Free The Hidden (Heartfire) by Celeste Davis

been in a mental hospital. She didn't care what they thought. She just didn't want certain, specific people bothering her.

    Not today.

    A group of tall Nordic looking girls caught sight of her as she skirted the crowd. They smirked at each other, snickering as she passed. Fantastic. Lizzy resisted the urge to look down at herself, to see what had set off their mean spirited giggles. Not that she was s sharp dresser by any stretch of the imagination, but she was wearing a damn uniform.  

    Lizzy almost sagged in relief as a sultry looking blond with cats eyes led the group out of the courtyard Megan was their ringleader and the most popular girl in school. Or at least, the most feared. She had some sort of vendetta against Lizzy for some unknown reason.

    Lizzy had a sneaking suspicion that Megan was the one who'd gotten into the school's confidential files and spread the word about her hospitalization.

    Lizzy did her best to ignore her. It wasn't easy.

    At the far corner of the yard there was a copse of trees and shrubbery. She darted behind them as soon as no one was looking.  

    Nestled in the greenery was Alberta, a cherubic English girl with mousy brown hair and round glasses. She sat on a decrepit old bench, palming a smoke.

    "Oh, it's just you. I thought it was one of the wardens."

    Sometimes Alberta liked to pretend the exclusive girls academy was a reform school for wayward girls. Lizzy wasn't even sure they still had reform schools, but it wasn't too far off. It might be one of the best schools in the world academically but the thin wool blankets were straight out of 'Oliver.' Most of the girls brought their own bedding. Lizzy was too proud to ask her dad and stepmother to ship stuff from America, so she was stuck with a couple of extra wool blankets she'd snagged from the housekeeping staff.

    Of course, she had to share them with Al. Her gran was too cheap to send her anything extra. Like Lizzy, Al had lost a parents. Both of them. Lizzy had just lost one, even though it felt like they both disappeared forever that day.

    She sat down next to Alberta on the bench, ignoring the dead leaves and moss. Not like you would notice a grass stain on the navy pleated skirts they had to wear.  

    "How'd it go then?"

    Lizzy glared at Al, taking the cigarette and dragging deeply.

    "That good, eh?"

    She grunted and pulled on the smoke. Lizzy was beyond words. Alberta chuckled. She thought she was funny apparently. It was a good thing she did since they girls had been roommates for the past two years and the best friends in the whole world. Lizzy smiled at her wanly and gave her back her cig.

    "Not as bad as I thought."

    "Good." Al stood and chucked the cig into a pile of butts under the tree. "Well come on then, we better pack."