Free First Date by R.L. Stine, Sammy Yuen Jr. Page B

were flying, flying on a magic carpet, high over the ground, looking down on the shifting, whirling, spinning darkness below.
    Chelsea drew away, trying to catch her breath. As she closed her eyes and rested the back of her head comfortably against his shoulder, Will removed the length of cord from the back pocket of his jeans.
    Silently he fingered it and prepared to strangle her.

chapter 13
 
    C helsea jumped to her feet.
    Will let the cord drop to the couch.
    â€œI’m so chilled,” Chelsea said, wrapping her arms around herself, rubbing the sleeves of her sweater. “How about some hot chocolate?”
    She was surprised by the disappointed expression on Will’s face. His cheeks were two bright red circles. “Huh?”
    â€œHot chocolate,” she repeated. “I’m going in the kitchen to make some. Okay?”
    Why did he seem so distracted? Was it just his shyness?
    Was he as excited as she was? After all, he had admitted that this was his first date too.
    â€œYeah. Great,” he said, his expression brightening. “I’ll help.”
    â€œNo need,” Chelsea said, starting across the dark room toward the lighted hallway. “But you can keep me company.”
    â€œWhere’s the bathroom?” he asked suddenly, standing up.
    Chelsea pointed it out and hurried to the kitchen. She clicked on the light, filled the teakettle, and turned on the burner. She put two coffee mugs down on the counter. Then she walked over to the cabinet, reached up and pulled open the door, and searched for the envelopes of powdered hot chocolate mix.
    This date is going so well, she thought happily.
    She glanced at the copper kitchen clock above the cabinet. Eleven-forty. She wished it weren’t so late. She wanted the night to go on and on.
    She was still searching the cabinet, pushing aside slender boxes of spaghetti, when Will crept up behind her. He held the cord between his hands, leaving it slack enough to slip over her head. Once it was in place around her neck, he would pull it tight, as tight as he could, and wait for her to suffocate.
    It wouldn’t take long.
    It was really quite easy.
    Of course, it would have been easier if she had let him push her over the cliff.
    He had been ready to push her up on River Ridge. One shove. So quick, so clean.
    But she had decided not to cooperate.
    Some things are worth doing the hard way, he decided, slipping silently behind Chelsea.
    If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right.
    He raised the cord, staring at her mousy brown hair.
    His hand didn’t shake, not even a tiny tremble.
    That’s because it’s not
really
my first date, he thought.
    He raised the cord higher. Up, up.
    He was close enough to smell her lemony perfume, close enough to read the tag that was sticking up from the neck of her sweater.
    He hated girls who didn’t tuck their tags in.
    His sister was a slob too.
    Goodbye, Chelsea, he thought.
    Good night.
    He moved his arms forward, the cord in place.
    The front doorbell rang.
    â€œOh!” Chelsea cried out.
    He dropped his arms, struggled to change his expression, to make his face a blank.
    â€œWill—I didn’t hear you come in here!” Chelsea exclaimed breathlessly. She dropped two hot chocolate envelopes into his hand. “Here. Put these in the cups. I’ll see who’s at the door.”
    He watched her hurry out of the kitchen. Then, gritting his teeth angrily, he bent down and pickedup the length of cord from the linoleum floor.
    So close.
    So close.
    He glanced at the clock. Who could be there so late? Who could be interrupting their first—and last—date? Her mother? No. Her mother wouldn’t ring the bell. Besides, Chelsea had said her mother was working all night.
    Setting the hot chocolate packets down beside the two mugs, he crept to the doorway to listen, wrapping the cord carefully around his hand as he walked.
    Wondering who it could be at