Wow, her dad must be loaded. Why wasn’t he here? Probably the same reason my parents were AWOL—busy, busy, busy.
A light breeze blew across my face. “Much better.” I inhaled the fresh air.
I had a feeling I’d love this school as much as James had once upon a time. The Montrose campus sat on a hillside nestled above the Hudson River. Off to the south, green lawns leveled off into a quad where two enormous brick buildings with stone pillars that housed the classrooms faced opposite of the first-class cafeteria and gigantic old library. But the two crowning jewels of the campus were the Gothic stone chapel on the far side of the quad and the observatory tower nestled between two hills.
Those gorgeous arches and stained glass chapel windows begged for a closer look. Maybe they could give me some insight into my brother’s cryptic postcard.
“Eye candy at two o’clock.” Shanda’s manicured nail pointed out a sandy-haired heart-breaker zipping down the cobblestone sidewalk across the quad. “He’s got some potential.”
“Not a bad pick.” Tousled hair, but cute with the right amount of chisel, kind of like the mystery flyer guy. Why couldn’t I go one day without thinking of boys? This was at least the third one today. Get a grip, girl. Like I could think about dating again after my last debacle. “So not happening.”
“You wanna bet?” She raised a pencil-thin brow at me. “I can help you snag him.”
“No way. I’m not into dating right now.” I smacked my hand over my mouth, but the truth popped out before I could stop it. At least my brain won the battle of the hormones, probably because the nearest guy was fifty feet away.
“What?” She halted in the middle of the sidewalk, mouth wide as the sequined outline of Mick Jagger’s lips on her rocker tee.
I plowed straight into her shoulder, and the horrible images rushed back. Clear as the cloudless sky.
Jake and Becca, kissing on the couch, tangled together. Their faces followed me anywhere, even a thousand miles away from home. I blinked, my fingers curling into fists at my side.
“Nasty breakup?” Shanda’s smile was soft.
“Yeah.” I couldn’t smile back. My lips just twitched.
She nodded with a familiar expression that said maybe she’d been there, too. “Wanna talk about it?”
“Not really.” I shook my head. “I just want to start fresh. On my own terms.”
“Understandable.” She didn’t say another word, just resumed the pace like nothing ever happened. Now that was cool.
We marched on in silence, stopping at the stone steps of the chapel.
Like a mini Notre Dame Cathedral it towered above us, even more breathtaking up close. A kink formed in my neck from staring up at it. “Impressive, don’t you think?”
“It’s supposed to look that way, or no one would pay the enormous tuition bills. Soon you won’t even notice these cobblestone sidewalks or your so-called impressive buildings with too many steps. But if you start swooning over the benches dedicated to someone’s dead grandmother, I’ll have to kill you.”
“Fine, I’ll swoon in silence.” I slapped my palm against my forehead and dropped to the nearest bench. “Bring me my smelling salts.”
“Get up, girl, you’re missing the true gem of Montrose.” With her finger she outlined an enormous stone tower behind the chapel and the quad. Its white dome gleamed in the afternoon sun. “That’s the observatory. It’s huge. I can’t wait to use the giant telescope.”
“Now who’s swooning?” I laughed as she helped me up.
Once classes started, I wouldn’t have time to worry about boys. As if I’d ever go for future secret society leaders and wannabe senators anyway. No, I had bigger goals for my time at Montrose Paranormal Academy. My plan might be harder than I thought. Could I pledge all three societies without getting sucked in? I’d find out in a few hours with the first group on the list … The Nexis Society.
Chapter 2
Tonight was the night. My first step to finding my brother started with one little meeting. I jogged up the cement steps to the observatory, my canvas flats pounding louder than my heartbeat. The tower rose from the top of the hill like a steeple—a domed pillar of brick watching over the whole campus. Night wind whipped my hair into my eyes, but I tossed the dark-brown strands back and let the moonlight lead the way.
Shanda’s braids flapped in front of me as we booked it up the wide steps. “C’mon. We’re gonna be late.”
My heart thundered, still two beats behind her. “We’ll never make it on time.” The path dimmed with each step. Even the moonglow faded behind a cloud. Only a glint of gold pricked through the darkness.
“I think it’s in here.” Through the shadows, she pointed out an engraved plaque etched with the words, Stanton Observatory, established 1847.
“Figures.” My mom’s voice danced in my head, cheering me on. Now I knew why she told me a few days ago to “look up that nice Stanton boy.” His family must rank high in the Nexis food chain. My mom always wanted me to be someone I’m not—someone who cares about high society. For once I had listened to her advice, though not on purpose.
A wave of dread washed over me, sinking into the depths of my stomach. I wanted to run back into the moonlight, but I was on a mission. Holding my chin up high, I followed Shanda into a wood-paneled foyer.
“Welcome, ladies.” A brassy blonde ushered us toward a spiral staircase that snaked up the tower. “I’m Colleen.” She swept her hand over a tag on her shirt. “I’ll get you all set up.”
Without asking, she handed me a nametag.
“How’d you know my name?” I plastered it on my black v-neck t-shirt and smoothed my hands down my jean shorts.
“Everyone knows
