Who Killed the Homecoming Queen?

by R. L. Stine

  It was an easy guess. Keith wanted to be a film director. He always talked about movies.

  “Yeah,” Jeremy nodded. “But I haven’t been listening much.”

  “Thanks a lot,” Keith muttered.

  “Give him a break, Keith,” Eva said. She leaned closer to Jeremy.

  “I’m too tense to listen to anyone,” Jeremy confessed. He pointed to the platform. “I really hope Tania wins. Do you think she will?”

  Eva’s shoulders sagged a little. He’s too busy worrying about whether Tania wins to pay any attention to me, she thought.

  “I don’t know,” she replied. “I hope she does, too. But she won’t be upset if she doesn’t. Didn’t she tell you that?”

  Jeremy nodded. “Yeah, she did. But I still want her to win. She’s my sister, you know? Well … my stepsister, but that doesn’t matter. We’ve gotten really close since my dad and her mom got married this past summer.”

  “That’s great,” Eva told him.

  “It really is,” he agreed. “I guess it sounds weird. But having a real family is so awesome. I never really had one before. My mother died when I was a baby. And I hardly ever saw my father because he worked all the time. He stays home more now.”

  Why is he telling me all this? Eva wondered.

  “Tania’s really happy about it, too,” she said.

  “That’s one of the reasons she doesn’t care about being Queen. She said so many good things have happened, it just doesn’t matter.”

  Keith sighed loudly. “If this were a movie, the sappy music would start playing right now.”

  Eva reached behind Jeremy and jabbed Keith in the arm. “What’s the matter? Don’t you like happy stories?”

  “They’re okay,” Keith replied with a shrug. “But movies need more drama.”

  “This isn’t a movie,” Jeremy reminded him.

  “No kidding. Anyway,” Keith went on, “let me tell you more about my video.”

  “What video?” Eva asked.

  “The one I’m going to make,” Keith declared. “The one that’s going to get me a scholarship to film school. That’s what I was talking about before.”

  He gazed at Jeremy, his blue eyes bright and intense. “Hey. You know what would really make it a great video?”

  Jeremy shook his head.

  “If Tania would act in it,” Keith exclaimed. “She’d be perfect, right? Do you think she’d do it?”

  “Man!” Jeremy laughed. “You’ll do anything to get close to Tania—won’t you?”

  Keith’s face grew dark. He raked his fingers through his black hair and licked his lips. “Yes,” he replied softly. “Anything.”

  Whoa! Eva thought. What a weird thing to say. And what a weird look in his eyes. So what if he has a crush on Tania? How come he’s suddenly acting so strange?

  “Hey, maybe I’ll write in the video script that Tania dumps Sandy for me,” Keith announced.

  Jeremy snickered. “Why don’t you just murder Sandy? That’s the only way you’ll get Tania to notice you!”

  Keith’s grin grew wider, but Eva thought it looked fake. And his eyes! Why did they glitter like that?

  Another chill raced up Eva’s spine.

  Ignore it, she told herself. It doesn’t mean anything.

  But the feeling didn’t go away. She glanced sideways at Keith.

  What is he thinking?

  “Come on, everybody!” one of the cheerleaders shouted from below. “Let’s hear some real noise!”

  Eva dragged her eyes away from Keith and watched as the cheerleading squad began another routine. Everyone else clapped and cheered along, but Keith kept talking about the video he wanted to make.

  “Leslie already volunteered to be in it,” he shouted above the loud chanting. “She said she’d do the lead role, like it would be a big favor.”

  “Wouldn’t it?” Jeremy asked.

  Keith shook his head. “Leslie is desperate to be an actress. She’s applying to every acting school in the country. If she’s in the video, then she’ll have something to show. I’d be doing her the favor.”

  “Sounds like a good deal for both of you,” Jeremy commented. “Is Leslie any good?”

  “Sure,” Keith replied with a shrug. “But I’d much rather have Tania—especially if she’s Homecoming Queen.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?” Eva asked. “I mean, what’s your video about?”

  Keith’s eyes glittered again. “It’s called Who Killed the Homecoming Queen?”

  The cheerleaders finished their routine and ran off the floor, waving their pom-poms. Everyone clapped, then began to whistle and stamp their feet as the football coach picked up a microphone and asked everyone to quiet down.

  Eva knew Coach Jackson was about to announce the name of the queen. But she couldn’t stop staring at Keith.

  Who Killed the Homecoming Queen? Why did Keith get that flash of excitement in his eyes when he told her the title?

  Something’s wrong, I can feel it.

  But what?

  “Only one more week until Homecoming!” Coach Jackson’s voice boomed through the loudspeakers. “And now, the name you’ve all been waiting for! This year’s Shadyside High School Homecoming Queen is …” the coach paused dramatically. “… Tania Darman!”

  The gym erupted in cheers and whistles and applause. Jeremy gave a whoop and leaped to his feet. Eva stood, too, clapping hard and craning her neck to get a glimpse of her friend.

  Tania sat in her chair, looking stunned. Her mouth fell open. She raised her hands to her face.

  The coach held up a sparkling rhinestone crown and handed it to Jason Thompson. “Tania, congratulations!” he boomed. “Now come on and let Jason put this crown on your head!”

  Tania rose to her feet. The other candidates, who would be princesses in the Homecoming Court, rushed to hug her. All except Leslie, Eva noticed. Leslie stood to the side, watching. Waving to the crowd, Tania started across the platform to accept the crown.

  Halfway to the podium, she stopped. Her arms dropped limply to her sides.

  Then, as if a giant boot had come crashing down on top of her, she crumpled in a heap to the floor.

  chapter 4

  The cheers turned to gasps and screams.

  Then a stunned silence fell over the crowded gym.

  Eva stared down, frozen in horror.

  Tania didn’t move.

  I knew it, Eva thought. I knew something was wrong. I could feel it!

  “Hurry, Eva!” Jeremy cried. He lurched in front of her and almost tripped. “We have to get down there!”

  Eva finally started to move into the aisle. Then she stopped suddenly, and grabbed hold of Jeremy’s arm. “Wait! She’s sitting up—look!”

  Eva kept hold of Jeremy’s arm as they both stared down at the platform.

  Tania had braced herself up on one elbow. She brushed her hair out of her eyes and glanced up at the coach. He had shooed Jason and the girls out of the way and was bending over Tania.

  Tania shook her head and said something. The coach held out his hand and helped her to her feet. Pale but smiling, Tania moved across the platform to the microphone.

  “I guess you can see that being named Queen really knocked me out!” she declared in a shaky voice. “Actually, some of you probably know I have low blood sugar. Sometimes a lot of excitement makes me faint. And believe me, being Homecoming Queen is definitely enough to do it!”

  Everyone clapped and cheered.

  Eva laughed with relief. She could feel Jeremy relax next to her. “I should have guessed what it was,” she told him. “I’ve known about Tania’s low blood sugar all my life, practically.”

  Down on the platform, Tania continued speaking. “As soon as I eat a candy bar or something that’s sweet, I’ll be fine,” she assured the crowd. “Not that being Queen isn’t sweet—it is. I’m really happy and grateful. Thanks a lot, everybody!”

  Jason set the crown on Tania’s head. Everyon
e clapped and cheered some more.

  “Is this great or what?” Jeremy asked. “My sister, the Homecoming Queen. Come on, let’s go down and congratulate her.”

  Grabbing Eva’s hand, Jeremy started pulling her down the bleachers. But as Eva reached back for her book bag, Jeremy’s hand slipped away.

  Eva watched him hurry down ahead of her. Too bad, she thought. Holding his hand felt good.

  Finally, Eva made it down to the bottom bleacher. As she jumped to the gym floor, she saw Jeremy race to the platform and give Tania a big hug.

  It’s great that they’re so close, Eva thought. Tania’s boyfriend ought to be up there with her, too.

  Where is Sandy?

  Eva glanced around, trying to spot Sandy Bishop. But she didn’t see him anywhere in the crowd.

  Weird, she thought.

  With a shrug, Eva started toward the platform, then found herself caught up in the middle of a huge group of kids hurrying toward the gym doors. They swept her along with them for a few seconds until she finally managed to pop free.

  As she spun away from them, she bumped into Leslie Gates.

  “Oops, sorry,” Eva said, slinging her book bag over her shoulder.

  Leslie nodded, then quickly turned away.

  But Eva saw the gleam of tears in her eyes. “Hey, Leslie.” She reached out and touched her arm. “Are you crying?”

  “Of course not.” Leslie’s voice shook, and she kept her head turned away. “I have something in my eye.”

  Sure, Eva thought. As she watched Leslie trying to blink an imaginary piece of dirt out of her eye, Eva couldn’t help feeling sorry for her.

  Okay, so she dropped Tania because she’s jealous of her, Eva told herself. So she’s kind of a snob. But she is obviously hurt.

  “Listen, Leslie,” Eva murmured. “Try not to feel so bad, okay? It’s not the end of the world.”

  “I know that. It’s just …” Leslie wiped her eyes and took a shaky breath. “It’s just that Tania gets everything she wants—and I get nothing. Even her low blood sugar is a great thing!”

  “Huh?” Eva cried. Leslie had to be kidding. “What’s so great about having low blood sugar?”

  “It means she gets to eat six candy bars a day!” Leslie wailed. “And look how thin she is!”

  “I never thought about it that way,” Eva admitted. “It would be kind of cool to be able to eat all the candy you want and never gain a pound.”

  “Everything always goes right for Tania,” Leslie declared bitterly. “She’s Miss Perfect. The Golden Girl of Shadyside High.”

  “That’s not true,” Eva argued. “Things don’t always go right for her. I mean, her parents got divorced two years ago. She and her mom had to move to that horrible apartment in the Old Village—remember?”

  “Yeah, but her mother remarried, and they moved into a great house, and Tania has a cool stepbrother and they’re just one big happy family!” Leslie shot back. “Plus, Tania gets to be Homecoming Queen!”

  And she also gets Sandy Bishop, Eva thought. But she didn’t say it. Leslie would probably freak if she did.

  “You can’t blame Tania just because she got the most votes.” Eva told her. “Besides, you’re not the only one who didn’t win.”

  “Gee, thanks for the lecture, Mom.”

  Eva sighed. “It’s no good being jealous, Leslie.”

  “Oh, shut up!” Leslie snapped. “Go be Tania’s best friend and leave me alone!”

  Tossing her hair back, Leslie turned and pushed her way through the crowd to the exit doors behind the bleachers.

  Eva gritted her teeth and went after her. I don’t care if she thinks I’m lecturing her, she thought. I have to try to make her stop hating Tania so much. Something bad will happen if she doesn’t.

  Maybe that’s the bad feeling I’ve been getting—Leslie’s hatred.

  As Eva reached the back of the bleachers, she caught a glimpse of Leslie’s red sweater. Leslie went speeding through the doors. Eva hurried to catch up before Leslie got too far ahead.

  Then something behind the bleachers caught her eye. She stopped suddenly, turning her head to look.

  And gasped in shock.

  chapter 5

  Eva clapped a hand over her mouth and quickly ducked back behind the bleachers.

  Did I really see that? she wondered.

  Slowly, she peeked around the comer and stared.

  Sandy Bishop stood in the dim, narrow space between the bleachers and the back wall of the gym. Sandy, Tania’s boyfriend. Tall and athletic, with wide shoulders and thick, shiny hair that matched his name.

  Sandy didn’t see Eva, of course. His eyes were closed. He was kissing a girl who leaned against the wall. The girl’s eyes were closed, too.

  And she wasn’t Tania.

  This girl was short, with bright coppery hair that floated around her head in a mass of waves and curls. Only one girl in their class had hair like that—Cherise Colby.

  Eva’s heart dropped as she watched Cherise stand on tiptoe and wrap her arms more tightly around Sandy’s neck.

  But he’s supposed to be crazy about Tania! Eva told herself. Why is he hiding behind the bleachers, kissing Cherise?

  Stupid question, she decided. He’s kissing Cherise because he obviously isn’t crazy about Tania.

  And Tania doesn’t have a clue.

  Not yet, anyway.

  But people would find out. Sandy couldn’t keep it a secret forever. Cherise would say something to a friend. And the friend would tell someone else. And eventually, the news would get around to Tania.

  What an awful way to find out.

  Eva bit her lip. Should I tell her? After all, I’m her best friend. It wouldn’t make it any easier for her. But at least she wouldn’t find out through whispers.

  Should I tell her the bad news?

  Or should I keep it from her?

  Eva chewed her lip, not knowing what to do. If she didn’t tell Tania, it would be like lying. But telling her would be so hard.

  Down the shadowy passageway, Sandy and Cherise finally broke their embrace and gazed into each other’s eyes for a moment. Then they began kissing again.

  Eva ducked away. She’d seen enough.

  The question was, what should she do about it?

  Feeling sad and furious at the same time, Eva turned to the gym doors.

  But someone blocked her way.

  Leslie. She had come back, and now she stood a few feet behind Eva, staring at Sandy and Cherise. She watched them for another second, then slowly turned to Eva.

  Leslie’s eyes were shining again, but not with tears. This time, they shone with glee.

  “This will kill Tania!” Leslie declared triumphantly.

  chapter 6

  After school the next afternoon, Eva stood near the bleachers at the football stadium, watching Tania and Sandy argue with each other.

  Tania looks angrier than I’ve ever seen her, she thought. And the way Sandy keeps clenching his fists! It’s really frightening.

  A sudden gust of wind blew a strand of hair across Eva’s face. Her nose itched and her eyes watered. She needed desperately to sneeze.

  But if I do, they’ll notice me, she thought. And who knows what might happen then?

  “Come on, Tania.” Sandy’s voice sounded impatient. “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”

  “Give me a break!” Tania cried. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. Do me a favor and stop pretending you don’t.”

  “I’m not pretending!” Sandy took a deep breath and shoved his fists into the pockets of his jeans. “I don’t feel like playing guessing games, Tania. Why don’t you just tell me what’s going on?”

  Ha, Eva thought. As if you don’t know.

  Tania’s green eyes narrowed to slits. “Okay, Sandy, I’ll tell you. I found out the truth. I found out that you’ve been sneaking around on me.”

  Sandy frowned in confusion. “What?”

  “Seeing so
mebody else,” Tania snapped. “That’s what sneaking around means, Sandy. You’ve been seeing somebody else—behind my back!”

  “No.” His fists came out of his pockets and he reared back, looking outraged. “That’s a lie!”

  “It’s true!” she shouted. “I saw you! And I have friends, Sandy. They saw you, too.”

  “It’s a lie,” he repeated, shaking his head furiously. “I don’t care what you and your friends think you saw!”

  “Oh, please!” Tania rolled her eyes.

  “I’m not seeing anybody else, Tania. You and your friends are totally wrong.”

  Tania crossed her arms and gazed at him furiously.

  Sandy stared back at her, a scowl on his face.

  Eva watched them, not daring to move. What’s going to happen? she wondered.

  Finally, Tania sighed. “Look, this is crazy.”

  “You got that right,” Sandy agreed quickly. He stepped toward her, his arms out as if to hug her.

  “No.” Tania moved back, shaking her head. “I mean it’s crazy to keep arguing. I know what I saw. And so do my friends.”

  She took a long breath. Her green eyes seemed to fill with tears. “It’s over, Sandy.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You want me to spell it out?” she asked. “Okay—I’m breaking up with you. It’s over. Get it now?”

  “You can’t!” Sandy’s voice rose. His fingers squeezed into fists again. “You can’t break up with me. Not before the Homecoming Dance.”

  “You should have thought of that before you decided to fool around with somebody else,” Tania told him. “I’m the Homecoming Queen, remember? I’m not going to that dance and look like a fool. If you want to go so much, then why don’t you take your new girlfriend?”

  “I’m telling you—it’s a lie!” he insisted.

  “Give it a rest, Sandy!” she snapped. “Everyone in school knows the truth about you!”

  “You can’t do this!”

  “Guess what? I just did!” Tania swept her hair out of her eyes and started to stalk away.