Free The Dare by R.L. Stine Page A

the most popular kids at Shadyside. And they were all being so nice to me. I really was part of their crowd.
    Caitlin made sure that she sat next to Dennis. I was unhappy about that. But Dennis kept flashing me secret smiles. And I was thrilled to be the star of the evening.
    â€œDid you see the look on Northwood’s face when he smelled the skunk juice?” Zack cried ecstatically.
    â€œNo. I was running too fast!” I admitted.
    â€œHis hair
really
stood up on end!” Caitlin declared.
    â€œGlad I don’t sit in the front row in his class,” Melody said, holding her nose. “His clothes will probably stink for a month too!”
    We all laughed and joked and had a great time.
    It was nearly ten-thirty when they dropped me off in front of my house. I turned and waved as the silver Mercedes rolled away.
    I was smiling to myself, thinking about my triumph, as I made my way up the driveway.
    But my smile quickly faded when a dark figure stepped out to meet me.

chapter 17
    M r. Northwood!
    That was my first thought.
    Thank goodness I was wrong.
    â€œJohanna!” Margaret called. She stepped up to me on the driveway. I saw that she carried an aluminum pot in her hands.
    â€œMargaret, what are you doing here?” I cried.
    Even in the darkness I could see the accusing glare of her eyes. “You said you had the flu, Johanna.”
    â€œYeah. Well …”
    A sour aroma rose on the wet night air. Skunk smell.
    â€œOoh. What’s that?” Margaret twisted her features in disgust.
    â€œIt’s a long story,” I said. I led her into the house. The lights were on. I could hear Mom moving around in the back.
    I called to her that I was home. Then I turned toMargaret. She wore a pink down parka, a hand-me-down from her cousin. The hood flopped awkwardly behind her head. Her carrot-colored hair was disheveled, and it clashed with the pink coat.
    She raised the pot to me. “I brought you chicken soup. My mom had some in the freezer. You said you had the flu.”
    â€œI’m sorry—” I began to say.
    â€œYou could have told me you had other plans,” Margaret interrupted shrilly. “You didn’t have to lie to me.”
    â€œI didn’t really have plans,” I said. Pretty lame.
    I could see the hurt in Margaret’s eyes. “If you didn’t want to study with me tonight, you should’ve just said so, Johanna.”
    â€œYou’re right,” I said, taking the soup from her. “I’m sorry. Dennis came over and—”
    â€œYou don’t belong with them,” she said bitterly.
    â€œHuh?” Her words caught me by surprise.
    â€œThey’re different from us,” Margaret continued, staring hard at me. “They’re used to doing whatever they want. They don’t care who they hurt.”
    â€œYou’re being a little dramatic, aren’t you?” I shot back. “You’ve been watching too many soaps, Margaret.”
    â€œI’m right,” Margaret said. “You’ll be sorry.”
    â€œThanks, Mom,” I said sarcastically.
    â€œEnjoy the soup,” Margaret said. “See you around.”
    She turned quickly and hurried out the door.
    *   *   *
    In the weeks to come, Dennis and his friends started hanging out at my house. They would come over after dinner, and we’d kid around and have a lot of laughs and study together.
    My house wasn’t as big or as fancy as theirs. But I think they liked hanging out there because there were no parents around. Since my mom was almost always at work, we had the house to ourselves.
    I spent a lot of time daydreaming about Dennis, trying to figure out how I could make him dump Caitlin for good and start going out with me.
    Most everyone was still having trouble with Mr. Northwood. I think he suspected that Dennis and his friends were responsible for the skunk juice attack. And so he was meaner than ever