I guess the friends thing is some kind of private joke. But everyone sees them holding hands, lip-locked in the halls. I mean, she's got to be two feet shorter than Kerry. Patti is about as tall as a fourth grader. But we're still happy to see each other whenever our families get together. We're not really in the same crowd at school. Patti and I grew up together because our moms are best friends. Except she's the nicest person on earth, friendly and warm. Patti is a sweet-looking dark-haired girl, tiny, like a little doll, with a whispery doll voice and dimples to die for. His white sneakers had to be at least size 12 or a 14. He's so lanky, his legs stretched out of the booth. He was wearing his maroon-and-white team jacket. I saw Kerry Reacher, who is our All-State forward on the basketball team.

They all stopped talking as I stepped up to them. He and his friends were all talking at once, leaning toward each other over the table, glancing around as if they didn't want to be overheard. Then I picked up four menus to take to Brendan Fear's table. I carried some cheeseburgers to a table near the front. Ellen, the other waitress, called in sick, and I was covering the whole restaurant. She waved, but I didn't have time to go say hello to her. I don't know who thought that up, but it was genius. And because it's The Home of the Two-Dollar Double Cheeseburger. When I get home after work, I have to shower for a long time to get the fried grease smell of hamburgers and French fries off my skin and out of my hair.īut this place is definitely the most popular hangout for Shadyside High kids, partly because it's so close to school. Lefty's is small and always hot and steamy, no matter what the weather is outside. I collected some dirty plates from a table and squeezed through the crush of kids at the counter to get to the kitchen. The kitchen bell rang, the signal that someone's food was ready. She's the smart one and the talented one in the family. Beth got a scholarship for her flute playing. My sister, Beth, always insists that's not true. Mom says I'm strung tighter than a tennis racket. I guess I'm not the most relaxed person on the planet.

No one ever makes a comment or a joke about it. And yes, it's a teeny-tiny bit awkward to wait on the kids I see in school all day.īut I'm sure that's just me. I have this after-school waitress job at Lefty's, a hangout a few blocks from the high school.

My name is Rachel Martin, and I'm seventeen. I have a few good friends, but I definitely don't have a crowd. I'm not in the same crowd, but we're all seniors at Shadyside High. How could such a normal scene lead to so much horror-and even murder? As I wiped down a table, I followed him with my eyes as he led his three friends down the narrow aisle to the booth in the back corner. I saw Brendan Fear walk into the diner where I worked with some of his friends, but I had no idea how my life would change that night.

Fear street night games