Dangerous Girls.

Fear Street Collector's Editions [4].

R. L. Stine.

For Robert O. Warren, who always asks the right questions, even if I donat always have the right answers!.

Part One.

Chapter One.

The Most Dangerous Day.

Summer canat be over already. Do I really have to leave Camp Blue Moon?

Thatas what Destiny Weller was thinking on the day she started to become a vampire.

She watched the yellow bus rumble away, carrying the last of the campers with it. The bus bounced over the narrow dirt road, then turned and disappeared into the trees.

aHey, weare free!a someone yelled. aThe little animals are gone!a aParty time!a aWho has car keys? Can we get a keg? Can we at least get some six-packs?a A red afternoon sun was sinking behind the trees. The air suddenly carried a chill, a hint that summer was nearly over.

Destiny turned and searched for her sister, Livvy. The counselors gathered around the grassy hill that overlooked the road, laughing

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and joking, hugging each other, celebrating the end of the camp season.

She spotted Livvy in a circle of girls clus- tered around Renz. He was flirting with them, hugging them one by one. All the girls adored Renz, and why not?

He was so good-looking, tall and tanned, with that wavy, black hair, those dark, bedroom eyesa"devilish eyesa"that irresistible smile. So charming and funny and a grown-up.

Not like the other guys in camp, Destiny thought. Not like the counselors and junior counselors whose idea of a good time was going skinny-dipping in the lake after lights-out, or putting snakes in each otheras beds.

Renz was too sophisticated for that.

Destiny didnat really know much about him.

She knew that his real name was Lorenzo Angelini, and he had just a hint of an Italian accent, which made him even sexier. He had been hired as head waterfront counselor. But when Uncle Bob, the owner of Camp Blue Moon, suddenly took sick just before the kids arrived, Renz became head counselor.

aI see who youare staring at.a Nakeisha Johnson came up behind Destiny and grabbed

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her shoulders, startling her.

Destiny laughed. aHeas looking good in those tennis whites, isnat he!a aSummeras too short,a Nakeisha said.

aThink I could follow him home? Maybe heall adopt me.a aActually, Iam watching my sister,a Destiny said. aDo you believe those short shorts? You can see half her butt.a Nakeisha gazed at the crowd of girls around Renz. aWell donat turn green or anything. You know youare jealous. Renz spent so much time with Livvy.a aAll the guys spent time with Livvy,a Destiny replied. She watched Renz give Livvy a farewell hug, holding her close, his hands all over her bare back.

aStop shaking your head,a Nakeisha said.

aHow can identical twins be so different?a aI told you. Weare fraternal. Not identical,a Destiny said.

aOh. Right. Well, that explains it,a Nakeisha replied, rolling her eyes.

aIam fifteen minutes older,a Destiny said.

aSee. Iave got to act like the older sister.a A yellow jacket buzzed around them.

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Destiny swatted it away. High in the darkening sky, a flock of honking geese flew in perfect V-formation, making its way from Canada. On the road below, the camp station wagon sped past, tires spinning up dust, jammed with counselors heading to town to buy beer.

aEveryoneas acting happy, but this is so sad,a Nakeisha said. aTomorrow weall all go our separate ways. I wonat see you anymore.a She turned and wrapped Destiny in a hug.

Destiny hugged her back. aYouave been such a good friend. I really am going to miss you.a Both girls had tears in their eyes.

aAt least youare going home to New York,a Destiny said, letting go. She ran a hand through her short, straight blond hair. aNot boring little Dark Springs, Mass.a Nakeisha wiped tear stains off her cheeks.

aI just got something in my eye, thatas all. Itas not like I hate saying good-bye or anything.

Youave got my e-mail address, right? And my cell number?a Destiny nodded. aWe can Instant Message each other.a aMaybe you can come to New York for Thanksgiving?a

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Destiny laughed. aYeah, if I win the lottery or something.a aHey, know what? Iall be doing college visits in September and October. I know Iall be in Boston. Maybe I can come through Dark Springs.a aExcellent!a Destiny said. Over Nakeishaas shoulder, she saw Livvy, cigarette in hand, lip-locked with Cory Field, one of her many admir- ers. His arm around her shoulders, Cory began to lead Livvy toward the trees by the lake.

aLivvya"wait!a Destiny shouted. She took off running. aHey, Liva"stop!a Her sister turned and took a long drag on the cigarette. Cory kept his arm around her. aHi, Dee. Whatas up?a Livvy asked.

aHowas it going?a Cory said. aPretty quiet without the kids, huh?a Destiny nodded. aLiv, you havenat started packing,a she said.

aYeah, I know.a Destiny stared at her sister. Livvy did every- thing she could to look different from her twin.

Destiny wore her hair short, so Livvy kept hers long, letting it flow down over her shoulders.

Destiny hardly ever wore makeup, just a little

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blush and lip gloss from time to time. Livvy liked purple or dark red lipstick, and her biggest suitcase this summer had been filled with eye makeup.

Livvy had one nostril pierced, usually wore three different earrings in each ear, and loved to wear rings on every finger. She wanted to get a butterfly tattoo on her shoulder, but held off, knowing her dad would give her all kinds of grief.

Destiny would never admit it to anyone, but she secretly admired her sister for having so much style.

Livvy was always trying to give her a make- over. One night last year when they were juniors, she allowed Livvy to work on hera"lip- stick, mascara, even streaks in her hair.

When she had finished, Livvy started to smile. aI donat think so,a she said, holding her hand over her mouth. aI donat think so.a She turned the mirror to Destiny, and they both started to laugh. They collapsed to the floor, knocking over Livvyas makeup mirror, laughing until tears rolled down their cheeks.

Destiny thought about that night often. It was just a few weeks before their mother died, a

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few weeks before tragedy turned their lives upside down. And it was a night she felt so close to her sister, a night their closeness overcame their many differences.

Now Livvy tossed her cigarette down and stamped it out with the toe of her sandal.

aYouare already packed?a she asked Destiny.

Destiny nodded. aWell, yeah. Dad and Mikey will be here at the crack of dawn tomor- row. You should get started. Your stuff was spread all over your cabin.a Livvy grinned. aI know. Iam a slob.a She and Cory exchanged glances.

aIall help you, if you want,a Destiny offered.

aThanks. Iall do it later. Weare all going to meet by the lake. Did someone tell you? The counselors and the J.C.s. Weare going to stay up all night and get totally trashed.a Cory flashed Destiny a thumbs-up and a toothy grin. aLast chance to party.a Destiny sighed. aWell, canat you just pack up first?a Livvy snapped at her. aI said later, Mom!a Her expression immediately softened. aOh.

Sorry.a But the word hung in the air between them.

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And they shared the same thought: We donat have a mom.

Our mom killed herself last year.

Livvy squeezed Destinyas hand. aSorry, Dee.

Iall be there in a few minutes. Promise,a she said. Then she tugged Cory toward the woods.

Destiny turned and made her way up the hill to the cabins. The sun had dipped behind the trees. Crickets began to chirp. Renzas circle of girls had dwindled to two admirers. He raised his eyes to Destiny as she passed, and waved at her.

Destiny waved back. She saw him watching her as she reached the main lodge at the top of the hill. Heas been watching me all summer, she thought. But heas never invited me for one of his late-night walks by the lake. I had to hear about them from the other junior counselors.

And Livvy. Yes, Livvy fell under his spell too.

And itas no secret he spent a lot of time with her.

Is Nakeisha right? Am I jealous?

Well, yes.

She saw a group of counselors building a fire in the campfire circle. Ronnie Herbert, a J.C.

Destiny had hung out witha"just a frienda"

came running up, a blue-and-white Camp Blue Moon T-shirt pulled down over his baggy khaki