Chapter 1
Wednesday, October 2, 2019 San Ramos High, Northern California
The earth pounded like a jack hammer. I dropped my phone and it bounced on the floor of the main hall at San Ramos High. As I grabbed it, the floor slammed into my feet again. That jack hammer was working overtime.
“Get in a doorway,” a booming voice called.
I knew that, so I was surprised when the current Student Council President came running toward me. The girl he was with said, “Chill. It’s nothing. A trembler—not an earthquake.” I must have looked worse than I thought because she stared for a minute before she asked, “You okay?”
I nodded.
“You’re Sandee Mason, right?” the Student Council President asked.
“That’s me.”
“I remember the assembly where you spoke about your brother last spring.”
I nodded. Here he was, in the job my brother, Bri, had two years ago, and I couldn’t help wondering if Bri wanted to tell me something or warn me about someone. He used to send me encouraging messages after he died – at least I thought he did – and I kind of hoped he was trying to get my attention now.
“Don’t worry, small quakes just release the tension between the plates. The big one’s further away than ever and it seems like it’s over now.” He pushed the hall door open for his girlfriend.
“Thanks,” I called after him. My dad had told Bri and me that factoid years ago.
I grabbed my books and stuffed them in my worn backpack, then slammed the door, which made as much noise as the under- earth pounding.
I was already five minutes late for rehearsal. Not good. Ms. G expected her actors to be prompt, and that went double for the stage manager—me.
The quake spooked me. So did the Student Council President. From the back he looked a lot like Bri, but Bri went to Afghanistan and the body parts they could find came back in a box.
