The Demon Notebook by Erika McGann Read Free Book Online

guilty right now?” said Adie.
    â€œShh!” said Grace. “Keep it down.”
    â€œOh, no one’s listening,” Adie sighed. “They’re all too cold and hungry. And it’s all our fault.”
    â€œAll we asked for was a little snow,” said Rachel sulkily. “How is this a little snow? We didn’t ask for a blizzard. We just wanted to have a snowball fight.”
    â€œWe asked for real snow,” snapped Adie.
    â€œReal snow for a snowball fight,” said Rachel, raising her voice. “We just wanted to make sure it would stick. That it wouldn’t just be sleet or something. We didn’t ask to get snowed into school! ”
    â€œStop it!” rasped Grace, trying to keep her voice to a whisper. “People can hear you. What does it matter what we asked for? This is what we got. We can’t do anything about it now.”
    â€œWell, we’re going to have to do something about it,” Jenny said quietly. “Not just the snow, but all of it. This is what? Spell number seven? Not far to go to number one. And we still don’t have a clue how to stop it.”
    That shut them all up.
    â€œHey, Grace.” James O’Connor came hurrying across the main hall, his jacket held out to her and his voice way too loud. “Here, put this on. You must be freezing.”
    â€œHave my jacket, Grace. You must be freeeezing !” someone mimicked in the crowd. That was followed by some nasty giggling, which, luckily, didn’t last long. After all, teasing is hungry work, and there was no hope of dinner.
    â€œAw.” Adie obviously couldn’t help herself. “That’s really nice.”
    James beamed at her as he wrapped the jacket around Grace’s shoulders. Grace shrugged it off and surreptitiously kneed Adie in the leg.
    â€œI’m fine,” she said. “My jacket’s enough. You should keep your own, James. You’ll get cold.”
    â€œDon’t be silly. You have it.”
    He tried again to close it around her and, again, she shrugged it off. In the end, he made do with placing it clumsily over her feet, patting it gently as if it might slip off and expose her ankles to a deadly chill. Grace pretended not to notice and kept her head turned toward her friends in the hope that he would think them deep in conversation. But the girls offered no help, they just stared, round-eyed, from Grace to James and back again as if they were at a tennis match. Eventually James settled himself on the ground beside Grace, and the only way she could avoid his eyes was to close her own. The others sat silently, waiting to see what would happen next. But James’s loving glances and Grace’s lack of response soon grew tedious, and they each drifted off to sleep in the uncomfortable cold.
    ***
    â€œRise and shine, people! Time to get up!”
    It was just after dawn and the principal’s joyous voice rang out through the main hall. Half-asleep students began climbing to their feet.
    â€œIn another bizarre twist to the weather, the snow has cleared up completely. Your parents have started arriving outside. Everyone is excused from school today, teachers included. I think you all need a real rest at home after such a horrendous night. Thank you for your patience, and have a safe trip home.”
    The girls followed the stream of uniforms heading for the door, and Grace finally managed to lose James in the jostling crowd. The girls struggled to keep their eyes open. Their backs and necks were stiff from sitting or half-lying on the hard floor of the hall, and they rubbed their shoulders to try and ease the discomfort.
    â€œWell, there’s my dad,” said Jenny. “Anyone need a ride home?”
    â€œMy mom’s over there,” Grace replied, pointing.
    â€œMine just texted,” said Adie. “She’s on her way.”
    â€œMine too,” said Rachel.
    â€œOkay then.” Jenny sighed. “I