All-Night Party by R.L. Stine

a good chance that the scholarship would go to Hannah.
    And no chance of Cindy stealing Gil back.
    Gretchen’s eyes traveled from Hannah to Jackson.
    Creepy Jackson.
    Always staring at her.
    Always watching her.
    Could he have been watching Cindy the way he watched her? She hardly knew him. He could be capable of anything.
    Even murder?
    â€œI heard you arguing with Cindy tonight, Jackson,” Gretchen blurted out. “I was outside. I heard you through the kitchen window.”
    â€œNo way,” Jackson denied.
    â€œIt was your voice,” Gretchen insisted. “I know what I heard.”
    She saw Jackson’s cheeks turn red as his temper flared. “Are you calling me a liar?”
    Gretchen couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Jackson was losing his cool!
    â€œI never argued with Cindy tonight,” he insisted. “You heard somebody else. Maybe it was Patrick. Or Marco.”
    He’s lying, Gretchen thought. I know what I heard. Jackson was arguing with Cindy. He slapped her.
    But did the argument spin out of control?
    Did Jackson do more than slap Cindy?
    Did he kill her?
    And would he have killed me out on the porch if he knew I overheard his argument with Cindy?
    And… could he kill again?

Chapter
20

    B eside Gretchen on the couch, Hannah continued crying.
    â€œIt wasn’t me,” Patrick protested. “I wasn’t even inside the cabin. I went outside, too. I felt drowsy. I thought some fresh air would wake me up.”
    Someone is lying, Gretchen thought.
    Jackson’s voice was the one I heard in the kitchen. I’m sure of it. And when I left the cabin, Patrick said he wasn’t going to budge.
    As for Marco, he was outside with me. And Gil was with Hannah.
    â€œWould you stop crying?” Gil snapped at Hannah. “You’re driving me nuts.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I’m so upset,” Hannah sobbed. “I can’t believe Cindy is dead. Tonight was supposed to besuch a special night. And now she’s never going to have another birthday.”
    â€œYou don’t care,” Gil sneered. “You were ready to scratch her eyes out tonight.”
    â€œThat’s because she was throwing herself all over you,” Hannah shot back. “And you were encouraging her.”
    â€œI was not!”
    â€œYes, you were!” Hannah narrowed her eyes at him. “Did you really think Cindy liked you? She was just flirting with you to get back at me.”
    â€œAre you for real?” Gil shot back. “If it wasn’t for Cindy’s parents, she and I would still be going out together. You’re jealous. You were always jealous of her.”
    â€œStop it!” Gretchen cried. “Before you both say something you’ll regret.”
    Hannah ignored Gretchen’s advice. She jumped off the couch and stood in front of Gil.
    â€œCindy didn’t care about you,” she told him. “If she cared anything at all about you, she wouldn’t have dumped you.”
    â€œThat’s not true!”
    Hannah nodded. “Yes, it is. Cindy always wanted what she couldn’t have. She always had to steal things from other people. That’s why she was always flirting with you. All that mattered was stealing you away from me.”
    â€œShe didn’t have to steal me away from you!” Gil screamed. “I was going to break up with you!”
    â€œI hate you!” Hannah sobbed, tears streamingdown her face. “You’re horrible! I wish you were dead!”
    â€œLike Cindy?” Gil taunted. “With a killer on the loose, maybe your wish will come true. Maybe I’ll be dead by tomorrow morning. Or maybe I’ll get lucky and you’ll be dead!”
    Gretchen couldn’t believe Hannah and Gil were saying such horrible things to each other.
    â€œStop it!” she cried, pushing herself between them. “Stop it! Stop fighting! How can you say those things when