Free Eyes of a Stalker by Valerie Sherrard Page A

be perfectly honest, it wasn’t easy to admit that even to myself.
    The drama club meets in the auditorium, which Ms. Lubowski insists on calling the theatre. Almost everyone else was already there when Betts and I arrived and took our seats. I heard Betts sigh and, seeing that the chairs around Kevin were all occupied, I knew I didn’t need to ask why. A mean thought flashed through my head that it served her right if she never got to sit next to him, much less go out with him, after dragging me into something I knew I was going to hate.
    Of course, I felt ashamed of myself immediately, and I made up my mind that I’d try to be more supportive and helpful. Not that there was a whole lot I could do, but maybe I could try to get there early next time and pick seats near Kevin. He wouldn’t think anything of that, since everyone knows I’m going out with Greg.
    These thoughts were interrupted by Ms. Lubowski, who had risen and gone to stand in front of us.
    â€œGroup, can I have your attention please?” she said. “There has been some discussion about which plays we’re going to put on. I have decided that, in the spiritof democracy, we will choose the second and third plays as a group. First, however, we will proceed with
Macbeth
. This will give everyone time to think about what they’d like to do next.”
    This announcement brought on a buzz of whispers, which was silenced when she lifted her hand. “Today we’re going to go over some suggested readings you may select for your tryouts. I’d like each of you to come ready to read for a part at our meeting next week.”
    A pause, and then, “After all, this is what we’ve been leading up to the past weeks, with our mini skits and breathing exercises and voice projections and all of the other things we’ve practised over and over.”
    Right. All of the things that felt silly and unnatural when we were doing them, I thought.
    â€œI know this is an exciting time for you,” she continued, “so I hope no one will be too terribly disappointed if they don’t get a part for our very first play.”
    I know I’ll survive, I thought, almost laughing out loud at the idea of being crushed because I didn’t get to make a big fool of myself on stage in front of an audience.
    â€œAnd I want to reassure you ahead of time that everyone will be on stage before the year ends!” Ms. Lubowski clasped her hands together in delight at this reassurance. I figured I could always drop out of the club by the next play anyway if I wanted to. By then, Betts would probably have lost interest in Kevin.
    That reminded me that she’d asked Greg to do something for her, only she hadn’t said what. I was making a mental note to ask her about it after the meeting (it’s always good to know what kind of mess your boyfriend’s gotten himself into) when her cell phone rang.
    â€œOh, sorry,” she said, fumbling through her things for it. “I forgot to turn it off.”
    â€œIt’s all right,” Ms. Lubowski said. “Just make it quick.”
    Betts nodded as she said hello.
    â€œWhat do you mean, who is this?” she said. “
You
called
me
!”
    That got everyone’s attention, so of course the room went silent.
    â€œWell, I… uh, wait a sec, is this Mrs. Belgarden?” Betts’s frown switched to a smile at once. “No, this is Betts.… It’s my cell phone number.… Oh, I bet you thought maybe the call was from that weirdo who’s been stalking Shelby. Am I right?”
    Naturally, every eye in the room shifted from Betts to me.
    As warmth crept up my neck and into my face I saw Betts’s expression change to horror as she realized (too late) what she’d done.
    Poor Betts. Even when she tries to, she can’t keep a secret!

C HAPTER T HIRTEEN
    The second Betts hung up the phone everyone started talking to me at once. Even Ms.