One Word From You: A Pride and Prejudice Adaptation Read Online Free PDF Page A

apologised, and snatched up the device.
     
    I’d never seen someone look so befuddled by a text before in my life. I reached over to steal the phone from her, and read the message for myself.
     
    Grls goin 2 watch stars by lake. Want 2 come?
     
    “ A fortune on education, and she uses bingo speak in her texts,” I muttered.
     
    “ Uses what?”
     
    “ Nothing,” I said, and handed the phone back, “You should go. But, don’t stay out too late. It looks like it might rain.”
     
    “ You hate Chantelle,” she told me.
     
    “ Which is probably why I’m not the one she invited.”
     
    “ Are you really okay with me spending time with her? I mean, I know she’s not that nice to you, but maybe if you both got to know each other a little better -”
     
    “ I have absolutely no interest in getting to know Chantelle any better. But, she’s Charlie’s sister, and it’s better if you two can get along. If she hates you, then she won’t let you talk to him easily.”
     
    I hoped that Charlie had enough of an independent mind that he could pick and choose his own friends. But people often put family first, even if they shouldn’t, so he might stop speaking to Jenny if Chantelle commanded it. He was about the only half-decent guy to transfer in, and even I found him to be good company when I was permitted time to talk to him. It would be a pity if we were deprived of him due to Chantelle’s spiteful nature.
     
    “ I won’t stay out long, I promise,” Jenny assured me.
     
    I trusted her, but I couldn’t guarantee that Chantelle would let her come back early. I returned to strumming idly on the guitar strings as she hurried to pull on her shoes, and to find a coat. Now, we did have a rule about not being on the grounds at night, but it wasn’t really enforced as far as the older students were concerned. The teachers were more inclined to impose the strict laws of the school on the first year kids, and those who were too young to stay up late. We were practically adults, and we didn’t have lights out or anything either. They trusted us to manage our own spare time and sleeping patterns.
     
    Big mistake.
     
    As I’d predicted, not much more than an hour after Jenny had left, the rain began to lash against the windows. It became heavier and louder, and then the force of it rattled the glass. I clambered off my bed, and pulled back the curtains to take a better look.
     
    “ Is that snow?” Chrissy asked.
     
    “ Don’t be thick,” Lisa replied, “It’s only the end of September.”
     
    “ It’s hail,” I said, “Must be a freak shower.”
     
    “ Um,” Meg rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, “Where’s Jenny?”
     
    “ She went out. She’ll be back soon,” I tried to reassure her.
     
    Still, I couldn’t help being worried.
     
    And I was right to.
     
    Another hour passed, and there was still no sign of her. The others had fallen asleep, but I couldn’t drag myself from the window. I should have seen her running across the grounds already. Jenny was by no means stupid, and in such weather she’d know that it was better to be inside.
     
    “ Bloody hell,” I cursed, and stepped into my trainers.
     
    With no time to change out of my pyjamas, I tugged my hoodie on over them, and hurried out of the room. I kept a hand on the wall as I made my way through the corridor, relying on the feeble flashlight application in my phone to illuminate my path. I could have turned the lights on, but it would have woken up everyone else. I was less concerned about the students as I was about the teachers. If they found out what I was doing, I’d likely be sent back to bed, and they’d go out to drag the girls inside.
     
    Jenny’s mother wouldn’t be happy to get a call about that.
     
    Like I said, they didn’t tend to enforce the rules, but I wasn’t about to play with the risk.
     
    I hesitated at the door. It was so dark, and I didn’t want my phone to get drenched while I was