But my phantom took jealousy a little too far. When I went into the dressing room on the day I'd been working on the Rose Adagio, I saw it right away. A note - in that same red ink - with a red rose attached. WATCH OUT FOR THE THORNS, it said.

    I stood looking at it for a moment. It gave me a creepy feeling in the pit of my stomach. Then I folded the note and tucked it into my bag. I looked at the rose, thinking that I'd take it home to my mom - at least it was pretty, and it probably smelled good. But when I picked it up, a thorn pricked my finger. "Ouch!" I said out loud. I squeezed my finger and a drop of blood oozed out.

    I looked around the dressing room to see who was there. Sure enough, all three suspects were among the dancers who were busy changing. Hilary was at the mirror, checking her hair. Katie Beth was by her locker - she was packing her dance clothes into her bag. And Carrie was just about to leave, but when she heard my little cry of pain, she turned around.

    "Are you okay, Jessi?" she asked, coming over to me. Then she saw the rose. "Hey, that's pretty. Who's sending you flowers?" I shrugged.

    "A secret admirer, huh? Hey, everybody, Jessi's got a boyfriend!" she yelled.

    I was totally embarrassed. I tossed the rose into the garbage and got out of the dressing room as soon as I could, trying not to listen to the teasing that was going on. Dancing the Rose Adagio was never quite as much fun after that day. I was always thinking of that thorn pricking my finger, like a bee sting - and of that drop of red blood appearing afterward.

    But unlike Princess Aurora, I didn't fall asleep for a hundred years after I pricked my finger. Instead, I became more alert. I was dying to catch the phantom in the act.