Fear Street 5 - The Fire Game (6 page)

"You're on," said Andrea.

Nick turned south on Old Mill Road, heading around the woods. He switched on a heavy-metal tape and cranked it up loud. For a few minutes no one spoke as the music reverberated inside the old car. Jill closed her eyes, listening to the beat, feeling the wind from the outside rush by her face.

As Nick approached the on-ramp for the interstate he slowed, then turned the car around. "What now?" he said, switching off the tape.

"Let's take a vote," said Jill. "It's not too late to see a movie, or we could go to Pete's for pizza, or--" There was no immediate answer, and Max nudged her, then pointed to the rearview mirror.

Jill glanced up and felt her heart turn over. Reflected in the mirror were Gabe and Andrea locked in a steamy kiss.

The music died as the credits rolled, and Andrea clicked the TV off, then set the VCR to rewind. "Now, that," she said, "was a terrific movie. That guy--the blond-haired biker? Was he cute or what?"

"He was pretty cute," Jill agreed. "But there was something just a little too wild about him for me."

"That's what I liked," said Andrea. She turned to Diane, who was curled up in a beanbag chair. "Di? What'd you think of the movie?"

Diane shrugged. "It was all right." She had hardly spoken a word all evening.

Jill looked around Andrea's room. It was small, but had everything anyone could want, all built in--TV, VCR, CD player. Everything was in modular cabinets, which were closed and neat except when Andrea was using the equipment.

The machine finished rewinding and clicked off. Andrea pointed at the stack of remaining tapes. "What do you want to see next?"

"What've we got?" said Jill.

"A dumb comedy and a dumb action-adventure movie," said Andrea. "I never heard of either one. My dad rented them."

"I vote for the dumb comedy," said Jill. "Diane?"

"I don't care," said Diane.

"Hey, Miss Enthusiasm," said Andrea. "If I'd known you were going to be so much fun tonight, I'd have invited a bowl of oatmeal to sleep over instead."

"Sorry," said Diane. She settled deeper in the beanbag.

For a moment there was an awkward silence. Jill couldn't imagine what was wrong with Diane.

"Okay, I've got an idea," said Andrea. "Let's forget the videos for a while and listen to music. I've got a couple of new CDs."

"Sounds good," said Jill.

Andrea hopped up and popped a CD into the player.

"It was nice of your dad to let us sleep over," Jill said.

"He just made me promise there'd be no--get this--loud giggling" Andrea said. At that all three girls--even Diane--started to giggle.

Andrea's mother had been out of town on business for a week, and Jill suspected Andrea had her father twisted around her little finger.

"I almost forgot. I've got to show you what Dad got me for an early birthday present," said Andrea. "You're not going to believe this." She went to the modular desk unit in the corner and opened the door, revealing a new laptop computer and printer.

"Wow!" said Jill. "Look how little it is!"

"It's got lots of power," said Andrea. "It can do calculations and play games, and it's got a word processor. Dad thinks it'll help me with my grades."

"Turn it on," said Diane. "Let's see you print something out."

Andrea switched on the computer, then put a disk in. After a few seconds the disk booted, and the cursor blinked, ready for input.

"What'll I write?" said Andrea.

"Anything," said Jill.

"A poem," said Diane.

"Are you kidding?" said Andrea. "Well, why not." She thought a moment, then began to tap on the keys. After a few minutes she pressed a function key. Instantly the printer began stuttering and ejected a short message in bright blue ink.

I hope you won't think I'm a liar,

But I love it when Gabe plays with fire.

"Blue ink?" said Jill.

"My dad got a blue cartridge by mistake," said Andrea. "He offered to take it back, but I like the way it looks, don't you?"

"It's different," said Jill. "I'm not so sure about the poem, though."

"Hey, what do you expect," said Andrea. "I'm not a writer. But I do think it's true that computers make you more creative."

"You don't really believe that, do you?" asked Diane suddenly.

"Believe what?"

"What you said in the poem. About fire?"

"Well, sure--I don't know," said Andrea. "It was just something I thought of on the spur of the moment. It's no big deal."

"I think it's a bigger deal than you realize," said Diane. "Did you two see the article in the paper today?"

"You mean the article about all the fires?" said Jill.

"Today?" said Andrea. "I didn't see it."

"It wasn't on the front page or anything," said Jill, "but there was an article about how there's been an increase in arson in Shadyside. It specifically mentioned fires at the school and in the cemetery."

"Wow!" whooped Andrea, her face suddenly flushed with excitement. "We made the paper!"

"Luckily," Jill went on, "they don't seem to suspect anyone in particular."

"That's just too much," Andrea said. "I wonder if the guys know?"

"Gabe knows," said Diane. Her voice sounded strained and upset. "He's the one who told me about it."

"What does he think?" said Andrea.

"He feels the same way about it you do!" said Diane, her voice suddenly angry. "He sees it all as some sort of game! But it's not! Someone could get in real trouble--or get hurt."

Jill and Andrea both stared at Diane. Jill knew how much Diane feared fire, but she never realized until now how serious she was about it.

"It has to stop," Diane went on. "The whole fire thing."

"In other words," said Andrea sarcastically, "just because sweet little Diane doesn't like fire, the rest of us have to stop having fun?"

"Andrea, there are plenty of ways to have fun without setting fires,"

said Diane.

"Maybe so," said Andrea. "But I don't know who said you can dictate to the rest of us what we do and don't do."

"Fine," said Diane. "But if you guys are going to keep setting fires, then I'm not going to hang out with you anymore."

"Hey, girls, come on!" Jill had been listening to the argument with growing concern. She had to admit she'd been just as excited as everyone else by the fires, but she thought Diane had a point. "Diane's right, Andrea," she said, trying to placate her friend. "This fire game could get someone in a lot of trouble."

"Great," said Andrea. "Now you're on her side too!"

"I'm not on anyone's side. But--we've been good friends for a long time, and I don't want to see anything break that up. Besides, I think the guys are getting too competitive about setting fires."

"You mean Gabe's the only one with any guts."

"Gabe takes it too seriously," said Jill. "They all do. That's the whole point I think we ought to tell them to stop it."

"They'll listen to you, Jill," said Diane. "I know they will."

"I don't know," said Andrea. She had begun painting her fingernails and seemed bored with the whole discussion.

Jill was trying to think of another argument to use on Andrea when the phone rang.

"Will one of you get that?" asked Andrea. She was holding her hands in front of her face, blowing on the nails as they dried.

Jill picked up Andrea's red Trimline phone. "Hello?"

"Is this Miss Andrea Hubbard?" said a gruff, official-sounding voice.

"She's busy right now," said Jill. "May I take a message?"

"Just tell her," said the gruff voice, "that this is Inspector Lindsay of the Shadyside Fire Department. We want to ask her some questions about a suspected case of arson."

For a moment Jill felt as if her heart had stopped.

They've found us! she thought.

"Jill? What is it?" Diane was staring at her with alarm.

Jill waved at her to be quiet. "Who did you say you are?" she asked, hoping she had heard wrong.

"Inspector Lindsay," repeated the voice, "of the Shadyside Fire Department." His voice cracked slightly, and Jill felt relief flood through her. Relief and anger.

"Max, you dork!" she shouted.

"I don't know any Max," said Max. "This is Inspector--"

"I know it's you!" Jill cut in. "And you're very funny. As funny as a coffin!"

"How's the slumber party, girls?" It was Nick's voice on Max's other phone.

"Everything's just peachy!" said Jill sarcastically. "And I don't remember anyone inviting you!" She hung up the phone before either boy could say more.

"What did Max want?" asked Andrea, applying a coat of quick dryer.

"He wanted to show how clever he is," said Jill. "He said he was a fire inspector. But the awful part is--for a minute I believed him!"

"What a dweeb," said Andrea.

"Maybe," said Jill. "But it could have been real. Now, are we going to stop this stupid fire game--or not?"

Andrea sighed. "Oh, all right. I guess it wouldn't hurt to cool things awhile--especially now that the police are looking into arson."

"Thank heaven!" said Diane, smiling broadly. "Thanks, both of you." She quickly hugged each of her friends in turn. "This is the best thing for all of us. You'll see!"

She picked up her pink overnight bag and disappeared into the bathroom.

Andrea shook her head. "I guess I didn't realize before how strongly Diane felt about fire."

"I didn't either," said Jill.

"In fact," said Andrea, "it's hard to believe she and Gabe are such good friends."

"Why do you say that?"

"They're just two completely different people," said Andrea. "The fire thing is only part of it. Diane's shy, Gabe's outgoing--he's really much more your type--or mine."

It's now or never, Jill thought. "I've been meaning to talk to you about Gabe," she said. "I'm . . . going out with him tomorrow night."

"Really?" said Andrea. She didn't seem at all upset. "Well, that's very interesting, because he's spending next Thursday afternoon and evening with me to work on the music for my floor routine."

"Well, that's great," said Jill.

"Except," Andrea added, "I'm planning to work on a lot more than my routine." She looked Jill in the eye, then flashed her a mischievous smile. "Have a good time tomorrow night, Jill. Just keep in mind that I'm not backing off. As they used to say in the movies, may the best man--or woman--win."

The moon was just past full, and all around it a million stars were shining. A soft breeze floated the scent of spring flowers, and Jill thought it was the most romantic evening she had ever spent in her life.

Across from her, sitting on a picnic table, Gabe was softly strumming his guitar, his eyes closed as he sang a slow, sad song. With the moonlight shining on his face, he looked very handsome, Jill thought. There wasn't a trace of the wild Gabe, just the sensitive one.

When he picked her up, she wondered how he would behave around her parents. But he had been, as her mother would put it, a perfect gentleman. He had even held the car door open for her, which was strange and sweet at the same time.

What a perfect evening, she thought. The movie had been great, but even better had been Gabe's idea of going to the park so that he could play music just for her. I'll never forget this evening, she thought.

Gabe finished the song, then set the guitar down.

"That was great," said Jill. "Did you write it?"

"I'm still working on it," said Gabe with a smile. "You like it?"

"It's better than most of the stuff they play on the radio," she said.

Gabe crossed to the bench where she was sitting and sat beside her. "I've had a nice time tonight," he said.

"Me too," she said.

"Hanging out with the other kids is fun," he went on, "but I've been wanting to get to know you alone."

Jill couldn't think of what to say. She felt the same way, but somehow it didn't seem right to say so. Very casually, Gabe took her hand.

"So, what is the real Jill Franks like?" he asked, only half-teasing.

"I think," she said, "that I'm just the way I seem to be."

He was silent a moment. "I think that's true. A lot of people wear masks, or put on an act, but you seem to be just you."

"What about you?" Jill said. "Do you have a mask?"

Again Gabe fell silent. "What do you think?" he said at last.

"I'm not sure," said Jill. "But you seem so different now than when we're hanging out with the others."

"Yeah?" he asked. "Which me do you like better?"

"Both of them," said Jill. "I like the way you always want to do something exciting. But I also like it when you just sit and play music and talk."

"Well, maybe I'd better do that more often," he said. Without letting go of her hand, he put his other hand on the back of her neck. Jill felt first as if her heart had stopped, and then felt it pounding furiously.

Never had she felt this way about a boy.

"I think I'm starting to be glad my folks moved to Shadyside," Gabe whispered.

"I'm glad too," said Jill.

Very gently Gabe kissed her.

I want to stay here in this park with Gabe forever, she thought. I don't ever want this moment to end.

Gabe kissed her again.

"Tumbler!" called a cracked voice. "Here, Tumbler!"

A bright light suddenly went on, and Jill blinked against it, turning her head. "What're you--oops, excuse me." It was Mr. Morrissey, who owned the deli across the street. He switched off the flashlight. "Sorry to bother you. My dog got out. Don't suppose you've seen him, have you?"

"No," said Gabe. "But we weren't really looking for him."

"I guess not," said Mr. Morrissey. He chuckled. "Well, sorry to disturb you. Tumbler!" he called, walking off. "Here, Tumbler!"

"On the other hand," Gabe said, laughing, "Shadyside is a very weird place."

Jill laughed too. The magic moment had been broken, but it didn't seem to matter.

"Hey," said Gabe, checking his watch. "It's later than I thought. I'd better get you home. Don't want to get your folks mad at me on our first date."

First date, Jill thought. That means he wants to go out with me again.