Free College Weekend by R.L. Stine Page A

reliving the accident, she thought.
    The same way he did on the Ferris wheel.
    Tina held her breath. Don’t freak out again, Chris. Please.
    Chris pulled his glasses out of his pocket and put them on. Then he ran his fingers through his hair.
    â€œIt
was
my boat,” he replied bitterly, staring at the photograph.
    A heavy silence fell over them. Tina pretended to study another photograph on the wall.
    â€œThere’s makeup in the bathroom,” Chris said softly. “Go put some on. You know, a lot of eye shadow and lipstick. And then we’ll pick an outfit.”
    Chris turned away and busied himself choosing the correct lens and camera.
    Tina made her way across the room. I wonder which is the bathroom, she thought. She knew the far door led into the darkroom. Two other doors stood side by side.
    Tina chose the left one.
    She reached for the doorknob.
    â€œDon’t open that!” Chris screamed.
    Tina jerked her hand away.
    Why did Chris sound so angry? she wondered.
    He hurried up to her. “I’m sorry,” he apologized. “There are a lot of chemicals in there that can’t be exposed to the light.”
    Tina relaxed. “I thought it was the bathroom,” she said. “I guess it’s the next room, huh?”
    Chris nodded. “I should have told you. It’s my fault.”
    Tina opened the door and flipped on the light. Nothing happened.
    â€œOh, I forgot,” Chris called in. “Use the switch by the mirror.”
    Tina slowly made her way through the dark bathroom, stretching her arms out in front of her. It’s so dark in here, she thought. I can’t see anything.
    Her foot hit something hard. What’s that?Tina knelt down and ran her fingers across the floor.
    Then she felt hair. Human hair.
    Someone lay on the bathroom floor.
    Still. So still.
    Still as death.

chapter 13
    â€œ
C hris!” she screamed. “Chris—help!”
    She heard his hurried footsteps.
    He plunged into the darkened room. She heard him click on the light.
    She blinked. Stared down in horror at the body sprawled on the floor.
    The mannequin body.
    A mannequin wearing a red dress and a brown wig. The painted lips curved into a smile. The blue eyes stared blankly up at Tina.
    â€œOh! I—I’m sorry!” Tina stammered. “I thought—”
    â€œThat’s Mary,” Chris explained. “I use her totest my lighting. I shouldn’t have left her in here. Are you okay?”
    â€œYes. Fine.” Tina struggled to slow her beating heart. “I’ll get ready now.”
    Tina peered at herself in the mirror. The bright vanity lights revealed every pore on her face.
    I have dark circles under my eyes, she thought.
    She’d read about putting on makeup for a photo session in the fashion magazines. But this was her first real shoot.
    She studied the makeup lining the counter. Chris had everything. Lipsticks of every color. Bright red. Deep brown. Magenta. White. Eyeliners and eye shadows. Creams and pencils and powders. I could stay in here all day, Tina thought.
    â€œStart with the foundation,” Chris instructed. He held his hand up to her face. “Ummm. Medium light.”
    Tina poured the liquid onto her hand and rubbed it into her face. Normally Tina wore very little makeup, but today was different. She applied charcoal-gray eyeliner on the top lid and the bottom. Then she added taupe shadow and lots of black mascara. She highlighted her cheek-bones with a light coral blush and then put on a bright red lipstick.
    She felt Chris watching her every move.
    â€œMore lipstick,” Chris suggested. “And thenuse this.” He handed her a thin lip-liner brush. “Use a darker color to outline your lips.”
    â€œHow’s that?” She turned and smiled at him.
    â€œYou need to powder your face so it won’t be shiny under the lights.” He opened a drawer and removed a round container. Then he