Ross, why did I come out with him? she asked herself.

"You coming?" he demanded impatiently. His breath steamed up in front of him. He jammed his hands in his jacket pockets.

"There's a Texaco station up ahead that stays open late," Janie suddenly remembered it. "I think it's just over the next hill."

"Great!" Ross exclaimed. "Scoot over. You steer and I'll push. I hope it's still open."

Janie scooted behind the wheel. Ross has no idea that he just terrified me, she thought. I think he'd be pretty shocked if I told him.

Shocked and hurt.

I've got to start trusting him, she decided. I really do like him. And I think he likes me. I have to start trusting him.

Janie watched Ross in the rearview mirror. He finished pumping gas, dug into the pockets of his

FEAR STREET
baggy jeans—and came up empty. He patted the pockets of his leather jacket. Still no luck.

In the harsh glare of the gas station lights, Janie watched Ross mutter a curse. Shaking his head, his dark hair blowing wildly in the gusting night wind, he came around to her side of the car.

She rolled her window down.

"This isn't exactly my night," Ross muttered, very embarrassed. "I must have left my wallet at home. At least I hope it's there. Can I borrow five bucks?"

"No problem," Janie said, fishing a five out of her bag.

Ross took the money and ran into the station to pay.

For some reason Janie suddenly thought of Eve and the bet money. She and Ross had planned to split their winnings.

Janie sighed. Will I ever stop thinking about Eve?

A few seconds later Ross slid behind the wheel, buckled up, and started the car. "Sorry," he said, "but Vd better stop home for a sec to see if I left my wallet there. I don't want to get arrested—" Ross caught himself. "I mean, I don't want to get arrested for driving without a license." Leaning over the wheel, he pulled out of the gas station.

It wasn't until they passed the cemetery that Janie realized where they were. "You live on Fear Street?" she asked.

"Yeah," Ross said, turning toward her and seeing her troubled expression. "Why do I always get that same reaction when I tell someone where I live?" Ross asked, perplexed.

"There's just... a lot of. . . stories about this

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street," she told him, watching the old, dark houses roll by.

"What kind of stories?"

"Stories about murders and strange creatures and ghosts and stuff," Janie replied, staring out the window.

"Give me a break," Ross muttered. "I stopped beheving in ghosts years ago."

It suddenly grew darker as the car rolled past the Fear Street woods. Janie closed her eyes. Eve was murdered right around here, she thought.

To her surprise, Ross stopped the car. Janie stared out the window into the woods.

This is it, she realized. This is where Ian and I found Eve's body.

"Ross—why are you stopping here?" she demanded in a frightened voice.

"That's my house," he answered casually. He pointed across the street to a small, box-shaped house. There were no lights on, inside or out.

"But—but—" Janie stammered. "Right across the street from where Eve—"

"I know!" Ross said sharply. "Don't think the police didn't ask me a thousand questions because of it." He muttered something under his breath. Then he said, "Be right back," and he jumped out, closing the door behind him.

Janie watched him disappear into the darkness.

Now she was alone. Alone on Fear Street.

Parked right across from where Eve had been murdered.

Impulsively, she reached over and locked her door.

FEAR STREET

Then all the other doors. She stared toward the dark house, hoping Ross wouldn't take long.

Suddenly Janie saw movement at the front window. The curtains were pulled back slightly, revealing a thin crack of light. Someone was peering out.

At her.

Then the curtain was drawn closed. The house settled into darkness again. Janie shifted nervously in the seat.

Where was Ross? Why wasn't he back yet?

Hearing a clattering sound, she gasped and turned away from the house. She stared out the passenger window, her heart pounding.

What had made that sound?

She couldn't see anything. It was so dark. So unnaturally dark.

Was someone out there?

Behind her, the driver's door handle rattled.

Someone was trying to break into the car.

Janie opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out.

chapter 17

L he door handle rattled again.

"Janie—let me in!"

Ross's voice.

Janie leaned toward the driver's window. "Oh. Ross! Sorry!"

She lifted the lock. He pulled open the door. "Did I scare you? I thought I left the door unlocked." He lowered himself into the seat and handed her a five-dollar bill. "I found my wallet. Now where to?"

Janie glanced at her watch, struggling to read it in the dark. "It's getting late. Maybe we should just grab some hamburgers at the White Castle."

"Sounds good," Ross agreed, pulling the car from the curb. "I'll drop you home by ten. Then I want to get home and go over my French assignment one more time."

FEAR STREET

He made a left turn on Old Mill Road. Janie slid closer to him, smiling, grateftil to be leaving Fear Street.

A few minutes before ten Ross pulled his car up Janie's driveway and cut the engine and lights. Janie had started to say good night when Ross slid his arms around her shoulders, pulled her close, and kissed her.

She tried to resist, but his kiss became more insistent.

She kissed him back. Hard. Harder. She had wanted to kiss him all night.

He suddenly seemed so needy, so hungry for her kiss.

When the kiss ended, they were both breathing hard.

"Friday night," he said breathlessly. "Want to go to a movie or something?"

She nodded yes and mouthed the word, feeling almost as if she were in a trance.

Ross reached over her to open the passenger door, and suddenly they were kissing again, their arms wrapped tightly around each other.

This is amazing! Janie thought.

Finally she stumbled out of the car and ran to the front door of her house, still tasting Ross's lips on hers.

She closed the door behind her. The house was nearly dark. Her parents, she saw, had gone to bed early.

The light had been left on in the den. Janie made

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her way to turn it off—and saw the textbook on the floor. Ross's French book. He had forgotten it.

I have to return it, she told herself. Ross said he wanted to study more tonight.

She grabbed the car keys and hurried back outside.

A pounding rain had started to fall. The wind gusted as if trying to push her back in the house.

She gripped the French textbook under her arm and hurried to her car. The idea of driving back to Fear Street on this dreary night made her shudder.

Why am I doing this? she asked herself.

To return Ross's book? Or to see him again? Maybe for another kiss? Or several kisses?

Feeling giddy and light-headed, she backed the car down the drive and started for Ross's house.

She could still feel Ross's arms around her, holding her so tightly. She could still feel the warmth of his lips pressing against hers so needily.

She sped through the rain, through the blur left by the clicking windshield wipers. The rain slowed a little as she turned onto Fear Street and his house came into view.

She pulled halfway up the gravel driveway and, leaving the engine running, jumped out.

Ducking her head against the rain, she ran up to the front porch. The house hovered in darkness. She turned around, searching for Ross's car, but didn't see it.

Shivering from the cold, she pushed the doorbell. She could hear it ringing inside.

She waited. Silence.

FEAR STREET

The wind blew the rain against the house.

Janie pressed the bell again, a little longer this time.

"Come on, Ross. Where are you?" she said out loud.

Was he asleep already? Was everyone inside asleep?

Maybe Yd better leave, she thought, sighing, disappointed. She started to step off the low porch when she heard the door lock snap.

The front door slowly creaked open. A very old woman, her white hair tied tightly behind her head, squinted out at Janie.

"Hi," Janie said, forcing a smile. "I—I'm sorry to bother you. I brought this for Ross." She held out the textbook.

The old woman squinted harder. "Who?" she croaked.

"It's for Ross," Janie repeated. "Ross Gabriel?"

The old woman shook her head. "Ross Gabriel? There's no one named Ross Gabriel here."

She slammed the door in Janie's face.

chapter

18

/.

anie went to school late the next day. She hadn't slept much at all.

She'd kept thinking about the house on Fear Street. Ross's house. And the old woman inside it who said that no one named Ross Gabriel lived there.

I don't like these mysteries, Janie decided as she shifted uncomfortably in her bed throughout the night. There are too many mysteries in my life now. Too many frightening mysteries.

I'm going to find out the truth about Ross, she decided.

She realized how much she was attracted to him, how much she was starting to care about him.

Am I falling in love? she asked herself sleepily, staring up at her bedroom ceiling.

S3

FEAR STREET

Well, before I fall in love, I'd better learn the truth about Ross. The whole truth.

I can't be in love with him and suspicious and afraid of him at the same time.

In school she searched the hallways for Ross between every class. But he was nowhere to be seen.

At lunchtime she checked the attendance list in the office. Ross was listed as absent.

Janie hurried to the lunchroom. Faith was sitting by herself at their regular table with a glum look on her face and a pile of cookies stacked in front of her.

Janie dropped down across from her. "Where are Ian and Paul?"

Faith shrugged, frowning. She offered Janie a cookie. "Where were you last night? I called a little after nine."

"I . . . uh . . . was with Ross," Janie admitted reluctantly.

Faith's blue eyes widened in surprise. "Janie— you're not really going to tell me that you and Ross—"

"Everyone's wrong about him!" Janie blurted out in a shrill voice.

Faith rolled her eyes.

"No, really!" Janie insisted. "You're not being fair. Faith! No one is."

Janie couldn't hold herself in any longer. She hadn't been able to talk to Faith about Ross because Faith and the others were so sure that Ross had killed Eve.

But she had to talk to someone, and Faith was still her best friend.

Leaning over the table, her heart pounding loudly

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in her chest, Janie revealed her feelings to Faith. She told her about the night before, about how much she was starting to care for Ross, and how she found herself frightened of him at the same time.

"I think you should be frightened," Faith interrupted, her eyes burning into Janie's.

"Huh? What are you saying?" Janie demanded.

"You don't know the real Ross," Faith replied with surprising bitterness.

Janie didn't like the way Faith said his name. She made it sound like a curse. "What are you talking about?" she demanded.

"Just some things I heard," Faith replied mysteriously.

Janie swallowed hard. She leaned closer to her friend. "Faith—what did you hear?"

"Just some rumors."

Janie felt a stab of dread. "What rumors?"

Faith's eyes narrowed. "Janie, listen to me. Don't go out with him again, okay? I heard some things. Maybe they're true, maybe not. I'm going to check them out. But in the meantime .. ."

"Faith, you're driving me crazy!" Janie screamed, feeling herself lose control. "You've got to tell me what you've heard."

Faith crinkled up the cookie wrapper. She frowned, chewing thoughtfully on her lower lip. "I have to talk to this girl first. Jordan Blye."

"Who?" Janie demanded.

"Her name is Jordan Blye. You've probably seen her. She's very tall and has long white-blond hair."

Janie gasped. She remembered the girl. She remem-

FEAR STREET
bered the fear and horror on Ross's face when he had seen the girl in the hall.

"What about her?" Janie cried. "Who is she, Faith?"

"Jordan just transferred here from New Brighton High," Faith revealed.

"Ross's old school," Janie murmured.

"She knows some things about him," Faith continued. "She told Deena Martinson that—"

"Hey, what's up?" A boy's voice interrupted.

Janie spun around to see Paul behind her chair, an excited smile on his face.

"Paul, where were you?" Faith asked.

"Did you hear about Ross?" Paul asked, ignoring her question.

"Huh? Ross? What about him?" Janie cried.

Paul's pleased grin grew wider. "Wow, you two are really out of it," he said, shaking his head. "The whole school is talking about it. Ross isn't in school today because the police arrested him this morning."

Janie gasped. "Arrested him? For what?"

"For murder," Paul said, grinning.

chapter

19

/,
anie became cold all over. Faith, the table, the crowded lunchroom all seemed to shimmer away. She felt as if she were alone, alone in cold, dark space.

Murder. Murder. Murder.

The ugly word repeated in her ears.

"Janie—are you okay?" Faith's voice broke into her thoughts.

She found herself back in the lunchroom, back at the table, surrounded by loud voices, familiar faces.

And when she glanced at the doorway, she saw Ross.

"Hey—he's here!" she cried to Faith and Paul.

Did he see her?

No. He didn't seem to. She watched him stride slowly to a table against the far wall and sit down by himself. He had his hands shoved into the pockets of

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his leather jacket. He stuck his feet up on the ledge and stared out a window as if he were the only person in the cafeteria.

"Paul—you're a liar!" Janie accused him angrily.

Paul's round cheeks reddened. "I just told you what I heard."

Janie's chair scraped loudly against the floor as she scooted it back and jumped up.

"Janie—come back!" she heard Faith calling to her.

But Janie was already halfway across the lunchroom. She strode quickly over to Ross. He sat in sullen silence, gazing out the window. He didn't see her until she placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey!" He jumped, startled from his thoughts. He pushed a chair out for her with his shoe.

Janie realized that a lot of kids were staring at her. Let them stare, she thought. I don't care about their stupid rumors and ugly gossip.

She sat down across from Ross.

"You're not afraid to be seen with me?" he asked bitterly.

"Where were you this morning?" Janie asked. "Where were you last night? I drove back to your house."

"Huh?" His glum expression turned to surprise.

"You left your French book at my house. I drove to your house to return it," Janie told him. "But something weird happened."

He didn't reply. He waited for her to continue.

"An old woman answered the door," Janie said. "She said you didn't live there. She said she didn't know anyone named Ross Gabriel."

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Ross uttered a long sigh but still didn't say anything.

Janie locked her eyes on his, searching for answers in them but not finding any.

Finally he lowered his feet from the window ledge and leaned toward her. "Janie," he said softly, so softly she could barely hear him over the voices and laughter at the other tables, "Janie, Vm going to tell you the truth."

chapter

20

].

anie felt a cold chill down her back. Glancing across the lunchroom, she could see Faith and Paul staring at her.

"The old woman is my grandmother," Ross confided. "Her mind isn't quite right anymore. Sometimes she gets confused. She calls me by my father's name. And sometimes she confuses my father with her younger brother who died twenty years ago." He sighed. "It isn't easy having her live with us."

"I—I see," Janie said, feeling relieved.

"That's the truth," Ross said. "Do you believe me?" It wasn't a question. It was a challenge. "No one in this town seems to believe a word I say," he continued bitterly, not waiting for her reply. "How about you, Janie? Do you believe me? Or do you think I'm a liar, too?"

THE NEW BOY

Janie could feel her throat tighten. She felt angry and hurt at the same time. This wasn't the Ross she had seen the night before. This was a sullen, angry Ross. A very different Ross.

"What's happened?" she asked in a trembling voice. "Where were you this morning? Paul said you were arrested."

"What's Paul's problem?" Ross demanded, shooting a furious glance across the room toward Paul and Faith.

"Everyone's talking about you," Janie told him.

He turned away from her and gazed out the window at the gray winter sky.

"So where were you?" Janie demanded.

"At the police station," he murmured, avoiding her eyes.

"Do you want to tell me about it?" she asked with real concern.

"What's to tell?" he snapped. "More questions about Eve. I guess your friend Ian told the police that Eve stole the twelve hundred dollars from that dance."

"He did?" Janie couldn't conceal her surprise.

"The police told me they searched Eve's house and all her belongings and couldn't find a penny. They even tried to check her parents' bank account. But— get this—they barely have any money!"

"That's terrible," Janie murmured.

"So naturally they came to me," Ross continued with a bitter sneer. "They wanted to know what I knew about the money. Of course I didn't know a thing. But I knew what they were getting at. They

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think I took it. They think I—" Ross shook his head sadly. "What do you think, Janie? Do you think Tm a thief and a . . ."

Murderer.

Janie finished the sentence for him.

A thief and a murderer.

"No. Of course not," she answered quickly.

Am I really so sure? she asked herself.

Am I really so sure what I think?

"Of course I don't think that," Janie repeated as if trying to convince herself.

Ross allowed himself a bitter smile. "Thanks," he said under his breath. He sighed. "It's all starting to get to me, Janie. Did you see the way everyone in the lunchroom stared at me when I walked in?"

"I know—" Janie started.

"All the rumors. Everyone talking about me. Accusing me," Ross said angrily. "Your friends. Faith and Paul and that skinny guy—Ian—I can see the hatred on their faces. I—"

"Eve was very popular," Janie said softly. "But don't worry about my friends," she told him. "When the police find Eve's murderer, things will change."

"Yeah. Right." Ross sneered. "// they find the murderer." He shook his head, avoiding her gaze. "Sometimes I feel like trouble follows me everywhere I go."

"What do you mean?" Janie asked.

He didn't answer. He appeared lost in his glum thoughts.

Suddenly his expression brightened. "Oh. I almost

THE NEW BOY
forgot!" he exclaimed, reaching into his jacket pocket. "I've got something for you."

He pulled out something blue and held it out to her.

"No!" Janie screamed, jumping up. Her chair toppled noisily to the floor.

"No!"

It was Eve's scarf. Janie recognized it immediately. Eve's favorite scarf.

She must have been wearing it with the blazer the night she was murdered.

chapter

21

1

J anie—what's wrong?" he cried, holding the blue scarf out to her.

"Are you sick?" she screamed.

Heads turned to gape at them. She heard cries of surprise around the room.

But she didn't care. She ran blindly for the door.

"Janie! Janie!" she could hear Ross calling after her.

But she kept running. Up the stairs and out the back door. Into the gray cold.

He's sick, she thought. He's really sick.

One minute he tells me how upset he is that everyone thinks he's a murderer. The next minute he waves the dead girl's scarf in my face.

He's crazy, she decided, gasping in mouthfuls of the cold air, her heart pounding.

THE NEW BOY

He's crazy and dangerous.

I've got to stay away from him. I've got to.

Janie avoided him the rest of the afternoon. He tried to talk to her in chem lab, but she moved to a table at the front of the room.

She saw him hurrying toward her locker after school. She slammed it shut and escaped through the crowded halls.

Out in the student parking lot she searched for Faith. Faith, where are you? she thought, watching the cars back up and pull away. I need a ride home. I need to get away from here—fast.

She spotted Faith near the fence. Paul was standing beside her. Both of them were talking at the same time, gesturing wildly with their hands.

Janie started toward them. "Hey, Faith—"

She stopped when she realized they were in the middle of a screaming fight.

As Janie watched from behind a parked car, Paul yelled something at Faith. Then he jumped into his car, fired up the engine with a deafening roar, and squealed away.

Faith, red-faced, her shoulders heaving up and down, turned and started running from the parking lot.

What's going on? Janie wondered. She took a few steps toward her friend, then stopped.

Faith doesn't need me interfering now, Janie thought. I'll call her later, when she's calmed down.

I'll call her tonight. I'll tell her she was right about

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Ross. I'll tell her about the scarf. Til tell her how crazy Ross is.

ril tell her everything. And then she can tell me about Paul.

Janie looked forward to confiding in her old friend.

As she began walking home she had no way of knowing that she would never see Faith again.

chapter

22

R.

OSS tried to call her after dinner. But Janie made her mother tell him she wasn't home.

"Who is that boy?" her mother asked, staring suspiciously at Janie. "He sounded very angry when I told him you weren't here."

"Just a guy from school," Janie told her. "Do you need anything at the mall? I have to get out for a short while."

The mall seemed empty and depressing. Maybe it's just my mood, Janie thought.

After she picked up the few items she needed, she stopped at the Doughnut Hole to see Ian. She hadn't talked with him for a while. She wondered if he was feeling any better.

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She found him behind the counter, wiping down the cofifee machine with a wet towel. He turned, surprised to see her.

His glasses caught the pink light from the neon sign in the window. He looked pale and very tired.

"How's it going?" he asked, squeezing the towel between his hands. He forced a smile. "Want a doughnut? We're having a special today on jelly filled."

"No, thanks," Janie said, smiling back. "I just wondered how you were doing."

He shrugged his slender shoulders. He looked like a little boy in the too big red and white apron they made him wear. "Better, I guess. I still don't sleep too well."

"Tell me about it," Janie said dryly.

"When I do sleep, I have nightmares," Ian told her. "Really bad ones."

"Could I have some more coffee?" a man in a blue work uniform interrupted from down the counter. He was waving his plastic cup at Ian.

Ian picked up the coffeepot and hurried down the counter.

"How much are the crullers?" a teenage girl with blond hair piled high on her head asked. "Not those. Those." She pointed.

Ian bent down to the glass display case to check the price. The girl asked for two crullers. She pointed to the two she wanted.

Ian took care of another customer. Then he returned to Janie, a weary frown on his face. "What a night," he said. "I worked a shift at Sporting World

THE NEW BOY
right after school. Then I came here at six. Know what I had for dinner? Two chocolate doughnuts."

"Very healthy," Janie said, rolling her eyes.

Ian glanced up at the clock. "Only half an hour to go," he said, picking up the wet towel. "Want to go get a hamburger or something when I get off?"

Janie suddenly remembered she had planned to call Faith.

"No, I can't," she told Ian. "I've got to call Faith. I saw her and Paul having a screaming fight in the parking lot after school."

"So what else is new?" Ian remarked. He swept a hand back through his spiky brown hair. "Think they're going to break up?"

"I don't know," Janie replied. She realized she'd been so caught up in her own problems, she hadn't thought much about Faith and Paul.

"See you in school," she told Ian.

"Not if I see you first!" he joked without enthusiasm.

As soon as she got home, Janie hurried to her bedroom. She yanked the antenna up on her cordless telephone and pushed the button that automatically dialed Faith's number.

Faith picked up on the first ring. "Where have you been?" she asked in an exasperated tone. "I've been calhng you all night!"

"I was at the mall," Janie told her. "I stopped to see Ian."

"Oh," Faith said. "How's he doing?"

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"A little better, I think," Janie replied. "He really misses Eve, of course. But he's working so hard, he doesn't have much time to sit around and feel sorry for himself."

"I guess that's good," Faith said thoughtfully. She changed the subject abruptly. "Listen, Janie, I talked to that girl who went to Ross's school. You know. The one with the white-blond hair. Jordan Blye."

"You did?" Janie leaned forward on her bed.

"She told me some really frightening things," Faith confided.

Janie felt a cold stab of dread in her stomach. I don't want to hear this, she thought. But I have to.

"Frightening things? About Ross?" she asked.

"I'm afraid so," Faith said in a low voice. "Janie, this is going to upset you. But she told me that Ross—"

They were interrupted by a clicking on the hne.

"Hold on a sec. That's my call waiting," Faith said.

She clicked off. The line went silent for nearly a minute.

Then Faith got back on the line. "Listen, Janie, can you come over? You've really got to hear this about Ross, and it's better to hear it in person. It'll be better if we're together."

"Faith—why are you keeping me in suspense Uke this?" Janie protested. "Can't you tell me now on the phone?"

"Come on over," Faith begged. "Please? I'm all alone here. My dad's at some cocktail party and my mom's still in Switzerland. And it's the housekeeper's night off."

THE NEW BOY

"Well. . . okay," Janie agreed. "Then you can tell me about your fight with Paul, too."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. "How'd you know about that?" Faith asked.

"I was in the parking lot. I saw you," Janie admitted.

"What a day." Faith sighed. "Hurry over, okay?"

Janie drove to North Hills, the wealthy section of Shadyside, and pulled onto Faith's long, circular driveway. As she made her way up the flagstone walk she was surprised that the front door was slightly ajar.

"Weird," Janie said to herself.

She nudged the door open. "Faith?"

No answer.

"Faith? Your door is open!"

Still no answer.

Warily Janie pushed the door open enough to enter the house. "Faith? Are you upstairs?"

No reply.

Janie made her way across the living room with its expensive antique furniture.

"Faith? Are you in the den? It's me."

The sweet, piny aroma of a wood fire floated out from the den. Janie hurried toward it, eager to find her friend.

She stopped in the doorway. On the far wall a fire was blazing away in the wide fireplace.

"Faith?"

Janie let out a shriek of horror when she saw her friend.

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Faith lay sprawled on her back, her blue eyes staring lifelessly at the ceiling. Blood had seeped over a dark, gaping wound on the side of her head and ran in rivulets over her blond hair.

The brass poker from the fireplace lay at her side on the blood-soaked white carpet.

chapter

23

/.

anie tried to scream again, but no sound came out.

She pressed her hands against the sides of her face, her mouth frozen wide in horror.

Faith found out something about Ross—and now she's dead, Janie thought.

What did she learn about Ross? Janie wondered. And why did it cost her her life?

Her entire body trembled. The room began to sway and tilt.

She walked toward the leather couch and dropped down onto it, burying her face in her hands.

"Faith, Faith.*' The name escaped her lips.

What was that sound?

She raised her head and listened.

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A door opening somewhere? A footstep?

"Who's there?" Her voice came out tiny and weak.

Was the murderer still in the house?

"Who's there? Is somebody there?"

No reply.

Another creaking sound.

Swallowing hard, Janie fought off her dizziness and lifted the cordless phone from the coffee table.

With a trembling finger she punched in 911.

"Hello—please! My friend—she's been murdered!"

The woman's voice on the other end remained calm. "What is the address, please? We'll have someone there in five minutes."

Janie struggled to remember Faith's address. Her mind was a blank. Finally she remembered it and stammered it into the phone.

"Oh!"

Were those footsteps? In the hall outside the den?

Dizziness swept over her.

I'm going to die. I know it.

The room started to spin. "I think the murderer's still in the house," she said into the phone in a hoarse whisper. "Please—help me."

The room tilted at weird angles.

I'm going to pass out, she thought.

And then I'll be dead.

"Get out of there immediately," the voice instructed her calmly and deliberately. "Just put the phone down and leave the house. Get as far away as you can. The officers are on their way right now."

THE NEW BOY

"Hurry. Yes. I should hurry," Janie repeated. She knew she wasn't thinking clearly.

She wasn't sure she could stand up.

The room was spinning. Spinning and tilting. The fire was roaring. Roaring inside her head.

"Just get out of the house now," the voice instructed her firmly.

Janie let the phone fall to the carpet.

She took a deep breath, clutching the arm of the couch.

Stand up. Stand up. You've got to stand up!

She pushed herself up, ignoring the trembling of her knees.

One step. Another step.

To the den doorway.

The footsteps were coming closer.

Run, she thought.

I have to run.

But I can't.

The fire crackled loudly behind her in the fireplace.

Move! Move!

I can't! I'll run right into him!

Into the bloodstained hands of the murderer.

Think clearly, she told herself, leaning on the door frame. Think clearly, Janie.

But how?

I'll close the den door. And lock it.

Yes! I'll lock the door.

I'll be safe in the den. I'll be safe here.

She reached for the doorknob.

A figure loomed in front of her.

lOS

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Too late.

Janie threw her hands in front of her face, backed away, tripped over her own feet, and fell to the floor.

As the figure stepped into the den, she gaped in astonishment.

"What are you doing here?" she cried.

chapter

24

7

J anie—^
anie—what's wrong?" Ian cried.

He moved quickly to help her to her feet.

"Ian—it's you," Janie moaned.

"Janie—what are you doing?" Ian demanded.

Then he saw Faith.

He froze, not moving, not blinking—as if the scene of horror had clicked a switch inside him, shutting him down.

"Ohhh," A strange cry escaped his lips. He dropped to his knees on the white carpet. His glasses fell off, but he made no attempt to pick them up.

"I—I just talked to her on the phone," he told Janie.

"Me, too," Janie said softly, dropping back onto the couch.

"She said she wanted to tell me something about

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Ross," Ian said. "So I—I hurried over. The door was open. I—I—" His words ended in a muffled sob.

Ian moved across the carpet, past the bloodstained poker. He leaned over Faith to listen for a heartbeat.

"Ian, she's dead!" Janie cried.

Ian grabbed for his glasses, then stood up shakily. "We have to call the police," he said.

"I called them already—"

"We have to call them," he repeated, staring at her but not focusing.

"Ian, listen to me," Janie said slowly, deliberately. "I already called them."

"Why did Ross kill her, too?" Ian demanded.

"I don't know," Janie said, feeling hot tears roll down her cheeks.

"We have to call the police," Ian said.

"Ian, please. Sit down, I called them. I already called them."

"But we have to call the police," Ian said, his entire body trembling.

Janie uttered a sigh of relief as she heard the sirens growing louder, coming closer.

The funeral was held a few days later at Shadyside Memorial. School had been suspended that morning so friends and classmates of Faith's could attend.

Sitting near the back of the chapel, Janie gazed at all the flowers, so bright and colorful, so out of place on that sorrowful day.

In the front she saw Faith's mother, who had flown in from Switzerland for the funeral, holding hands with Faith's father, silent and close in their grief.

THE NEW BOY

Paul sat a few rows in front of Janie. She saw him fighting back tears.

He really cared about her, Janie thought, wiping her eyes with a wadded-up tissue.

Ian sat in the same row as Paul, his face a sick yellow color, dark circles under his eyes.

Faith's friends were there, and there were many, silently paying their last respects. Ross was not there.

Janie hadn't seen Ross since the afternoon he had plucked Eve's scarf from the pocket of his jacket and held it up to her like some cruel trophy.

The police were looking for him, Janie had heard.

So were his parents.

No one had seen Ross.

The final bell rang, signaling the end of the school-day. Janie pulled open her locker and began stuffing books into her backpack.

She turned to see Paul walking hurriedly in her direction, his basketball gear slung over his shoulder, dodging kids in the crammed corridor as if they were would-be point guards.

He slowed down when he saw Janie, hesitated, then stopped.

They hadn't spoken since Faith's funeral three days before. They had never really been good friends.

Paul mumbled hi.

She asked him how it was going.

"Okay, I guess," he replied awkwardly.

They stared at each other uncomfortably, unable to think of anything to say.

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"I've got to go," Paul said, swinging his basketball uniform to his other shoulder.

"Me, too," Janie said. "See you."

Janie watched him head down the hall toward the gym. She suddenly remembered watching Paul and Faith arguing in the parking lot.

She had never found out what the argument was about.

It doesn't matter now, she thought bitterly.

She hoisted her backpack onto her shoulder and slammed the locker shut. Starting toward the door, her mind still on Paul, she bumped right into Jordan Blye.

"Oh!"

"Sorry!"

"Hi. I don't think we've met. I'm Janie Simpson."

"I know," Jordan said with a slight nod of her head, which made her curly white-blond hair bounce. "You were Faith's best friend, weren't you?"

Janie nodded. "Do you have a moment? I wanted to talk to you."

"It's about Ross, isn't it?" Jordan asked bluntly.

"Yes, it is."

A group of basketball players rushed past them on their way to practice. They pushed open the double gym doors, allowing the sound of bouncing balls to escape into the hallway.

"How about a short walk in the park?" Janie suggested, leading the way to the back exit. Shadyside Park stretched behind the school building, leading down through the woods to the Conononka River. "It's not too cold today. It's almost springlike."

THE NEW BOY

"I can't wait till spring," Jordan said, "It's been such a long, terrible winter."

It was colder outside than Janie had thought. A gusting wind swirled around them as they walked. Jordan pulled up the hood on her down coat.

They walked past the teachers' parking lot, past the soccer field, past the baseball diamond, making small talk about school and their teachers.

Janie suddenly stopped and glanced behind her.

"What is it?" Jordan asked, nervously glancing over her shoulder.

"Just a feeling I had," Janie said. "Like we were being followed."

They hurried along a path into the woods. Above their heads the tree branches were still bare and brittle, as fragile and vulnerable as Janie felt.

Once again she glanced behind her. She couldn't shake the feeling of being followed.

But the park was empty.

"Sorry I'm so jumpy," Janie said. "It's just that—"

"You're afraid of Robert, aren't you?" Jordan interrupted.

"Who?" Janie asked, confused. "Robert?"

"Robert. Ross," Jordan said. "I told Faith I went to school with him last year. At New Brighton. Only his name wasn't Ross then. It was Robert. Robert Kingston. We called him Robby."

"Robert Kingston? Huh? I don't get it."

"He changed his name this year," Jordan said.

"Are you sure we're talking about the same guy?"

"I'm sure," Jordan replied. "You don't mix up a guy like Robby."

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"Why—why did he change his name?" Janie asked, stopping in the path to face Jordan.

"I don*t know for sure," Jordan replied. "I think it probably was because of his old girlfriend in New Brighton."

Puzzled, Janie studied Jordan's face. "Why would he have to change his name just because he broke up with his girlfriend?"

Jordan paused as if considering whether to go on. She took a deep breath. "They didn't break up," she said. "He killed her."

chapter

25

/.

anie gasped. She felt her breath catch in her throat.

She dropped down onto a low tree stump, letting her backpack fall to the ground.

Jordan stood over her, her expression grim. Her hood fell back on her shoulders, but she made no attempt to pull it up. Now that she had started talking, she needed no encouragement to continue.

"Robby's girlfriend was named Karen Anders. She had been going out with Robby for a few months, I guess. But I heard they broke up. Then Karen was killed. Murdered in the woods a few blocks from New Brighton High."

Janie shook her head, then gazed up at Jordan. "And Ross was arrested?"

"No," Jordan replied. "He was questioned. But he

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had an alibi. The police let him go. But everyone in school knew he did it."

"They did?" Janie asked, feeling light-headed from hearing this shocking news.

"Yeah. You know how stories get out," Jordan said, tossing her hair behind her shoulder with a gloved hand. "Everyone knew Robby killed her. He acted really upset. But everyone knew he did it."

Dark storm clouds rolled overhead. The ground darkened. The bare trees shivered in a swirling breeze.

"Wow," Janie exclaimed, shaking her head. "Wow. Wow."

Secretly, she thought: How could I have been so attracted to this creep? How could I have let a murderer kiss me?

"The New Brighton police never solved Karen's murder," Jordan continued. "But anyone at school could have told them it was Robby. Robby got in some other trouble after the murder. He was in a stolen car with a bunch of guys. He said he didn't know the car was stolen. But who's going to believe that?"

Jordan made a disgusted face. "He's just trouble," she said. "His parents moved to Shadyside soon after that. To give Robby a new start, I guess. I guess that's why he changed his name to Ross. Gabriel is his mother's maiden name. He wanted a new start."

"Some new start," Janie said bitterly. A sob escaped her lips. "Some new start. He comes down here and murders my two best friends."

A cold drop of rain landed on Janie's forehead. Startled, she jumped as if she had been shot. Raindrops pattered against the ground.

THE NEW BOY

Jordan reached down to place a comforting hand on Janie's shoulder. "He's bad news wherever he goes," she said softly. "But the police will catch him, Janie. Don't worry."

"I am worried!" Janie admitted. "I'm very worried. What if he comes back, Jordan? What if he comes back for me?"

Thunder rumbled overhead as Janie walked home. A jagged line of lightning cracked the charcoal sky.

Janie adjusted her backpack on her shoulders and lowered her head against the falling rain.

So cold. I'm so cold, she thought.

Cold as death.

She crossed Park Drive and started to run. The rain was coming down harder now. A river of rainwater flowed along the curb.

Pale white light rolled over the street in front of her. At first Janie thought it was another streak of lightning. But as the light stretched over her, she realized it came from car headlights.

She stopped running and turned, squinting through the curtain of rain.

And saw a blue car pull up beside her.

A small blue car.

Ross's car!

"No!" she cried out loud, starting to run again.

The window slid down. "Want a ride?" An unfamiliar voice.

She turned to see a young man in a black baseball cap grinning out at her.

"Want a ride?"

FEAR STREET

Janie breathed a grateful sigh. It isn't Ross. Thank goodness it isn't Ross.

She hesitated. She wanted to get out of the storm. But she didn't know this guy. "No, thanks." She had to shout over the steady roar of rain.

"Come on, honey. I won't bite," the young man called out, grinning.

"I said no thanks," she insisted.

"Really. I won't bite—unless you want me to!" He laughed.

"Get lost!" Janie screamed.

"Go ahead and drown!" he cried angrily. The window rolled up. The blue car sped off, its tires sending up a wave of rainwater.

What a creep, Janie thought. She realized she was trembling. Why are there so many creeps in the world?

She lowered her head and started to run down the street.

She was thinking about a hot bath.

Another crackling flash of lightning, then thunder crashed, making the ground shake.

Rainwater rolled down her face. She couldn't see a thing. The world was a gray blur. A cold, wet blur.

She ran right into him.

He grabbed the sleeve of her coat.

"Ross!" she cried.

His dark eyes burned menacingly into hers. He tightened his grip on her arm.

"Get into my car," he said.

chapter

26

Xvoss—what do you want? Let go of me!" Janie screamed.

She struggled to pull free, but he tightened his grip. "Get in the car," he repeated through clenched teeth.

Janie saw the blue Civic across the street, the driver's door open, the engine running.

Ross said something else, but a roar of thunder drowned out his words.

"Leave me alone! Go away!" Janie cried, staring in fear at his hacd expression.

How could I have ever cared about him? she wondered.

How could I have been fooled by him?

"I just want to talk," he insisted.

"You're hurting me!" she cried.

FEAR STREET

His eyes were wild. His dark hair was dripping. The rain poured down his forehead.

"Let go!" She jerked her arm away and started to run.

Her sneakers slid on the wet pavement.

He grabbed her around the waist. He shoved her into a glass bus shelter.

The rain drummed noisily against the bus shelter roof. He pushed her against the back wall.

"No! Please!" she screamed.

"What is your problem?" he demanded, his eyes wild, his features twisted in anger. "I thought I could talk to you!"

"No!" Janie cried, overcome with fear.

"You've been acting crazy ever since I tried to return your scarf!" he shouted over the deafening roar of rain.

"My scarf?" Janie screamed. "My scarf?"

Is he totally crazy? she wondered.

And then: Is he crazy enough to kill me right here on the street?

I've got to get him talking, she decided. If I can keep him talking, maybe someone will come along. Someone will see him holding me prisoner here. Someone will save me.

"Where have you been?" she demanded.

"Driving around," he said, pressing her shoulders against the bus shelter wall. ^Driving around for days. I checked into a motel near New Brighton. When I heard about Faith I just lost it. I had to get away. I had to try to figure out—"

THE NEW BOY

But you killed her! Janie thought.

Unable to hold back her fury, she cried out, "Why did you kill her? Why?"

His dark eyes narrowed. A roar of thunder drowned out his reply.

"Why are you accusing me?" he demanded.

"Oh, Ross—you're such a phony. I know the truth about you," Janie told him. "Your name isn't even Ross!"

She could see the shock on his face. "You—know?" he demanded.

"Ross, I'll help you," she offered.

"Huh?"

"We'll call the police," Janie said. "We'll get you help. You need help, Ross. You need someone to—"

"Shut up!" he screamed. "And stop fighting me!"

"Okay, okay," Janie replied, retreating.

I'm only making him angrier, she realized.

She gazed over his shoulder into the street. Why didn't anyone come by? Wasn't anyone going to help her get away from him?

A flash of lightning lit up the shelter.

"Get in the car," he ordered.

So much anger, Janie thought. It was this anger that made him kill Eve and Faith.

"No, Ross. PJease!" she begged.

"Get in the car. I won't hurt you. I just want to talk. I need to talk to you, Janie."

"No—I can't! I can't, Ross." Her entire body was trembling. Her heart fluttered in panic.

"Janie—you're really upsetting me. I—"

FEAR STREET

"I'll meet you later!" she blurted out.

I have to get away from him now, she thought. I have to get home.

"You'll meet me?" His eyes studied her face suspiciously.

"Yes. Later," she said. "We can talk later."

I'll get home and call the police, she told herself. I'll tell the police where to find him. There's no way I'm going to meet him. No way.

"Where?" he demanded. "Where will you meet me?"

"Uh ... at the mall," she said, her mind racing. "The pizza place. You know. How about eight o'clock? I'll meet you there at eight." The words tumbled from her mouth in a voice she didn't recognize.

He let go of her. The anger seemed to fade from his eyes. "Sorry," he muttered. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

She shook her head.

Is he letting me go? she wondered. Is my trick going to work?

"I—I'm not thinking clearly," he said. "I've been so mixed up."

He's really crazy, Janie realized. Sick and crazy.

"Let me give you a ride home," he offered.

Now he's being his old self, Janie thought, staring hard at him. When the anger goes away he's a different person. It's like he's two people in one. Robert. . . Ross . . . two people in one.

"The rain has nearly stopped. I want to walk home," she told him.

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His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "But you'll meet me tonight at eight? Promise?"

"Promise," she said.

She watched him from the bus shelter, her back pressed against the wall, until he slammed his car door and drove away.

I'm safe, she thought.

I got him to leave.

I'm safe—for now.

Breathing hard, her heart still racing, she brushed the wet hair off her forehead and shifted her backpack on her shoulders.

Then she hurried home.

The note on the refrigerator told Janie that her mother had some shopping to do. Then she was picking Mr. Simpson up at the airport. "Should be home around six-thirty. Please start dinner," the note said.

Janie tossed her backpack and wet coat on the kitchen floor. She sighed, disappointed. She had wanted to talk to her mother. She didn't want to be alone now.

Shivering in her wet clothes, she made her way to the kitchen phone on the wall next to the counter.

The police will pick up Ross, she assured herself.

I'll be okay.

She lifted the receiver to her ear.

Silence. No dial tone.

She clicked the phone several times.

Silence.

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This happened every time it rained. The lines were down because of the storm.

Janie swallowed hard, trying to keep down the panic that swept over her.

I'm all alone here, she realized.

And the phone is dead.

Totally dead.

At eight-thirty Janie was nervously pacing back and forth in the living room. The curtains were drawn over the front window. All the lights in the house were on.

Where are Mom and Dad? she wondered.

She picked up the phone for the thousandth time. Still dead.

With an unhappy groan, she slammed it back down.

Ross must be at the mall now, she thought. He must have figured out that I'm not coming to meet him.

So where are Mom and Dad?

I need them here. I don't want to be alone.

She wrapped her arms over her chest, trying to warm herself. The hot bath hadn't helped. Neither had the dry clothes or the bulky sweater she had pulled on over her lighter sweater.

She stopped pacing when she heard footsteps on the front porch.

"Finally!" she cried out loud. "You're finally home!" She eagerly pulled open the front door.

Her smile vanished. She gasped. "Ross!"

He glared at her, his face half hidden in the glare of the yellow porch light. "Did you forget our date?" he snarled.

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"You can't come in!" Janie cried. "My parents— they're asleep upstairs. You'll wake them!"

She tried to slam the door, but Ross jammed his shoe in the crack.

"Don't worry," he said coldly. "I can be very quiet."

chapter

17

R.

OSS pushed his way into the house and shut the door behind him. Janie backed into the living room.

"So where were you?" he demanded, unzipping his leather jacket as he advanced on her. "When you didn't show up, I got worried."

He studied her face. All the while he scowled angrily.

"Listen, Ross—" Janie started to say. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for something she could use as a weapon.

"No, you listen," he said sharply, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets.

Janie glanced at the clock on the mantel. Mom and Dad, where are you? Please hurry!

"I see the look on your face," Ross said heatedly. "I

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see how afraid you are. I know what you're thinking. It's what everyone else is thinking. That's why you didn't meet me—isn't it? Isn't it?"

"No!" Janie cried, unable to hold back her terror. "I—I was supposed to get a ride. From Paul. That's right. Paul was supposed to give me a ride to the mall. But he got hung up."

Ross shook his head bitterly. "You're such a bad liar, Janie. You really shouldn't even try."

"I'm not lying!" she insisted.

He took a few steps toward her.

She glanced at the clock again.

Where were her parents? Where?

When she turned back, Ross had pulled the blue scarf from his jacket.

He twisted it tautly around his hand.

Janie shrank back as Ross advanced on her.

"Ross—what are you going to do?" she cried.

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28

R.

OSS took another step toward Janie. Then he angrily tossed the blue scarf at her.

She made no attempt to grab it. Instead she shrank back from it.

"Here's your scarf!" he cried. "I—I don't understand. What did I do wrong? Why did the stupid scarf make you turn against me?"

Is it possible he doesn't know? Janie wondered.

Is it possible he doesn't remember killing Eve and taking her scarf?

"It isn't my scarf?!" she told him in a trembling voice. "The scarf—" She lowered her eyes to the floor and suddenly recognized it.

"It is mine!" she cried, raising her hands to her cheeks.

It wasn't Eve's scarf. It was the blue scarf Janie had

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worn the night she and Ross had ended up at the White Castle.

"You left it in my car that night," Ross said in a low voice, staring down at the scarf on the floor. "So what did I do wrong?"

Janie's heart pounded. She could feel her face turn red.

"Tell me!" Ross insisted.

He's out of control, Janie realized. I made a mistake about the scarf. But that doesn't mean I'm totally wrong about him.

She stared at him, unable to hide her fright.

"I—I could kill you for not trusting me!" Ross cried.

Yes. I know you can kill, Janie thought. What am I going to do? How can I save myself?

"I'm not a killer," he said softly, moving closer, backing her against the sofa. "You found out about the girl in New Brighton?"

"Yes," Janie admitted. "I heard-—"

"I didn't kill her. I was taking a shortcut through the woods. I found her. That's all. She was already dead." He swept his dark hair back off his forehead with one hand.

Why don't I believe him? Janie asked herself.

Why am I certain that he's a liar?

"The rumors started," Ross said bitterly. "They hounded me. The kids at school—they were vicious. My family and I had to move. And now—and now— it's happened all over again."

What a phony, Janie thought. Does he really believe the lies he's telling me? Is he really that crazy?

FEAR STREET

"I didn't kill Eve. I didn't kill Faith," Ross said, starting to pace back and forth, taking long, hurried strides. "I didn't kill them. I didn't kill them," he said in a singsong chant.

He's crazy. He's crazy and dangerous, Janie told herself, edging away from the couch.

"Why don't you believe me?" Ross demanded, stopping his pacing to confront her. "Why, Janie?"

She didn't reply. She just stared back at him, thinking hard, trying to figure out how to escape.

*i told the police," Ross confided, standing stiffly, arms tensed as if preparing to grab her. "I told them this afternoon. I didn't kill anyone. Why do they keep picking me up, asking me more questions?"

"You talked to the police this afternoon?" Janie asked.

He nodded. "They won't leave me alone. I told them I was at my cousin's in Waynesbridge when Faith was killed. My cousin backed me up."

He and his cousin cooked up a story to save Ross, Janie figured. The police had to let him go.

Now there was no point in calling them, Janie realized sadly.

"You're frightened of me," Ross accused her suddenly.

Janie didn't know how to reply.

"Look at you. You're terrified of me," Ross said, pointing at her scornfully.

"No! No, I'm not!" she protested.

What is he going to do now? she asked herself. Why is he doing this?

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"You're totally frightened," Ross said, a strange smile on his face.

"Ross, just get out, okay?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice low and steady. "Just go home."

She could see hurt in his eyes. And then anger.

When he bent down to pick up the blue scarf, she darted away from the couch, ran past him, and headed for the front door.

"Hey!" he called angrily. She could hear him scrambling to catch up.

She tore open the door, shoved the storm door open with her shoulder, and, breathing hard, leapt off the front stoop.

Into the cold night, the ground still wet from the afternoon storm.

Her sneakers pounded against the hard driveway. Her breath burst out in loud, steamy gasps.

Got to get away from him. Got to get away.

She made it halfway down the driveway before he tackled her from behind.

She let out a groan of pain as she hit the wet pavement and Ross fell on top of her.

"You're not getting away," he growled, his breath hot in her ear.

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1 lease—let me go!" Janie begged.

He rolled off her and quickly climbed to his feet. Breathing hard, he stood over her.

"You're not getting away," he repeated, "until you tell me why you don't believe me."

She climbed to her knees. The cold rainwater from the driveway had soaked through the knees of her jeans. Her elbow ached from where she had fallen on it.

"Tell me, Janie," Ross said softly, lowering his voice now. "Please tell me."

He can't decide whether to be angry or sweet, Janie thought. He can't decide whether to yell or beg. He's so mixed up. Robert. . . Ross. Robert... Ross.

I know only one thing for sure.

He isn't going to let me go.

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He's crazy, and he isn't going to let me go.

The blinding white light made her cry out.

She grabbed the back of her head. For a moment she thought Ross had struck her and she was seeing stars.

But as the light rolled over her she realized it came from headlights.

Car headlights.

Her parents were finally home, finally pulling up the drive.

"Ross—it's my parents!" she told him. "My parents are here!"

To Janie's surprise, Ross had disappeared.

When the alarm rang the next morning, Janie awoke with a heavy feeling of dread. She pulled the covers over her head, trying to drown out the voices of her parents, already moving around downstairs.

She didn't want to go to school this morning. She was afraid Ross would be there, waiting for her.

She realized she was more afraid of him than ever. She had seen him at his worst. She had seen his violent side the night before.

Why had the police let him go? Why couldn't the police see how dangerous Ross was? Why did they always buy his excuses and alibis?

I won't feel safe until Ross is taken away, Janie realized. I can't feel safe until he's arrested.

Sure enough, he came after her in the hall at school before homeroom. When Janie saw him coming, she ran into the girls' room and waited for the bell to ring.

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Leave me alone, Ross. Please leave me alone, she asked silently.

Later she had to run from the lunchroom when he tried to talk to her. And she cut her chem lab in the afternoon, hiding in the library because she knew Ross would be waiting at the lab table.

After school Janie quickly put her books into her backpack, eager to get out of the building. She slammed her locker door and started down the hall to the front exit.

And there he was.

Ross had just turned the comer. His eyes locked on hers. He was wearing a black sweater over black denims. His dark hair was down over his forehead.

Janie frantically spun around. She was desperate to get away from him.

The halls were emptying out. A few kids stood talking way down at the other end. A girl just past the next classroom was down on the floor, searching the floor of her locker.

"Janie," Ross called. "Wait."

She turned and began hurrying away in the other direction.

"Wait!" Ross called.

She heard him running after her. She started to run, too.

"Janie!" he called angrily, close behind her.

She turned a comer and heard laughing voices.

"Paul!" she cried breathlessly.

Paul and two friends from the basketball team were laughing hard about something. They stopped when they saw Janie's expression.

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"Hey, wait!" Ross turned the comer. He stopped short, his eyes growing wide as he saw Paul and the other two boys.

"Leave her alone, man," Paul said, stepping in front of Janie. She was breathing hard, struggling to catch her breath.

Ross's expression hardened. Janie could see his jaw twitch. "I just want to talk to her," Ross said softly.

"Leave her alone," Paul repeated menacingly. He moved quickly toward Ross, his two friends right behind him.

Janie edged back to the wall.

Ross raised his hands high, as if surrendering. "Hey, I don't want any trouble," he said, taking a step back.

"You are trouble," Paul shouted. "You know something? I've been wanting to do this for a long time."

"Whoa!" Ross cried out.

Janie gasped as Paul let out an angry cry and his fist shot forward, landing hard in Ross's stomach.

Ross opened his mouth in a silent protest. His eyes bulged. His face turned purple. He grabbed his stomach and collapsed to his knees.

"Hit him again, Paul," one of the boys said.

I can't take this, Janie thought, feeling sick. I just can't take it.

Her backpack fell heavily to the floor. She started to run.

She could hear the excited shouts of the boys behind her. But she didn't look back.

She was running as fast as she could now. Out the

FEAR STREET
door. Through the parking lot. Through the cold gray blur of another rainy afternoon.

I can't take it. I really can't.

She ran through Shadyside Park behind the school, her sneakers thudding over the hard ground.

She ran until a sharp pain in her side forced her to stop. Gasping for breath, she dropped onto a tree stump by the path. The same tree stump where she had talked to Jordan Blye, where Jordan had revealed to her the horrible truth about Ross.

Burying her head in her hands, Janie began to sob.

Her shoulders heaved up and down as she cried. Cried for Eve. Cried for Faith.

Cried for her own fear.

There's got to be a way to prove that Ross is guilty, she thought miserably. There's got to be a way to prove that he killed my friends. My best best friends.

There's got to be a way to prove to the police that he's the one.

But how? How?

Alone in the silent park, Janie cried for a long while. When she finally stopped and raised her head, the sky had darkened. The trees hovered over her, black against a charcoal sky.

"I've got to get home," she said, sighing wearily.

Then she remembered her backpack. She had dropped it in the middle of the hall. Would it still be there?

Wiping the tearstains from her face with both hands, she hurried back to school. Would the back door still be open?

Yes.

THE NEW BOY

Janie slipped silently into the building and made her way toward the front. No sign of her backpack. It wasn't where she had left it. Maybe someone had taken it to the office.

She turned the corner into the front hall and suddenly heard voices. The door to the principal's office swung open.

Ross stepped out, his head lowered. Mr. Hernandez had a firm hand on his shoulder. The principal had a stern expression on his face as he talked to Ross.

"Oh!" Janie gasped.

Had Ross seen her?

A stab of panic made Janie freeze for a second. Then she dived for the nearest doorway and pulled the door shut.

Total blackness.

This isn't a classroom, Janie realized immediately, her heart pounding. She had leapt into a small closet.

Shutting her eyes in the darkness, she pressed her hands against the closet door and listened for footsteps. A few seconds later she could hear Ross and Mr. Hernandez pass by.

"We cannot tolerate any kind of violence," Mr. Hernandez was saying.

What a joke, Janie thought bitterly. What world do you live in, Mr. Hernandez? Ross has already killed three girls!

Holding her breath, she moved farther back into the closet as they passed.

Something brushed against her cheek.

Something cold.

And dead.

FEAR STREET

Janie felt damp hair brush against her face.

She clamped a hand over her mouth to keep from screaming.

But she knew she couldn't hold her scream in for long.

There was someone else in this dark closet.

chapter

30

/.

anie's chest felt ready to burst. She couldn't hold the screams in any longer.

Fve got to get out of here, she thought. Got to get out!

Fighting back her panic, she gripped the door handle and pushed.

The door didn't open.

A terrified moan escaped her throat.

The hair brushed against her face again.

She pushed the door. Pushed it again.

"Let me out of here! Somebody—let me out!" She tried to scream, but her fear muffled her cries.

Was the door jammed? Was she locked in?

Locked in with a corpse?

FEAR STREET

With a desperate cry, she rammed her shoulder against the door—and it swung open.

She tumbled out into the hall.

The mop tumbled out after her.

She gaped at it in shock. A large wet floor mop.

Not a corpse. A floor mop.

"This is what Ross has done to me," she muttered to herself, waiting for her breathing to return to normal. "He has frightened me so much, I am imagining corpses wherever I go."

She was trembling all over.

I'll never be calm again, she thought. Never.

Still breathing hard, she picked up her backpack in the office and hurried home.

The phone rang as soon as Janie walked in the door.

She glanced at the kitchen clock—nearly five.

Where are Mom and Dad? she wondered. Still at work, I guess.

She picked up the kitchen phone. "Hello?"

"Janie, it's me. Ian." He sounded breathless, excited.

"Ian—hi. What's going on?" Janie asked, pulling a can of Coke from the refrigerator.

"Janie—I've found proof," Ian said. "Really. I've found proof."

"Huh?" Janie was confused.

"I'll be right over," Ian said. "I'll take you there. I'll show you. Okay, Janie? Then we can both take it to the police. Okay?"

THE NEW BOY

"Ian, slow down!" Janie cried, "Take what to the police?"

"The proof I've found," he replied breathlessly. I "Proof? What proof? What are you talking about, Ian? Why do you sound so weird?"

"Proof that Ross killed Eve and Faith," Ian said.

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31

1 an's yellow car pulled up her driveway ten minutes later. Janie hastily scribbled a note to her parents telling them she*d be back in a few minutes. Then she hurried out to meet him,

"Ian—what have you found?" she asked eagerly, climbing into the car.

His gray eyes flashed excitedly behind his glasses. He was wearing a bulky navy blue sweater over faded denims. The dark sweater made his face appear even paler than usual.

He flashed Janie a pleased smile. "Wait till we get there," he said softly. "I want you to see for yourself."

"You really have proof?" Janie asked.

He nodded, backing the car down the drive. "I really do. I really, really do."

"Well, where?" Janie asked impatiently. "Come on,

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Ian. What did you find? Where is it? Where are we going?"

He raised a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet. "I want you to see fiDr yourself," he insisted.

"I don't understand why you have to be so mysterious," Janie complained. "It's not as if we're playing a game, Ian. If you can prove that Ross is a murderer—"

"Don't worry. I have proof," Ian interrupted. He had both hands gripped on the wheel. He leaned forward, as if eager to get where he was going. "We're almost there, Janie."

He turned onto Fear Street.

"We—we're going to Ross's house?" Janie cried.

Ian shook his head. "No. Not to his house. Right across from it."

Ross's tiny boxlike house came into view on the left. The Fear Street woods stretched across the street from it.

"You mean—the woods? Where we found Eve?" Janie asked, unable to hide her horror.

Ian nodded, his expression solemn. He pulled the car up onto the dead grass, shifted into Park, and cut the engine and lights.

"This is where we found her," Janie said weakly, all kinds of horrifying pictures flashing through her mind as she stared through the car window at the trees.

"Yes," Ian said, reaching for his door handle.

"What did you find here, Ian?" Janie demanded. "What kind of proof? Did Ross leave something here?"

"You'll see. Follow me," Ian replied mysteriously.

FEAR STREET

Janie obediently climbed out of the car. It wasn't yet six o'clock, but the sky was as black as midnight. The moon and stars were hidden behind heavy blankets of clouds. The air was cold but still. Nothing in the woods moved.

She followed Ian toward the trees, toward the very spot where they had found Eve's lifeless body. "Ian, where is it? Over here?" she asked, feeling a cold shiver run down her back.

I never wanted to come back here, she thought unhappily. I never wanted to stand in this horrible spot again.

"Ian—please tell me!" she cried. "It's so dark. How can we see anything?"

Ian snapped his fingers. "Oh. Sorry. I left something in the car," he told her, shaking his head. "Don't move."

"D-don't worry!" Janie stammered. "Hurry back, okay?"

He disappeared into the darkness. A few seconds later Janie heard his car trunk slam. Then she saw him walking slowly back to her, a black figure against the dark sky.

"Ian—Where's the flashlight?" Janie asked, shivering.

"No flashlight," Ian said softly. "I brought this. The proof."

What was he holding up to show her?

A baseball bat?

"Ian—what's that for?" Janie demanded, bewildered.

"It's the proof," Ian replied flatly. He was standing

THE NEW BOY
a foot in front of her. He gripped the bat in both hands and took a swing, forcing Janie to take a big step back.

"There's dried blood on this bat, Janie," he said softly. "Eve's blood. It's the proof, see? It's the proof of who killed her."

"I—I don't understand," Janie cried, taking another step back. "Who—"

"I did!" Ian exclaimed. "I killed her! Here's the proof!"

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32

1 an—what are you saying?" Janie demanded in a trembling voice. "Why are you saying that?"

"It's true," Ian replied, holding up the bat. "Here's the proof."

Even in the darkness Janie could see the strange, dreamy smile on lan's face. "You—you killed Faith, too?" she stammered.

"I had to," he replied calmly. "You should know, Janie," he said, his tone turning nasty. "You were on the other line with Faith when I called. You were on the phone with her that night. She was telling you about me."

"Huh? No, she wasn't!" Janie exclaimed.

"Yes, she was," Ian insisted softly, taking a step

THE NEW BOY
toward her. "She was telling you everything, wasn't she? About Eve and the dance money? Faith knew about the money, and she was telling you. Right?"

"No. No way," Janie told him, feehng a wave of fear roll over her body. "We weren't talking about you."

"You were, Janie. So I had to hurry over to Faith's before you got there. I had to make sure Faith didn't tell you more. But you already know too much— don't you?"

"Ian, stop!" Janie cried. "Faith and I didn't talk about you or the dance money. I never believed for a minute that Eve stole that money. I—"

"But she did!" Ian cried, raising his voice for the first time. "Do you believe it, Janie? Straight-arrow Eve! The most honest girl in town—she stole the money, Janie. And do you know why? She stole it for me! She stole it for me because I needed it to go to college."

"And—and you killed her?" Janie shrieked, the horror of his words sinking into her mind. "Why, Ian? Why?"

"Eve was too honest after all," Ian murmured. "She instantly had second thoughts. She said we had to give the money back. She said we had to confess what we did and give it back." He let out an angry sob. "I couldn't do that, Janie. I worked too hard. I couldn't get another after-school job. I couldn't give the money back. I didn't know what to do."

He took a step toward Janie, the bat tensed in both hands. "After work I went to Eve's house to talk to her. I had this bat. From Sporting World, where I

FEAR STREET
worked. I was going to give it to Marky, her little brother. But Eve wasn't home. Marky told me she was out on a date. I—I couldn't believe it."

"Whoa. Listen, Ian—" Janie cried.

"Shut up!" he shouted shrilly. "Eve went out that night. With Ross. That wasn't right. I was so hurt. I was devastated. I deserved better than that. I worked too hard. Too hard. I waited. I watched Ross and Eve in his car. I saw them kiss. Ross drove away. I called Eve off the front porch. I still had the bat in my hands. I didn't mean to kill her, Janie. But I was so angry. I felt so . .. betrayed."

Ian let out another agonized sob. "After I killed her I drove her body here to the woods. Right across the street from Ross's house. I wasn't thinking clearly. My brain was all messed up. But I knew I could make everyone think that Ross had done it. I knew my life could return to normal."

"And the next morning you deliberately drove me here so we could find Eve's body together?" Janie demanded in a trembling voice.

Ian nodded. "So—Eve died. And Faith, too," he said, running a hand through his spiky hair.

He raised the bat in both hands and pulled it back. "And now you, too, Janie," he said softly. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. But I've worked so hard, so hard. I'm going to college in the fall. I've earned it."

"Ian—no! Please!" Janie begged.

"I've earned it, Janie," he said, preparing to swing the bat. "I can't let you ruin it for me."

"But Ian—" Janie murmured, backing away. "You're not going to kill me. You're not! Ross is

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standing right behind you." She pointed desperately over Ian*s shoulder.

Ian let out a sarcastic groan. "Really, Janie. You can do better than that."

"Turn around, Ian," Janie insisted. "Ross is right behind you."

"Do you think I'm stupid?" Ian cried angrily.

"Drop the bat, Ian," Ross said. Even in the darkness Janie could see the tension on Ross's face.

"You!" Ian cried in shock, turning his head.

With an angry shout he pulled the bat back, then swung it with all his might at Ross's head.

Janie shut her eyes.

She heard a sickening crack as the bat hit its target.

She heard Ross's startled groan of pain.

When she opened her eyes, Ross lay sprawled in the dirt, and Ian was advancing toward her, the bat gripped firmly in both hands.

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33

1 an pulled the bat behind his shoulder, preparing to swing.

Janie took a step back, nearly stumbling over a half-buried tree root. Behind Ian she could see Ross sprawled lifelessly on his back.

"Ian—you killed all my friends!" Janie shrieked. "All of them!"

Ian swung the bat.

Driven by a fury she didn't know she could feel, Janie ducked under it—then leapt at Ian.

With an animal roar, she grabbed his shoulders, spun him around, and shoved him to the ground.

This is for Eve, she thought. This is for Faith. This is for Ross.

She grabbed the bat and dropped down onto Ian.

THE NEW BOY

As Ian struggled to get up she kept him pinned down, the bat pressed against his throat.

"I—I can't breathe!" he gasped.

She pushed it down with all her raging strength. Pushed it. Pushed it and held it, choking him, keeping him down, down in the dirt.

For Eve. For Faith. For Ross.

To her surprise, she heard a loud groan of pain.

Still holding Ian down, she saw Ross slowly lift himself up.

"Ross—you're alive!" Janie cried happily.

"Am I?" he asked, sounding dazed. He pulled himself to his feet, rubbing his shoulder with one hand.

"Help me," Janie pleaded. "I can't hold him much longer."

Ross lumbered over and sat on lan's chest.

Ian groaned helplessly, pinned to the ground.

Janie leaned her head against Ross's shoulder. "I—I heard a crack. I thought Ian smashed your head. I thought—"

"He choked up too much on the bat," Ross said. "Got my shoulder instead." He lowered his gaze to Ian. "Good follow-through, but you've got a choppy swing. You don't play much baseball, do you?"

Ian let out an angry growl in reply.

"Ross, how did you know we were here?" Janie asked.

"I'd been driving around, trying to get my head together," he told her. "I was just getting home when I saw you and Ian go into the woods. I had to find out what was going on. So I followed you."

FEAR STREET

"I—I'm so glad," Janie told him.

Ross smiled, the first time she'd ever seen him smile. He had a nice smile, she decided.

"You've been really good at running away from me," he said. "Let's see how fast you can run to my house and call the police."

"Okay." Janie jumped up, tossing the bat to the ground. Then she started running toward the street. Halfway there, she stopped and turned back. "Hey, Ross—I won't run away again!" she called.

Then she hurried across Fear Street to call the police and bring all the horror to an end.

About the Author

"Where do you get your ideas?"

That's the question that R. L. Stine is asked most often. "I don't know where my ideas come from," he says. "But I do know that I have a lot more scary stories in my mind that I can't wait to write."

So far, he has written nearly three dozen mysteries and thrillers for young people, all of them bestsellers.

Bob grew up in Columbus, Ohio. Today he lives in an apartment near Central Park in New York City with his wife, Jane, and thirteen-year-old son, Matt.

THE NIGHTMARES

NEVER END . . .

WHEN YOU VISIT

Next: THE DARE (Coming February 1994)

It starts as a joke. Johanna Wise's gorgeous new boyfriend, Dennis Arthur, challenges her to a few easy little dares, just to see if she'll do them. She says she'll do anything to keep him. But he keeps raising the stakes.

One dare leads to another, until finally Dennis dares her to kill their teacher, Mr. North wood. Soon the whole school is taking bets on Johanna. Will she do it? Or will she chicken out—and pay the price?

ALSO AVAILABLE FROM R. L. STINE

HOW I BROKE UP WITH ERNIE

Amy finds that breaking up with Ernie isn't
easy—it's impossible! When she finally does
manage it, you'll break up, too—with laughter!

PHONE CALLS

Five teens dial for trouble in a contest of
plots, counterplots, and practical jokes.

Major phone war has been declared—and the
laughs are on the line!

CURTAINS

In a summer theater camp for teenagers, the
play's the thing—until the blood begins to run!

Can Rena survive the backstage horror—or
will it be her final curtain?

BROKEN DATE

Jamie and Tom are the perfect teenage
couple—until Tom breaks a date. Now Jamie
is running from her boyfriend...does he really
want to kill her?

All Available from Archway Paperbacks Published by Pocket Books

Table of Contents

- Title Page
- Copyright
- Pages
- Back Cover