Plus, the exclusive cover art reveal
FamedGoosebumpswriter R.L.
Stine is reviving his popularFear Streetseries to reignite the terror and imagination in teens.
His newest installment isGive Me a K-I-L-L,a thriller following the cheerleaders of Shadyside High.
Credit: Dan Nelken
In the novel, cheerleading superstar Gretchen Page moves to town to join Shadysides cheer squad.
Standing in her way is Devra Dalby, a rich, spoiled member of the team.
The competition between the girls starts nasty and ends in murder.
macmillan publishers
Will Gretchen make the squad?
Or will she end up dead?
Stine
The doorbell rang.
Gretchen said goodbye to Polly, tossed the phone onto her bed, and hurried to the front door.
She pulled the door open.
I didnt expect
Gretchen, are you okay?
He pulled back his hood.
His eyes searched hers.
I
I feel a lot better, she said.
She stepped aside for him to come into the house.
But instead he wrapped his arms around her waist, lowered his face to hers, and kissed her.
The kiss lasted a long time.
She gave herself to it.
Let all other thoughts leave her mind.
Kissed him… Then pushed him away.Stacy.The name flashed into her thoughts.
Her face felt hot.
She could still taste his lips on hers.
She grabbed his hand and pulled him into the living room.
Most of their furniture hadnt arrived yet from Savanna Mills.
She tugged him to the couch facing the fireplace.
He pulled her down on top of him and they kissed again, another long, lingering kiss.
Again, she broke the kiss and pushed him away.
Her heart fluttered in her chest.
She felt a rush of emotion, suddenly realized how attracted she was to him.
Stacy is his girlfriend.
But it feels right.
Wow, he murmured.
She slid to the couch arm.
Did you really come to see if I was okay?
Do we have to talk about her?
Gretchen said, playing with the end his hoodie sleeve.
You should have heard her ranting after you left, Sid said.
You really think shes crazy?
I just think shes a spoiled brat.
No one has ever said no to her.
Devra always gets what she wants.
Not this time, Gretchen said.
This time, Devra loses and I win the spot on the cheerleading squad.
Gretchen saw that he had two tiny dimples in his cheeks when he smiled.
He reached for her and started to pull her to him.
Can we talk about something?
He ran a finger tenderly along her cheek.
Sid let out a long sigh.
He pulled himself up straight.
Stacy is a long story.
Well… arent you two going together?
Forever, he said.
Weve been together forever.
Our parents were all best friends.
When I was little Stacys family lived right across the street from us.
Stacy and I played together when we were two years old.
Whoa, Gretchen murmured.
He rolled his eyes.
Its like weve been together forever.
Were even going to college together.
Were going to Wisconsin.
Our parents expect us to get married.Everyonein our families expect us to get married.
Its like this great romantic story, only… only…
Only what?
Sid took a breath.
I like her a lot.
But I dont want to marry her.
Ive tried to break up with her.
Gretchen studied his face, trying to determine if he was telling the truth.
Ive tried to explain a dozen times.
Tried to say we should just be friends.
But I cant get through to her.
She doesnt think Im serious.
Everyone thinks youre the perfect couple, Gretchen said.
Everyone is wrong, Sid said, lowering his eyes.
Stacy keeps acting like everything is perfect between us.
You know how gung-ho she is.
Shes a cheerleader even when she isnt being a cheerleader.
He shook his head sadly.
She placed her hands on Sids cheeks and pulled him close.
She shut her eyes and kissed him.
The audition… Sid…
Things are finally going my way.
He left about ten minutes later.
He had to do some shopping for his mom.
Gretchen leaned back on the couch, waiting for her heartbeats to slow.
The image of him kissing her, kissing her lingered in her mind.
As she entered, a belldingon her phone startled her out of her dreamy thoughts.
She picked the phone up from where she had tossed it on the bed.
She gazed at a text message on the screen:
YOU COULD BREAK YOUR NECK
All in capital letters.
A chill tightened the back of Gretchens neck as she read the words again.
Another message appeared beneath the first one:
SOMETIMES CHEERLEADERS DIE
Gretchen stared at the words until they blurred.
She squeezed the phone so hard, her hand ached.
Is Devra serious?She asked herself.Am I really in danger?
Copyright2017 by the author and reprinted by permission of Thomas Dunne Books.
