Read Online Dark Companion by Marta Acosta - Free Book Online

take this over Hellsdale any day. It’s so different, though. Like all the greenery and space here. I was jumping each time the wind blew.”
    “If it was just wind, heck, that’s nothing. But the old buildings and the trees at Bitch Grave freak me out. People say the place is haunted.”
    “Bitch Grave, that’s what it’s called?” She nodded and I said, “Well, City Central was called Mandatory-Sentencing Prep. You can’t take that stuff serious.”
    “Maybe, but there was that lady that killed herself last year.”
    “Who died?”
    “A teacher or maybe a counselor? It didn’t happen here though. Her car was by a cliff near the ocean, so maybe it doesn’t count. Why are you up at the school so early?”
    “I’m living there. They gave me a place to stay.”
    Orneta rolled to the main gate and squinted up at the ironwork of leaves and branches. “Is it okay to leave you here? Because this place gives me the creeps.”
    “Sure. Thanks for the lift.” I followed her sightline, trying to see what she was seeing. Thick fog draped over the trees. “There’s nothing scary.”
    Ornery pursed her lips and drummed black fingernails on the steering wheel. “Not the same kind of scary as Hellsdale, but my feminine intuition says something’s wrong.”
    “There’s no such thing as feminine intuition.”
    “Knowing things isn’t only in books. All I’m saying is, be careful.”
    “Hey, Hellsdale girls are always careful.” I grinned to show her that we were cool.

 
     
Students are expected to behave in a manner that honors Birch Grove’s standards: to treat their peers with respect, kindness, and understanding. Students should support one another academically and socially.
     
Birch Grove Academy Student Handbook
    Chapter 7
     
    On Monday, I was so nervous that I couldn’t eat breakfast. After years of wearing oversized hand-me-downs, my uniform felt uncomfortably snug. At 8:15, I walked along the drive to the school and watched a stream of expensive cars dropping off students dressed exactly like me, in blue blazers and skirts. By the time I got close to the main entrance, I could hear high-pitched voices.
    A herd of girls moved through the main entrance of the school. I didn’t see any extreme piercings, wild hairstyles, doorknocker earrings, or protruding bellies. The “discreet makeup” permitted in the handbook seemed to be mascara and lip gloss, although some girls wore more and some wore none at all. Most of the girls had their hair long and loose.
    They struck me as exceptionally attractive, and I tried not to panic as I followed them into the building and to the gymnasium, which was set up for registration. I stood in line at the W-X-Y-Z table. When I got to the front, the woman at the table smiled. “You’re Jane Williams, right? Good morning, Jane!”
    “How did you know my name?”
    “We study all the new girls’ files and photos so we can make them feel welcome.” The woman shuffled through a file box and pulled out a navy folder with the school crest on the cover and a sticker with my name. “Williams, Jane, no middle name. These are your classes and here’s today’s schedule and a map. After you sign up for your extracurriculars, you need to have your photo taken for your student ID. The Refreshment Break is in the cafeteria, and the headmistress will give her welcome speech in the auditorium.”
    “Thank you, ma’am.”
    “Certainly, dear. Next!”
    I moved to a clear space by one wall and read the contents of the folder. My schedule listed Honors Chemistry, Trigonometry, Western Classical Literature, Latin IV, and Western Culture and Civilization. There was also something called Z Block that I could fill from a variety of courses. I decided to take Expository Writing as my elective so I could improve my essay writing. I wove through the crowd to the sign-up table. A poster board displayed the school newspaper, The Birch Grove Weekly, and cheesy photos of students busy in a