Free The Dare by R.L. Stine

Phew!”
    â€œHuh?” Zack let out an unhappy cry and started furiously sniffing his hand.
    Dennis laughed. “Gotcha!”
    Zack pounded him hard in the shoulder.
    â€œHey, are we going to stand here all night? Let’s go do it!” Lanny exclaimed.
    We stepped out into a still, cold night. A bright half-moon hovered low over the bare trees. Nothing moved. Not a leaf stirred. It was eerily quiet.
    I led the way to Mr. Northwood’s house. I was gladto see that the house was entirely dark. Maybe he isn’t home, I thought. Or maybe he went to bed early.
    We crossed my driveway and stopped at the side of Mr. Northwood’s house. Two rather pitiful evergreen shrubs grew there, and we all ducked behind them.
    â€œHis car isn’t in the driveway,” Dennis whispered. “So he probably isn’t home.”
    â€œIt might be in his garage,” I whispered back.
    I realized I was gripping the test tube so tightly, I might smash it. I loosened my hold on it as I stared over at the dark front stoop.
    Why am I doing this? I asked myself. Have I lost my mind totally?
    I glanced at Dennis. He winked back at me encouragingly.
    My heart skipped. Yes. Maybe I
have
lost my mind, I told myself.
    Would I do
anything
for Dennis? I wondered.
    There was no time to think about that. The others were all whispering, urging me on.
    I took a deep breath and started jogging across the grass to Mr. Northwood’s front stoop. I held the test tube carefully in front of me.
    Somewhere down the block a car horn honked, interrupting the eerie silence.
    I hoped no car would drive by.
    I stopped beside the low concrete stoop. My heart was pounding so hard, I could hear it.
    I climbed onto the first step and raised the test tube.
    Hurry! Hurry!
I urged myself silently.
    I reached a trembling hand to pull off the cork top—and the porch light came on.

chapter 16
    â€œO h!” I cried out in shock.
    The test tube tumbled from my hand.
    It shattered on the concrete stoop.
    I turned and bolted for the safety of the evergreen shrubs.
    Behind me, I heard the front door open.
    â€œWho’s there?” Mr. Northwood’s angry, shrill voice broke through the silence.
    I dived behind the shrub, joining the others.
    And then I heard Mr. Northwood let out a groan of disgust. “Oh, my heavens!” he exclaimed weakly. I heard him utter a curse. And then the front door was slammed shut.
    My new friends immediately moved to congratulate me. Zack wrapped me in a tight bear hug. “Johanna—you were
awesome!”
he whispered.
    â€œYou were great!” Dennis told me, grinning.
    We were all laughing, slapping each other high-fives, celebrating silently behind the evergreens.
    Did Mr. Northwood see me? I wondered, glancing toward the front stoop. Does he know who it was?
    Our celebration didn’t last long. The disgusting, sour stench traveled fast.
    We all breathed it in at the same time. It was so
gross!
    I never smelled
anything
as sickening as this. My stomach lurched. I thought I was going to heave!
    â€œWe’re
out
of here!” Dennis cried.
    â€œLet’s get something to eat!” Zack urged.
    We piled into Melody’s parents’ Mercedes, and a few seconds later, backed down the driveway and roared off down Fear Street.
    Zack, Lanny, Caitlin, and I somehow squeezed in the back. Dennis rode in the front beside Melody. It was really uncomfortable, but I didn’t care. I had never ridden in a Mercedes before!
    We laughed and joked all the way to The Corner. We were all so happy that Mission Skunk Juice had been a success.
    The restaurant was nearly empty. Shadyside High students usually hung out there till all hours on weekends. But this was a school night. We squeezed into a booth near the back and all ordered hamburgers and french fries.
    Zack offered to pay for mine, which was a great relief since I didn’t have any money with me.
    I was so happy. Here I was with