Mean Ghouls by Stacia Deutsch

recited.
    It’s like my life is flashing before me , Megan thought. One page at a time.
    â€œHey, look, Brett!” Brooke said suddenly. “Megan glued your old online profile in here.”
    Megan gasped as Brooke tore the page out of her notebook. “That’s mine!” she pleaded. “Give it back.”
    â€œLet me see.” Brett took the page from Brooke. “I have a sister. A dog.” He pinched his lips together. “Yep. That’s true. But what’s this other baloney-maloney? I act in the theater? My favorite color is brown? I don’t remember that stuff.”
    â€œAnd you love pepperoni pizza,” Megan added. “At least, you used to.”
    Brett folded the profile page in half. “It all sounds familiar. But I’m not that guy anymore.” He waved the printed paper at Megan and then stuffed it in his pocket. “I’m a B.” Brett laughed. “A Zom-B!”
    The other Bs laughed with him.
    â€œI want my notebook,” Megan said.
    â€œNo,” said Brooke.
    â€œNo way,” said Betsy.
    â€œIt was in our room,” Brenda said. “Finders keepers.”
    â€œGive her back the notebook.” Happy stood in the open doorway. The movie must have ended. “Now.”
    â€œOr what?” Brooke said.
    â€œOr I won’t do your project,” Happy replied.
    Megan looked at Happy, relieved to see her. “I thought …”
    â€œI know what you thought. And if you think I’m so weak that these Ghouls can blackmail me, then you better rush down to the nurse and have your brain examined. I told you to do that, right?”
    â€œYeah. You did.”
    â€œWell? Did you?”
    â€œNo,” Megan admitted.
    â€œYou should.” Happy then turned to Brooke. “The notebook. Now.” She held out one hand.
    Roles had been reversed. The changes both Happy and Brooke had made when they came to Zombie Academy no longer applied. In this moment, Happy was the tough, popular girl she’d been in middle school in New York.
    â€œIf you want your Visitors’ Day surprise” — Happy stared at Brooke — “you’ll give her the notebook.” When no one moved, Happy said, “You need me. I know what you are up to.”
    â€œHow —?” Brooke really was scared of Happy. Her pale skin seemed more translucent than ever. “Who told you?”
    â€œIt all became clear once my parents informed me they were coming to the castle. I’m smarter than you think.” Happy squinted. “Now, are you going to give Megan back her notebook, or should I tell Mr. Franko that I quit? You know I’m only helping you because it got me out of PE. I hate shuffle ball. I can ask Mr. Jones for a different project….”
    Glancing at her shoes, Brooke handed Megan the ZA notebook.
    â€œWe’re done here.” Happy rotated and left the room. Without looking at the Bs or Brett, Meganclutched her notebook to her chest and followed Happy into the hall.
    â€œI don’t understand,” Megan said. “After everything I said to you, you didn’t have to help me.”
    â€œI know.” Happy stared hard into Megan’s eyes. “Do you still think I helped them steal the cure?”
    The vials were in a crate in the room next door. The Bs had definitely taken them, but Megan wasn’t sure who else was involved. Was Mr. Jones? Was Happy? Megan’s hesitation was answer enough for Happy.
    â€œThat’s what I thought.” she said. “Have a pleasant night in the library.”

It was four days before Megan had another chance to sneak into the Bs’ room. During that time, she’d kept to herself and twitched with anticipation. She couldn’t wait to get the vials. She’d go straight to Nurse Karen, get a shot, and be home two hours later.
    Wednesday after classes, Mr. Jones announced that there was going to be an assembly near the