Free The Confession by R.L. Stine Page B

saw him. Saw him clearly.
    Sandy.
    â€œOhhh.” I uttered a low cry and motioned for Hillary to join me. We both cupped our hands around our eyes to see better.
    â€œIt’s Sandy,” I whispered. “Hiding behind the tree.”
    â€œSomeone was following us!” Hillary exclaimed in a whisper. “It was Sandy.”
    â€œWhat is he doing out there?” I demanded. “Does he think we told Officer Reed about him? Does he think we turned him in?”
    Hillary didn’t reply.
    We both stared out at him. Lurking behind the fat tree trunk, moonlight trickling along the groundin front of him, his face nearly hidden in blue shadows.
    â€œHe … he’s so creepy,” Hillary whispered.
    â€œWhy is he just standing there?” I wondered. “Is he trying to scare us? What is he doing out there? What?”

Chapter
    17

    W e ran to the door. We called to Sandy.
    â€œSandy! Sandy!” I leaned out into the darkness, shouting his name.
    He didn’t answer.
    I saw him pull back into the deep shadows.
    â€œWhere is he?” Hillary whispered. “What is he doing?” Her voice cracked. I guess she was afraid.
    Afraid of Sandy. I was too. Suddenly afraid of our old friend. Our old friend acting so strangely. Trying to frighten us.
    â€œThere he goes,” I whispered back.
    We both saw him, ducking low, staying against the hedge, running away down the block.
    Hillary and I watched him until he disappeared around the hedge. I shivered as I shut the door.
    Why did he do that? Why did he follow us? What did he want?
    â€œWeird,” I muttered. “Totally weird.”
    I didn’t know that this was only the beginning. Two days later, Sandy frightened us again.
    â™¦ ♦ ♦
    I was passing the gym after school. The double doors were open. I heard someone call my name.
    I saw a bunch of guys messing around on the gym floor, passing around a basketball, dribbling and taking wild shots. “Hey, Julie—how’s it going?” Vincent called.
    Behind him, Sandy leaped up, tried for a slam dunk—and missed. Laughter rang out. I saw Sandy scowl. Another guy went after the ball. But Sandy cut him off and angrily grabbed it away.
    â€œWe’re just goofing around,” Vincent called. “Wait up and I’ll walk home with you.”
    I felt my heart jump. Vincent wanted to walk home with me? Was he suddenly starting to catch my vibes?
    He probably wants to borrow my history notes, I thought with a sigh. But I tossed down my backpack and leaned against the tile gym wall, watching them play.
    The guys all seemed to be having fun. They were just dribbling and shooting, taking crazy shots, mostly missing. No one seemed to be taking it seriously—except for Sandy.
    A few minutes later, Sandy and Vincent grabbed for the ball together. Vincent said something to Sandy. I couldn’t hear what he said.
    Sandy stopped dribbling. He gave Vincent a hard shove with both hands.
    Vincent’s mouth opened in shock. “Hey—I was only kidding!” he protested to Sandy.
    Sandy scowled at him and returned to his dribble. Vincent took off after Sandy. He bumped Sandy from behind. Still joking around, I think.
    Sandy shouted a curse as Vincent stole the ball from him.
    Some of the other guys laughed. “What a klutz!” one of them shouted to Sandy.
    â€œButterfingers!” another boy yelled.
    Sandy didn’t laugh. His face turned bright red. I sucked in my breath. He suddenly looked scary.
    I don’t think Vincent realized how angry Sandy was. Vincent spun around and gleefully twirled the ball in Sandy’s face. He held the ball out to Sandy, then pulled it away.
    I gasped as Sandy let out a scream. He went into a rage. Totally lost it.
    With another loud curse, he grabbed the ball from Vincent’s hand. I saw Vincent’s mouth drop open in surprise. Vincent started to back away.
    And Sandy heaved the ball at him with all