Hush

> Chapter Twelve <

Paige

I don't know when Jorden gets off his crutches, but I hope it's soon. I hate seeing people I care about hurt.
          Everyone is preparing for the Spelling Bee; there're people quizzing eachother, reading dictionaries, and spelling words aloud to themselves. I'm just nervous about the prize, because if that lady was bothering me, Raine, and Jorden, she could be doing the same to the rest of the participants, maybe even the rest of the school.
          I tell myself not to worry too much, to just forget about it. It'll all be over by Sunday. That lady will be off bugging some other kids, telling them to take a creepy trip to a random place.
          I wish there was a way to warn those kids.
          I simply read a book at my desk, trying to look inconspicuous. But, in reality, I'm immersed in the murmured chatter around me. Some are whispering about their Fellhollow plans, whilst others are mumbling letters to themselves; spelling words, I guess.
          I'm reading The Giver, a book I was assigned for Language Arts class. Well, it's technically not reading if I've been stuck on the same page for ten minutes. Speaking of Language Arts, after the morning announcements, the class leaves homeroom to head to that class; it's First Period every day except Tuesdays.
          "Everyone excited for tomorrow?" Mr. Thompson asks the class.
          Everyone responds with, "Yeah!"
          "I hope you're all warmed up, because you don't get a whole lot of time to prepare today." Mr. Thompson warns, grabbing a stack of notebooks—our Book Club notebooks.
          "Aw man, I forgot to finish reading chapter three..." Will grumbles from behind me. I look over my shoulder at him, smirking.
          "I'm finished my assigned chapters and the meeting questions." I boast. Will holds up his middle finger under his desk, and I chuckle.
          "Okay, class, get to work!" Mr. Thompson exclaims, sitting at his desk to work on his laptop.
          I decide to get a dictionary from the back of the room and study random words in preparation. I haven't done much of that—preparing—lately, and if I expect to win this Spelling Bee tomorrow, I gotta get something done.
          Anticipation, I read, A-N-T-I-C-I-P-A-T-I-O-N.
          Leadership. L-E-A-D-E-R-S-H-I-P.
          Meaningful. M-E-A-N-I-N-G-F-U-L.
          I study a few more words before I end up bored out of my mind. I check the clock on the wall. There's twenty minutes until class ends, so I decide to read my non-Book-Club novel, Beautiful Creatures. It's very relatable right now; the main character's life is completely normal, until a strange girl appears in town that can speak to him in his mind. Sound familiar?

<><><>

I chew on my pizza, listening to Astrid and Diana talk my ears off. Will, Ross, and Jorden are laughing about something; I didn't hear the joke.
          The last member of our group, situated across from Raine, is Bobby. Bobby is a golden-haired boy, and extremely shy. He never talks, unless it's to us—minus Astrid, of course; he has a huge crush on her.
          Bobby is staring hopelessly at Astrid, his bright eyes glinting in the fluorescent cafeteria lighting. I reach my hand diagonally across the table to poke him in the arm. He averts his gaze to look at me with a small "Hm?"
          "You see that on the table, there?" I whisper to him, motioning to Astrid's hand, which rests on the tabletop. Bobby nods. "Put your hand on hers. If she doesn't pull away, just leave it there. If she does, act like it was an accident." I instruct quietly.
          Lifting his hand from his side, Bobby places it on Astrid's. She gives him a sideways glance, but doesn't move. I smile, and so does Bobby.
          "You're welcome." I say.
          Leaning back in my chair, I watch Raine from the corner of my eye. She's on her phone again, but...
          She's texting someone.
          The unknown number...
          Why is she messaging the ghost lady?