Camp Confidential 05 - TTYL Read Online Free PDF Page A

fun!” She looped her arm through her friend’s and propelled them both toward the gym, where the other students were beginning to gather. They made their way through the packed room and found seats on the end of the bleachers farthest from the door. Looking around the room, Alex was surprised that the school’s cheerleaders had already started to work. The walls were plastered with GO, ROCKETS! LAUNCH! THREE, TWO, ONE, BLAST-OFF! and other signs supporting the football, volleyball, and soccer teams. She was about to lean over to Bridgette and ask when the cheerleaders had started practice when the principal, Mr. Delaney, walked to a podium in the middle of the gym floor and began to speak.
    “Welcome back, everyone,” his voice droned. “We hope you had a fun, safe, and educational summer.”
    At this, some of the older boys laughed, and a boy behind Alex said to one of his friends, “Well . . . fun, anyway!”
    “There are a couple of reminders: First, tryouts for the girls’ soccer team are tonight, on the main field, at 3 PM. Those who make it past cuts will meet tomorrow after school. . . .”
    He went on talking, but Alex had stopped listening. First tryouts? she thought frantically. She hadn’t heard anything about there being cuts . . . Suddenly, she was very, very nervous. She tuned back in to the assembly just in time to hear Mr. Delaney finish talking. “. . . And good luck to all of you. We are glad to have you back,” he said half-heartedly. “Please go to homeroom, where you will receive your schedules and locker assignments.”
    Luckily, Alex knew where her homeroom was. During the previous year, her class had come to the middle school to take a tour and learn the way around. She and Bridgette stood up and headed in the direction of the science wing, where their rooms were. Because Bridgette’s last name was in the end of the alphabet, she’d been placed into a different room, but Alex figured she’d still have some classes with her friend. She also had expected to know at least a few kids in her homeroom. But she didn’t—everyone was either older or from a different elementary school. She sat down near the front of the classroom and smiled tentatively at the girl sitting next to her, but the girl just looked at her and then looked away.
    Her teacher took roll and passed out the schedules and locker assignments, and before Alex even had time to try to remember anyone’s name, the period was over and they were all thrust back into the crowded hallway.
    As Alex walked down the hall toward her locker, she studied her schedule. It looked okay—basic stuff, like American history, geography, intro to algebra, a PE class, a study hall, and English. I can totally handle this , she thought. In fact, she was even sort of excited about American history, which she had first period.
    At her locker (once she finally figured out how to open the combination lock) she made sure she had her new notebook and a bright red pen in her backpack. She slammed her locker shut and headed for American history, shoving her way through the hallway and praying no one would trip her—accidentally or otherwise.
    She made it to class with seconds to spare, and breathlessly slid into the only open seat, which was right in the middle of the front row. As she pulled her notebook out of her bag and opened it to the first page, the girl next to her leaned over. “Hey, Alex!” the brown-haired girl whispered.
    Shocked, Alex looked over. “Lucy!” she exclaimed. “Hi!” She and Lucy had known each other in elementary school, but not well. Still, Alex was glad to see any familiar face.
    Their teacher walked into the room and closed the door behind him. “Good morning, class,” he said. “I trust that your summers were productive.” Alex heard some snickers from the back of the room, where she had seen some older boys sitting. “My name is Mr. Garfield, and I will be guiding you through a historical tour of the United