Don't Stay Up Late by R. L. Stine Page B

really nice. I was so happy to be back. I didn’t even mind Mr. Trevalian’s horrible jokes.”
    â€œHe thinks he’s a riot,” Saralynn said. “He probably gets his jokes from kindergarten books. What did the apple say to the ground? I think I’m falling for you.”
    â€œThat doesn’t even make sense,” Isaac muttered.
    â€œI hope Lisa didn’t go back to school too soon.” We all turned as my mom came walking into the room. She carried a tall blue vase of yellow tulips to the coffee table in her good arm. “I don’t want her to put extra pressure on herself. She needs to recover in good time.”
    â€œIt was Dr. Shein’s idea, Mom,” I snapped. “I’m back at school, so stop fretting about it.”
    I found myself getting easily annoyed at my mother the past few days. She never used to be a worrier. She was always the calm, unemotional one in the family. But since the accident, she fretted about every little thing, and she was always totally negative and disturbing about anything that happened.
    I wanted to get better and go on with my life. I didn’t want to mope around and worry that I shouldn’t try things.
    Mom set the tulips down and fussed over them for a few seconds. “Did Lisa tell you about her job? It’s such good news for us. Especially since I can’t go back to the salon because of this.” She waved her cast in the air.
    â€œLisa will be an awesome nanny,” Saralynn said. “That kid is lucky. He—”
    â€œBut the job is on Fear Street,” Mom interrupted, shaking her head. “I’m just not sure about that.”
    â€œStop it, Mom,” I said. “Stop trying to discourage me. It was Dr. Shein’s idea, remember? She thinks I can handle it. Let me give it a try. Besides, since when are you so superstitious?”
    Mom flinched. I could see that my question hurt her. But I didn’t care. I was starting a new part of my life, and I needed encouragement, not more doubt.
    Everyone went home a short while later. Isaac said he was going to beg his friends to come back to the band. Nate kissed me quickly and said he’d be glad to drive me to my new job the next day after school. Saralynn said to call later if I needed her.
    I went to my room to do some reading for English class. But before I could find the assignment, the phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number on the phone, but I answered it anyway. “Hello?”
    â€œLisa? It’s Summer Lawson.”
    Summer Lawson? It took me a few seconds to remember her. A tall, copper-haired girl in my Government class, very pretty, with high cheekbones like a fashion model, always wears a lot of clanky plastic bracelets and beads and long dangling earrings. Has a lot of attitude and style.
    Summer Lawson. My mind whirred, trying to remember more. She was Nate’s girlfriend. Yes. Before me. What broke them up? I didn’t really know.
    â€œHey, Summer,” I said. “What’s up?”
    There was a long silence. Then she replied. “Do you know you’re in major trouble?” Her voice was cold. Flat.
    â€œExcuse me?” I said. “What kind of trouble?”
    â€œLisa,” she said, “do you have any clue about Nate?”
    â€œHuh? I-I really don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stammered.
    â€œYou’ll find out,” she said.
    A loud click ended the conversation.

 
    18.
    After school the next day, I felt kind of shaky, tense about my new job. As I walked up the driveway to Brenda’s sister’s house, I saw Harry in the front window. The sunlight caught his blond hair and made him glow like an angel.
    This is going to be fun, I told myself.
    Alice’s house was small and square, painted white with dark green shutters at the windows. A racing bike leaned against the side wall. Spring flowers in large pots on both sides of the front stoop