Falling by L C Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

Doing a bit of research, Reid?” She makes it sound like it's a competition.
    “Nope, he told me.”
    “He spoke to you.” Her eyes graze up and down me. “Why?”
    “Because he wanted to, I guess.” I shut the door on her even though I know she is coming in too.
    “I was coming in too.” She swings the bathroom door open behind me.
    “Oh, sorry.” I say and wave my hand over my head at her and turn on the hot water, drowning out her voice.
    As soon as the steam fills up the shower and I can’t see the door I jump up and down. I can’t believe I spent the afternoon with Keller.
    The five minute timer for the shower rings and I shut off the water quickly getting dressed to avoid having to talk to Megan again.
    I open the door to our room, Sara is out. I pull my headphones out of my drawer, plug them in, grab a book and make myself look busy.
    Sara wanders back in a couple of minutes later. She immediately checks my bed, but I pretend like I can't see her. Sara is great, but she always wants details.
    “Time to go.” I can see Sara talking to me, but I leave my earphones in. I so don't care what joys of our educational lives we have to look forward to in the next week.
    Sara drops a pillow over my face, and pulls me up by my wrists. “I know it’s hard to think of anything else. But you will have to wait for another hour to go back to day dreaming about Keller.” I suck in a deep breath as we head for the student centre, then I let in gush back out.
    “He is so fabulous,” I say.
    “You mean to look at, or the actual person?” Sara asks laughing. “Because wow. And he got you out of some serious trouble. And the look on his face, he was so sincere.” She gushes. “Even offering his dad, he must really like you.” She bumps into me to emphasis her point.
    “Maybe, he does have a girlfriend already.” I say whispering, as we wander into the room and take our seats with the other seniors. Sara is a junior, but she always hangs out with us.
    Ms Cartwrite starts off the evening. “I would like to welcome you all back. I hope you all had a safe and happy break and are ready to get back into some good work.” She looks around eagerly, but we all glaze over and stare back, except for Lucy Ike and her little group of the world's best students, like ever.
    Lucy claps and nods her head. It's like she thinks she will get better marks or something for being such a dork. Ms Cartwrite looks at them appreciatively.
    I start playing with the buttons on my phone in my pocket. I wonder if Hayden yelled at him a lot. She should come hang out with Lucy.
    Sara elbows me. “What?” I say surprised.
    She whispers, “Mrs. Snouse says someone put a nail into the dining hall window to stop it from being properly locked.” I cough and look away, tuning into what Mrs. Snouse is saying. She has that red tinge to her face. She gets it whenever she’s really worked up about something. She spits too.
    “Whoever is found to have done this will be expelled. And we will find you.” She threatens.
    “Shocking, that is just shocking.” Lucy says to her group loud enough for everyone else to hear.
    “Yes, thank you, Lucy. It is shocking. Shocking that someone…” She eyeballs the room slowly, stalling on me, then keeps moving. “One of you would have so little regard for the safety of everyone else in this house. That you would put every one of your fellow students at such a large risk.”
    I almost have to put my fingers on my eyes to stop them rolling. They can't find out. Unless they actually catch me doing it, they will never know, because I won't do it again.
    Mrs. Snouse gives the room a last going-over with her gaze, trying to scare the truth out of the walls. She reluctantly steps back. I think this is why she never retires. She wouldn't have anyone to shout at if she left us.
    Mr Nash steps forward. “As you all know tomorrow is swimming sports. And you also all know that we have a compulsory participation policy.