she managed to hold it in. âI donât believe you!â she told him, rolling her eyes. âYou are such an egotist! Did you really think kids would get on your case becauseââ
âDonât make fun of me,â he said sharply.
A truck roared by on the highway. The wind grew colder, damper. With a shiver, Corky took Alexâs arm and they started walking again, circling the motel parking lot.
âYou couldâve told me,â Corky scolded softly. âYou know you can trust me, Alex.â
He stopped near the front of the building and turned to her. âI was just too embarrased, I guess,â he said. Then he pulled her close and kissed her.
His kiss was soft at first, then harder, hungrier.
He seems different, Corky thought. His kiss is different.
He suddenly seems soâneedy.
Gripping her tightly, Alex backed Corky against the building as he pressed his mouth against hers.
Glancing over his shoulder, Corky saw a figure come into focus at the corner of the building.
Saw a familiar face. Staring at them.
Jay!
Why was he just standing there, staring like that?
As Corky gazed back at him, she saw Jayâs eyes glow red, an angry, evil red. Animal eyes. Inhuman eyes.
Or was it just the glare from the neon sign?
Corky pushed Alex back. âAlexâlook.â She started to point to Jay.
He was gone.
Chapter 19
LENA FLIPS
W hen Corky and the other cheerleaders arrived at the arena at ten-thirty the next morning, the basketball players were already on the floor.
âEnergy up! Energy up!â the coach was shouting. He made a sweeping motion with both hands. âTwo laps for everyone! Letâs go! Get those hearts beating!â
Several players groaned. But they all obediently began jogging along the sidelines.
âEnergy up! Energy up!â the coach repeated, turning in place in the center of the floor, studying the team as they trotted by.
âThey look half dead,â Kimmy muttered to Corky as they stepped onto the floor. Kimmy dropped the box of red and white pom-poms onto the bench.
âThey donât look too awake,â Corky agreed, thinking about Alexâs surprise visit the night before. And once again picturing Jayâs strange, frightening stare. âThey were psyched last night. Itâs too bad they couldnât finish the game then.â
Kimmy nodded, then hurried over to give Heather and Lauren some last-minute instructions.
As the players approached, jogging at a steady clip, Corky took a few steps onto the floor and tried to get Jayâs attention. âHey, Jay! Jay?â
He jogged right past. He didnât seem to hear her.
Corky wanted to ask him why he hadnât said hi the night before. It wasnât like Jay, she knew. He wasnât at all shy. He never cared if he interrupted Alex and her.
âTwoâs company, threeâs a party!â Thatâs what Jay always said.
So what was his problem last night? Corky wondered. Thinking about his strange, glowing eyes gave Corky a chill.
Alex hadnât seemed the same either. His kisses were so much rougher, so much harder.
Am I imagining that Alex and Jay seem different? Corky asked herself. Is it just me? Just the fact that Iâm uncomfortable being in this strange townâknowing that the evil may have followed us here?
She glanced up at the section of seats that had been covered in the boiling tar. Most of the tar had been cleaned up. But many seats were still stained with black marks.
Stop it, Corky! she scolded herself.
Iâm not going to think about that today. No way. Wehave a game to win. Iâm going to concentrate on the game. Iâm going to concentrate on having fun.
The players finished their second lap, picked up basketballs, and began their regular warm-ups. Across the floor, Corky saw the Lions cheerleaders come running out of their locker room in their blue and gold uniforms.
Her sleek black hair drifting
âDonât make fun of me,â he said sharply.
A truck roared by on the highway. The wind grew colder, damper. With a shiver, Corky took Alexâs arm and they started walking again, circling the motel parking lot.
âYou couldâve told me,â Corky scolded softly. âYou know you can trust me, Alex.â
He stopped near the front of the building and turned to her. âI was just too embarrased, I guess,â he said. Then he pulled her close and kissed her.
His kiss was soft at first, then harder, hungrier.
He seems different, Corky thought. His kiss is different.
He suddenly seems soâneedy.
Gripping her tightly, Alex backed Corky against the building as he pressed his mouth against hers.
Glancing over his shoulder, Corky saw a figure come into focus at the corner of the building.
Saw a familiar face. Staring at them.
Jay!
Why was he just standing there, staring like that?
As Corky gazed back at him, she saw Jayâs eyes glow red, an angry, evil red. Animal eyes. Inhuman eyes.
Or was it just the glare from the neon sign?
Corky pushed Alex back. âAlexâlook.â She started to point to Jay.
He was gone.
Chapter 19
LENA FLIPS
W hen Corky and the other cheerleaders arrived at the arena at ten-thirty the next morning, the basketball players were already on the floor.
âEnergy up! Energy up!â the coach was shouting. He made a sweeping motion with both hands. âTwo laps for everyone! Letâs go! Get those hearts beating!â
Several players groaned. But they all obediently began jogging along the sidelines.
âEnergy up! Energy up!â the coach repeated, turning in place in the center of the floor, studying the team as they trotted by.
âThey look half dead,â Kimmy muttered to Corky as they stepped onto the floor. Kimmy dropped the box of red and white pom-poms onto the bench.
âThey donât look too awake,â Corky agreed, thinking about Alexâs surprise visit the night before. And once again picturing Jayâs strange, frightening stare. âThey were psyched last night. Itâs too bad they couldnât finish the game then.â
Kimmy nodded, then hurried over to give Heather and Lauren some last-minute instructions.
As the players approached, jogging at a steady clip, Corky took a few steps onto the floor and tried to get Jayâs attention. âHey, Jay! Jay?â
He jogged right past. He didnât seem to hear her.
Corky wanted to ask him why he hadnât said hi the night before. It wasnât like Jay, she knew. He wasnât at all shy. He never cared if he interrupted Alex and her.
âTwoâs company, threeâs a party!â Thatâs what Jay always said.
So what was his problem last night? Corky wondered. Thinking about his strange, glowing eyes gave Corky a chill.
Alex hadnât seemed the same either. His kisses were so much rougher, so much harder.
Am I imagining that Alex and Jay seem different? Corky asked herself. Is it just me? Just the fact that Iâm uncomfortable being in this strange townâknowing that the evil may have followed us here?
She glanced up at the section of seats that had been covered in the boiling tar. Most of the tar had been cleaned up. But many seats were still stained with black marks.
Stop it, Corky! she scolded herself.
Iâm not going to think about that today. No way. Wehave a game to win. Iâm going to concentrate on the game. Iâm going to concentrate on having fun.
The players finished their second lap, picked up basketballs, and began their regular warm-ups. Across the floor, Corky saw the Lions cheerleaders come running out of their locker room in their blue and gold uniforms.
Her sleek black hair drifting
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