Читать книгу The Night Flyer's Handbook 2-Book Bundle - Philippa Dowding - Страница 14

Jez just stands there, covering her mouth and looking up at me with her gigantic brown eyes.

I say again, “Jez, please stop crying.” She nods really hard, which is what she always does when she wants to do what you ask but doesn’t know how. She gulps.

“Stop nodding, too,” I add. She nods really hard then suddenly stops. I can see her trying to pull herself together. She draws a deep breath, pulls some toilet paper off the roll, and dries her eyes.

“Okay. Okay. I’m not crying. I’m not,” she whispers. I’m not sure why she is whispering, since there isn’t anyone else in the bathroom. She looks up at me. She looks so sad and scared, I really want to hug her, but it’s out of the question since I am up on the ceiling and all.

“Gwen, what are you doing up there?” She is still whispering. “Can’t you get down?”

“I can’t explain what I’m doing up here. It’s been happening since yesterday. And I’m not sure how to get down. Sometimes I come down when I touch things, but it doesn’t always work,” I say doubtfully. I really don’t want to fall to the ground again. This is an old school, built eighty years ago or something, when high ceilings were all the rage. At the moment, I’m floating way above the floor. I really don’t want to fall from this height. I’ve already got a few giant bruises from yesterday.

“Okay, well go over to the wall above the window, that way if you come down, you can land in the sink and not fall too far,” Jez says, wringing her hands a little. She’s always brave, but I’m proud of her for handling this so well.

“Good idea.” I slowly force my legs down to the floor and start air-walking toward the window. Jez follows underneath me, looking up, still wringing her hands. I hover above the sink, and I’m just about to put out my hand, when the bathroom door opens.

Shelley Norman, a big grade nine girl, walks in. Jez shrieks. I whip my hand out and touch the window, saying a little prayer: this better work.

It does. Next thing I know, I’m lying on Shelley Norman. I fall like a stone and land on this beefy grade nine girl. At least she breaks my fall. She shoves me off her and glowers at me. She’s mean. She’s breathing mean and nasty all over Jez and me.

“What the heck are you doing, Golden? Didn’t I tell you in gym class last week never to touch me? Geez, you’re crazier than everyone thinks,” Shelley says. She looks like she is going to turn me into stone.

“She’s not feeling well, Shelley,” Jez says. “We’re just going to the principal’s office.”

Jez grabs me and we tear out of there as fast as we can. I can actually feel Shelley Norman’s mean, hot breath on my neck as we squeeze by her.

As we run down the corridor I sneak a quick peek at my best friend, who for the first time in our lives looks back at me like she has no idea who I am.