Secret Admirer

  “I know,” Katy agreed. “But everyone knows you’re the best actress at Shadyside High. You might be good enough for a professional career.”

  Katy sank back against the pile of pillows on Selena’s bed. She sighed. “1 hope you never get so popular you aren’t my friend anymore.”

  “Hey—no way!” Selena cried. “When I win the Academy Award, I’ll get up there and say, ‘I want to thank my best friend Katy Jensen, whose willingness to climb up on the catwalk made it all possible.’”

  They both laughed.

  Selena finished wiping her face, then opened the closet. She pulled out jeans and a green sweater.

  “Are those jeans new?” Katy asked. “What are they? A size three?”

  “They’re a seven,” Selena replied, laughing. “I’m not that skinny!”

  “Compared to how you used to be, you are,” Katy replied. “Compared to me, you are.”

  “You could lose weight too,” Selena pointed out. “It’s not like I’m a diet goddess or something.”

  “For sure,” Katy scoffed.

  “I’m serious,” Selena insisted. “I lost weight because I wanted to do drama. I knew I couldn’t get lead parts unless I stopped eating so much.”

  “That’s the difference between you and me,” Katy said. “I never cared about anything as much as you care about drama.”

  Selena glanced at her friend in exasperation. “Well, find something to care about,” she said. She pulled her hair back and tied it with a green hair band. “How do I look?” she asked.

  “Awesome,” Katy replied. She glanced at her watch. “We’d better get going.”

  “We don’t want to get there too early,” Selena said. “We—”

  She stopped when she heard the tapping at the bedroom window.

  A soft tapping. Then louder.

  A thump.

  She spun around. Her eyes bulged with terror.

  “Katy—” she choked out. “Someone’s at the window! Someone’s watching us!”

  3

  Selena caught the fear on Katy’s face as they both turned to the window.

  And heard a clattering crash.

  “You’re right!” Katy cried. “There’s someone outside!”

  Ignoring her pounding heart, Selena hurtled to the window. She peered out into solid blackness.

  “What is it? Who is it?” Katy said in a voice just above a whisper.

  “No one’s there,” Selena reported, staring down at the small patch of lawn at the side of the house. “I—I think I just panicked. I mean, we’re on the second floor, right? How could anyone—”

  “But what was that crash?” Katy demanded, arms crushed over her chest. She hadn’t moved from the center of the room.

  “It’s really windy. Maybe the wind blew something over,” Selena told her.

  Selena shuddered. The thought of someone peering through her window while she changed was creepy. But it couldn’t be true.

  “There’s no way anyone could see in,” she reassured Katy. “We’re too high up.”

  “I guess,” Katy murmured, eyes still on the window.

  “Let’s just go to the party.” Selena grabbed her bag and skipped down the wooden stairs. Katy followed close behind.

  Selena pulled open the front door. The wind had picked up. It fluttered her blond curls as she locked the door.

  “It was the wind,” Katy cried. “Look!”

  Selena glanced in the direction her friend was pointing. In the side yard, a long, metal ladder lay on the ground below Selena’s bedroom window.

  “It must have blown over,” Katy said.

  “But what was a ladder doing there in the first place?” Selena asked.

  “Right under your window,” Katy murmured.

  Selena stared at the ladder in disbelief. Could someone truly have been watching her get dressed? She gazed up at her window and felt a chill run down her back.

  “This is kind of creepy,” Katy whispered. “First someone sends dead roses and that frightening card. Then …” She swallowed hard. “Do you think someone is following you? Stalking you?”

  “Stalking me? Don’t get crazy, Katy,” she scolded.

  She stared at the fallen ladder. It was very windy, and there were no people—or cars—on the street. If someone had been looking through her window, he would have fallen with the ladder. And she would have heard a car driving away.

  “There’s got to be some other explanation,” Selena decided. “Maybe my mom was fixing something on the house and she forgot to put the ladder away.”

  “Maybe,” Katy replied. “But I doubt it.”

  “Help me put it in the garage,” Selena said. She leaned down and picked up one end of the ladder. Katy reached for the other end—then stopped.

  “Oh, wow!” she cried.

  “What is it?”

  Katy pointed. “On the bottom rung!”

  Selena squinted at the ladder. And spotted a small orange circle on the bottom rung.

  A sticker of the sun.

  4

  “I still say it’s some kind of joke,” Selena declared as Katy drove toward North Hills.

  Katy snorted. “Then it’s a sick joke. I mean, dead flowers? And climbing a ladder to spy on you?”

  “We don’t know for sure that anyone was on that ladder,” Selena reminded her.

  “Well, what about those sun stickers?” Katy persisted. “What kind of a sick joke is that?”

  Selena didn’t answer. She stared out the car window at the large black trees along Old Mill Road.

  She couldn’t wait to get to Mr. Riordan’s house. At the party she could stop thinking about stickers and flowers and ladders. She would concentrate on having fun.

  But Katy refused to drop the subject. She seemed really frightened. “Maybe some psycho saw you in the play. Maybe you are being stalked!”

  Selena stared out the window and didn’t reply.

  “I read an article about how crazy people stalk actors and rock stars,” Katy continued, turning onto Park Drive. “They follow them everywhere, watch everything they do—”

  Selena laughed. “Great theory, Katy. But I’m not famous.”

  “You’re famous in Shadyside,” Katy argued. “You’re the star actress at the high school.”

  Selena shrugged. “It still doesn’t make sense. Why would anyone be that interested in stalking a high school senior?”

  “It could be someone at school,” Katy replied earnestly. “Some guy who likes you or hates you or something.”

  Selena shrugged again.

  “Stalkers aren’t like normal people,” Katy continued. “They can be really dangerous. Sometimes they kill the people they’re stalking.”

  “This guy is only leaving me stickers!” Selena exclaimed. “Besides, if it is somebody at school, then it means I know him. It’s probably someone who—I know!”

  “Who?”

  “Danny Morris,” Selena suggested.

  “Danny?” Katy scoffed. “Why would Danny stalk you?”

  “He’s not stalking me,” Selena sighed, rolling her eyes. “He wants me to get back together with him.”

  “No way!” Katy exclaimed. “You broke up over a year ago.”

  “I know,” Selena replied. “But he’s always bothering me. It’s like he just can’t believe I don’t want him back. I wish he would leave me alone.”

  “Well, I’d take him off your hands if I could get him to look at me!” Katy joked.

  Selena frowned. “Why are you always putting yourself down?”

  “You know it’s true,” Katy replied. “He’d never want someone like me. He likes sexy, skinny girls. Like you.”

  Selena shrugged and glanced at her watch. “The party should be going full blast by the time we get there,” she commented.

  “Yeah,” Katy answered absently. “I heard …” Her voice trailed off.

  “You heard what?”

  Katy didn’t answer. Selena saw her staring into the
rearview mirror. Without warning, Katy made a sharp right turn.

  “Katy?” Selena cried over the squealing tires. “What’s wrong? Mr. Riordan’s house is in the other direction!”

  “I know!” her friend replied. “But someone’s following us!”

  “Huh?” Selena twisted in her seat and saw bright headlights in the back window.

  Katy made another sharp right. The lights faded, then swung back into the car window.

  “He—he’s staying right on our tail!” Katy cried. “It must be your stalker, Selena! He’s trying to push us off the road!”

  5

  Selena braced her hands against the dashboard as Katy swerved around another corner.

  Their tires squealed. The car skidded onto the curb, then bounced back onto the street.

  “Katy—look out!” Selena cried.

  “He’s still behind us!” Katy responded, her voice shaking. “He’s practically riding our back bumper! What should we do?”

  “Calm down,” Selena instructed her. “It’s just some joker. Stop talking about stalkers. Turn back to North Hills. He’ll speed away as soon as we stop at the party.”

  “Are you crazy?” Katy cried, both hands squeezing the wheel. “If he follows us to Mr. Riordan’s house—”

  “He’ll speed away,” Selena repeated. “He wouldn’t dare follow us into the house. We’ll be safe there.”

  “But—”

  “Do you have a better idea?”

  “No,” Katy admitted. “You’re right.” She turned left at the next light and sped toward North Hills. Every time she switched lanes, the car behind them also switched. When she sped up or slowed down, the other car matched her speed, staying on their back bumper.

  “As soon as we get to Mr. Riordan’s, I’m calling the police,” Katy declared.

  At last they pulled into the big, circular driveway in front of Mr. Riordan’s house. The other car squealed to a stop behind them.

  “What now?” Katy cried. She set the parking brake and turned to gaze out the rear window. “I’m not getting out while he’s there!”

  “I—I don’t know what we should do,” Selena stammered. “Maybe you should honk—”

  Katy squinted into the rearview mirror, her features tight with fear. Selena caught a flash of terror in her friend’s eyes. “Oh no!” Katy choked out. “He’s getting out of his car. He’s walking toward us! We’re trapped!”

  6

  “Danny!” Katy breathed.

  “I don’t believe him!” Selena growled. She threw open her door, jumped out, then whirled to confront Danny. “Why were you following us like that?” she demanded. “Why did you try to scare us?”

  “Whoa,” Danny said, grinning at her. His eyes flashed in the light from the headlights. “It was just a joke. I thought I’d give you a thrill.”

  “A joke?” Katy cried shrilly. “You nearly pushed us off the road!”

  “Sorry.” Danny’s grin grew wider. “I guess I just like being close to Selena.”

  Selena sighed. Danny is so immature, she thought. I don’t care how cute he is.

  “Selena,” Danny murmured, moving close, so close she could smell the peppermint on his breath. “I have something I want to tell you.”

  Selena jumped away, angry that he had gotten so close. “Then find me later!” she said curtly. Ignoring his hurt expression, Selena followed Katy up the walk.

  Selena pulled open the front door. She was greeted by a roar of music, laughter, and loud talk. A garland of red and white balloons floated along the ceiling of Mr. Riordan’s living room.

  “’Well, look who’s here,” Mr. Riordan called, stepping toward them. “It’s our leading lady!”

  “Thank you, thank you,” Selena said, performing an exaggerated curtsey.

  “There’s pizza and soda by the fireplace,” Mr. Riordan told them. “Get something to eat and come on back over. I have an important announcement.”

  “Pizza, yum! I’m starved,” Selena declared.

  “Me too,” Katy agreed. “But I’m always hungry.” As the girls elbowed their way to the refreshment table, Selena noted that most of the drama club was already there. She saw Alison chatting in a corner with Jake.

  I’ve got to remember to ask Jake about the black flowers and the note, Selena reminded herself.

  “Hey, who’s the major babe?” Katy asked as Selena poured some ginger ale. Selena glanced to the front of the room. Next to Mr. Riordan stood a tall boy. Selena took in his long brown hair, intense dark eyes, and soft, serious mouth.

  “I’ve never seen him before,” she replied. He looked older than most of the other boys at the party. To her surprise, he suddenly gazed straight at her, almost as if he knew her.

  “Attention!” Mr. Riordan called. “Come on over here, everyone.”

  Selena balanced her plate of pizza and chips, then carefully made her way to a chair near the front of the room.

  “This is Eddy Martin,” the drama coach announced, gesturing at the new guy. “He’s a second-year drama student at Waynesbridge Junior College. As part of his studies, Eddy will be interning with us for the rest of the semester. He’ll sit in on stagecraft classes and help put on the spring play.”

  “Weird,” Katy whispered to Selena. “We never had an intern before.”

  Selena barely heard her. She couldn’t keep her eyes off the new boy. He was glancing around the room, nodding and smiling at everyone. But Selena remembered the way his gaze had landed on her.

  “There’s something about that guy,” Selena murmured. “I feel as if I’ve seen him before.”

  “If I’d seen him somewhere, I’d remember!” Katy joked. “I wonder if he’s going to work with the stage crew.”

  Selena turned to her best friend and smiled. “Why don’t you go find out?”

  Katy grinned. She pushed herself out of the chair next to Selena and approached Eddy and Mr. Riordan. Selena watched as the three of them chatted for a moment, then Katy walked back to the refreshment table.

  Selena considered doing the same thing when Eddy abruptly settled into the empty seat next to her.

  “Hi,” he said, giving Selena a dazzling smile. “I’ve been wanting to meet you. I’m Eddy.”

  “Welcome to Shadyside,” she replied. “I’m Selena Goodrich.”

  “Everyone knows who you are,” Eddy said. “I’ve seen you in all the drama productions this year. You’re very talented.”

  “Th-thank you,” Selena stammered, a little embarrassed.

  “You’re probably used to people complimenting your acting,” Eddy continued. “You’re a natural. I thought you were awesome when you took over Simone Perry’s role two years ago. That was your first leading role, right?”

  “Um, yeah,” Selena answered. “How did you know about that?”

  “I saw the play,” Eddy explained.

  “You’re kidding!” Selena was astonished. Eddy had been watching her two whole years ago! And he remembered her performance. Selena stared at him. There was something so familiar about him….

  “I’ve seen a lot of your plays,” Eddy continued. “I think it’s great that you’ve managed to keep your grades up while doing so many shows. Not many kids could do that.”

  “Well, I have to get good grades if I want to go to college,” Selena replied absently.

  Her head was spinning. How did Eddy know about her schoolwork?

  “You know a lot about me,” she said, trying to keep it light.

  Eddy gazed at her intently. “I know a lot about the whole drama department,” he explained. “After all, I’m going to be interning with you.”

  For a moment, Selena didn’t answer. There was something very strange about Eddy’s interest in her. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her since he sat down. Selena studied his face, but saw nothing but friendliness.

  “When do you start interning?” she finally asked.

  “I’m going to be here for the tryouts for Romeo and Juliet,” he told her. He
leaned closer to Selena. “I can’t wait to see your Juliet,” he murmured.

  Selena couldn’t think of a thing to say. Eddy continued to gaze at her, his dark eyes burning into hers.

  “Eddy”—Mr. Riordan’s voice broke into Selena’s thoughts—“come over here. There is someone I want you to meet.”

  “Catch you later,” Eddy said, giving Selena another heart-melting smile.

  “Making friends with the new intern, hmm?” Selena glanced up as Katy plopped back down in the chair.

  “Sort of,” Selena replied, still feeling a little dazed. “He’s really intense.”

  “And he’s cute,” Katy declared.

  “Oh, really? I didn’t notice,” Selena joked. Her gaze fell on Jake, sitting in the corner by himself. Selena stood up. “Be right back,” she told Katy.

  She strode across the room and dropped into the space next to Jake on the sofa. “Hi, buddy!” she said, bouncing a little on the cushion.

  “Hey, Moon,” Jake replied lifelessly.

  “What’s wrong?” Selena asked. “You look sort of down.”

  “So?” he snapped. “Is there a law that everyone has to be cheerful every single minute?”

  “No, of course not,” Selena said, drawing back. Why was Jake so grouchy all of a sudden?

  “By the way,” she started slowly. “Did you leave a little present for me back at school?”

  “Excuse me? A present?”

  “Did you leave a lovely bouquet of black flowers in my locker?”

  “Are you nuts?” Jake exploded. “What are you talking about?”

  “Calm down! I was just asking,” Selena replied. “Someone left me flowers, and I thought it might be you. You’re always pulling dumb jokes.”

  “Well, I haven’t felt like joking lately,” Jake grumbled. “Besides, black flowers don’t sound too funny.”

  Selena nodded. “There was also a card. It said tonight was my last performance.”

  Jake gaped at her. “That’s a joke?” he cried. “That’s totally sick.”

  “It’s no big deal,” Selena replied. “But then Katy and I think someone climbed a ladder outside my bedroom window. And watched us in my room.”