Ghost House Revenge Read Online Free

her and jumped under the covers as if ashamed of the pretty gown
     that hung over her fat body.
    “How do you like it here so far?” Melanie asked.
    “It’s nice,” Alicen said softly.
    “I’m glad you like it,” Melanie said, wanting to put her arms around the girl. But
     something in her manner held her back, and she simply said good night.
    Alicen settled back against her pillow, all the while thinking how nice everything
     seemed to be. She hoped Gina would become her friend. Then, exhausted after a long
     day, she fell asleep immediately. Her dreams, of her mother, were sweet. Alicen was
     completely unaware of the woman standing over her, considering her as a pawn in a
     diabolical scheme.

3
    Alicen’s fears about her first day at Saint Anne’s were completely justified. It began
     when she learned that she had been assigned to the dreaded Mr. Percy, who really did
     look like the Scrooge in Gina’s book. He had white hair and a pointy nose, and he
     seemed to always be scowling.
    He had put her in the seat directly in front of his desk, wanting to keep an eye on
     his new student. Alicen sensed he was watching her, waiting for her to do something
     wrong. She looked around the room, lost and afraid among unfamiliar faces. Alicen
     began to chew her lower lip as she studied the pretty blond girl next to her.
    “Eyes front Miss Miller,” Percy snapped. “Let me tell you, I don’t tolerate daydreamers
     in my classroom. Don’t let me catch you again, unless you want to spend your first
     day in the principal’s office.”
    “Yes, sir,” Alicen said, feeling tears of humiliation burning in her eyes. She blinked
     them away.
    She tried her best to concentrate that morning, although her mind wandered whenever
     Percy had his back to her for too long. She knew already that she hated him. Why did
     she have to be in his class? The principal had said Gina’s class was too full, but
     couldn’t they have made room for one more student? And worse than that, Gina’s lunch
     hour was later than hers. So, this first day, she was forced to eat alone.
    As she sipped at a container of milk, she noticed a nice-looking boy with red hair
     approaching her. Not wanting to talk to him, she ducked her eyes and pretended to
     be busy with her sandwich. When she next looked up, he was sitting across the room.
    The afternoon passed more quickly than the morning, since Percy was concentrating
     on literature. Alicen became caught up in a story, but she was still glad when the
     bell rang. Like a drill sergeant, Percy barked at them to get on two separate lines.
     Alicen was surprised to find the red-haired boy from the cafeteria standing next to
     her.
    “Hey!” be hissed. Alicen ignored him, but the boy persisted. “Don’t let Percy get
     you down. No one else listens to him, either.”
    Alicen managed a smile but didn’t say anything. A few minutes later, they were outside,
     and the two lines broke as children scattered across the schoolyard. The redhead was
     still with her.
    “My name’s Jamie Hutchinson,” he said. Alicen noticed the braces on his teeth and
     felt a little less flawed herself.
    “I’m Alicen Miller,” she said.
    “Where do you live?” Jamie asked. “Did you just move to Belle Bay?”
    “I came here yesterday,” Alicen told him. Then, surprised that she was suddenly talking
     so much, she added, “I live with Gina VanBuren. Do you know her?”
    “Not really,” Jamie admitted. “I’ve heard of her, though.”
    Alicen looked around uncomfortably. “There’s Gina now!” she cried. She left Jamie
     without saying goodbye.
    “Nice meeting you,” Jamie called as he watched her run toward the bus.
    Gina grabbed Alicen’s arm and took a quick glance at Jamie. “Who was that?” she asked.
     “He’s so cute!”
    “His name is Jamie Hutchinson,” Alicen reported.
    “Gee, you’ve got a boyfriend already!” Gina squealed.
    “He’s not my boyfriend,” Alicen said, annoyed.
    * *