The Goosebumps School 3: A Dark Heart

Chapter #5 A Million Reasons

After turning back around in my seat, I paid attention to Dr. Shock as best I could, but it was hard to concentrate with the ice cold chill slithering around my body. Was it Cody that was causing it?

No, I was acting crazy. It's not Cody that's doing it. Maybe I'm just getting sick and that's why I'm getting chills?

When the bell rang I headed out the door a bit faster than I'd like to let on. Slappy hurried to keep up with me.

    "What's your rush?" He asked.

    "Just trying to outrun Cody. Now come on." I answered, pulling Slappy by his wrist.

The two of us entered the lunchroom now, sitting down at our normal table with our friends. After I had sat down with my lunch I began to look for Meredith. She wasn't sitting with us?

    "Hey guys, where's Meredith?" I questioned.

    "Over there, sitting with Mr. Wood." Will pointed behind him.

Sure enough when I followed his point, I saw Meredith sitting right next to Wally at the dummy table. Neither one of them was paying attention to anything else but each other. Was this for real?

    "That is one odd couple." Hannah spoke.

    "Agreed." Karen and I said.

Then, Cody came up to our table, setting his food down next to Karen and across from me......

    "Speaking of odd couples...." I murmured to myself. Ray and Will snickered because they were the only two that had heard me.

    "I hope you guys don't mind me sitting with you." Cody greeted.

    "Oh they don't mind! Right guys?" Karen defended.

The rest of us put on fake smiles and shook our heads no. Good god how I wished we could have told him to get lost.

Cody smiled and joined into our conversation. I could tell that we were all trying so hard not to be awkward. Luckily Cody bought it.

All throughout lunch Cody kept his arm around Karen, making her stay a constant shade of pink in the cheeks. Seeing this made me sick. Poor Karen....she had been put under his little spell. But maybe she could still be helped?

    "Hey Karen, can I talk to you for a sec? Out in the hall?" I asked suddenly.

    "Uh yeah sure Katie. Let's go." Karen nodded.

    "Don't take too long hot stuff." Cody winked at us. This made Karen blush and me glare at him, I'm pretty sure I also threw up in my mouth a little bit as well.

I led Karen out to the hallway, stopping when we were out of sight of anyone in the cafeteria. It was time to tell her.

    "What's up?" Karen started.

    "Karen, we're best friends right? And as your best friend, you would want me to tell you when you're making decisions that will lead you to getting hurt or something bad, right?" I began.

    "Yeah.......Why?" Karen wondered.

    "Well there's a specific choice that you're making now that is going to end up in you getting hurt. And that choice is dating Cody." I blurted.

Karen looked taken aback by my words. But her face then twisted with confusion.

    "Why is dating him a bad choice?" She questioned.

    "Because of the type of guy he is! He's a heartbreaker, a player. The type that plays games with your head, and then drops you without a warning or a care." I explained.