The Haunting

Chapter 12

Amelia glanced around the room with her big brown eyes. Where on earth was Meredith?

She figured Vanessa had a date. She had walked in on Vanessa saying, "I'll see you then," and then hanging up. Vanessa hadn't noticed Amelia. She was too busy singing and dancing all alone, her wavy brown locks in hideous curlers. Albeit, Amelia had to admit that Vanessa made even her ugly curlers look amazing.

Amelia looked down at her phone and smiled as she stood smack in the center of the Alumni Hall. Mr. Jenners was texting et making her giggle out loud. Blushing, she quickly looked up. Analyse and Julia looked at her with wide eyes. The boys from Haven we're giving her... The Look.

She blushed a deeper red and put her phone away. Mr. Jenners insisted that Amelia called him Landon, but Amelia, out of old habit, called him Mr. Jenners, which he found both amusing and cute.

Noelle was giggling with one of the Haven boys while Kayla shared a surreptitious conversation with another. Some guys were flirting with Amber who was staring uncomfortably at the floor, a shy smile on her face.

One boy in particular was looking for Meredith. Amelia knew exactly who he was. Meredith spoke about him all the time. He went by the name of Danny. The two had been best friend since God-knows-when and it was obvious that the two liked each other but neither of them wanted to admit it as they were scared to ruin their friendship in case anything happened.

Amelia sighed. No boys seemed to take interest in her. At least, that's how she felt. Guys came up to her once in awhile, but the other guys seemed to stay away from her. Never before had she enjoyed it, but this year...

This year she kind of liked it.

Without Vanessa here, Amelia was by herself. Amelia never really liked hanging out with the Haven boys. They were all flirts after one thing...

And that thing was too precious for Amelia to give away to just any boy.

"You look beautiful," a text read. It was from Mr. Jenners-err, Landon.

She smiled and blushed. "How would you know?

"Look up," a voice said, low and deep. Amelia gasped, nearly falling backwards. The senior history teacher caught her.

"Why are you here?" she managed in a quiet stutter.

"Water polo season just finished and I'm young... The guys invited me 'cause I'm cool."

Amelia laughed. "You like to think!"

He chuckled. "I do. And you know it. Remember your junior year. You said, and I quote, 'Mr. Jenners! You're like the coolest teacher ever! For sure!'" Mr. Jenners said in a falsetto. Amelia blushed and scrunched up her nose.

"I said no such thing!"

"Ah! But that's where you're wrong my dear... Do you know where the bathroom is? I don't really hang out much on the girls' campus unless it's to teach my fifth period history class."

Amelia smiled. "Okay. I'll show you. Just use the one by the dorms. It's clean."

"That's what I was planning," he chuckled.

The two walked out of Alumni Hall, Amelia showing Mr. Jenners every inch of the campus. She was very proud to be a Captain-the school's mascot-and wasn't afraid to show it.

"Where's your dorm?" Mr. Jenners asked as they arrived at the dorm building.

"It's number one-oh-one. Why?"

"Is it open?" he asked, not answering her first question.

"Yeah."

"Is there anyone inside?"

"No."

"Show me around," he asked.

She bit her bottom lip, half excited and half nervous and she said, "I actually want to see your dorm."

He chuckled and nodded, running with her to the boys' dorms. She could see his heavy breathing as he pulled out his keys. He was nervous. He didn't want to be caught.

If they could just get inside on time...

"We're in," he said, his voice just above a shaky breath. Shocked to see him nervous, she exhaled, her breath as shaky as his. Before the courage escaped, the threw her arms around his neck. Like the first time they kissed, he pulled away in a gasp, and then, forcefully, kissed her.

She smiled and pressed her hands to his chest. He chuckled, walking backwards. Eventually, the two fell backwards onto his bed and continued making out for the rest of the night.

Later that night, when Amelia woke up, she saw she had messages from all of her friends-except Meredith and Heidi-and an unknown number. Her friends were asking her where she was.

Then she opened the UNM (Unidentified Number Message). It read:

Amelia, Amelia. How shameful! I say, if you're going to sleep with your teacher, ask for a better grade! It's only fair, right? Thought no one would find out? Well, guess again! 'Cause I know everything. Everybody's got a secret. And I know yours. But I won't tell... Unless you mess up and tell mine.

XOXO!

-M

M? It couldn't be Meredith. Meredith was too sweet to do such a thing... All Amelia knew is that they had to find Meredith ASAP and ask her of she knew what was going on.

And tomorrow would begin a new school year of drama.