“Given that most, if not all, of you will be applying to college soon, this is not the time to slack off. The standards for admission have never been higher, so you must find ways to stand out beyond your GPA. To that end, we are requiring that every student sign up for at leastoneextracurricular activity.”
“Oh, come on,” says Trevor, rolling his eyes.
There are more disappointed reactions from other tables, but Minaro ignores them.
“As we are a new school, it will be up to you to establish the clubs and organizations you are interested in. If you have ideas, please pick up forms from the administrative office and submit your proposals. We will make our official selections on Friday, and over the weekend we will post enrollment sheets for every activity. You will sign up for at least one, and meetings will begin next week.”
“Film club,” Zach announces as soon as talking breaks out.
“I know what I’m proposing,” says Tiffany. “Morning announcements!”
She sits up and plasters on a smile like she’s already on camera. “Good morning, students of Huntington, this is Tiffany Carter, bringing you the news this Tuesday. Today will be a high of sixty-five degrees, with a low of fifty-three. Breakfast offerings this morning include scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and cereal with your choice of dairy and nondairy milks—”
“You’re perfect,” says Zach, and when he sees the pointed way both Salma and Trevor look from him to Tiffany, implying a romantic link, he doesn’t seem bothered by it. “I can handle the videography if you want.”
“I’d love that,” she says.
“Football,” says Trevor, and he sits up. “If we can get a solid enough team, we could qualify for a league.” He sizes up our classmates like he’s scouting potential prospects.
“Occult club,” says Salma, her gleaming eyes meeting mine. “I was sure when I saw pictures of this place that it had paranormal vibes, and obviously the LUB confirms it.”
The wordparanormalis a knife to my throat, and I look away.
“But you can’t tell anyone about the LUB,” Trevor warns her.
“Calm down,Fight Club,” says Salma, who looks like she’s biting back a grin when Trevor flashes his dimples at her. “What about you?” she asks me, and I shrug.
“I’m… not sure.”
First, I need to survive long enough to fill out the form.
“You heard Minaro,” says Tiffany. “You need to pick one.”
“Okay then, maybe…” I scour my mind for things I enjoy doing. “A book club?”
“Right,” says Tiffany, cracking a sardonic smirk. “I’m sureeveryonewill sign up to do even more reading just for fun.”
“You’re right,” I say. “Morning announcements will be amuchbigger draw. You better prepare a good audition.”
Her smirk grows stale, and it’s clear she didn’t consider that she might have competition.
When the bell rings, I feel a pit in my stomach, like I’m walking to my own execution. A countdown to midnight starts to tick off in my head.
I need help.
But who can protect me from avampire? The only thing I can do is call my parents to bring me home, but then the monster could strike Salma.
Unless I convince her to leave with me.
Today.
“What about you, Lorena?”
I blink and find Director Minaro staring at me. How are we already in last period? I don’t remember any of today’s classes.
“Are you with us?” she asks.
Salma elbows my arm and whispers, “She was asking about—”
