Trevor blocked my exit.
"You'd better do this assignment. You heard what Mrs. Naper said. If I fail this, it could affect my grades for college. I'm not going to spend the rest of my life in prison with you."
"We'll finish it in time. I've just been preoccupied."
"Doing what? Polishing gravestones? Painting your nails with blacktop? Conjuring the dead?"
Now he was getting on my bad side. "Then maybe I won't do it," I challenged him.
Trevor paused. His face grew red with anger. "I knew that was your plan all along. I'm not going to let you ruin my chances for a soccer scholarship, Monster Girl."
The bell rang, ending our hostile discussion.
"Don't bother asking me to walk you to class," he said sharply.
Here I was worried Trevor was planning to sabotage me when all along he was thinking I was going to do the same to him. My nemesis and I were more alike than I ever would care to admit.
"Remember, I know where you live," he said in his most threatening voice, "and that monster family, too. And believeme, they will be here for a while. That house won't sell."
Trevor started off for English class in a huff.
I was taken aback by my nemesis' last statement. I raced after him.
"What do you mean the Mansion won't sell?" I asked, jumping in front of him.
"Who do they think they can sell that bat trap to?" he asked. "It's an eyesore. And my dad says it's a major money pit. With all the new houses being built, who would buy a ghost- filled broken-down home when someone could buy a brand- new one?'' Trevor's injurious comment was actually a blessing in disguise. If the Mansion didn't sell, then Alexander couldn't move. My boyfriend could remain in Dullsville forever.
"I could almost kiss you," I surprised myself by saying.
"Then why don't you?" he asked, his eyes piercing through mine.
Just then the second bell rang.
"There's not enough time!" I said, and escaped into class.
22
RUMOR STARTER
A Berkley Realty for sale sign was stuck on the lawn of the Mansion. I wanted to rip it out of the ground and throw it over theiron gate .
I wasn't sure how I would react to Mr. and Mrs. Sterling now that I knew their true plans for Alexander and the Mansion. I dearly loved them like my own parents, but I was obviously conflicted. I knew they weren't trying to hurt me and my boyfriend, but their decision was breaking my heart.
I waited outside the Mansion's door, barely able to breathe. I knocked several times.
The door finally creaked open and Alexander appeared/ "They're out," he said.
I sighed. My anxiety flew out of my body like a bat from an attic. I entered the Mansion and gave my boyfriend a big kiss.
"I wasn't sure if I was going to have to beg them on my hands and knees or just burst out in tears."
Alexander gently laughed, but it was apparent by his hollowed cheeks and bloodshot eyes that he hadn't slept.
"I have great news," I exclaimed.
"I could use some."
"I figured out the perfect solution," I said.
"You did?" Alexander perked up.
I took a breath, excited by my problem solving. "You can't move out of the Mansion if no one buys it.,."
Alexander nodded. "True…"
"So…"
"So?"
"So, we have to make sure no one does."
"How are we going to do that?" he asked.
"Glad you asked. Gossip runs through this town like a flood. Usually the rumors are about you, your family, or me. Now we'll be the ones to spread them about ourselves."
"What will we spread? How can we convince people not to buy the Mansion?"
I hated to disappoint him. He was so proud of his grandmother's mansion. Just as I adored it, he obviously did even more.
"Have you been around this town?" I asked. "I can't imagine anyone would be interested in buying the Mansion anyway, with all the rumors surrounding it for years. But now that it's for sale we can't take any chances. We have to spread our own. Verify the Mansion is worse than they thought.Bats, mold, or rusty pipes, None of these women would step one of their Prada-wearing feet inside even view it."
Alexander's pale face lit up.
"But what if someone from outside of town comes to take a look."
"They have to stop at Mickey's gas station. Or stay al Dullsville's bed and breakfast. They'll find out fast enough about the money-pit mansion and then we'll be able to heat their tires screeching away."
He picked me up and kissed me for a long time.
"Where do we begin?" he asked with renewed hope.
"We'll have to set everything in motion tonight. We can't waste any time."
Alexander and I met Matt and Becky by the fountain al Dullsville's town square.
Matt was in his jersey and soccer cleats and Becky had her pink sweater tied around her waist.