Don't Forget Me! by R.L. Stine

“I don’t know,” she answered finally. “I guess you should just try not to think about it. I mean, come on. Peter will be okay. What’s the worst thing that could happen?”
    Later in the lunchroom, I sat at a table against the back wall, staring at my tray. Why did I take all this food? I wondered. My stomach feels as if it were made of lead. I can’t eat a thing.
    I heard a chair scrape against the floor. I looked up as Zack dropped down across from me. He ripped apart his brown paper lunch bag and unwrapped a sandwich. “Want to trade?” He poked the sandwich in my face. “It’s tuna fish.”
    â€œNo thanks,” I murmured.
    â€œMom knows I hate tuna fish. So she packs a tuna fish sandwich every day.”
    â€œHelp yourself to mine,” I said, shoving the tray across the table. “I’m not hungry.”
    â€œWhat happened to you in Chem class?” he asked, grabbing the pizza slice off my tray. “You totally messed up.”
    I shrugged. “Yeah. I guess. I just … I couldn’t remember the assignment. I studied it. It just all went out of my head.”
    The truth was, I barely heard a word anyone said to me all morning. All I could think about was my poor brother. Was he okay? What was I going to tell my parents when they returned home tonight?
    I suddenly realized Zack had been talking. He was gazing at me, waiting for a reply.
    â€œWhat?” I asked. “I’m sorry. I—”
    â€œAfter school,” he said. “I’m an ace in chemistry. You know. We could go over the chapters for the test.”
    â€œUh … I’d like that, Zack. But I’d better not. My parents are still away. I have to take care of Peter.”
    Zack pushed his lips out in an exaggerated pout. “Peter can amuse himself while we study.”
    I felt terrible. Zack was being so nice. I was beginning to think he really liked me. But I couldn’t spend time with him while Peter was still so messed up.
    And I couldn’t explain to Zack what I had done to my brother.
    â€œI—I can’t,” I said. “Maybe tomorrow we can—”
    â€œYeah. Maybe,” Zack grumbled. He stuffed the rest of my pizza into his mouth. “Do you want those pretzels?”
    The afternoon dragged by. I couldn’t concentrate. Couldn’t think. I kept picturing Peter on his own at school, sitting in class in a total trance, unable to remember anything.
    Maybe he made it through the day okay, I kept telling myself. Maybe he snapped out of it. When I meet him at his school, he’ll be his jolly old self again.
    It’s possible, isn’t it?
    I couldn’t wait to find out. I cut my last class. It was only gym, so it was no big deal. I waved to Addie on my way out of the high school, signaling that I’d call her later. Then I made my way to Peter’s school, two blocks away.
    It had rained hard during the day. Water had puddled along the curbs and street corners. A gusty breeze sent water dripping down from the swaying trees. The storm clouds were finally parting, allowing narrow beams of sunlight to filter down.
    I jogged all the way to the elementary school, my shoes splashing up rainwater. The cool, moist air felt soothing on my hot cheeks.
    I reached the school at exactly three o’clock, in time to hear the clang of the final bell. Inside the building I heard cheers, the scrape of chairs, slamming locker doors. A few seconds later, kids came streaming out of their classes.
    I waited at the bottom of the front stairs. Crossing my arms in front of me, I kept my eyes on the double doors, eager for my brother to appear.
    The doors banged open, and kids came charging out. Laughing, shouting, shoving each other, they swarmed around me as they made their way to the street.
    Maybe Peter will be laughing and shouting too, I told myself. The way he always has in the past.
    When Peter didn’t appear in the