The Conclusion by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page B

formed an O of surprise. “Burned down?”
    â€œYeah. Well, actually, half the building,” I said. “The other half. Not my apartment. But—”
    â€œWhat dorm?” she asked. She took another sip of her drink. I noticed that she had torn her paper napkin into long, thin strips.
    â€œFear Hall,” I said.
    Her mouth dropped open again. But she didn’t say anything.
    I decided it was time to stop acting so shy. I scooted over a few stools, closer to her. “I like your hair,” I said. “It’s so shiny.”
    The compliment seemed to embarrass her. She turned her eyes to the entrance.
    â€œI just came from the worst mixer,” I told her, trying to keep the conversation going.
    Why was she staring at the door?
    â€œUh . . . listen . . .” she said finally, turning back to me. Her expression had become tense. She tore the napkin strips into smaller strips. “You really shouldn’t talk to me.”
    â€œExcuse me?” I replied. “I didn’t mean—”
    â€œI just broke up with a guy,” she explained, glancing again toward the entrance. “And he’s real jealous. If he saw you and me . . .”
    â€œBut we’re just talking,” I protested. “There’s no law against it, is there?”
    â€œNo, but . . . you just shouldn’t,” she replied. “He—he could be dangerous.”
    Dangerous?
    â€œWell . . .” I hesitated. She suddenly looked so tense. I scooted back to my place. “Could I . . . uh . . . call you sometime?” I asked.
    She bit her bottom lip. “I don’t think so.”
    She slid her feet to the floor and stood up. She pulled her long sweater down over her tights. Then she dropped a couple of dollars on the counter and started to leave.
    She squeezed past me, avoiding my gaze. Walked a few steps. Then turned back to me.
    â€œI could . . . meet you the day after tomorrow maybe,” she said.
    â€œGreat!” I replied, a little too eagerly. “Where?”
    â€œHow about here?” She glanced nervously out the window.
    â€œYeah. Sure. Okay,” I said.
    She turned and hurried to the door.
    â€œHey—my name is Chris. Chris Sandburg. What’s yours?” I called after her.
    She stopped and stared at me a moment. “Karen,” she replied. “My name is Karen.” She disappeared through the door.
    â€œKaren.” I repeated the name out loud. “What a nice name.”

chapter
----
12
Hope
    â€œI ran all the way home!” I exclaimed to Angel and Jasmine. I held my hand over my heart, feeling it pump, and waited to catch my breath.
    Jasmine lay sprawled on the couch, reading a magazine. Angel sat across from her in the big leather armchair, petting the cat.
    â€œHope, what happened?” Angel cried, jumping up from the chair and hurrying over to me. “Did someone see you? Did someone chase you?”
    â€œNo. Nothing like that,” I replied, still breathing hard. “No one recognized me. No one is looking for a brunette. They’re all looking for a girl with blond hair. Changing my hair color was the smartest thing I ever did.”
    â€œThen what happened?” Angel demanded impatiently.
    â€œI met a guy,” I told them.
    Jasmine laughed. She tossed down the magazine she’d been reading. “Is that all?”
    Angel shook her head. “From the look on your face, we thought something terrible had happened.”
    I couldn’t keep a smile from spreading across my face. “Well, it is terrible in a way,” I said. “I mean, here I am, hiding from the police in this empty old house. And I meet the guy of my dreams.” I sighed. “It’s not the greatest timing, is it?”
    Jasmine stared hard at me.
    Angel gasped. “The guy of your dreams?”
    I nodded and smiled again.
    â€œWhere