Secret Admirer

  The Stalker Returns.…

  A bolt of lightning sent long shadows across Selena’s room.

  Maybe I should forget homework and go to bed early, she thought.

  She settled back on the bed, as lightning crashed and rain thundered against the Fear Street Woods behind her house.

  And then she heard something over the noise of the storm.

  The thud of heavy footsteps. Footsteps in her house.

  Selena’s breath caught in her throat. She sat up in bed, her heart hammering in terror.

  What if it was the stalker?

  She tried not to hear the rhythmic sounds. Thump … thump … scrape.

  The footsteps came closer. Someone was on the stairway. Someone in the house.

  Scrape … scrape … thump.

  Closer. Almost at the top of the stairs now.

  Silently, Selena slid off her bed. She unplugged her reading lamp. Grasped it by the base. Felt its weight in her hand.

  Then she stepped behind the door and waited.

  Don’t miss these chilling tales from

  FEAR STREET®

  All-Night Party

  The Confession

  First Date

  Killer’s Kiss

  The Perfect Date

  The Rich Girl

  Secret Admirer

  The Stepsister

  After hours, the horror continues at

  FEAR STREET® NIGHTS

  #1: Moonlight Secrets

  #2: Midnight Games

  #3: Darkest Dawn

  R.L. STINE

  FEAR STREET®

  SECRET ADMIRER

  Simon Pulse

  New York London Toronto Sydney

  A Parachute Press book

  If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  SIMON PULSE

  An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

  1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  Copyright © 1996 by Parachute Publishing, L.L.C.

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

  SIMON PULSE and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  FEAR STREET is a registered trademark of Parachute Press, Inc.

  Designed by Sammy Yuen Jr.

  The text of this book was set in Times.

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  First Simon Pulse edition January 2006

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Library of Congress Control Number 2005921100

  ISBN-13: 978-1-4169-0820-3

  ISBN-10: 1-4169-0820-X

  eISBN: 978-1-439-11552-7

  SECRET ADMIRER

  prologue

  Dear Selena,

  Your name means “moon.” Like the moon you are pale, beautiful, and mysterious. Your blond hair is silvery like the moon’s rays.

  Everyone admires you. Everyone applauds for you.

  I’m in your audience too, Selena.

  Though I see you every day, you don’t see me. But someday that will change. Someday I will be the only person in your audience.

  It will be just you and me, Selena. Someday.

  Someday very soon.

  Yours forever,

  The Sun

  1

  “He’ll never hurt you again. I promise. He’ll never hurt you again.” Selena Goodrich’s last words were almost a whisper.

  The audience began to clap. Slowly the curtain came down, closing off the stage. Then it rose again.

  Selena stepped to the front of the stage, smiling as she gazed out over the audience. Accepting the cheers and applause.

  She bowed deeply, her blond curls tumbling over her shoulders. Then she straightened and turned to the other actors in the cast. She joined hands with Alison Pearson and Jake Jacoby, and the line of actors—everyone in the play—bowed together. The audience leapt to its feet, cheering loudly.

  All of these people came to see me, Selena thought in wonder. I belong on the stage. Finally I know where I fit in.

  The curtain sank for the final time. Selena turned to her friends. “You were both terrific,” she told them.

  “Thanks, Selena,” Alison murmured. Alison was pretty, with emerald eyes and long, straight black hair. She smiled at Selena. “But I’ll never be as good as you. You were awesome!”

  “Hey—you weren’t bad, Moon,” Jake added, punching Selena lightly on the shoulder. Of all her friends, he was the only one who still called Selena by her childhood nickname. He loved to tease her, and he knew the nickname annoyed her. Most other people didn’t even know that “Selena” meant “moon.”

  “You weren’t so bad yourself. At least you didn’t fall on your face this time,” Selena replied, rolling her eyes. “Are you going to the cast party?”

  Jake shrugged. “I don’t know,” he said. “I’m not really psyched for a party.”

  Even through the stage makeup, Selena could see that Jake had dark circles under his eyes. She was about to ask him if anything was wrong when the drama club director swept between them.

  “Congratulations, Selena!” he boomed. “Tonight’s performance was excellent. I love that thing you did with the handkerchief in the last act. You surprised even me!”

  “Thank you, Mr. Riordan,” Selena replied with a smile.

  The handsome, gray-haired teacher stepped onto a riser and shouted for attention. “I’ll see all of you at my house for the party!” he called over the buzz of voices. “But before we go, I want to remind you about tryouts next week for the spring play. You’ll be happy to hear that we’re doing a classic—Romeo and Juliet.”

  This news was greeted with a mixture of groans and cheers.

  Romeo and Juliet! Selena thought with excitement. I’ll get a chance to do Shakespeare on stage!

  She hurried to her locker, pushing through the loud, happy crowd of actors backstage.

  “Yo, Selena!” Danny Morris called. “Good job! You were cool!”

  “Thanks,” Selena replied curtly. She pushed past the stocky blond senior. Catching the disappointment on his tanned face, she felt the tiniest pang of guilt. Maybe I should be nicer to Danny, she thought.

  After all, we meant something to each other … once. A long time ago.

  These days, Selena couldn’t figure out why all the girls at Shadyside High found Danny so fascinating.

  She still couldn’t believe she’d gone out with him for as long as she did. How had she been able to stand his showing off and selfishness for six whole months?

  “Trying out for the spring play?” Danny demanded, stepping in front of her to block her path.

  “Of course I am.” Selena sighed. She tried to move around him, but he refused to budge. “Danny, listen, I’m in kind of a hurry—”

  “You’ll get to play Juliet for sure,” Danny persisted, ignoring her attempts to get past. “Guess which part I’m trying out for.”

  “The castle pest?” Selena cracked.

  “Selena!”

  Selena turned at the familiar voice of her best friend, Katy Jensen. Katy came hurrying over in her stagehand’s black coveralls.

  “Later,” she told Danny as Katy
approached.

  “You were excellent!” Katy gushed. “Even better than last night.” She gave Selena a quick hug.

  “Everyone hit it perfectly tonight,” Selena told her friend. “It’s like it all finally came together. And everything backstage went perfectly.”

  Katy wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. Her short, straight black hair stood on end. Her pale, round face shone with sweat in the dim backstage lights.

  “I had a problem with the lights,” she commented. “Didn’t you notice?”

  “Not at all,” Selena replied.

  “One of the spots became unfocused,” Katy explained. “I rushed up there as soon as I saw it.” She pointed to the catwalk that stretched high above the stage.

  Selena glanced up and shuddered. How could anyone have the nerve to climb up there? she wondered. Just the sight of the narrow metal ladder built into the wall made her feel dizzy.

  But Katy never seemed to mind heights. Even when they were little kids, she had been the one to climb trees while Selena cowered on the ground.

  I guess that’s why Katy likes being on the stage crew, Selena thought absently. She pulled open the door of the big locker room.

  It was crowded with her friends from the play. While the play was in progress, this room doubled as the girls’ dressing room. “I don’t know why we even bother with lockers,” Katy commented. “None of them lock anyway.”

  Selena shrugged.

  “So are you ready for your next role?” Katy asked.

  “What do you mean?” Selena demanded as she exchanged grins with Alison, who was also trying to push through the crowd of students.

  “Come on.” Katy laughed. “You know you’ll get Juliet.”

  “Everyone keeps saying that,” Selena declared. “But it’s not like there’s a guarantee I’ll get the part.”

  Katy snorted. “Yeah, well, there’s no guarantee the sun will rise tomorrow. But everyone knows you’re perfect for Juliet. I mean, it’s the last play of the year. No one will come if you aren’t the star.”

  “Yeah, right!” Selena rolled her eyes.

  Why did Katy always have to exaggerate everything? “Anyway, it’s up to Mr. Riordan,” she added.

  “What’s up to me?” Mr. Riordan approached the girls.

  “We’re talking about casting for the spring play,” Selena told him.

  Mr. Riordan nodded. “Casting for this next play might be particularly important,” he confided.

  “Why?” Katy asked.

  “Well, it’s supposed to be a secret, but … I just found out that the drama coach from Northwestern University will be here,” Mr. Riordan whispered.

  “You’re kidding!” Selena gasped. Northwestern had one of the best drama departments in the country.

  “I’m serious,” he told her. “Each year he visits different schools in the area to check out the talent. This year he has chosen Shadyside High.”

  “Whoa!” Selena cried. “I’m applying to Northwestern. But there’s no way I can go without a scholarship.”

  “Then this is your big chance,” Mr. Riordan said with a wink. He turned and headed for the stage door. “See you girls at the party.”

  “You never told me you wanted to go away to college,” Katy remarked.

  “Well, sure I want to,” Selena replied. “But it’s only a dream. I mean, Mom doesn’t even make enough money to send me to the junior college.”

  “If that drama coach sees you play Juliet, he’ll give you the scholarship,” Katy predicted.

  “That would be amazing,” Selena replied. “But I’ll believe it when I see it.”

  Most of the other students had cleared out. Selena yanked open the door of her locker. Her backpack hung on the hook where she’d left it.

  But leaning against the pack, she saw something new—a large bouquet, wrapped in blue-striped paper.

  “What is it?” Katy asked, gazing over Selena’s shoulder.

  “Cool!” Selena exclaimed. “Someone left me flowers! I wonder who?”

  “Open them!” Katy urged.

  Selena carefully pulled out the wrapped bouquet.

  She ripped the paper from the top and peered inside.

  And then she gasped in open-mouthed horror.

  2

  Selena dropped the bundle and stared down at it in shock.

  Both girls gaped as the black, dead roses tumbled onto the floor.

  “How gross!” Katy cried, pressing her hands against her cheeks.

  “Yuck. Dead flowers,” Selena groaned. “That’s so sick.”

  And then she noticed a small white envelope shoved under the rubber band holding the limp stems together. She bent down and snatched it up. With trembling fingers, Selena pulled a typed note from it and read:

  Dear Selena,

  Congratulations!

  Enjoy your last curtain call.

  Did you know you are giving up the stage—to be with me?

  Forever.

  Selena stood frozen, staring down at the black bouquet. Her disappointment quickly turned to anger. “What a sick thing to do!” she exclaimed.

  Katy held her nose against the foul odor of decay. “Why would anyone do this?”

  Selena scanned the note again. “Look at this.” She pointed to the bottom of the paper. There was no signature, only a bright orange sticker shaped like the sun. Selena scratched at it with her fingernail.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Katy asked.

  Selena shrugged. “It’s just a sticker. The kind that little kids collect.”

  “But why is it on the note?” Katy persisted.

  “Who knows?” Selena snapped. “Who cares?” Holding her breath, she picked up the ugly bouquet and dumped it in the trash can in the corner of the room. “It’s just a dumb joke.”

  “A joke?” Katy cried. “Are you crazy? What kind of person would think dead flowers are funny?”

  “Someone with a really warped sense of humor,” Selena replied. “Someone like … Jake!”

  “Huh? Jake?”

  “He’s been playing tricks on me ever since we were little.”

  “Maybe,” Katy agreed. “But this isn’t his style. Besides, I don’t think Jake is in the mood for jokes.”

  “Why not?”

  “Haven’t you noticed?” Katy replied. “Jake’s been so weird lately! Tonight he went ballistic just because I asked him to hand me a prop.”

  “You know, he did look tired,” Selena agreed. “I wonder what’s up with him.” She thought about it as she followed her friend out to the parking lot. Katy’s car was parked under a tall oak tree.

  “I still think Jake sent the flowers,” Selena announced as they approached the darkened car. “I’ll ask him about it later.”

  Selena shivered as she waited for Katy to open the car door. It was a chilly, overcast night, and the tree branches whipped in the wind as if they were dancing.

  “I hope it was Jake,” Katy said, pulling her keys from her jacket pocket. “But that note sounds like it could be from someone really messed up.”

  As Katy pulled out of the parking lot, Selena’s thoughts were already racing with ideas about the spring play. She could imagine how she’d begin her audition, which scenes she wanted to learn …

  “Earth to Selena,” Katy’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “Are you still with us?”

  “Huh?” Selena blinked at her friend.

  Katy burst into laughter. “Are you on another planet, or what?” she cried. “You can’t get changed for the cast party if you don’t get out of the car.”

  “Sorry,” Selena murmured, surprised to find that they were already parked in front of her house on Fear Street. “I was thinking about Romeo and Juliet.”

  Katy rolled her eyes. “We just finished with this play! Do you ever think of anything else?”

  “Well, occasionally I think about guys,” Selena joked. She led the way up the crumbling sidewalk, opened the front door, and switched on a light.
“I wish my mom didn’t have to work nights this month,” she commented. “I really wanted her to see the play.”

  “She’ll be able to see you in the spring play,” Katy said.

  “If I get the part,” Selena reminded her friend. She straightened the runner in the hallway, then started up the creaky steps.

  Everything around me is falling apart, Selena thought. She hated living in such a shabby house. But she knew it was all her mother could afford. Money was tight since Selena’s father had died.

  “There’s no way anyone else could be Juliet,” Katy insisted, following Selena into her bedroom. “I mean, Alison is good, but she’s not as good as you. Even she says so.”

  “Alison is just being nice,” Selena answered. She dumped her backpack on the pink-and-white bed-spread.

  “I’ll help you learn your lines for the audition,” Katy offered.

  “Mmm-hmm,” Selena replied absently. But she already knew she didn’t want help—she liked to learn lines by herself. “Why don’t you try out for one of the parts?” she suggested. “You don’t always have to be a stagehand, you know.”

  Katy snorted. “What part could I get? I—I’m too big to get a decent role.” Katy was about twenty pounds overweight—and very self-conscious about it.

  “Stop putting yourself down.” Selena tried to keep the annoyance out of her voice. “There are lots of parts in the play. Maybe you could be Juliet’s nurse.”

  Katy didn’t respond.

  Selena dipped a tissue in a jar of cold cream and began removing her stage makeup.

  “Selena?” Katy said after a moment. “When we were little, did you ever think you’d grow up to be so popular?”

  “Of course not,” Selena replied. “I thought Fd be fat and unpopular forever.”

  “Like me,” Katy murmured.

  Selena ignored her. “But once I got interested in drama, I stopped thinking about being popular. I just wanted to be a good actress.”

  “It happened so fast,” Katy said. “I mean, you took one drama class and that was it. You lost weight, you started going out with Danny … and you were the star of the very first play you did.”