First Date

  “Did your family buy it when it was new?” Chelsea asked.

  “Yeah … uh-huh. It’s the only car I’ve ever driven,” he said.

  “You’d better put on the defroster, don’t you think?” Chelsea asked. “The windshield is getting all steamy.”

  He slowed to let a car pass, then reached his right hand to the dashboard and fumbled around with the dials, trying to slide on the defroster. Chelsea laughed as he turned on the air conditioner instead.

  She stopped laughing when a disturbing thought flashed into her mind. If his family has had this car most of his life, why doesn’t he know how to work the defroster?

  “How come you can’t work the defroster?” The question just slipped out of her mouth. “I mean, you said this was the only car you’ve ever driven.”

  In the light of the passing streetlights she could see his cheeks go red. He slowed the car a little, his eyes straight ahead on the road.

  “I guess you found out my secret,” he said quietly, seriously.

  She felt a sudden stab of dread. “Your secret?”

  “Yeah,” he said, glancing at her for a split second. “I’m a complete klutz.”

  He laughed and slapped the steering wheel with his right hand. She laughed too, mostly from relief.

  “I was hoping you wouldn’t find out my deep, dark secret,” he said. “At least not so early on our first date. But it’s true. I’m a complete klutz. I can’t even turn on a defroster.”

  “I’m a klutz too,” Chelsea admitted. She told him about the time her saxophone case had come open just before a band concert at her old school, and her mouthpiece and another section fell off the stage, and she had to climb down and get them in front of the entire school.

  “That’s pretty klutzy,” he said. “But at least you can work a defroster.”

  They told each other stories about their klutziness the rest of the way to the movie theater. It was the easiest, most relaxed conversation they’d had.

  He has a great sense of humor, Chelsea thought.

  She wondered if he liked her.

  He seemed to. He seemed looser, more relaxed than he ever had with her before.

  “There’s a parking place,” he said and backed the car in easily. He cut the engine and the lights, pocketed the car key, and pushed open his door.

  As the ceiling light came on, Chelsea saw that Will had left his wallet on the seat. “Hey—” she called to him, picking up the wallet.

  He grabbed it from her so quickly and with such force that he frightened her. “Sorry,” he said, frowning down at her. “Didn’t mean to startle you.” He jammed the wallet into the back pocket of his jeans and slammed his door shut.

  What was that all about? Chelsea wondered, pushing open her door and climbing out.

  He didn’t think I was going to take his wallet, did he? That’s ridiculous.

  She forgot the whole incident as Will, smiling warmly at her, put a hand on her shoulder and guided her toward the movie theater.

  The movie, a comedy with Will Ferrell and at least two Quaid brothers, was actually pretty funny. Chelsea usually didn’t enjoy that kind of film, but sitting so close to Will, out on her first date, feeling happy, she found herself laughing a lot, and even sorry when the final car chase came to a crashing end and the houselights came up.

  The night was surprisingly warm as they made their way out of the theater. A sliver of a moon hovered above, cut in half by a thread of a black cloud.

  “That was pretty dumb,” Will said, smiling, his hand resting gently on her shoulder as they walked to the car.

  “Yeah, but it was funny,” she replied.

  “Hungry?” he asked.

  She shrugged.

  “Know what I’d like to do?” He stopped beside the car and stood close to her on the sidewalk, his dark eyes glowing excitedly in the light from a streetlight.

  “What?”

  “Drive around, then park somewhere and talk,” he said, staring into her eyes. He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets.

  “That sounds great,” Chelsea said.

  “Do you know a good place to go?” Will asked, glancing down the street, which was rapidly emptying as cars drove away from the theater.

  “You mean you don’t go parking with girls every week?” Chelsea teased.

  He chuckled. “I’m new here, remember,” he said. “Give me a break.”

  “Well, I’m new too,” she said. “But I guess we could go to River Ridge. That’s a place on the cliffs above the river. Nina said kids go up there a lot.”

  “Who’s Nina?” he asked, sounding suspicious.

  “My friend,” Chelsea told him. “She’s just about the only friend I’ve made so far in Shadyside,” and then she shyly added, “except for you.”

  Instead of acting pleased, he frowned. “Did you tell Nina about our date?”

  “No, of course not,” Chelsea said. She pulled open the passenger door. “It’s our secret, remember?”

  She smiled up at him and his expression relaxed. “Of course I remember.”

  He walked around the front of the car, opened his door, and slid in behind the wheel. A minute later they were driving back toward Shadyside, silently, comfortably, the radio playing softly in the rear speakers.

  “How do you get to River Ridge?” Will asked as they neared town. Then he answered his own question. “I guess you take River Road.”

  “I guess,” Chelsea replied. “Oh. I love this song. The Temptations.” She sang along to “My Girl” for a few seconds. “Do you always listen to an oldies station, Will?”

  He didn’t reply. He stared straight ahead through the windshield, but his thoughts seemed to be a million miles away.

  “Will?” She touched his arm.

  “Oh.” He shook his head. “Sorry. I was thinking about something. This is a great song, isn’t it?”

  River Ridge may have been a popular parking spot for Shadyside High kids during the summer, but on this October night, it was completely deserted.

  Will pulled the car right up to the cliff edge and cut the headlights. Below, the river flowed, black and silent. Just across the river stretched the town of Shadyside, mostly dark except for a few twinkling lights from houses and an occasional blinking traffic light.

  Chelsea could feel her heart racing. Her entire body was tingling. She felt so happy. She felt like singing, or maybe throwing open the door and flying out of the car, flying over the cliff, over the river, into the dark, starry sky to soar over the small, twinkling town so far below.

  Will dropped his hands from the steering wheel and turned to her, smiling. He slid one arm behind her on the back of her seat.

  He’s going to kiss me, she thought happily.

  I’m up here on River Ridge, parked with a boy who likes me.

  My first date, she thought, smiling back at Will, leaning toward him as he pulled her close. My first, secret date.

  She licked her lips. They felt so dry. But before she could finish, his lips were pushing against hers.

  The kiss was awkward and brief.

  But he was smiling as he pulled his head back. “Nice night,” he said.

  Chelsea nodded. She wanted the kiss to last longer. She wanted him to kiss her again, to hold her.

  She had fantasized about a night like this so many times.

  She wanted it to be just like all her fantasies.

  But Will removed his arm from behind her and replaced it on the wheel. “Feel like taking a walk?” he asked softly. “A short one. It’s so pretty up here. I like looking at the town, don’t you?”

  He pushed open his car door without waiting for her reply.

  Chelsea pushed her door open too. He’s so romantic, she thought. He was always so shy in school. But up there, he seemed more confident, more self-assured.

  Maybe it’s because he’s starting to feel comfortable with me, Chelsea thought.

  She forced herself to calm down. The light in the car went out as
she closed the car door behind her. The night grew much darker.

  “Will?” For a moment she couldn’t find him. Then, as her eyes adjusted, she saw him standing at the cliff edge, his hands in his jacket pockets, staring over at the town.

  “Look,” he said, turning back to her and motioning for her to come stand beside him. “It doesn’t look real. It’s like a miniature town from up here.”

  She took a few steps but hesitated several feet behind him.

  “Come on over,” he called impatiently.

  Chelsea took another step, then stopped. “I can’t,” she told him. “I’m afraid of heights.”

  For the tiniest fraction of a second, disappointment crossed his face. It quickly disappeared when he hurried back to her and put his arm around her shoulders.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” he apologized, guiding her away from the cliff toward the woods behind the road. “We’ll walk this way,” he said softly. “I like the woods at night too, don’t you?”

  “It’s a little cold,” she said with a shiver, her breath steaming in front of her, white against the black night. “But I like it,” she added quickly. “It’s so peaceful up here. I feel as if I’m a million miles away from home.”

  Their sneakers scraped against the hard dirt path that led to the woods. As they made their way under the first trees, it became even darker. There was no light now, not even moonlight.

  Will slowed his pace, let Chelsea get a few steps ahead. Then he pulled the length of cord from his jacket pocket, silently untangled it, and pulled it taut between his hands with a quick snap.

  chapter 11

  As Will readied the cord between his hands and hurried to catch up to Chelsea, he thought about his sister.

  Chelsea was so much like Jennifer.

  Or at least the way he remembered Jennifer.

  You were the lucky one, Jennifer, he thought. You went with Mom.

  You didn’t get the drunken beatings night after night. You didn’t live in a horror show you couldn’t escape from.

  You and Mom had it nice. You ran away and left me. You didn’t tell me where you were going.

  You didn’t write to me. You didn’t call.

  You and Mom had such a good life.

  And you never even thought about me.

  Well, I’ve been thinking about you, Jennifer. I’ve been thinking about you and Mom a lot.

  A lot of girls deserve to die because of you.

  A lot of girls are going to die.

  And then someday I’m going to find you two.

  And you’re both going to die.

  Just as I died every night. Every night.

  Just as I wished I were dead.

  He opened his mouth and sucked in a cold lungful of air.

  Holding his breath, he stepped up behind Chelsea and raised the length of cord, ready to lower it around her neck.

  chapter 12

  The twin lights startled them both.

  Will had just enough time to jam the cord back into his jacket pocket as Chelsea spun around. “What’s that?” she cried, her voice a whisper.

  Car headlights.

  Another car was pulling in beside theirs.

  “The lights—they scared me,” Chelsea said, holding on to his arm. “We were so alone and—”

  “It’s getting too crowded up here,” he said, laughing a bit too loudly. “Let’s go.” He took her hand, leading the way quickly back to the car.

  His heart was pounding. When he saw die headlights, his first thought was that it was a patrol car out searching for the old Pontiac he had stolen earlier that afternoon.

  But it wasn’t the police. It was just two teenagers looking for a place to make out.

  They had ruined his plans, ruined his night.

  He’d have to take her home and then dump the car.

  He’d have to kill her another night.

  Be patient, he told himself, holding open the passenger door for her, forcing a warm, reassuring smile on his face.

  Be patient. There will be other nights.

  This girl’s time will come.

  Soon.

  He started up the car and backed onto the road. Then he switched on the headlights, the thick woods lighting up in front of them.

  Chelsea shivered, shoving her hands into her coat pockets. “That was nice,” she said dreamily, sliding down low, resting her head against the back of the seat. “It’s so beautiful up here.”

  “Yeah,” Will agreed, eyes straight ahead on the road.

  She realized she’d never felt this happy. Even at her old school, she had been an outsider, always the lonely girl, the one who stayed home watching TV on Saturday nights while her friends went to parties and out on dates.

  “Why don’t you do something with your hair?” her friends would insist.

  Or: “Why don’t you lose a little weight?”

  Or: “Why don’t you wear something a little sexier, a little more daring?”

  Everyone always had plenty of advice for Chelsea.

  But now she didn’t need their advice. Now she was out on a date with a boy who really liked her. With a boy who kissed her and took her on a romantic walk high above the river, high above the town.

  Feeling so happy, feeling so comfortable, she leaned against him and whispered, “Why don’t we go to my house?”

  He didn’t react immediately. He seemed to be lost in thought, far away somewhere.

  For a moment Chelsea thought that maybe he hadn’t heard her. But finally he said, “Your house?”

  “Yeah,” she said, smiling at him. “There’s no one there. My mom’s at work and my dad’s in the hospital.”

  He kept his eyes on the windshield, but Chelsea could see a smile cross his face.

  The smile made her feel warm all over.

  He likes the idea, she thought.

  He likes me.

  I’m going to be alone in the house with a boy I like.

  She felt excited and nervous and happy and worried all at the same time.

  She closed her eyes for a few seconds, surrounding herself in silent darkness. When she opened them, she felt a little calmer.

  She directed Will to her house on Fear Street.

  He didn’t make any comments or jokes about Fear Street, the way other Shadyside kids did when she told them where she lived. He probably doesn’t know about this street, she thought. He’s too new in town. He hasn’t heard about any of the terrifying things that supposedly happened here.

  Chelsea practically leapt out of the car. She loved Fear Street! It was the happiest street she had ever lived on. And this was the happiest night of her life!

  He followed her up the walk. The front stoop was dark. She had forgotten to turn the porch light on.

  She searched in her bag for the keys but dropped them on the top step. They both bent down to retrieve them.

  He grabbed them first. She hoped he didn’t notice how her hand was shaking as she struggled to unlock the door.

  This is crazy, she thought. I have no reason to be this nervous.

  She clicked on the hall light. She tossed her coat onto the front stairway. He removed something from his jacket pocket, then tossed his coat down beside hers. Then she led the way into the dark living room.

  When she reached to turn on the lamp beside the couch, his hand gently took hers and pulled it away.

  Before she had a chance to take a breath, he had wrapped his arms around her and was kissing her hard, kissing her until she could barely breathe.

  “Will—” she whispered, pulling her face away, her heart pounding, her head spinning.

  But he didn’t let go of her.

  He held her, tenderly but in a firm embrace, and guided her down beside him on the couch.

  He kissed her again, long and hard.

  She shivered.

  She closed her eyes, then opened them wide. She wanted to see him, wanted to see everything. She wanted to see it all clearly, even in the dim yellow ligh
t filtering in from the hallway, wanted to see it so she’d remember it. Remember it for always and always.

  She shivered again.

  And realized she was cold. Still cold from their walk. Still cold from the drive back.

  How can I be thinking about how I’m cold? she scolded herself.

  How can I be thinking about anything at all?

  He kissed her again, kissed her until they were both breathless.

  The light from the hall seemed to shimmer. The whole room seemed to tilt and whirl, as if they were flying, flying on a magic carpet, high over the ground, looking down on the shifting, whirling, spinning darkness below.

  Chelsea drew away, trying to catch her breath. As she closed her eyes and rested the back of her head comfortably against his shoulder, Will removed the length of cord from the back pocket of his jeans.

  Silently he fingered it and prepared to strangle her.

  chapter 13

  Chelsea jumped to her feet.

  Will let the cord drop to the couch.

  “I’m so chilled,” Chelsea said, wrapping her arms around herself, rubbing the sleeves of her sweater. “How about some hot chocolate?”

  She was surprised by the disappointed expression on Will’s face. His cheeks were two bright red circles. “Huh?”

  “Hot chocolate,” she repeated. “I’m going in the kitchen to make some. Okay?”

  Why did he seem so distracted? Was it just his shyness?

  Was he as excited as she was? After all, he had admitted that this was his first date too.

  “Yeah. Great,” he said, his expression brightening. “I’ll help.”

  “No need,” Chelsea said, starting across the dark room toward the lighted hallway. “But you can keep me company.”

  “Where’s the bathroom?” he asked suddenly, standing up.

  Chelsea pointed it out and hurried to the kitchen. She clicked on the light, filled the teakettle, and turned on the burner. She put two coffee mugs down on the counter. Then she walked over to the cabinet, reached up and pulled open the door, and searched for the envelopes of powdered hot chocolate mix.

  This date is going so well, she thought happily.