Free How to Get Dirt by S. E. Campbell Page A

than her dreams.
    She sat at lunch, playing with the noodles which were on her tray, but she didn ’ t eat. Courtney sat next to her, slurping down her spaghetti.
    â€œ Is everything okay? ” Courtney asked, her mouth still full of food. Pickles saw the half chewed mass in her mouth and grimaced.
    â€œ Well… ” Pickles eyeballed her nervously.
    â€œ I ’ m your friend, aren ’ t I? ” Courtney asked. “ You can trust me. I know you came here under odd circumstances. The whole school has been talking about it. ”
    She couldn ’ t think of a reason why she couldn ’ t trust Courtney. The other girl was nice to her , and she kept the other girls away with her frightening temper. Before she could stop herself, the whole story spilled out, just like it had with Mrs. Beazley. When Pickles was finished with her story, Courtney ’ s mouth dropped opened.
    â€œ You ’ ve been through all that? ” Courtney asked.
    Pickles nodded.
    â€œ Wow. ” Courtney ate another bite of spaghetti. “ Double wow. So now you ’ re trying to figure out how to get home in the middle of the day without getting in trouble? ”
    â€œ That ’ s about it, ” Pickles said. “ Honestly, I don ’ t know if it ’ s worth it. They look to be so perfect. ”
    â€œ I guess I can see things both sides, ” Courtney said, shrugging, “ but one thing I know for sure… ”
    Pickles frowned at her. “ What ’ s that? ”
    â€œ I know if a plan involves trouble making, I ’ m all in, ” Courtney said, with a triumphant smile. “ I think I know exactly how I can get you home early today. ”
    Her eyes widened as Courtney ’ s mouth formed a sinister smirk. Pickles wasn ’ t sure she was going to like Courtney ’ s plan.
    ****
    Pickles ’ fears about Courtney ’ s plan turned out to be well-founded . It involved pulling a fire alarm and Pickles sneaking out of the emergency line-up.
    At one o ’ clock, right after lunch, Pickles sat in her regular spot in English class. Her hand s shook.
    The fire alarm rang as planned, cutting off her thoughts. The Spanish teacher, Mrs. Florez, grunted and gazed up, as if she might just see fire pouring in from the ceiling.
    â€œ Do you think it ’ s a real one this time? I left my cell phone in my locker. My parents won ’ t buy me a new one for at least a month , ” Mary Lou whispered to the neig hbor across the aisle, Clarissa.
    Pickles couldn ’ t help herself. F eigning a concerned frown, she said, “ Oh no, I can ’ t believe Courtney blew up that garbage can like she said she would . Now the whole school ’ s going to burn down. ”
    Mary Lou gasped with horror and stared at her. Pickles hid a smile.
    Mrs. Florez called the class forward . Pickles walked toward her and waited. The other classmates did the same. Her heart thudded in nervousness. What if she got caught? If Mrs. Florez noticed she had disappeared on the way to the soccer field, she could be in big trouble.
    Miranda ’ s face filled her vision , so her resolve strengthened.
    â€œ This way, class, ” Mrs. Florez said, leading them forward. “ Everybody calm down now. ”
    The class moved in a massive, swarming herd out the door. Halfway out, Pickles left the line then walked out of the school via the front door.

 
Chapter Fifteen
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    Fifteen minutes later, Pickles arrived, gasping and shaking, at the front door of the condo. Like usual, Miranda ’ s car was parked in its normal spot . What did I expect? Miranda is the nicest human on the face of the planet. Prudence was silly for thinking this would work. Her stomach sunk as she lingered by the front door.
    She pressed her face to the window and peered through a small gap in the curtains . Miranda was where she was supposed to be, sitting at the table in jeans and a T -shirt while staring