THE GIRL WHO KNEW MY SECRET

CHAPTER ONE — THE GIRL IN THE RED DRESS The first thing Maya noticed about Westbridge Academy was that everyone seemed to know everyone. The second thing she noticed was that everyone was staring at her. She tightened her grip on the strap of her schoolbag. “New student?” Maya turned. A tall girl in a perfectly pressed uniform stood behind her. Her dark hair was tied neatly, and three girls followed her like shadows. “Yes,” Maya answered. The girl looked her up and down. “Scholarship?” Maya nodded. The girl smiled. Not kindly. “Good luck.” She walked away. Maya frowned. “What was that about?” Before anyone could answer, the school bell rang. Maya hurried toward her classroom. She had barely taken three steps when someone bumped into her. Her necklace slipped out from beneath her shirt. The tall girl's eyes immediately fell on it. She stopped walking. Her face changed. She grabbed Maya's wrist. “Where did you get that?” Maya pulled her hand away. “My mother gave it to me.” The girl's expression became strangely pale. “What did you say?” “My mother.” The girl stared at the small silver pendant hanging around Maya's neck. Then she whispered: “That's impossible.” Maya frowned. “Why?” The girl looked directly into her eyes. “Because that necklace belonged to my mother.” Maya's heart stopped. “What?” But the girl had already walked away. Maya touched the pendant. She had worn it every day since she was little. Her mother had always told her the same thing: Never take it off. Maya had never understood why. Now she suddenly wanted answers. And she was about to discover that Westbridge Academy was hiding far more than she had imagined.