The Prank (Night Fall ™)

by Ashley Rae Harris

  THE PRANK

  A S H L E Y R A E H A R R I S

  Text copyright © 2011 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

  All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

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  Minneapolis, MN 55401 U.S.A.

  Website address: www.lernerbooks.com

  Cover photograph © Drx/Dreamstime.com.

  Main body text set in Memento Regular 12/16.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Harris, Ashley Rae.

  The prank / by Ashley Rae Harris.

  p. cm. — (Night fall)

  Summary: Bridgewater High junior Jordan, eager to fit in with a popular crowd, takes part in a series of pranks that go horribly wrong, and as she and her friend Charlie investigate, they begin to wonder if the spirit of a prank victim who died twenty years earlier is to blame.

  ISBN 978-0-7613-7747-4 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper)

  [1. Practical jokes—Fiction. 2. Popularity—Fiction. 3. Ghosts—Fiction.

  4. Haunted schools—Fiction. 5. High schools—Fiction.

  6. Schools—Fiction. 7. Horror stories.] I. Title.

  PZ7.H2406Pr 2011

  [Fic]—dc22 2011001025

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  1—BP—7/15/11

  eISBN: 978-0-7613-7954-6 (pdf)

  eISBN: 978-1-4677-2960-4 (ePub)

  eISBN: 978-1-4677-2959-8 (mobi)

  To my best friend, who

  always has my back

  Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there

  wondering, fearing,

  Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared

  to dream before

  —Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven

  1

  Jordan made her way to school, taking in the crisp fall morning. She loved biking when the weather was like this—warm enough to go without a jacket, but not hot enough to make her sweat. It was a two-mile ride to Bridgewater High through the center of town. Jordan turned up her iPod as she passed the Chowder Hut. The restaurant was empty now, but she knew as soon as school let out it would be filled with kids laughing and gossiping.

  Jordan wondered if Charlie would be there. She thought about his intense brown eyes and the shaggy hair that brushed past the collar on his soccer jersey. There was something about his look, like he didn’t care about the way others saw him, that made him irresistible.

  Jordan had had a crush on Charlie for more than a year now, but they’d never said more than a few words to each other. Now that Jordan was a junior, she hoped he might pay more attention to her. But he was always hanging around Briony McCormick. Briony was a senior like Charlie and super pretty. She was OK enough, but there was something about her that Jordan didn’t quite trust—like she was just a little too perfect. Shiny hair, bright white teeth, matching cardigan, and miniskirt perfect. Jordan herself was more of the worn-in jeans and baggy sweater type.

  When Jordan arrived at school, everyone seemed to be running around. The homecoming football game was that Friday, and there were activities to celebrate all week long. The cafeteria was serving cookies decorated in the school colors, and Wednesday was a special pajama day. If this year was anything like the last one, even the teachers would join in the week’s festivities and turn a blind eye to the predictable school pranks.

  As Jordan approached her locker, she spotted her best friend, Kit. Jordan watched as Kit was nearly knocked over by a group of giggling senior girls in leggings and face paint.

  “Whoa, I thought you were going to take a nosedive!” Jordan commented once her friend regained balance.

  Kit rolled her eyes as she pulled her shoulder-length brown hair into a sloppy ponytail. “I hate homecoming. It’s like all of a sudden everyone is so stoked to be at school just because they’re allowed to paint blue stripes on their cheeks. Why can’t we just go back to last week, when everyone hated everything?”

  “Hey, speak for yourself! We’re watching telenovelas in Spanish today,” Jordan said.

  “Whatever. I’d rather be anywhere but at that game.”

  Jordan sighed and swung an arm around Kit’s shoulder. Kit had been her best friend since fourth grade. She usually made Jordan laugh, but sometimes she could be such a downer. Jordan actually wanted to go to the game and see Bridgewater High trample St. Philomena’s. But then there was the dance afterwards . . .

  Jordan had never actually had a date to a school dance. She’d gone to dance parties for Halloween and other casual events, in groups or with Kit, if she could drag her along. But she’d never worn a dress and been picked up by a guy for a formal. It looked like this homecoming would be no different.

  Jordan was deep in thought when she came face-to-face with Briony McCormick emerging from the bathroom. Jordan was sure Briony had no idea who she was, so it surprised her when Briony smiled sweetly and said, “Hi, Jordan.”

  “Oh, hey,” Jordan said.

  “Cute sweater.”

  “Um, thanks. It’s really old,” Jordan stammered.

  Briony gave her a tight smile before heading out the door. Jordan looked down at her sweater. She’d taken it from an old trunk of her father’s college clothes when her parents were cleaning out the attic. She doubted Briony actually found it cute—in fact, she wondered if there was something more to Briony’s compliment. But she couldn’t help feeling flattered anyway.

  2

  After last period, it was time for “Bridgewater Live” in the gym—a goofy talent show the seniors put on every year. Kit refused to go, of course, and headed home. She invited Jordan to come over once it was through. Since none of teachers seemed to be assigning homework and Halloween was coming up, they had plans to watch some old horror movies later that night.

  Jordan found a spot on one of the bleachers toward the back. She sat behind a group of freshmen who were laughing and pulling each other’s hair. One of them squirmed to free herself from the grip on her ponytail and accidentally elbowed Jordan. Maybe Kit had the right idea, Jordan thought.

  She wasn’t sure what a talent show had to do with football. She guessed that the point was really to announce the homecoming nominations. The emcee was Bart Tompkins, a gawky senior. Everyone seemed to like him, even though he wasn’t considered particularly hot or cool. Wearing a full three-piece suit, Bart started things off with a chicken dance that made the crowd roar with laughter. Then he announced that afternoon’s entertainment.

  A rock band played a few original songs before shifting into a faster, semi-screaming version of the school anthem, “Onward Knights of Bridgewater.” Jordan couldn’t tell if they were mocking school spirit or celebrating it. A group of senior girls in strapless spandex tops did a dance routine to “Poker Face,” except they’d changed the lyrics to reference Bridgewater High and various members of the football team. They weren’t very good, but everyone cheered and screamed anyway.

  Bart grabbed the microphone again. “Thank you, lovely senioritas of Bridgewater High. I hope you’ll save a dance for me on Friday.” The crowd snickered, and the dancers blew exaggerated kisses at the emcee. “And now, what we’ve all been waiting for: the nominations for this year’s homecoming court!”

  The various nominees paraded in front of the whooping crowd. Predictably, Briony and Charlie were nominated for h
omecoming queen and king. Jordan cringed when she saw Charlie offer his arm to escort Briony. Briony beamed up at him. Her hair shone under the fluorescent lighting. Jordan had to admit, they looked kind of great together. As far as she knew, they weren’t dating. But it was probably only a matter of time before they started.

  All of a sudden, something came flying from the side door and burst with a splash on the gym floor. Briony stumbled slightly, trying to avoid it. Her face twisted into an embarrassed grimace. “What the—?”

  Briony bent down to pick up the broken water balloon. It was maroon—the color St. Philomena’s team.

  “Very funny!” she called out into the crowd, shaking her head with a little laugh. But she looked more annoyed than amused.

  Jordan craned her head to see the commotion by the side door, but the freshmen were in her way again. She heard laughter and the footsteps of people running away from where the balloon had been launched. With the mood somewhat spoiled, the emcee quickly finished up the nominations. Principal Weston took the mic and excused everyone.

  As she headed out, Jordan stole one last glance at the stage. Briony stood shaking her head and stomping her foot in anger. Charlie was holding her gently by both shoulders and talking softly to her, like he was trying to calm her down. She’s so weird, Jordan thought for the second time that day.

  3

  By the time Jordan got to Kit’s, she was ready for a break from the homecoming festivities. Kit was prepared with their favorite oink-out, movie-watching snacks: nachos, cherry soda, and ice cream sandwiches.

  “So what should we watch first? Cheerleaders getting axed or zombies on fire?” Kit asked dryly.

  “Cheerleaders.” They both answered at the same time. Jordan loved hanging out at Kit’s. They had the entire basement to themselves. Kit often complained about her parents’ constant arguing, but whenever Jordan was there it seemed like no one was around to bug them.

  The house was eerily silent when Jordan crept upstairs to get more ice cream sandwiches. She stood in the dim kitchen, noticing the stillness.

  “Boo!”

  Jordan jumped a full foot.

  “Ha! Scared you!” Kit said from the shadows of the basement doorway.

  “You jerk!” Jordan threw one of the ice cream sandwiches at her.

  “Well, what do you expect? Just standing there in the dark—too easy!” Kit said, laughing. “C’mon, let’s finish Cheerleader Slasher.”

  In the movie, all the cheerleaders started to drop off one by one. Everyone thought the town’s creepy librarian was the killer until they finally discovered that the head cheerleader was actually the one murdering everyone. In the final, bloody scene, the football captain wrestled an axe away from the cheerleader in self-defense and accidentally plunged it into her stomach, killing her instantly.

  “Women always get screwed in the end,” was Kit’s final assessment.

  “Seriously,” Jordan said, “What do you think Mr. Brown would say about this?” Mr. Brown was their creative-writing teacher. He was always trying to get them to think about how women and men are portrayed differently in novels and film.

  “He’d probably tell that jock to go jump off a cliff,” Kit replied, yawning. “And tell me to go to bed.”

  “Alright,” Jordan said, taking the hint that it was time to head home. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t let any pom-poms suffocate you while you sleep.”

  4

  The next day at school, the hallways were buzzing with students trying to figure out who’d thrown the water balloon during the homecoming nominations. A few kids claimed it was students from St. Philomena’s. Others said it was just a couple freshmen trying to be cool.

  Jordan didn’t care much either way. She’d been secretly amused to see Briony get so rattled. During lunch she sat with Kit, who chomped on a turkey sandwich as she brainstormed a new ending for Cheerleader Slasher.

  “What if after he stabbed her and left her for dead, there was a final shot where her eyes popped back open and she smiled that creepy cheerleader smile?” Kit suggested.

  “Well, it would definitely set the stage for the sequel,” Jordan agreed.

  “Hey, Jordan!” Briony’s voice was behind her. Jordan swiveled around.

  “Hi, Briony,” she answered, surprised.

  “We’re all going to the Chowder Hut after school. Do you want to come?” Briony said, smiling.

  “Um, sure . . .”

  “Cool. See you later!” Briony sang as she skipped off, her blonde ponytail swinging with each step.

  “Well, that was a shocker. You’re going to the Chowder Hut with Briony McCormick?” Kit laughed. “I wonder why she didn’t invite me.”

  Jordan didn’t like Kit’s tone. She wanted to say, “Maybe she didn’t invite you because you always think you’re too good for everything.” But even as she thought it, she knew it wasn’t totally fair. After all, earlier that day she’d been laughing to herself at Briony’s misfortune during the homecoming nominations. It wasn’t like the two of them were the best of friends. It was a little weird that she was invited.

  Could there be any possibility that Charlie liked her after all? That he had asked Briony to include her? Or was it just a coincidence? Jordan had no idea, but she was excited to find out. As much as she tried, she could hardly concentrate on Kit’s newest version of the horror film ending.

  5

  As she was locking up her bike, Jordan could see Briony and Charlie through the Chowder Hut window. They hovered around a booth at the far end with a group of other seniors. Jordan stood in the doorway for a second, wondering whether she should approach them. Briony soon spotted her and waved her over.

  “Hey, what’s up?” Jordan said, trying to sound casual as she joined the group.

  Everyone was so busy talking over one another that she thought no one had heard her. But then Briony answered, “Oh, hey Jordan! You made it!”

  “Yeah, I didn’t have a whole lot else going on. There’s not a ton of homework this week.” She sounded lame even to herself.

  Thankfully, Briony pretended not to notice. “Well, you’re just in time,” she said cheerfully. “We’re plotting our revenge against St. Philomena’s.”

  “What?” Jordan half-laughed. “Revenge?”

  “Yes, revenge! They should never have beat us at last year’s homecoming, and this time we’re going to make sure they don’t do it again.”

  “What are you going to do?” Jordan asked.

  Charlie chimed in, “Ah, we’re just going to scare ’em a little. Intimidate them so they don’t play as well. It’s all in good fun.”

  He smiled at Jordan, and she felt her face flush. How could he be so cute and so cool and nice?

  “Good fun? I don’t think so,” Briony sneered. “After that stunt they pulled yesterday during ‘Bridgewater Live,’ they’re going down. I want to see them crying like babies by the time we’re done with them.”

  Jordan was surprised. She had never seen this tough-girl side of Briony before. But just as she thought she’d misjudged her, Briony thrust her purse into Charlie’s hands, saying, “Charlie, can you hold my purse open for a minute? I can’t find my lip gloss and hold it at the same time.”

  He glanced over at Jordan with a sheepish shrug as he held the purse. Jordan looked away, feeling embarrassed for him. Did Briony always push him around like this?

  “So, what is your plan?” Jordan asked.

  “We start at midnight tonight on the roof of St. Philomena’s,” Briony started. “By tomorrow morning our message will be crystal clear.” She looked around at the rest of the group—Kevin, Leslie, Carlos, and Thomas—and they all nodded vigorously along with her. Charlie looked down at his feet.

  “You’re breaking into the school?” Jordan exclaimed.

  “Don’t seem so shocked,” Briony replied. “You’ll be there with us.”

  “Tonight? I . . . umm . . . I can’t do it tonight.” Jordan tried to think of an excuse. The last t
hing she wanted was to get expelled for pulling some stupid prank. “My grandparents are visiting and staying in my room. I’m supposed to sleep on the couch. My parents will hear me if I try to sneak out.”

  Briony rolled her eyes. “Fine, then. You can make it up to us tomorrow. Meet us here at the same time in the afternoon, and we’ll fill you in on the plan. Hey, you guys wanna order some fries or something?”

  “Yeah-uh! And some onion rings. I need a little fuel for tonight’s pre-game!” Carlos answered.

  Jordan’s heart raced as she nodded along. She wanted to just run away, but she wanted to stay, too. She tried to munch on fries and laugh at all the right times. But between her mad crush on Charlie and Briony’s strange invitation, it was difficult to act normal.

  “Are you going to the game?” Jordan asked Charlie. She realized as soon as she asked it that it was a dumb question—of course he would be going to the game. What senior wasn’t? She thought she saw Briony smirk, but Charlie pretended not to notice.

  “Planning on it. Are you?” he said.

  “I guess so. My dad played football for Bridgewater High, so I always try to go.”

  “Oh yeah? That’s cool. My mom was a cheerleader. I wonder if they knew each other,” Charlie replied.

  “Small world,” Jordan replied, and they smiled at each other.

  “Alright, it’s time to get moving, everyone,” Briony commanded. Then she added sarcastically, “Everyone except Jordan, that is. She has to go hang out with her grandparents.”

  Jordan felt her face get hot as she exited the Chowder Hut. “Have fun,” she murmured. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Oh, wait, Jordan,” Briony said, “I almost forgot. None of us have our bikes. We took Charlie’s truck to school.”