The Dead Boyfriend by R. L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page A

took a deep breath. My shock quickly turned to anger.
    Blade is a liar! A liar and a rat!
    I couldn’t erase the picture of them kissing from my mind.
    Suddenly, I knew I had to confront him. I had to let him know that I was here and I saw him.
    A cry of rage burst from my throat. Like an angry animal. And I roared forward, my sneakers kicking up gravel, ran full speed toward the club entrance, the red-and-blue lights flashing in my eyes, running blind, blind with my anger and hurt pushing me forward.
    I had to get in there. I had to make him face me.
    I was a few feet from the doorman’s podium when a dark figure ran out from the side of the club. At first, I thought it was a moving shadow. It took a few seconds to realize it was someone dressed all in black.
    Deena Fear.
    I nearly ran right into her. She caught me with both hands before we collided. I was panting, wheezing loudly, enraged.
    â€œDeena—what are you doing here?” I choked out, the words rasping against my dry throat.
    â€œHe betrayed us!” she cried. “Caitlyn—he betrayed us!”

 
    12.
    I gaped at her. The red-and-blue lights reflected in her glasses made her eyes look on fire.
    â€œHe betrayed us!” she screamed again, gripping my arms tightly.
    â€œGo away!” I cried. Blade was inside the club with the blonde girl. I didn’t have time for Deena Fear. I had to keep my anger burning. Or else I’d never be able to confront him.
    â€œGet off me!” I swung my body hard and tugged free of her grip. Then I lowered my shoulder and shoved her out of my way, shoved her so hard she toppled backward over the gravel. Her glasses flew off her face and landed on the ground.
    I spun away, lowered my head, and ran past the doorman. I heard him shout: “Hey—stop!” And then he uttered a string of curses as I pulled the door open and rushed inside.
    Into the flashing lights and throbbing beats, deafening, almost painful. I could see the silhouettes of dancers in the middle of the floor. Couples huddled around the sides. A crowd at the brightly lit bar against the far wall.
    I took a deep shuddering breath. Then another. My eyes gazed from one wall to the other, squinting to see faces, to see Blade. The pounding beats matched my heartbeats. I stood there, gasping in the thick, humid air, inhaling the tangy aroma of alcohol and sweat.
    I was so angry, so hurt, so devastated, the whole scene became a crazy blur to me. The lights pulsed with the beats of the music, pulsed with my heartbeats, until … until I was not myself. I was out of myself. Out of my head.
    Where is he? Where?
    And then my eyes stopped at the white lights of the bar. And I saw him. I saw Blade at the bar. The blonde girl was beside him. He was leaning over a tall barstool, talking to a female bartender.
    I didn’t hesitate. I lowered my shoulder and bolted across the dance floor like a running back. Couples dodged out of my way. I heard angry shouts:
    â€œLook out!”
    â€œHey—what’s your problem?”
    My problem was Blade.
    I let out a furious screech as I stepped up behind him. I grabbed his shoulders and spun him around.
    His eyes opened wide in surprise. “Caitlyn?”
    The words spilled from my throat. “What are you doing here?”
    He regained his composure quickly. “Getting two beers,” he said. He gave a casual shrug.
    â€œWho is she?” the blonde girl asked.
    â€œShe’s nobody, Vanessa,” Blade said. “A friend. From school.”
    I felt as if I’d been cut in half, sliced right down the middle.
    I stood there trembling with my mouth open.
    I know I overreacted. I know I went ballistic. Totally lost it. But that’s the way I am. That’s me, and there’s nothing I can do about it.
    I am 90 percent emotion. And when Blade said those words to the girl, something inside me snapped.
    â€œBut … but…” I sputtered. “But