Be Careful What You Wish For by R. L. Stine

at me, curious. “That’s funny. I don’t remember your being friends with her before,” she said.
    “Yeah. She’s in my class,” I told her. I didn’t want to explain. I knew I
couldn’t
explain.
    I hurried up to my room. I was totally exhausted, from all the worrying, I guess. I got changed into a nightshirt, clicked off the light, and climbed into bed.
    For a while, I lay staring up at the ceiling, watching shadows of the tree outside my window weave back and forth. I tried to clear my mind, tried to picture fluffy white sheep leaping over fluffy white clouds.
    I was just drifting off to sleep when I heard the floorboards creak.
    Opening my eyes wide, I saw a black shadow move against the darkness of my closet.
    I uttered a choked cry as I realized that someone was in my room.
    Before I could move, a hot, dry hand grabbed me by the arm.

25
    I tried to scream, but the hand slid up over my mouth.
    I — I’m going to choke!
I thought, frozen in panic.
I can’t breathe!
    “Shh
— don’t scream!” my attacker whispered.
    The light clicked on.
    The hand left my mouth.
    “Judith!” I rasped, my voice catching in my throat.
    She smiled at me, her green eyes flashing with excitement, and raised a finger to her lips.
“Shhhh.”
    “Judith — what are you
doing
here?” I managed to cry, finding my voice. My heart was still pounding so hard, I could barely breathe. “How did you get in?”
    “Your back door was unlocked,” she whispered. “I hid in the closet to wait for you. I guess I fell asleep for a little while.”
    “But why?” I demanded angrily. I pulled myself up and lowered my feet to the floor. “What do you want?”
    Her smile faded. Her mouth formed a pout. “You said we could study together,” she said in a little-girl voice. “So I waited for you, Sam.”
    This was the last straw. “Get out!” I cried.
    I started to say more, but a knock on my door startled me into silence.
    “Sam — are you okay?” my dad called in. “Are you talking to someone?”
    “No. I’m fine, Dad,” I said.
    “You’re not on the phone, are you?” he asked suspiciously. “You know you’re not supposed to call people this late.”
    “No. I’m going to sleep now,” I told him.
    I waited till I heard his footsteps on the stairs. Then I turned back to Judith. “You have to go home,” I whispered. “As soon as the coast is clear —”
    “But why?” she demanded, hurt. “You said we’d study our algebra.”
    “I did not!” I cried. “Anyway, it’s too late. You have to go home. Your parents must be going nuts worrying about you, Judith.”
    She shook her head. “I sneaked out. They think I’m asleep in bed.” She smiled. “But that’s so great of you to worry about my parents, Sam. You reallyare the most considerate girl I know.”
    Her stupid compliment made me even angrier. I was so furious, I wanted to tear her apart with my bare hands.
    “I
love
your room,” she gushed, glancing around quickly. “Did you pick out all the posters yourself?”
    I sighed in total exasperation.
    “Judith, I just want you to go home — now,” I snarled slowly, one word at a time, so that maybe she would hear me.
    “Can we study together tomorrow?” she pleaded. “I really need your help, Sam.”
    “Maybe,” I replied. “But you can’t sneak into my house anymore, and —”
    “You’re so smart,” Judith gushed. “Where did you get that nightshirt? The stripes are terrific. I wish I had one like it.”
    Motioning for her to be silent, I crept out into the hall. All the lights had been turned off. My parents had gone to bed.
    Tugging Judith by the hand, I led the way downstairs, tiptoeing silently, taking it one step at a time. Then I practically shoved her out the front door and swung it closed with a soft click behind her.
    I stood in the dark entryway, panting hard, my mind racing.
    What can I do? What can I do? What can I do?
    It took me hours to get to sleep. And when I finally drifted