Read Online Secret Admirer by R.L. Stine, Sammy Yuen Jr. - Free Book Online

was her date with Eddy on Friday night.
    â€œWe’ve been waiting for you,” Danny called from halfway up a tall ladder. “O, Juliet, Juliet—wherefore art thou, Juliet?” he boomed.
    Kids laughed.
    Selena rolled her eyes. “Give it up,” she snapped. This was not the way she wanted to start the first rehearsal. She climbed onto the stage, trying to ignore Danny.
    He dropped from the ladder and landed in front of her. “Listen, we have to work together until the play is over. Can’t you at least
try
to get along with me?”
    â€œYou’re right,” Selena admitted. “I’m just a little on edge.” She took a deep breath. “And I’m really scared of the balcony scene,” she added, glancing up at the ladders being used to build the set.
    â€œOh, right.” Danny laughed. “I forgot. Juliet is afraid of heights!”
    â€œMaybe we should make it a
basement
scene!” someone suggested from out in the auditorium.
    More laughter.
    Selena ignored it. She pulled her script from her pack and joined the others at center stage.
    â€œWhere’s Jake?” Mr. Riordan called. “We need him for the first scene.”
    â€œJake?” someone called. “Hey—Jake!”
    Jake shuffled onto the stage, a scowl creasing his face. “Hey, what’s the big deal?” he muttered.
    â€œCome on, everyone,” Mr. Riordan insisted. “Let’s get down to business. Now, Act One, Scene One. Let’s just read through it.”
    Concentrate. Concentrate,
Selena ordered herself. On cue, she began speaking her lines, and within a few moments she was into her part. Without even trying, she felt herself relax. Selena was surprised at how well the first rehearsal went. Once they got started, everyone was into it, even Jake.
    As she said her lines, moving about the stage, a part of her stayed aware of Eddy, seated next to Mr. Riordan in the front row.
    Was she just imagining his eyes on her, following her every move? Was he watching the others as intensely?
    During a scene break, she glanced down at him and saw him respond with a smile, obviously meant for her.
    As she read her lines for the next scene, she almost felt as if she were speaking them directly to him.
    â€œOkay, people, it’s going well,” Mr. Riordan announced after about an hour. “Now I’d like to try something a little different. Juliet, I want you to stand upstage and say your lines more quietly. I also want Juliet’s father—Jake? Where did Jake go?”
    â€œSorry,” Jake called. “I went backstage for some water.”
    â€œNext time, wait for a break,” Mr. Riordansnapped. “Anyway, I want you to stand over there.” He pointed toward the rear of the stage. “When she starts to speak, move upstage. Get it?”
    â€œOf course I get it,” Jake grumbled. “How hard is that?”
    Mr. Riordan sighed. “Is everyone ready?” he asked.
    Selena stepped to where Mr. Riordan had indicated and began to read her lines.
    â€œAgain,” the teacher called. “Try to get more feeling into it, while your father looks on.”
    Selena repeated the lines. She loved this part of rehearsal. She loved the sense that she was a part of something that was always changing, always developing.
    â€œExcellent!” Mr. Riordan called.
    â€œThat was great!” Eddy echoed.
    â€œLet’s try to get the same feeling in the next scene,” Mr. Riordan instructed. “Juliet, I want you to—”
    His voice was cut off by a shrill scream.
    â€œThe lights! The lights!”
    Selena recognized Katy’s voice. Gasped as Katy dove into her.
    The pages of her script flew out of her hand.
    Katy tackled her to the floor.
    Selena didn’t even see the bank of spotlights fall.
    But she heard the crash. Felt the stage rock. Heard the shatter of glass. The crunch of metal.
    Heard the high screams of