The Secret of the Scarlet Stone (A Gabby Girls Adventure Novel, Book One)

by T. L. Clarke

  Jessica nervously looked from Gabrielle to Rosalinda.

  Sighing softly, Zora adjusted her glasses. “It’s okay, Gabrielle.”

  Gabrielle looked over at Zora irritably. “No, it’s not okay, Zora.” She snapped her head back around, looking Rosalinda up and down with disgust. “It’s not okay for Princess Rosalinda to act like she’s better than any of us.”

  By then, Gabrielle and Rosalinda stood toe-to-toe, huffing and puffing like two angry bulls rearing to fight.

  Swallowing hard, Jessica stepped in between them, prying them apart. “Look, we’re roommates and we’ll have to live with each other for a while. So, why don’t we try to get along? Please?” Jessica looked over at Rosalinda with pleading eyes. “Rosalinda, will you help us look for Oscar?”

  Rosalinda looked over at Jessica then at Gabrielle. “Fine, I’ll help,” she replied grumpily. “Grande, ahora estoy buscando arenas,” she muttered as she lifted a pillow and blanket off the bed.

  Jessica looked over at Rosalinda. “Rosalinda, what does that mean?”

  Rosalinda smiled slightly. “I’m sorry, that’s a bad habit of mine. I tend to speak Spanish, especially when I’m angry. I said, ‘Great, now I’m looking for spiders.”

  Smiling shyly, Jessica turned around and continued to carefully look under the bed for Oscar.

  Gabrielle looked around the floor but there was no Oscar in sight. She huffed in frustration, marching toward the closet. From the corner of her eye, she spotted a dark shadow slowly moving across the floor.

  “Zora, I think I found Oscar,” Gabrielle screamed excitedly. She slowly walked toward the closet, warily looking at Oscar, who was now circling around in the corner as if looking for a safe place to hide. Carefully she leaned down and picked him up. She giggled deliciously as Oscar slowly crawled across her palm, his feet softly tickling her skin.

  Rosalinda’s green eyes bulged frightfully as she watched Oscar crawling around quite comfortably in the center of Gabrielle’s hand. Letting out a high-pitched scream at the top of her lungs, she quickly jumped onto the bed.

  Zora quickly walked over to Gabrielle with a small glass tank cradled in her arms. “Oh, thank you, Gabi. Please, drop him in here.”

  Grinning hugely, Gabrielle dropped him into the tank. “No problem, Zora. That’s what friends are for. Okay, you can hop off the bed now, Princess Rosalinda,” she yelled in a sing-song voice.

  Rosalinda awkwardly stepped off the bed and gave Zora an apologetic smile. “I apologize for my earlier behavior. However, I do want you to know that I still do not approve of having pets in the room. But I will not tell Ms. Vineswell about this as long as that thing stays in the tank.”

  Softly cooing at Oscar, Zora distractedly looked up at Rosalinda. “Okay, no problem. Really, this is the first time that Oscar has ever gotten out of his tank. I promise it won’t happen again.” Happily she walked over to the window, gently placing the tank down on the windowsill.

  Sauntering over to her bed, Gabrielle pulled from her luggage a small battered metal box with colorful stickers plastered all over it. She quickly sat on the bed, crossing her legs happily as she opened the box.

  Curiously, Jessica walked over to Gabrielle, sitting down on the edge of her bed. She pointed her finger at the box. “So, what’s in there, Gabi?”

  Gabrielle smiled mysteriously. “Why don’t you take a look?”

  Jessica’s eyes popped open with glee as she peered into the box. The battered metal box was filled to the top with lollipops in all different flavors and sizes. “Gosh, Gabi, you sure do love lollipops.”

  Pulling out a cherry one, Gabrielle popped it into her ponytail. She pulled out another lollipop, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth. “Yum, I sure do,” she said as she rolled her eyes skyward with pleasure.

  Licking her lips hungrily, Jessica looked longingly at the lollipops in the box.

  Smiling knowingly, Gabrielle pulled out a grape lollipop and waved it tauntingly in her face. “Come on, Jess, have one. I know you want it.”

  Jessica snatched the lollipop from her fingers. “Okay, I’ll just have one.” She quickly unwrapped it and popped it into her mouth. “Oh, yum! Grape….my favorite.” Guiltily, Jessica looked over at Gabrielle. “I really shouldn’t be eating this but I guess it’s okay if I can make up for it by eating less at dinnertime.”

  Gabrielle looked over at Rosalinda and held up a lollipop. “Hey, Princess Rosalinda! No hard feelings, right? Do you want one?”

  Distractedly, Rosalinda looked over at Gabrielle as she busily unpacked. She crunched up her nose with disgust. “No way. Candy is too sticky and too messy.” She smiled reluctantly at Gabrielle. “And no…no hard feelings.”

  Gabrielle looked over at Zora, waving a lollipop temptingly. “Zora, how about you? Do you want one?”

  Distractedly, Zora looked up from cooing at Oscar and adjusted her glasses. “Do you know that a lollipop is somewhat similar to glass? Both are members of a group of solids called amorphous and—”

  “Zora, please…no science lessons. Do you want one or not?” Gabrielle asked cheerfully.

  Zora smiled apologetically. “Sorry, I really have to stop that; it’s a bad habit of mine. Sure, throw one over.”

  Carefully, Gabrielle threw the lollipop over. Trying to break the ice between her and Rosalinda, she gave her a friendly smile. “You have an awesome accent, Rosalinda. What country are you from?”

  Rosalinda smiled proudly. “I was born in Spain but I have traveled all over the world with my father and madrastra…sorry, my stepmother.” Her face suddenly pinched in contempt. “But last month my stepmother suddenly decided that it was time for me to settle down permanently. So, here I am at Vineswell Academy, formally starting my education in America.”

  Gabrielle looked over at Zora. “And where are you from, Zo? I hope you don’t mind the nickname.”

  Pausing from licking her lollipop, Zora smiled. “No, you can call me Zo. My father is an archeologist, so we travel to all different parts of the world. I don’t really have a permanent home but I was born in New York. What about you?”

  Gabrielle smiled broadly because, of course, she loved talking about herself. “Me? I’m a New York girl, born and raised.”

  Looking down nervously at her watch, Jessica’s eyes bulged with surprise. “Girls, we better get going or we’re going to be late.” She jumped up from the bed and dusted off her skirt self-consciously. “The student tea party is about to start and I’m real hungry.”

  Rosalinda looked over at her with puzzlement. “What is this student tea party you talk about?”

  “Well, the student tea party is an old Vineswell Academy tradition. At the beginning of every school year, all of the students must attend. It’s like a party but without the balloons and music,” Jessica responded. “You get to learn about Vineswell Academy and meet all of the other students and the faculty.” She licked her lips hungrily. “And the best part of it all is that there will be tea sandwiches, scones, tarts, and cookies. Oh, goodness, I just can’t wait.”

  Anxiously, Rosalinda looked down at her uniform. “But look at me. I’m a mess. I absolutely must freshen up before the party.”

  Gabrielle quickly walked over to Rosalinda, pulling her towards the door. “Give me a break, Rosalinda; we’re only going to a tea party.” She looked over at Zora and Jessica. “Come on, girls, before we’re late.”

  They quickly walked out of the room and through the throng of excited girls rushing through the hallway and down the stairs. Gabrielle, Jessica, Zora, and Rosalinda were happily giggling and talking as they approached the large crowded dining room with “Tea Rose Dining Hall” elaborately etched above the door.

  A young dark-eyed woman with glossy black hair pulled into a bun smiled and greeted them warmly at the door. “Hello, ladies. How are you?” she asked kindly.

  They looked at her curiously as she pulled a stack of nametags out of the box she was holding. She wasn’t tragic-looking
for a professor; in fact, she was damn near perfect, like she could have been on “America’s Top Model.”

  “Okay, so let me guess,” she smiled as she handed over their nametags in order. “Jessica Owens. Rosalinda Hernandez Diaz. Zora Patterson. And Gabrielle Martin.” Her eyes twinkled happily. “And from the puzzled looks on your faces, I guess you’re wondering what my name is,” she said. “My name is Ms. Duncan and I’m a professor here at Vineswell Academy.”

  “Hello, Ms. Duncan,” they responded in unison.

  Inside the room, Ms. Vineswell sat stiffly at a long formal table that was propped on top of a raised platform that towered over the students. Her thin face pinched with disdain as she looked around at the students of all ages milling around loudly. She glanced off-handedly at the group of professors already seated at the table. There was something about some of the professors gathered that looked horribly out of place, but for the life of her, Gabrielle couldn’t figure it out.

  Tapping abruptly on the table, Ms. Vineswell cleared her throat loudly. “Young ladies, settle down and have a seat,” she commanded.

  Ms. Duncan’s warm smile quickly disappeared as she looked over disapprovingly at Ms. Vineswell. “Well, it was nice meeting all of you.” She walked into the dining room toward the faculty table and reluctantly sat down in the only empty chair, which happened to be by Ms. Vineswell.

  Gabrielle, Zora, Rosalinda, and Jessica entered the crowded room and looked around at the circular tables set with crisp white tablecloths, linen napkins, sparkling silverware, and colorful flower arrangements.

  Gabrielle smiled widely when she spotted an empty table tucked in the front of the room. “Come on. Let’s get that table before some else grabs it.” They quickly pushed through the crowd of girls jostling for a table.

  Jessica nervously adjusted her cardigan as they passed a table filled with girls. They all snickered loudly. Among them was Ashley, who coughed, covering her mouth with her hand. “Losers!” she said in a loud whisper.

  Gabrielle screeched to a stop and looked over at Ashley. “You couldn’t be talking about us because the only ‘losers’ I see around here are you and your friends.”

  Ashley’s face turned bright red as she sputtered angrily, “How dare you call us losers?”

  Gabrielle angrily placed her hands on her hips. “Well, didn’t you just call us losers?”

  “You don’t want to mess with me, Gabrielle. I can make or break you quite easily,” Ashley said.

  Gabrielle shook her head. “The only thing I have to say to that is get a life, Ashley. Come on, girls.” She walked away from Ashley with Zora, Rosalinda, and Jessica following closely behind her.

  When they sat down, Zora asked, “Gosh, what was that all about?”

  Jessica looked over at Gabrielle. “I can’t believe you just said that to Ashley. I don’t think anyone in this school is brave enough to go against her. Boy, did you see the look on her face? She was real angry.”

  Gabrielle casually picked up a gingerbread cookie from the cake stand and bit into it hungrily; the crumbs trickled down her chin. “Give me a break, Jess. I’m not scared of Ashley and you shouldn’t be, either.”

  Rosalinda gave Zora a puzzled look. “I don’t understand. Why was she so rude? My father said that the girls from Vineswell Academy are so nice and well-mannered.”

  Zora nonchalantly shoved a cookie into her mouth. “Welcome to reality at Vineswell Academy.”

  They all giggled hysterically.

  * * *

  Moments later, waiters scurried from table to table pouring steaming hot tea into dainty floral teacups as the loud voices of excited girls filled the room.

  Jessica, Rosalinda, and Zora giggled loudly when Gabrielle picked up her teacup and playfully slurped from it with her pinky finger sticking out snootily.

  Ashley gave them an annoyed stare as she leaned over and whispered into Rebecca’s ear.

  Ms. Vineswell stiffly stood up and cleared her throat as she looked around the room. “Welcome to Vineswell Academy,” she said in a high, nasal voice. “You are in a very privileged position, as most of you are well aware. All of you have been hand-selected to attend this illustrious institution and today starts the beginning of your wonderful journey at Vineswell Academy.”

  She straightened her stiff black jacket and smiled coldly. “Years ago, I, too, sat in this very same room as a proud student of Vineswell Academy. My great-grandmother, Martha Vineswell, the school’s founder, strongly believed that a highly structured environment breeds a highly structured and disciplined young lady.”

  Jessica, Rosalinda, Zora, and Gabrielle snickered softly.

  Ms. Vineswell shot them a disapproving glare. “Young ladies! Stop all that gabbing immediately.”

  They looked over at her nervously.

  Ashley smirked as she glanced over at them spitefully. She primly straightened her cardigan and stiffly stood up. “Pardon me, Ms. Vineswell…” Her cold blue eyes narrowed as she looked over at Gabrielle, Jessica, Rosalinda, and Zora. “But I think that I speak for all of my classmates when I say that it’s very ill-mannered of Gabrielle and her friends to spoil this wonderful tea party with their impolite behavior.”

  Ashley quickly jabbed Rebecca with her elbow.

  Rebecca took the cue, quickly standing up and looking over at them spitefully. “I fully agree with Ashley. In fact, I would respectfully go so far as to say that if Gabrielle and her friends do not respect the time-honored traditions of Vineswell Academy—as they obviously don’t by their rude gabbing during your wonderful speech—” she smiled sweetly, “then they should excuse themselves from the tea party and go gab somewhere else.”

  Gabrielle snorted loudly with disgust.

  Ms. Duncan gave Ms. Vineswell a hard stare.

  Ms. Vineswell smiled spitefully at Gabrielle as she stiffly sat down. “Please go on, Ashley.”

  Ashley smiled with false sweetness. “Our parents have spent a great deal of money just so we can attend Vineswell Academy and follow in our mothers’ and grandmothers’ footsteps. And I think that it’s just so unfair that all of us have to suffer through their selfish gabbing.”

  Ms. Duncan cleared her throat. “That’s just about enough, Ashley.”

  Ms. Vineswell shot Ms. Duncan a disapproving glance. “Well, thank you, Ashley, for your well-thought-out speech.” She looked around the room then smiled stiffly. “I am sure that your classmates appreciate your frankness. In fact, I find it so refreshing that you took the initiative to speak up and take the leadership role, as almost all Vineswell Academy girls do.”

  Angrily, Gabrielle jumped up but Jessica gently placed a hand on her arm to stop her.

  “The next time you young ladies feel it necessary to chat, excuse yourselves from the room so that your fellow classmates do not have to suffer through your rude gabbing,” Ms. Vineswell concluded.

  Ashley smirked viciously as she looked over at Gabrielle. “I think we all agree—” she said smugly as she looked around the room.

  Some of the girls stared at her silently, others nodded in agreement, and others just giggled nervously.

  “—that you should take your rude gabbing elsewhere,” Ashley continued.

  A hushed silence filled the room.

  Ms. Duncan’s face flushed with anger as she looked over at Ashley. “That will be just enough, Ashley. I’m sure that Gabrielle and her friends have gotten the point by now. Please have a seat.”

  Ashley narrowed her eyes coldly at Gabrielle as she hesitantly sat down. “They’re the ridiculous gabby girls with a not-so-fabulous gift of gab,” she taunted.

  The room erupted with loud giggling.

  Tricia looked over at Gabrielle spitefully. “Gabby Girls!” she shouted.

  The room erupted again with nervous laughter.

  Gabrielle looked around the room angrily and jumped up defensively. “Listen, you!” she sputtered furiously.

  Jessica quickly grabbed the sleeve of her sweater, her
eyes pleading with her to shutup.

  Gabrielle shot her a defiant stare.

  “No, Gabi, please leave it alone. We’re already in enough trouble as it is,” she begged softly.

  Gabrielle glared silently at Ashley as Rosalinda, Jessica, and Zora sat stiffly with humiliation written all over their faces.

  Ms. Vineswell smirked coldly as she slowly sipped her tea.

  Ashley smiled and mouthed softly over to Gabrielle, “Losers.”

  Gabrielle returned the favor and softly mouthed back, “This is not over.”

  Ashley’s smug smile quickly disappeared.

  Gabby Girl Clue #1

  For all the questions that you may have, just pay attention to this first half. First go to Parker— that’s a start—and then read and solve the second half. It’s wide and tall from floor to ceiling and always filled with words and meaning. You’ll know that you have found a clue when all that binds has come unglued.

  CHAPTER SIX

  The Scarlet Stone

  Sprawled across the bed, Gabrielle painted her short nails with bright blue nail polish as she loudly hummed to the music blaring from her pink jewel-encrusted headphones.

  Jessica and Zora sat by the window happily playing with Oscar, while Rosalinda sat at the end of her bed brushing her long, black silky hair.

  “Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty,” Rosalinda softly muttered.

  Gabrielle made a loud gagging sound as she looked over at Rosalinda with total disgust. Annoyed, Rosalinda slammed her brush on the bed.

  Gabrielle quickly took off her headphones and looked over at Rosalinda. “Girl, I’ve been watching you brush almost every strand of hair out of your head and I can say with no doubt that you’re definitely going to go bald by the time you’re sixteen.”

  Rosalinda looked over at her angrily. “For your information, my mother, who was a famous actress in Spain, brushed her hair thirty times every night before bed and she was known for her beautiful shiny hair.”

  She looked pointedly at Gabrielle’s curly brown hair that was carefully pulled into two ponytails. “Besides, the way I see it,” she said nastily as she picked up her brush and held it out for Gabrielle to take, “it’s your hair that could definitely use a little brushing.”