All My Secrets by Sophie McKenzie Read Free Book Online

anyway.
Still, Josh says he can pick the locks if there are any, so that’s something, I suppose.’
    ‘Josh? Pick the locks?’
    Pepper raises an eyebrow. ‘OK, now I’m wondering . . . about the stupid thing? Cos you keep repeating everything like you can’t understand what I’ve said and it’s
not like I’m explaining how to split the atom over here.’
    I meet her gaze. Her eyes are full of fun. Suddenly I really want her to like me. ‘Right,’ I say. ‘So what else are you thinking?’
    ‘That you’re scared about being here. And that you’ve got, like, secrets. And that you’re scared I’ll find them out.’
    I gulp, thinking about Irina. I definitely don’t want Pepper or anyone else here to know how Andrew and Janet have lied to me about her all my life.
    Pepper tilts her head to one side. ‘Also I’m thinking that you’re pretty, but you don’t know it, and that your hair is rubbish cos you’ve let it grow too long and
it bare needs a proper style.’
    ‘Oh,’ I say. There’s a long pause. I feel the weight of the silence pressing down on me. If I don’t get what I say next right, Pepper will judge me for it. The rest of
the month hangs in the balance.
    ‘Yeah?’ I raise my eyebrows. ‘Well,
I’m
thinking that you’re bare rude.’
    We stare at each other. I hold my breath. Then Pepper roars with laughter and I feel the relief coursing through me. ‘What did you—?’ she starts.
    A beeping alarm cuts through the air. With a groan, Pepper swings her legs off the bed. ‘That’s the signal for this stupid welcome meeting or whatever.’ She sighs. ‘No
point being late unless there’s a party. Which sadly there isn’t.’
    She bounces up and sweeps out of the room. I sit, feeling like a hurricane’s just blown over me.
    ‘Come on, Evie!’ Pepper calls from the corridor.
    I hurry after her.

Seven
    As we turn down the final flight of stairs, I steel myself, ready to meet the other teenagers who are staying here.
    ‘That’s Anna,’ Pepper says. ‘She’s the only other girl. There are three boys too.’
    I follow Pepper’s pointing finger to a pale-faced girl standing alone in the cold stone hall. Anna looks up and sees us straightaway. She gives me a sheepish little wave hello and I wave
back, feeling relieved: Anna doesn’t look anywhere near as intimidating as Pepper. She has the kind of looks I’ve always envied, even before I found out about my real mother: petite,
like Irina, and smooth-skinned, like a doll, with a soft curly bob and huge eyes. Her cornflower-blue tracksuit hangs off her. Unlike Pepper, who suits her sporty outfit, Anna looks like
she’s put on someone else’s clothes. It isn’t hard to imagine why outspoken Pepper might have been sent to Lightsea, but what on earth did Anna do to end up here? She looks like
half the girls at my school: a bit shy probably, but perfectly ordinary.
    ‘Hello.’ A male voice comes from out of nowhere.
    I turn, startled, as a boy walks into the hall. He’s dressed in grey sweats and a white T-shirt under which his arms bulge with muscle. He stares at me, his hazel eyes intense with
curiosity. I can’t help but stare back. Apart from movie stars and celebrities in photos, I’ve never seen anyone so good-looking up close before. He’s only a little taller than
me, but very muscular. His chin is square and the way he holds his head makes it jut out, giving him a slightly haughty air.
    There’s a strange sensation in the pit of my stomach, as if someone is pulling the plug on my guts and all my emotions are swirling around inside. I’ve liked boys before: I’ve
had dates and kisses with more than a few. But that was mostly because it was what everyone at school expected – and because it used to wind Dad up so much when I told him I had a
boyfriend.
    The truth is that I’ve never felt the sensations I’m experiencing right now. Which at this point is frankly the last thing I need.
    ‘I’m Kit,’