All-Night Party Read Online Free PDF

boat dock to look at the stars.”
    Gretchen rolled her eyes. Who did Hannah think she was fooling?
    There weren’t any stars out. It was so obvious. She and Gil were going to make out.
    â€œI’m not budging an inch,” Patrick sighed from the couch. “I ate too many hot dogs.” He burped loudly.
    â€œBetter make room for dessert,” Hannah said. “We’re going to cut Cindy’s birthday cake when we get back.”
    â€œDo you know what you’re going to wish for?” Gretchen asked Cindy.
    Cindy stared at Gil with determination. “I know exactly what I’m going to wish for.”
    â€œBe careful what you wish for,” Gil replied. “You just might get it.”
    Cindy smiled coyly. “I’ll take that chance.”
    Hannah tugged impatiently on Gil’s arm. “Come on, Gil. Let’s go.”
    After lacing up her hiking boots, Gretchen snagged her denim jacket from the coatrack. She slipped into it and stepped onto the porch.
    Gretchen took a deep breath. She felt surroundedby the night’s deep, velvety silence. So peaceful. So quiet. So different from inside the cabin.
    She suddenly wished she didn’t have to go back.
    Back to Marco.
    Back to Jackson.
    Gretchen stared up at the sky. It had stopped raining, but thick clouds still hovered above. Another storm was approaching.
    I’d better get the firewood before it starts raining again, she thought.
    Clicking on her flashlight, Gretchen hurried down the porch steps and made her way alongside the cabin to a nearby shed. She found a few pieces of wood inside and picked them up.
    As she approached the back of the cabin, she heard loud voices. From in the kitchen.
    Gretchen felt embarrassed eavesdropping. But she couldn’t resist.
    She moved closer to the cabin wall and stood just below the kitchen window.
    She couldn’t see inside. The window was too high. But she heard the voices clearly.
    Two voices.
    Male and female.
    Raised and angry.
    She recognized Cindy’s voice. But who was the boy?
    She listened more closely.
    Jackson.
    But what could they be arguing about? Cindyand Jackson were only casual friends—weren’t they?
    Gretchen listened hard. She couldn’t make out any words, but the argument sounded angry.
    Then she heard a sharp sound that made her gasp in surprise.
    A slap.

Chapter
11

    W as it a slap?
    Yes. Cindy cried out.
    Alarmed, Gretchen lurched away from the window.
    What should she do? Go back inside and check it out?
    No. It wasn’t any of her business.
    Besides, Patrick and Marco were still inside. If things got out of control between Cindy and Jackson, one of them would break it up.
    Gretchen hurried away from the cabin. With the beam from her flashlight leading the way, she moved deeper into the forest, needing a little more time away from everyone.
    As she walked on, the light flickered and grew dim. She could barely see the trees in front of her.
    Oh, no, Gretchen thought. The flashlight is dying.
    She shook the flashlight until the batteries rattled. The beam of light grew strong again, and Gretchen sighed with relief.
    I guess I’d better head back for the cabin. I don’t want to get caught out here in the dark with no way of finding my way back.
    But before Gretchen could turn around, the light went out.
    â€œGreat,” Gretchen muttered.
    She flicked the switch back and forth. She jiggled the batteries.
    Nothing happened.
    Gretchen sighed. She tried not to panic.
    Ever since she was a little girl, she had been afraid of the dark.
    Afraid of something lurking in the shadows.
    Waiting.
    Watching.
    Stop it! she scolded herself. Stop scaring yourself.
    Still, Gretchen didn’t like being by herself.
    Especially with an escaped prisoner on the loose.
    She turned and started walking back in the darkness.
    As she walked, Gretchen listened to the sounds of the forest. The hooting of an owl. The chirping of crickets.
    Then, far up