Secret Admirer (8 page)

“Is that what you thought?” Jake cried shrilly. He glared at her. She took a step back, startled by his anger.

“Did you really think I was happy to take character parts while you were the star?” he demanded.

“Well, I—I just assumed—” Selena stammered, not knowing what to say.

Jake scowled. “We've been friends for a long time, Selena, but there's still a lot about me you don't know.”

“Jake, I'm sorry—”

“Forget it!” Jake shook his head. He turned away from her. “I'll tell you one thing. Danny isn't going to get everything he wants. Not this time!”

“Jake, stop saying things like that,” Selena pleaded. “You're scaring me. You really are.”

He didn't seem to hear her. He had turned and was already halfway down the hall, his hands clenched into tight, angry fists.

“I'm psyched about working on the play,” Katy said as she and Selena waited for the bus. “I can't wait for rehearsal tonight.”

“Me neither, except …” Selena's voice trailed off.

“Except what?” Katy demanded. “Are you thinking of dropping out of the play?”

“No. No way,” Selena told her. “But I'm definitely going to say something to Mr. Riordan—and who knows what he'll do.”

“We'll just have to wait and see,” Katy said.

Selena changed the subject. “I'm really worried about Jake. I don't know why he's so messed up. But he's been acting as if I'm his enemy instead of one of his oldest friends.”

“You mean you don't know?” Katy asked incredulously.

“Huh? Don't know what?” Selena demanded.

“Selena.” Katy sighed. “I thought for sure Jake had said something to you. I can't believe he didn't.”

“Didn't say something about what?” Selena shrieked. “Will you stop keeping me in suspense?”

“Well, I found out yesterday why he's been so weird and moody all the time. It's because of his parents. They're splitting up.”

“Oh, no!” Selena gasped. “Mr. and Mrs. Jacoby? I can't believe it!”

“I guess it's been pretty tough on Jake,” Katy continued. “To tell you the truth, I'm really worried about him, too. He's just been so unpredictable lately. It's like you never know what he's going to do next. And he's letting everything get to him.”

“Well, that's true,” Selena agreed. “Like this thing with Danny. I know they never liked each other, but it's really getting out of control.”

Katy nodded. She stepped out into the street, searching for the bus. No sign of it.

She sighed. “So you're really going to tell Mr. Riordan about the stalker?” she asked, her expression turning serious.

Selena nodded. “I guess.” Deep down, she still
wasn't sure she wanted to tell the drama coach what had been happening.

He'll have to cancel the play, she thought. And if the play is cancelled, I won't get a scholarship. And that's the end of all my big plans
.

“Don't say you guess. You should tell him right away,” Katy scolded. “I mean, who knows what that creep is planning next?”

Selena heaved a big sigh.
What a bad-news time,
she thought. Jake's parents were splitting up. Danny was playing Romeo. And she was being stalked.

The only bright spot in her life right now was her date with Eddy on Friday night.

“We've been waiting for you,” Danny called from halfway up a tall ladder. “O, Juliet, Juliet—wherefore art thou, Juliet?” he boomed.

Kids laughed.

Selena rolled her eyes. “Give it up,” she snapped. This was not the way she wanted to start the first rehearsal. She climbed onto the stage, trying to ignore Danny.

He dropped from the ladder and landed in front of her. “Listen, we have to work together until the play is over. Can't you at least
try
to get along with me?”

“You're right,” Selena admitted. “I'm just a little on edge.” She took a deep breath. “And I'm really scared of the balcony scene,” she added, glancing up at the ladders being used to build the set.

“Oh, right.” Danny laughed. “I forgot. Juliet is afraid of heights!”

“Maybe we should make it a
basement
scene!” someone suggested from out in the auditorium.

More laughter.

Selena ignored it. She pulled her script from her pack and joined the others at center stage.

“Where's Jake?” Mr. Riordan called. “We need him for the first scene.”

“Jake?” someone called. “Hey—Jake!”

Jake shuffled onto the stage, a scowl creasing his face. “Hey, what's the big deal?” he muttered.

“Come on, everyone,” Mr. Riordan insisted. “Let's get down to business. Now, Act One, Scene One. Let's just read through it.”

Concentrate. Concentrate,
Selena ordered herself. On cue, she began speaking her lines, and within a few moments she was into her part. Without even trying, she felt herself relax. Selena was surprised at how well the first rehearsal went. Once they got started, everyone was into it, even Jake.

As she said her lines, moving about the stage, a part of her stayed aware of Eddy, seated next to Mr. Riordan in the front row.

Was she just imagining his eyes on her, following her every move? Was he watching the others as intensely?

During a scene break, she glanced down at him and saw him respond with a smile, obviously meant for her.

As she read her lines for the next scene, she almost felt as if she were speaking them directly to him.

“Okay, people, it's going well,” Mr. Riordan announced after about an hour. “Now I'd like to try something a little different. Juliet, I want you to stand upstage and say your lines more quietly. I also want Juliet's father—Jake? Where did Jake go?”

“Sorry,” Jake called. “I went backstage for some water.”

“Next time, wait for a break,” Mr. Riordan
snapped. “Anyway, I want you to stand over there.” He pointed toward the rear of the stage. “When she starts to speak, move upstage. Get it?”

“Of course I get it,” Jake grumbled. “How hard is that?”

Mr. Riordan sighed. “Is everyone ready?” he asked.

Selena stepped to where Mr. Riordan had indicated and began to read her lines.

“Again,” the teacher called. “Try to get more feeling into it, while your father looks on.”

Selena repeated the lines. She loved this part of rehearsal. She loved the sense that she was a part of something that was always changing, always developing.

“Excellent!” Mr. Riordan called.

“That was great!” Eddy echoed.

“Let's try to get the same feeling in the next scene,” Mr. Riordan instructed. “Juliet, I want you to—”

His voice was cut off by a shrill scream.

“The lights! The lights!”

Selena recognized Katy's voice. Gasped as Katy dove into her.

The pages of her script flew out of her hand.

Katy tackled her to the floor.

Selena didn't even see the bank of spotlights fall.

But she heard the crash. Felt the stage rock. Heard the shatter of glass. The crunch of metal.

Heard the high screams of horror all around.

And knew that she was dead.

14
 

I
'm dead,
Selena realized.

Katy and I … we're both dead
.

Crushed under the big metal lights.

Again she heard the crash. The crunch of metal. The splintering of glass.

And waited for the pain.

But she felt no pain. No pain at all.

Because I'm dead,
she knew.

I'm dead now, floating in silence
.

She opened her eyes to see the horrified faces of her friends. Mr. Riordan leaned over her. Shouting. What was he shouting?

She saw Eddy too. His face so pale. His eyes so wild.

With grief?

The sounds of their cries finally reached her ears.

She swallowed. She breathed.

Not dead.

She tried to raise herself. No pain—except for a throbbing in her right knee.

No pain.

I'm alive. I'm okay. The lights fell to the stage—and missed me. Missed me because Katy
…

Katy?!

Selena raised herself to her knees. Saw Katy lying on her stomach. At such a strange angle. Her body twisted. Her arm … ?

Her arm caught under a shattered spotlight?

She saw Eddy, on his knees beside Katy. “Stay still,” he was warning her. “Don't try to move. Your arm …”

Was it crushed? Was it bleeding? Selena, dazed, pulled herself to her feet.

“I think it's just bruised,” Katy said, groaning.

Katy is okay too,
Selena thought.

She watched Eddy gently examine Katy's injured arm. “Can you move it?” he asked.

“It—it's okay,” Katy stammered. An angry red bruise had started to form an inch below the elbow.

Mr. Riordan helped Katy to her feet. “It's not broken,” he said. “But you're going to have a bad bruise. Jake, go get some ice from the cooler in the back.”

As Jake took off, Mr. Riordan and Eddy turned to the four spotlights, connected by steel rods. “We check those lights every month,” Mr. Riordan said, scratching his head. “How could they fall like that? How?”

I know how,
Selena thought grimly.

The stalker. The same person who pushed over the wardrobe cabinet. He did it. He sent the lights crashing down.

He tried again to kill me. And Katy saved my life.

And got hurt. The second person to get hurt because of me.

Getting a scholarship isn't worth putting my friends in danger,
Selena decided.
I've got to put a stop to this. Now
.

She turned to Mr. Riordan. “Can I talk to you for a moment?” she asked in a trembling voice.

His face tightened in surprise. “Well, I have to make sure that Katy—” he started.

“I have to tell you something,” Selena insisted. “Something really frightening.”

“Oh. Okay.” The teacher followed Selena to the back of the stage.

As Selena led the way, trying to decide where to begin her story, she glanced back. And saw Eddy staring at her.

A cold, thoughtful expression on his face that startled her.

Why is he watching me?
Selena wondered.
Why is he staring at me like that?

15
 

Dear Selena,

Today we were together again. Something bad happened. Something very bad.

I made it happen, Selena.

You don't realize it, but we are together more and more every single day. Even when you don't see me, we are together.

I have you in my power, and you don't even know it. But you will know soon, Selena.

If you perform in
Romeo and Juliet,
you will know the truth. And it's the last thing you'll ever know.

The Sun

16
 

“E
xcellent movie!” Eddy said as he and Selena strolled through the theater parking lot.