Read Secrets at St Jude's: New Girl for Free Online Page B

for effect, arching one eyebrow – ‘when I spoke to Camille afterwards, she said she wouldn’t touch him with a barge pole because he’s such a druggie.’
    ‘Shh!’ came the hiss from Mrs Redpath.
    Niffy’s hand went up to Amy’s arm, as if to restrain her from making any reply, but it didn’t help.
    Amy spat out, ‘And I suppose you think Llewellyn’s such a saint, don’t you? He’s probably got his head in a bag of glue right now, along with all the other wasters from Burnside Academy. At least if Jason did drugs, he’d be able to afford the good stuff. But for your information, he doesn’t.’
    ‘I don’t think you’re quite in the same league as Camille though, are you? Little jumped-up 49
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    Glaswegian nouve,’ came the vicious response.
    Although Gina didn’t know what this meant, she could tell from Amy’s face that it was insulting.
    ‘Penelope,’ Mrs Redpath warned, ‘turn round and be quiet!’
    ‘See you later!’ Penny muttered as she swivelled.
    ‘Not if I see you first,’ Amy hissed, adding for Gina’s benefit, ‘Like I’m supposed to be embarrassed that my dad comes from Glasgow and isn’t a pompous lawyer.
    Cow!’
    The piano struck up and the hall was filled with the sound of 450 chairs scraping wood as the girls got to their feet.
    A loud burst of singing began. Gina looked at her neighbours, wondering which page to turn to, but found that no one was looking in the book. This was probably the school hymn and everyone knew it off by heart.
    Niffy’s version was clearly the unofficial one –
    something about lifting up your skirts on high so ‘ the king of glory enter may ’. She was shaking with suppressed giggles.
    A severe-looking woman dressed in a dark suit and white shirt with wide lapels was striding in sensible court shoes towards the wooden lectern in the centre of the stage. Her short hair was swept back smartly 50
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    NEW GIRL
    and she had one of those complicated silver brooches pinned to her jacket that might as well have been a label reading: I’M OVER FIFTY AND TAKE MY POWER
    ACCESSORIES VERY SERIOUSLY.
    ‘Banshee Bannerman,’ Niffy announced. ‘Count those buzzwords!’
    ‘Girls,’ the Banshee began. ‘Welcome back for what I know will be a hard-working summer term. Our senior girls have their exams ahead of them. I know each and every one of you is going to make St Jude’s proud.’
    ‘Yess!’ hissed Min. ‘One–nil.’
    ‘I know that your dedication to your studies will pay off . . .’ the Banshee continued.
    ‘Result!’ Niffy hissed.
    And on the Banshee went, racking up four points for Min, two for Niffy but still no score for Amy.
    ‘Come on!’ Amy was urging. ‘ Excellence – we’ve got to have some excellence in here.’
    ‘And now, girls,’ the Banshee said, ‘I’d like to introduce two new members of staff. First of all, one of our games teachers, Mrs Tweedie, has suffered an unfortunate car accident during the holidays.
    She’ll be off for most of the term, but is expected to make a full recovery, so I’d like you to welcome 51
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    Miss Chrysler, who will take her place temporarily.’
    As loud applause broke out for Miss Chrysler, Amy, Niffy and Min all turned to look at each other.
    ‘Bum!’ Niffy exclaimed. ‘Here’s hoping Miss Chrysler knows something about winning hockey and tennis matches.’
    ‘Now the other news,’ the Banshee continued once the clapping had died down, ‘concerns our dedicated students of physics.’
    Min leaned forward in her chair.
    ‘I’m afraid Mrs Wilson has been called away from school for some time by an urgent family matter.
    However, we have organized a more than capable replacement who will continue to strive for excellence in this most important of departments.’
    Just as Amy’s face lit up – finally