The Dreamstalker by Barbara Steiner Read Free Book Online Page A

Kerr spent his time lately. Even though he had plenty of admirers, he didn’t have any one close friend like she did. He spent a lot of time alone. “Why don’t you get a weekend or after-school job?”
    â€œThat’s not a bad idea.” He folded the paper over to the help wanted classifieds and ran his finger down the column. Karen left him to explore the world of part-time employment.
    She and Alysia hung out downtown till late afternoon, then called Jesse and Bill and the four went bowling in Bergen Park that night.
    The school routine resumed on Monday. Only the special psychology class was really interesting. Except for football, of course. If you were around Jesse and Bill, you had to be interested in football—or at least pretend you were.
    This Friday night’s game was against Evergreen’s arch rivals, the Lakeside Tigers. Anticipation built until Jesse was impossible to be around.
    â€œI know there’ll be a lot of scouts here from the colleges, Karen,” he said at lunch on Friday. “I have to be wonderful.”
    â€œYou’ll be fantastic, Jesse. You always are. You’ve had the media’s attention for two years. There’s no way you won’t get a scholarship someplace.”
    â€œI’ll probably choose CU. You’re going there, aren’t you?” Jesse took her hand, ignoring the fact that they were in full view of everyone in the lunchroom, which meant practically the whole school. His green eyes flirted, said to Karen, you’re my girl.
    â€œI probably will. I don’t think I can afford to go out of state. You think you’ll have time for me if you’re playing college football? There’ll be ten times as many women to choose from.”
    â€œI’ve made my choice. I won’t even see them.”
    â€œI’ll believe that when it happens.” Karen laughed. “I’ll be this fading friend you knew in high school.” She knew better, but she liked to tease Jesse. And she was trying to distract his mind from the game. He was a bundle of nerves. Holding his hand made her feel how tense he was all over. “Try to relax, Jesse. And be careful tonight.”
    She said that every week, but she really meant it today. Jesse was more wound up than she’d ever seen him. His case of nerves crept under her skin, and she wasn’t going to be able to get rid of it the way he would on the field.
    She and Alysia left together after school. Karen was going to Alysia’s for dinner and then they’d go to the game.
    â€œBoy, Jesse was wound tighter than a jack-in-the-box.”
    â€œI’m feeling the same way. Maybe we should have been cheerleaders so we could jump up and down instead of watch. Bill wasn’t any calmer.”
    â€œYou like him, don’t you, Alysia? I mean, really like him.” Why had Karen been so blind?
    â€œThat’s funny, isn’t it? I’ve known Bill Jergens since fifth grade. Something clicked into place Saturday night for us both. Suddenly I can’t think about anything else.”
    The pair broke into laughter and hugged each other. Later, Mr. Holland dropped them off at school, and they headed for the football stadium. They were early enough to get seats on the fifty yard line, and then all there was to do was wait.
    â€œWe have a better team than Lakeside this year. We should win.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, should? We will win.” Karen opened the thermos Alysia had brought and poured herself some chocolate, mainly to have something to do.
    They pulled a blanket over their laps and another over their shoulders. It was really getting cold. When the stands filled it would be warmer.
    Finally the game got under way. Jesse heaved a long pass to Bill on the first play, and Bill outran a Lakeside tackle for a touchdown. Incredible! The stands went wild. This was going to be a rout.
    It wasn’t. Lakeside scored on its second possession after