Free Glimpse by Kendra Leighton Page A

toilet door and paced up and down between the sinks.
    That boy, under the tree last night – there was no way he’d been a Glimpse. Glimpses gave me pins and needles. Glimpses were not entire people. But Scott had looked so sincere when he’d said he hadn’t seen him.
    I stopped still. I didn’t know why I was even considering this. Obviously, Scott was lying. He’d heard about my problems, and he and his friends had decided to mess with my brain. The fact that he’d looked so sincere, that I’d almost believed him, only proved how dangerous he could be. At least with Derek, what you saw was what you got.
    I looked at myself in the mirror, straightened my shirt dress, tried to wipe the look of angry panic from my face, and headed to History.

Chapter Thirteen
    ‘So nice of you to join us, Elizabeth.’ Miss Webb paused at the whiteboard as I entered the History room.
    ‘Sorry I’m late.’ I scuttled to my seat next to Susie at the front.
    Miss Webb continued to glare at me until my textbook, pencil case and paper were on the desk. I could feel everyone in the class looking at me. It was a feeling I’d have to get used to if – when – Scott told people I saw things that weren’t there.
    Eventually, Miss Webb turned back to the board and continued speaking. I cringed over my paper, writing the date and underlining it.
    Susie caught my eye and gave me a mock-alarmed look.
You okay?
she mouthed.
    I nodded. But my smile felt tight as stretched rubber.
    ‘As I was saying before our little interruption—’ Miss Webb shot one more glance at me ‘—we’re starting this term with a mini-project, in preparation for the assessed Historical Enquiries you’ll be doing later in the year. You’re going to research and present a historical topic of your choice. It’ll be a great opportunity for some Speaking and Listening experience.’
    Low groans emanated from the room.
    Miss Webb smacked her pen down on her desk, her frizzy grey hair waggling on her head like a clown’s. ‘Come on now. You’ll be interviewing for university or jobs soon, you should be grateful for the practice. You can choose any topic. The history of Hulbourn, witchcraft, the Spanish Inquisition.’ She clapped her hands. ‘Five minutes to find a partner and choose a topic.’ The room erupted with voices and the scraping of chairs.
    I looked at Susie. ‘Need a partner?’
    She’d already turned her chair towards me and uncapped a sparkly purple pen. She smiled. ‘Obviously. What do you want to research?’
    I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. After my confrontation with Scott, I was more grateful than ever that Susie hadn’t been put off me yet.
    ‘I don’t mind,’ I said. My mind was too caught up with worry to care about some History project. ‘Whatever you want.’
    ‘Something with a little gore? Witchcraft, maybe, sounded good?’
    ‘Already taken,’ Miss Webb barked behind us, making us both jump. ‘How about a project on our college’s namesake, Mr Noyes? It would be the obvious choice, given that – working with Liz here – you’ll have insider access to the inn, don’t you think?’ Miss Webb moved away to eavesdrop on someone else.
    Susie rolled her eyes at her back. ‘I’m sorry, Liz, but if I have to research that bloody Highwayman poem again, I’m going to die of boredom.’
    ‘That’s okay.’ Miss Webb’s suggestion had sparked my brain back to life. ‘How about researching my inn though, if you don’t have any other ideas? It’s been in my family for generations and I hardly know a thing about it. There must be some stories we could dig up.’
    ‘Hmm.’ Susie considered.
    She didn’t look excited. But I was feeling more enthusiastic. My attempts at remembering my past hadn’t gone so well yesterday, but I wasn’t going to give up on them just because Scott had rattled me.
    Susie’s face brightened like a light bulb and she scootched to the edge of her chair. ‘I’ll research