I told my mother I was going to visit David at Dunkin’ Donuts, where he worked a few nights a week. After the Sunday dinner debacle, she hadn’t mentioned my old friends or prodded me about hanging out with them. Not once. Ironic that I was finally going to a party with them now that she was no longer interested. I felt bad about lying to her, but it was just a little white lie. I was going to be right across the street, and it wasn’t like I was going to do anything she wouldn’ t approve of. Other than breaking into the school. Tugging my coat close to my body against the frigid December air, I jogged over to the school parking lot and walked up the hill to the new annex, my shoes crunching on the leftover salt from the last ice storm. My heart pounded with excitement, and I told myself it was because I was doing something borderline bad. It had nothing to do with Jake Graydon. Nothing at all. Maybe, after the party , I actually should go visit David. There were no cars in the parking lot, but I wasn’t surprised. Chloe was the only one with a license and a car, and they’d probably parked on a side street to avoid suspicion. I walked up to the double metal doors and pulled on the handles. Nothing. They must have found another way in. All the top windows of the annex were open. I cr ept slowly around the side of the building, looking for some clue as to how to get inside. There, pasted to a new green Dumpster, was a big red arrow pointing up. There was another taped to the top, and a third pointing up at the window above. I paused, my pulse skipping around in tr epidation. Chloe and Faith had scaled a Dumpster and climbed through a window two inches from the ceiling? Somehow , I didn’t see it. But then, Hammond had probably let Chloe climb up his back and st ep on his head to get through. I laughed at the visual. Well, it was either go up or go home. I’d never been one to back down from a dare, so I decided to risk it. I grabbed the hinge on the lid of the Dumpster and scrambled on top. The noise reverberated for miles, scaring the crap out of me. I caught my breath, looked up at the window over my head, said a quick prayer, and jumped. My hands grasped the cold, sharp and unforgiving window ledge. I gritted my teeth and pulled myself up. My blood rushed in my ears, and I strained with all my strength.
Worth it. This was all going to be totally worth it. I hoisted myself up and twisted sideways to get through the window . On the other side were the bleacher s. I eased myself onto the top row and lay there for a moment, breathing in the thick scent of chlorine. I’d made it. I was okay. When my breathing finally started to slow, though, I realized something was very wrong. The place was dead silent. I sat up. The pool was open but dark, its clear water so still I could read the d epth measurements painted on the wall on the far side. The only light in the place came from the glowing, red emergency exit signs over the doors, and through the windows from the parking lot lights. It was freezing. Even colder than it was outside. “Hello?” My voice echoed throughout the room. No response. Fear tickled my veins. They were screwing with me. Any second they were all going to come bursting out from under the bleachers and frighten me. Great. W as this going to be our new relationship? They’d let me back in but make me the butt of every joke for the rest of my life, just to remind me of my place? “Ha ha. 9 ery funny, you guys.” I stood up and walked down the bleachers, looking around carefully . “Come out, come out, wherever you are!” There was a scraping noise behind me. I whirled around, my heart in my throat, and saw Jake Graydon fumbling through the window . “Omigod. Y ou scared me,” I said. He dropped onto all fours on the bleachers and sprang up as if singed. His face was sweaty and red, and his eyes darted around the room fretfully . “Come on,” he said, his st eps heavy on the bleachers. “We have to get out of here.” He grabbed my hand as he passed me by , but I didn’ t move. “What do you mean? Where is everybody?” I asked. Jake sighed. “They’re not coming. Let’ s go!” He tugged on my hand. A cold trickle of dread sliced down my spine. “What do you mean, they’re not coming?” “We don’t have time for this,” Jake said tersely. “I swear I’ll explain everything once we—” Suddenly the door swung open, and a flashlight beam hit me dead in the face.
“What the hell do you two kids think you’re doing in here?” Two cops stood in the doorway , along with our principal, Mr. Lawrence, who was holding a jam-packed key ring. At that moment, three things occurred to me. First, I was in serious trouble. Second, the Cresties had set me up. And third, Jake was still holding my hand.
“I thought this was supposed to be my day of f,” Principal Lawrence joked. It was the first day of winter break. Orchard Hill High was deserted, exc ept for the janitors. They already had the entire place reeking of ammonia. The principal lowered himself into his huge leather chair and laced his fingers together on the desk. I glanced at my mother’s foot. It was bouncing up and down like crazy. My dad sat next to her in a button-down, tie, and houndstooth jacket—his casual weekend gear. I couldn’t even look at Ally, even though she was sitting right next to me. She was probably so pissed she could kill me with one glance. “Mr. Lawrence, Ally has something she’d like to say ,” Mrs. R yan stated. Ally shifted in her chair. “I’m very sorry for breaking into the pool. I know it was stupid and dangerous, and I’ll acc ept whatever punishment you think is right.” “Thank you, Miss Ryan,” Principal Lawrence said. He looked at me. “And Mr . Graydon? Do you have anything to add?’ I looked at my parents. They had told me not to say anything. I couldn’ t have anyway . My guilt was lodged in my throat like I’d swallowed Shaquille O’Neal’s shoe. My dad nodded at me. What was that supposed to mean? “Um . . . I’m sorry , too?” Ally’s mother snorted. My face burned. Was that wrong? I hated this. Every minute of it. Hated not knowing what I was supposed to do. “Mr. Lawrence, it’s Christmas vacation,” my dad said, leaning forward. “None of us wants to be here right now . These are two good kids who didn’ t damage any school property and who have wholeheartedly apologized. Don’t you think we can just end this with a warning and move on with our lives?” Sounded good to me. “I’m sure we could make it worth your while,” my mom added. “A donation to the library , perhaps.” She slid a glance at Mrs. R yan, and I knew exactly what she was thinking—don’ t worry, poor person, we’ll take care of