Secrets at Silver Spires by Ann Bryant Read Free Book Online Page A

when out of the corner of my eye I saw Sophie nudge Isis. Isis nudged her back and mouthed, “You,” and a second later I heard my name again, and felt my skin prickling.
    â€œWe got our essays back, by the way, Jess,” said Sophie. I didn’t like the look on her face. It was like she was trying not to smirk. “You know, the ones we had to do in prep.”
    My heart started to hammer. “Oh right. Well, I’ll get mine next time.”
    Sophie and Isis exchanged a look, which made me even more uncomfortable.
    â€œWhat’s going on between you two?” asked Georgie, straight out.
    â€œNothing!” they said, putting on over-the-top innocent looks and then grinning again.
    â€œSo what’s the joke then?” asked Georgie, looking a bit indignant now.
    I swallowed.
    â€œJust something Jessica wrote in her essay,” said Isis, suddenly attacking her food as though she wasn’t going to say another word about it, but it was obvious she knew she’d got everyone’s attention. Sure enough, Georgie couldn’t resist going for the bait.
    â€œTell us then… What did she write?”
    â€œHow do you know what Jess wrote in her essay, anyway?” interrupted Naomi a bit snappily.
    Isis glanced at Sophie. Sophie looked down. It was Isis who answered.
    â€œMr. Reeves put it on Jessica’s desk. He thought she’d be back before the end of the lesson, you see. And he’d written something in red ink and it just kind of…stood out.”
    â€œWell, it’s nothing to do with you, is it?” said Naomi, her eyes boring into Isis’s.
    Isis just shrugged. “Whatever.”
    I swallowed and looked down. Naomi had made Isis and Sophie look very small. It was a big relief that she’d stopped them telling the whole table some spelling mistake or other that I’d made in my essay, which obviously changed the meaning of what I’d written into something really funny. But I was uneasy. I couldn’t get that look on Grace’s face out of my head. I didn’t like deceiving my best friend.
    I hated waking up on Friday. This was the day when I not only had to suffer double English, I also had to go and see Miss Cardwell at lunchtime. It was tempting to pretend I was ill and spend the day with Matron, then make a miraculous recovery in the afternoon, but I knew I couldn’t do that every single Monday and Friday. I’d just have to get Grace and the others used to me going off on my own by explaining to them that I’d be using all my free time on my art project from now on.
    As soon as I’d finished lunch I told the others I was going to work on my art project. “I want to give you all a nice surprise, so do you mind if I just do it on my own until it’s finished? Then I’ll show you.”
    Katy’s eyes lit up. “That’s a good idea. I’m going to do the same with the bracelet I’m making.”
    â€œI’ve got athletics,” said Grace. “I’ll walk with you as far as the field, Jess.”
    My stomach knotted. I’d be late for Miss Cardwell if I had to walk all the way to the athletics field and then come back to the Learning Support department. “Oh, I’ve got to go up to the dorm actually, to get some stuff.”
    â€œOh right. See you later then. Have fun!” And with that she was gone, jogging off into the distance.
    As soon as I was sure she wouldn’t turn round, I rushed towards the Learning Support department, and met Miss Cardwell in the corridor, clutching a mug.
    â€œWell done, Jess! Bang on time!” she beamed. “Right, let’s get this show on the road!”
    Inside her room we sat down side by side at her table, and for the next half-hour I felt completely focused because Miss Cardwell was good at helping me to understand things. I surprised myself by quite enjoying the work, and at the end I asked her if I could borrow one