Moonlight Secrets by R.L. Stine

that,” I said in a trembling voice. I knew they could see my hands shaking. I’m such a bad liar.
    â€œThere’s no mistake,” Gonzalez said. “It was traced to your computer.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œCandy and her parents are very upset, as you can see,” Gonzalez said. “They feel that you have slandered Candy and embarrassed her in a cruel and humiliating way. They are prepared to take legal action, Nate.”
    â€œBut—I . . .”
    I couldn’t speak. A hush fell over the room. They were waiting for me to say something.
    To my surprise, Candy broke the silence. “I didn’t think it was you,” she said. “I don’t understand, Nate. Were you just showing off for Shark? Did he put you up to it?”
    â€œN-no,” I stammered. I could feel my face burning.
    I’m going to have to take the heat, I decided. I can’t squeal on Shark. I let him do it on my computer. I’m partly to blame anyway.
    â€œMaybe we should call your mother,” Gonzalez said.
    â€œNo. Please,” I begged. “I’m really sorry. It was just a joke. It wasn’t supposed to go that far. I’m really sorry. Please don’t call my mother. If there’s anything I can do . . .”
    â€œYou’ve ruined my life, Nate!” Candy screamed.
    Her dad grabbed her shoulder. “Your life isn’t ruined,” he said. “It was a cruel joke, Candy. But everyone will forget it in a day or two.”
    Candy scowled at me. She fingered the jeweled pendant.
    The lawyer leaned against the window ledge and scribbled on his pad.
    â€œMy wife and I don’t want to make a big deal of this,” Mr. Shutt told Gonzalez. “We came in because Candy is very upset. But she’ll calm down.”
    â€œNo, I won’t!” Candy cried, glaring at me. “I won’t! You don’t care what happens to me. You don’t care at all!”
    â€œWe know Nate’s mother,” Mr. Shutt continued. “We know she’s gone through a hard time. We don’t want Nate suspended or anything. We really want to end this and forget about it.”
    I let out a sigh. I couldn’t believe Candy’s dad was being so cool about this.
    â€œMaybe if Nate apologizes to Candy,” Mr. Shutt said. “In front of the whole school . . . ?”
    â€œThat’s not enough!” Candy snapped.
    â€œI appreciate your suggestion,” Gonzalez told Mr. Shutt. “And I appreciate your thoughtfulness toward Nate.” He turned to me. “Your joke was cruel and obscene, Nate.”
    I hung my head. “I know. I’m very sorry,” I said.
    But I felt really good. I was getting off thehook. I wasn’t going to be suspended. My mom wouldn’t have to know.
    â€œYes, Nate will apologize to Candy over the loudspeaker to the entire school,” Gonzalez told her parents. “Nate, I want you to write a long and sincere apology.”
    Candy gripped her pendant and scowled furiously at me. “That’s not enough!” she shrieked again. “Not enough! Not enough!”

14
    I stood next to the table, leaned in, and shouted over the jukebox. “So Mr. Shutt was this totally cool guy. He got me off the hook with Gonzalez. It was unbelievable.”
    Jamie shook her head. Lewis’s eyes were wide with shock. “I can’t believe he did that,” he said. “We all thought you were dead meat.”
    I glanced to the back booth. Shark was there with Nikki and Galen. “I can’t believe he did it either,” I said. “How did such a good guy get such a loser for a daughter?”
    Lewis took a long slug of his Coors. “Now what?”
    I grinned. “Shark owes me big time. He can’t believe I took the heat for him. Now Candy hates me as much as she hates Shark.”
    I glanced to the front. Ryland sat on a stoolwatching an old