The Geometry of Sisters

Read The Geometry of Sisters for Free Online Page B

Book: Read The Geometry of Sisters for Free Online
Authors: Luanne Rice
is, little freshmen that we are. It's so dark, no streetlights at all,” Camilla said.
    “Not like Michigan,” Lucy and Beck said at once.
    An engine sounded, and a golf cart roared up. A big, gross oldguy with a mustache beeped his horn as he drove past, calling, “Inside now! School is starting!”
    “Come on, we'd better get in there,” Camilla said.
    “Well,” Lucy said. “Shall we?”
    Beck stared from one to the other. It felt disloyal to Amy and Ellie, not to mention Carrie, to even consider walking in with them. She'd spoken to Amy last night, promised she'd be back in Ohio by the weekend. She had plenty of friends who would hide her, let her sleep in their basements and attics. She would spend her days looking for Carrie.
    “I have English first,” Camilla said.
    “Oh, Jesus,” Beck said, aware that the boys were coming closer. They'd all find out her mother was the English teacher sooner than later.
    “What, you hate English?” Lucy asked. “So do I. Give me math any day!”
    “Math?” Beck asked.
    Lucy smiled, nodding. “You too?”
    Beck nodded.
    “Are you in Steve—Mr. Campbell's class?”
    “I think so,” Beck said.
    “Cool—see you there!” Lucy ran after Camilla.
    Beck should have followed right behind her, but now she was stuck. Glancing over, she saw the redhead kid standing right there, as if sent to monitor her. Across the grounds, she spotted the security-patrol guy watching the kids straggling by the door. She'd never be able to sneak past him. Her heart banged in her chest, and she had the feeling that once she walked into the school, her plan would fall to pieces. She'd never get back home.
    She watched Camilla and Lucy walk up the wide and stately limestone steps, past the urns spilling over with ivy, white petunias, and perfect pink geraniums. They entered through the
Girls' Entrance
, holding the door open behind them for Beck. She lickedher lips, clenched her fists, felt as if she was about to parachute out of a plummeting plane.
    The red-haired boy sprang up the steps to the
Boys' Entrance
. He opened the door ceremoniously and stood there waiting for her, daring her with a wild smile.
    “You think I'm a boy?” she asked, pointing at the chiseled words.
    He grinned even wider. “I think you're a rule-breaker,” he said.
    “I'm not,” Beck said, offended.
    But then, and she couldn't even say why, she walked straight through the boys' door as he neatly crisscrossed, a double helix, behind her as he walked through the girls'. They met inside, in a common hall that proved the entrances were just stupid, some dumb tradition invented by the school founder. But Beck found herself grinning back at the kid, and they high-fived as Beck followed Lucy and Camilla up a wide staircase to their first classes.

    That night, the campus was dark and still. Lights burned in some of the rooms—most boarders lived in the main building, a few others in smaller houses on the cliff and along the side streets.
    The Shaws' house was silent. Windows were open to allow the night air in, and the cats lay on the windowsills, listening to the crickets and crashing surf, gazing out into the darkness. Beck and Travis were asleep, so the cats were the only ones to see Maura quietly slip into her shoes, find her keys, and step outside.
    The car was parked around back, in a small garage also used to store garden equipment. The structure muffled the sound of the engine starting, but Maura winced as she backed out, gravel crunching under the tires.
    She passed academic buildings, faculty houses, and the security cottage. No lights on anywhere; the whole campus seemed to be asleep. Then she happened to glance through the trees, toward the mansion—completely dark now, but what was that on the top floor?
    A green light glowed from the tall windows. She stopped the car, gazed upward. She peered through foliage, inching her car forward for a better look. The glimmer danced, green-blue and cool. And then

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