Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy

  Chapter 10

  Amanda the Spy

  The blast that ripped through the school woke everyone even before the windows had stopped rattling. The girls sat bolt upright in bed, and Nigel, who never barked, started howling at the top of his lungs. Within about five seconds, loud sounds echoed in the hall as girls screamed, ran out of their rooms, and slammed doors.

  Amanda reached for her light and switched it on. She could see that Amphora and Ivy were shaking, but at first glance it didn’t appear that anything had fallen or broken.

  “What was that!” yelled Amphora, clutching her covers.

  “I don’t know,” screamed Ivy, holding Nigel, who was shaking as hard as she was.

  Amanda couldn’t speak.

  “Are you okay?” said Ivy, her voice cracking.

  “I don’t know,” said Amanda at last. She was shivering. “Are you?”

  “I don’t know. Amphora?”

  “I don’t know. What time is it? Was that an earthquake? Are we awake?”

  “Is Nigel okay?” said Amanda. “Yes, we’re awake. Earthquakes don’t behave like that, I don’t think. They go on and on. Nothing’s moving now.”

  “He seems okay,” said Ivy. “Can you look for me?”

  “Sure,” said Amanda, grateful for something to do. Forgetting how cold it was, she threw off her covers. The frigid air hit her like a shock wave and she ran to get her robe, which wasn’t nearly as warm as her parka but would do. Then she wriggled over to Ivy’s bed and put her hands on the dog, who was shaking so hard the whole bed was making clomping sounds. “Hold still,” she said. “Let me take a look.” She felt all over and examined as much as she could. There was no blood and no bumps. “He looks okay to me. I think he’s just scared.”

  “What’s going on out there?” said Amphora. “Something’s happening in the hall.”

  “I don’t know,” said Amanda. “I’ll go look.”

  “No, don’t,” said Ivy, burying her head in her dog. “It might be dangerous.”

  Suddenly there was a knock on their door. “Ivy, Amphora, Amanda,” came a voice. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” said Amanda. “Who is it?”

  “Editta,” said the voice. “Can I come in?”

  “Of course,” said Amphora, running to the door. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” said Editta, squeezing in through the tiny space Amphora was guarding. “Thank goodness. Nigel!” She ran to hug the dog. Then, “I told you that teacher dying was bad luck.”

  “I don’t think he died,” Ivy said.

  “Well, whatever it was. And that girl being expelled. It isn’t good,” said Editta.

  “I don’t see how that has anything to do with this,” said Amanda, pulling her robe around her as tight as it would go.

  “OMG,” said Amphora, slamming the door. “Do you think anyone was killed?”

  “I have no idea,” said Amanda. “We’ve got to find out what happened.”

  “I don’t want to know,” said Editta, sitting on Ivy’s bed and joining in the group hug with Nigel at the center.

  “We have to,” said Amphora. “Otherwise we won’t know what to do.” She got back under her covers and pulled them around her shoulders.

  “Look,” said Amanda. “You all stay here and I’ll go see what’s going on.” She fumbled for her shoes.

  “No,” said Amphora. “You can’t go alone. I’m coming with you.” She went to the closet to get her own robe, which was way prettier than Amanda’s ratty old thing.

  “Okay,” said Amanda. “I’ll get my flashlight just in case.”

  “Torch,” said Amphora.

  “Flashlight,” said Amanda.

  “Whatever,” said Amphora.