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the block should be enough, I decided. I really needed a dog. I considered for a moment: a car or a dog for my birthday…. Yeah, car. I didn’t think I’d get it exactly the next day, but more likely over the weekend. I knew a lot of kids didn’t get cars for their birthdays, or even cars at all, let alone the chance to go pick one out, so I shouldn’t complain. But then again, a lot of kids got to have parents who didn’t scream at each other. Everyone made their sacrifices.
    I heard a low rumble in front of me and stopped walking. It didn’t sound mechanical like a car engine, and I definitely didn’t see any headlights ahead, either. I strained my eyes to peer into the darkness. The streetlamp above me buzzed and went out. Past the sidewalk corner and deep into my neighbor’s wide lawn, I could see nothing. For an instant I thought of Mr. Meyer’s murderer. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to go walking around outside after midnight?
    â€œWhat are you looking at?”
    I let out a small cry and spun around as my heart leaped into my throat.
    It was Will, as if he’d appeared out of nowhere. He looked worried and determined, but he was obviously trying to hide those feelings.
    â€œWhat are you doing out here?” I whispered harshly.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” he countered.
    I threw my hand up. “I live here!”
    Suddenly, I had a terrible thought. I had first seen Will the day before, the night Mr. Meyer died. No, no, no. That was ridiculous. Will was just some hot, weird guy I happened to be seeing everywhere I went. That didn’t make him a murderer. Hadn’t my mom given me a can of mace for Christmas? What had I done with that?
    â€œSo why are you out for a walk this late at night?” he asked, distracting me from my thoughts. “Even if you live here, it’s pretty late to be wandering around at night.”
    â€œWell, you’re out here too. I like being outside at night. It’s relaxing.”
    That smile widened. It was like he thought this was funny. “Most people would feel nervous.”
    My hands rested on my hips. “Why? Should I be?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œNervous.”
    â€œProbably.”
    â€œYou don’t seem like you’re nervous.”
    â€œI can take care of myself.” His smile turned dark, knowing.
    â€œYou’re the weirdest boy I’ve ever met—and believe me, every single one of them is weird, so that’s saying a lot.” Once I realized what I’d just said, I wanted to smack my face into a brick wall. My mouth sure liked to run when it should have been my feet running.
    He laughed. “At least you’re honest about your feelings.”
    â€œThey say it’s a virtue.” I turned around to walk back tomy house. It was time to leave. “Do me a favor and leave me alone. I just know you’re going to go all Ted Bundy on my ass any second.” I looked around me, hoping one of the neighbors would flick their porch lights on and burst out holding a shotgun. I felt pretty sure I wasn’t that lucky.
    â€œAre you afraid of me?” Will asked, jogging to catch up to me.
    â€œAre you passive-aggressively trying to tell me that I should be afraid of you, too? Not just ‘nervous’?” I was only four houses away from home now.
    â€œNo, but have you ever heard the saying ‘The brave may not live forever, but the cautious never live at all’?”
    â€œNo, I haven’t heard that, but I’ll keep it in mind. Thanks for the proverbial insight, my stalker friend.”
    He threw an arm across my chest to stop me and looked ahead, staring coldly into the dark. His body stiffened, but something in my gut told me that it wasn’t because of the chilly air.
    I turned my head to follow his gaze, but I saw nothing in the street ahead. A breeze scattered a handful of already fallen leaves. I smelled something