Got Thrills? A Boxed Set (A McCray Collection) Read Online Free Page B

think you’ve got that thing rigged!”
    With the text message on-screen, Paxton wished that were the case. Unfortunately, his already crappy morning just took a turn for the worse.

 
     
    CHAPTER 2
    All Hallow’s Eve
    Cecilia tried to stay out of everyone’s way as they rushed to class through the crowded quad. She was already plastered up against the statue that dominated the center of their Catholic school.
    Our Lady of Sorrows.
    She glanced up to see the larger-than-life statue of the Virgin Mary glaring down at her, as if scolding her for trying to hide within the Lady’s stone folds. Even the Virgin found her wanting.
    Ugh. Where were her friends? If they didn’t get here soon, she would have to head to science class herself, which did not sound appealing. It had taken everything just to get Jeremy out of bed this morning. Cecilia really did not think she could face a dry lecture on photosynthesis on her own without nodding off.
    “Cec!” a bright voice called out from behind.
    She turned to find the freckle-faced Helen hurrying toward her. Right behind her was the darker-haired Francesca. Cecilia didn’t even wait for them to catch up before she made her way through the surging crowd to Building D.
    “Wait, wait, wait!” Helen demanded. Puffing, the redhead caught her by the sleeve. “What is going on with your skirt?”
    Cecilia looked down at her school uniform. Everything seemed in order. Her shirt was a stark white, and her skirt the required blue-and-black plaid. “Nothing.”
    “Um, what about the length?” Helen asked, in that weird I-am-trying-to-talk-about-something-secret-without-really-telling-you-what-I-mean voice.
    Francesca tried to help out. “A quarter turn, remember?”
    “What are you guys talking about?”
    Both of her friends glanced over their shoulders at Sister Switzler, the vice principal. The matronly figure stood outside her office, watching the quad like a hawk over a field of mice, trying to decide which one she would pluck from its day.
    Helen leaned in with a harsh whisper. “You were supposed to roll your waistband a quarter turn this morning. You know, to bring your hem up.”
    Cecilia rolled her eyes. She had forgotten about this ill-conceived attempt to get around the strict uniform guidelines. The theory went that if every girl in school rolled her waistband just the tiniest bit each day, so that every girl’s skirt looked the same, that somehow in a few weeks they could get their hems above the knee. It was, quite possibly, the stupidest idea Cecilia had ever heard. Besides, she liked her hem exactly where it was.
    “Sorry, not doing it,” Cecilia said as she renewed her trek to get to class on time.
    “Come on!” Helen pleaded. “We need everyone to do it, or we’ll get busted.”
    “Then you’ll get busted,” Cecilia snapped, then instantly regretted it as Helen’s lips fell from a smile into a frown.
    Francesca, though, had a sympathetic look. “Rough night, again?”
    Cecilia could only nod.
    “Your mom had another migraine?” Francesca asked.
    Yeah, sure. A migraine. Cecilia nodded, though, letting them think what they would. It was easier than explaining the truth.
    Helen shifted gears as only she could. She grabbed Cecilia’s arm so that they walked locked together. “I am so sorry! I wouldn’t have bugged you if I’d known. You do look really tired.”
    “Can’t the doctors figure out what’s wrong with her?” Francesca asked, as they finally made their way to Building D.
    Sure, it seemed everyone knew what was wrong. No one though, not the doctors or even her uncle, actually seemed willing to do anything about it. But that was TMI for her friends. They didn’t need to be as bummed out, or as worn out, as she was.
    “They just say she needs plenty of rest.”
    Her two friends nodded in sympathy until they heard some tinny music. That same stupid song from last night. A group of four boys were gathered around watching a video on