SummerHill Secrets, Volume 2 Read Online Free PDF Page A

hall.
    “You okay?” I asked as we headed toward the nurse’s office.
    “I don’t know what happened,” she mumbled. “One minute I was sitting in my seat listening to the algebra assignment, and the next, I was on the floor.”
    “It’s called fainting,” I said, hoping to humor her. She still looked ghastly pale.
    The nurse’s room was a square cubicle where a cot and chair took up most of the space on one wall. A small desk and a second chair filled the opposite side of the room.
    Kindly, the nurse got Chelsea settled into the chair.
    “Now”—she surveyed my friend—“tell me about breakfast. Did you have any?”
    Chelsea shook her head.
    “Your first mistake.” The nurse gave a nervous chuckle.
    I could see Chelsea wasn’t interested in an interrogation. She stared into space almost defiantly.
    “Are you having your period?” the nurse inquired.
    “Not quite yet,” Chelsea answered.
    “Well, you’re certainly welcome to lie down and rest here until you feel stronger. Or,” she said, glancing at me briefly, “would you rather call your parents?”
    I cringed inwardly. The fainting episode was probably due to the fact that both of her parents weren’t around. Stress can do weird things.
    Chelsea looked at me with pleading eyes. I shook my head to let her know I wouldn’t break my promise. The nurse didn’t need to know that her mom was missing. Not now. Maybe not ever.
    Chelsea opted to stay at school. At lunchtime, I encouraged her to eat even though she said she wasn’t hungry. “You don’t wanna go falling off any more chairs, do you?”
    “I know, I know,” she said as we found a table in the cafeteria.
    Ashley and Lissa came over and joined us. “How are you feeling?” Ashley inquired. “Did you hit your head?”
    “I don’t think so.” Chelsea felt the back of her head. “Guess I was just so relaxed, I slithered to the floor like a rag doll.”
    Lissa nodded. “You sure looked like one. I felt so sorry for you. Are you sure you’re okay?”
    Chelsea muttered something about still not feeling well.
    “You look awfully white,” Ashley pointed out.
    I spoke up, eager to put an end to this worrisome talk. “After a person faints, it takes a while to recuperate.” I asked for the ketchup. But Ashley and Lissa kept fussing over Chelsea. Finally, I blurted out, “Does anyone know who Randall Eastman is?”
    “Who?” Lissa said.
    “Randall Eastman,” I repeated. “I heard he’s the principal’s grandnephew—the student who won first place in the photography contest last year.”
    Ashley sat up a bit straighter. “ I’d be interested in meeting him, too. In fact, I’d like to see his award-winning photograph. Do you think maybe we could?”
    We?
    I sputtered. “Well…I don’t know. I guess one of us has to track him down first.” I felt foolish in spite of the obvious competitive undertow. “Mrs. Fields says he’s a senior this year. Anyone know any upperclassmen?”
    “Not really,” Lissa said. “Maybe some of the guys in the youth group might know him.”
    Ashley’s eyes lit up. “Oh, what a wonderful idea! That’s easy enough. We can ask around on Sunday.”
    “What about asking Nikki Klein?” Chelsea suggested. “Nikki’s a senior this year, I think.”
    “Hey, your brother oughta know,” Lissa said. “Skip took Nikki out several times last school year.”
    I sighed. “Skip’s coming home for the weekend. Maybe I’ll ask him about Randall Eastman.” I turned to look at Chelsea. The color was returning to her cheeks. “Hey, you’re starting to look—and sound—more like yourself.”
    She didn’t exactly smile at my observation but tilted her head modestly my way. “After school I think I’m going to go home and take a long nap.”
    I wondered about that. “Do you still want me to come over?”
    “Sure, why not?”
    I couldn’t discuss or rehash our sleuthing plans in front of Ashley and Lissa. Still, I wondered if Chelsea was