52 - How I Learned to Fly by R.L. Stine - (ebook by Undead) Page B

forget!”

 
 
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    “Are you crazy?” I yanked Wilson aside in gym class the next morning. “We can’t race!” I screamed.
    “Aw. Come on. Be a good sport.” Wilson grinned. “You’re just steamed because
you know you’re going to lose.”
    On the other side of the gym, I could hear Mr. Grossman announcing the race
to the class. “A special race,” I heard him say. “Wilson promises we’re all in
for a big surprise!”
    I ran my hand through my hair.
    “Wilson, don’t you see what you’ve done?” My voice grew high. “When everyone
finds out that we can fly, our lives will be ruined!”
    Wilson shrugged, then bent down to tie his sneaker. “I don’t know what you’re
so worried about. This is going to be way cool!”
    I glanced around the gym. The empty gym. The entire class had emptied
outside, waiting for the race to begin.
    “Ready, boys?” Mr. Grossman popped his head in the doorway.
    “Ready!” Wilson called back.
    Wilson tugged me through the halls. The empty halls.
    “Come on, Jack. The whole school is out there!”
    The whole school. Out there.
    Every kid in Malibu Middle School was going to watch us fly. This was a total
disaster.
    If we went ahead with this, I knew that my life would never be the same
again.
    We stepped onto the playground. I squinted in the bright sunlight. Squinted
at the crowd of kids, huddled along the running track—waiting for the race to
start.
    Someone tugged on my T-shirt sleeve.
    It was Mia. “Jack, why are you doing this?” she asked, her eyes wide with
fear. “Wilson told me you’re going to fly.”
    “I—I don’t want to,” I stammered. “But I can’t do anything about it. I have
no choice.”
    Mia shielded her eyes with her hand and glanced over at Wilson. Her ruby-red
heart ring sparkled in the sun.
    We both watched Wilson as he stretched out at the starting line. “I’m so
worried about the two of you,” she said, her eyes locked on Wilson.
    I gazed into the crowd.
    Kids shifted restlessly from one foot to the other. Watching. Waiting.
    I wanted to run away.
    Run home and hide.
    “Hey, Jack!” Ray called out from the crowd. “Go for it! You can beat him!”
Ethan stood next to him, pumping his fist in the air.
    “Wilson is ready.” Mr. Grossman jogged over to me. “How about you, Jack?”
    The kids began to chant. “Race! Race! Race!”
    My temples were throbbing.
    My T-shirt felt wet against my skin—drenched with sweat.
    What was I going to do?

 
 
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    I had to race.
    I knew I had no choice.
    I had to race—and I had to win.
    I stepped up to Wilson. “Ready, Jackie?” He grinned his horrible Wilson grin.
    I nodded.
    Mr. Grossman raised the starting flag. “On your marks. Get set. GO!”
    Wilson and I took off.
    We shot into the air.
    With my arms straight out in front of me, I blasted ahead. I soared higher,
higher—and zoomed to the other end of the playground, leaving Wilson far
behind.
    Yes!
    I was winning!
    Finally!
    I was finally beating him!
    I turned in midair, dipped, and headed back to the other end of the playground. I glanced behind me. Wilson was soaring
fast. Catching up.
    He sailed alongside me. “See you, Jackie!” he smirked. Then he flew ahead.
    Oh, no, you don’t, Wilson. Not again.
    I held my body straight as an arrow—and jetted forward.
    We flew side by side now. I could see the muscles in his face straining as he
tried to pick up speed.
    But he couldn’t. He couldn’t pull ahead of me.
    The other end of the playground was coming up fast. With my eyes trained to
the finish line, I soared with all my strength.
    We reached the line at the same time. I dropped to the ground. “A tie!” I
cried out breathlessly. “It’s a tie!”
    Wilson hadn’t won!
    “Hey, Wilson? Wilson?” I searched the school grounds.
    Then I glanced up.
    There he was, hovering over my head. “Lap number two!” he cried. And took
off.
    I sprinted into the air.
    Too late.
    Wilson finished the