The Ghost of Gruesome High by Larry Parr Read Free Book Online

wasn’t likely to really understand. She wasn’t there last night and, as much as I like Jennifer as a friend, she isn’t the best when it comes to advice not related to make-up, clothes, or hair.
    Jason? No, I was still mad at Jason for being mad at me. Wesley and Alan were friends, but not the kind of friends I talk with about deep, important stuff. With a frown I realized that was the end of my list of close friends. Hmmm. Not much of a list . . . .
    I glanced at the clock. It was twelve minutes after seven! My first class (with Mr. Greenwald!) started in eighteen minutes!
    I downed one last gulp of warm coffee, took one spoonful of soggy cereal, grabbed my books and flew out the door.
    A brisk walk in the cool, morning air, trudging up Grissom Hill, and my mind was beginning to feel a lot more like itself. The only problem was, myself and my mind would both be facing Mr. Greenwald in less than four minutes—and neither one of us had the slightest idea what to do or say!
    * * *
    I had decided that the best way to play things was for me to act as if nothing had happened whatsoever. If he knew it was me hiding in the bush last night, then it was up to him to say something to me. And if he didn’t know it was me? Well, I wasn’t about to be the one to tell him. Not yet anyway. I liked the idea of having something on a teacher, even if I wasn’t entirely sure what I had on him.  
    But the more I thought about it, the more I was certain he wouldn’t want people knowing that he scampered around the campus late at night dressed like a cat burglar. No, Mr. Greenwald had more to hide than I did. I’d just play it cool and let him sweat it out!
    It was a brilliant plan. There was only one flaw in it. The moment I made eye contact with Mr. Greenwald I felt my eyes dart to the floor and I could feel my cheeks becoming hot and candy-apple red! I guess I needed a little more practice in this cloak and dagger stuff. I felt like a complete moron!
    I glanced up and Mr. Greenwald looked at me with those intelligent eyes that appeared able to see through anything, and nodded just once. He leaned toward me and said casually: “Miss Hoyle, if you don’t mind, I think we need to speak. After school. Here.”
    That was all he said, then he turned to the class and said: “Let’s settle, people!” just like he said every morning. He made no eye contact with me the rest of the period and nothing more was said.

 
    Chapter 10
     
    Not my lucky day!
    To be truthful, I didn’t remember much of the rest of that morning. My classes just seemed to float by in a haze. I vaguely recall the other kids laughing once when my Home Ec teacher woke me after I’d nodded off in my pie crust.
    The only thing that kept me going was the thought that I would be able to talk with Jason and Jennifer and Alan and Wesley at lunch. Naturally I wanted everyone with me when I met with Mr. Greenwald after school. Strength in numbers, and all that.
    I waited at our usual lunch table under one of the elms, out near the football field. The five of us had been getting together for lunch at this table for almost a year now. But as I waited I became more and more uneasy.  
    Two things were going on. First, Jason and the others were late. I can’t remember a time when at least one other person wasn’t here by now. But the other thing that made me uneasy was the fact that it felt like someone was watching me.
    You know that feeling. It’s hard to explain, but the hairs on the back of your neck just feel funny and you just know that someone’s watching you. Well, my whole body felt like that! I’d never felt someone watching me more intensely in my whole life!
    In the best of times I’d find it creepy that someone was watching me. But these were far from the best of times. Who would be watching me? And why? My tired, overly-active imagination started to run wild. Maybe it was the ghost. Maybe it was Mr. Greenwald. Maybe it was— No! I shook my head to drive