Secret Admirer by R.L. Stine, Sammy Yuen Jr. Read Free Book Online Page A

baggy clothes and hiding behind those big glasses. And now you’re about to take on such a challenging role, and you’re not even scared!”
    Selena’s breath caught in her throat.
    How did Eddy know how shy she had been?
    How did Eddy know what she used to wear?
    She took a deep breath. “Eddy,” she asked softly, “how do you know what I wore two years ago?”
    Silence.
    Selena held her breath as she waited for him to answer.
    â€œI must have seen an old yearbook or something,” he said finally. “I know a lot about you, Selena. You’d be surprised. Listen,” he added before she could ask more, “are you busy Friday night?”
    â€œAs a matter of fact, no.”
    â€œGood. I’ve got two tickets to a sneak preview screening near the college. It’s a Chinese film. It’s supposed to be very funny. Would you like to go?”
    â€œI’d love to!”
    â€œGreat.” Eddy hesitated. “There’s just one thing. Don’t say anything to anyone in drama—especially Riordan.”
    â€œHuh? Why not?” Selena asked.
    â€œI don’t think Fm supposed to be going out with the girls in the drama club,” Eddy admitted. “Or in the high school.”
    â€œWhy? You’re not a teacher or anything.”
    â€œWell, no,” Eddy replied. “But why ask for trouble?”
    â€œOkay,” Selena agreed. “No problem. I don’t want to get you in trouble. I won’t tell a soul. Not even my mother.”
    â€œCool. I’ll pick you up around seven.”
    Selena hung up the phone and stared at the wall until the flowers on the wallpaper blurred. She couldn’t believe it. Eddy had asked her out!
    She’d never felt this way about a boy before. He seemed so interested in her. He remembered everything he had ever heard about her. Selena hugged herself and fell back against the pillows. She couldn’t wait for Friday!
    A brilliant flash of lightning split the sky outside. Selena sat up, startled. The house shook as a clap of thunder roared overhead. The lights flickered briefly and rain pelted hard against the windows.
    I’d better make sure all the windows are shut,
Selena thought.
    She quickly checked her mother’s bedroom, then ran downstairs and peered into each of the other rooms. The kitchen window was open a crack, and the rain had already soaked one edge of the table underneath it. Selena hurried to close the window. As she yanked it down, she glanced out at the storm. A flash of lightning lit up a small bundle lying on the porch.
    Selena frowned. Had her mom left something outside?
    She pulled open the door, darted out into the pounding rain, and quickly retrieved the soaked package.
    Back in the kitchen she went, wiping rain off her forehead with one hand.
    The rain-soaked package fell apart, the brown wrapping paper dissolving in her hands.
    Selena breathed in a foul odor. Heavy and sour.
    â€œOhhhh.” The odor sickened her.
    And then—when she saw what she held—she dropped it to the kitchen floor.
    And retched.
    And went running to the sink, gagging, covering her mouth, unable to hold down her disgust.

12
 
    R ain pattered against the floor. Turning from the sink, Selena saw that she’d left the back door open.
    The rat lay in a puddle of brown wrapping paper near the door.
    The dead rat.
    Already half-decayed. Its wiry legs stiff. Its patchy fur matted. Its head …
    Its head chewed to a pulp. Chewed by a cat or some other animal.
    A headless dead rat.
    The disgusting aroma floated through the room, attacking Selena’s nostrils again.
    She held her breath. Fought back another wave of nausea.
    And who had sent it?
she wondered, feeling so frightened, so overwhelmed by the ugliness of it.
    Who had such a sick mind? Who had left such a sick gift on her kitchen stoop?
    She stumbled toward it. Spotted the orange circle on the soaked brown