Free The Dreamstalker by Barbara Steiner

Karen. If you’d like to stay after school and talk to me or call me anytime, please do so. I care about you.”
    â€œThank you, Dr. McArthur.”
    Kerr had waited for Karen. He stepped in front of her as she came out. She looked up to see that most of the class had waited. She felt silly and felt her face heating up.
    â€œLet’s all go skating before dinner.” Kerr took hold of Karen’s arm. “Bill, Easy, let’s go skating.”
    â€œI’ve got football practice, man,” Easy said. The team had won the game that Jesse left. Then, instead of giving up because they lost Jesse, they had adopted a win-for-Jesse attitude. They were determined to capture the state championship in their division.
    Bill had taken over as quarterback. “Me, too, Kerr. Another time.” He smiled at Alysia, who stood beside Karen.
    Alysia looked at Karen with a question in her eyes. “My skates are in the car. It might be good for you.”
    â€œI can’t, Kerr.” Karen was lying to Kerr, and he knew it. “Alysia and I have that project do for chemistry, and we’d better work on that. Tell Mom I’m staying the night at her place.”
    â€œYou’ve hardly been home lately, Karen.” Kerr stopped just short of begging. “It’s lonely there without you.”
    â€œDon’t be silly. We’re all busy, since this is our last school year.” Karen pushed Alysia ahead of her, and they headed for their lockers.
    â€œYou really are avoiding being at home, aren’t you, Karen?” Alysia asked as they climbed into her old Suburu and drove to her place. “Is there anything you haven’t told me?”
    â€œOh, not really. Kerr has been so sympathetic, I can’t stand it. You know how it is when someone works too hard to help you handle a problem, is too understanding. It makes it worse. I don’t want anyone treating me any different because Jesse died. Kerr acts as if he has to take care of me.”
    â€œI don’t know anyone more capable of taking care of herself.” Alysia shifted into low to climb the hill to her driveway.
    â€œSometimes I’m not so sure, Alysia. I feel so confused. That was so dumb for me to break down in class.”
    â€œNot dumb, Karen. It was normal. You’ve been holding too much inside. No one can do that forever.”
    Inside, Alysia built a fire in the fireplace. They did have a chemistry project to work on, but they were almost finished. Spreading it out on the nearby dining table, they fortified themselves with Cokes and chips, background music of U2, and went to work.
    Mrs. Holland came home from work and flopped into a big chair, kicking off her high-heeled boots. “I need a vacation. Why don’t we all fly down to Bermuda for the weekend?”
    Alysia and Karen laughed. “We’re game. It’s supposed to snow again.”
    â€œThis has been the worst snow and cold spell in my memory. Whatever happened to the idea of global warming?” Mrs. Holland took the diet Coke Alysia brought her.
    â€œMaybe the hot places are going to get hotter and the cold places colder.” Alysia stirred the fire. “We don’t know. Our specialty for the evening is chemistry.”
    â€œI guess I’ll take Cooking 101.” Mrs. Holland sighed and pulled herself out of the chair. “There’s an element of chemistry in that. Mexican okay?”
    â€œAnything.” Karen answered for them. “Mrs. Holland, I hope you don’t mind if I spend one more night here. I know I’m getting to be a nuisance.”
    â€œYou’re no such thing, Karen. Stay over as much as you like. We hardly know you’re here, and you certainly don’t eat that much. You look too thin to me.”
    â€œWhen Mom starts trying to fatten you up, Karen, maybe it is time to leave. Let’s both run off to Bermuda. Or Belize or Cozumel …” Alysia got a dreamy