Graveyard Slot by Michelle Schusterman (classic children's novels .TXT) 📕

their luggage over to the couches. Soon Dad and Jess were busy talking to Thomas Cooper, who looked just as stuffy and disinterested in everyone and everything around him as ever. Meanwhile, Hailey filled me in on what she thought of Oscar and me being cast members (“SO JEALOUS”), what she thought of the waterfall episode (“loved it, except what was the deal with Roland being all weird at the end?”), and what her friends from school thought (“most of them loved it, too, although a few said ghost hunting wasn’t their ‘thing,’ which is their loss, obviously”). When she finally paused for breath, Jamie jumped in so skillfully, I had to stifle a laugh.

“So where’s Oscar?”

“Up in his room,” I said, glancing at the elevator. “He was going to meet me down here, but Dad said Lidia needed to talk to him. Want to see if they’re done?”

“Sure!”

After Jamie got their room key from Mr. Cooper, who was now deep in conversation with Dad and Jess, the three of us headed up to drop off their suitcases. Lidia passed us in the hall, and—after returning Hailey’s bone-crunching hug—turned and called: “Oscar, the Coopers are here! We were just on the way down,” she added, ruffling Hailey’s hair fondly. “Is Jess with your dad already?”

“Yup! They’re still in the lobby.” Hailey peered around Lidia, her eyes widening. “Oscaaaar!” she bellowed, taking off down the corridor with her arms outspread. Oscar, who had just stepped out of his room, put his arms up like a shield and staggered back inside with a look of mock terror. Hailey followed, and a moment later there was a shriek and a series of thumps that sounded like bowling balls being dropped onto the floor, followed by a very emphatic expletive Oscar probably wouldn’t have said if he’d known his aunt could hear him, along with Hailey’s wild laughter. Lidia gazed at the door to her room for a few seconds, then turned to me.

“I don’t want to know what that was,” she said decisively. “And I’d like it to be cleaned up before I can find out.”

I grinned. “No problem.”

Lidia headed to the elevators while Jamie and I ventured into her room to find Hailey in hysterics on the bathroom floor. Oscar stood in the tub, wearing a bemused expression. He was aiming the removable showerhead at Hailey as if he’d meant to use it as weapon, but instead the water was gushing straight from the pipe and drenching him head to toe. The rack that hung from the showerhead had tilted when Oscar yanked it out, causing the bottles it held to fall and spilling soapy goo all over the tub and floor. Bubbles were quickly rising around his legs.

“Most people take their clothes off before they shower,” I told him, which just made Hailey laugh even harder. Oscar responded by whipping a soaking-wet loofah at my face.

It was a few minutes before we managed to pull ourselves together and clean up the mess. After drying off and changing his clothes, Oscar joined the rest of us in his room.

“We were just telling Kat about the viewing party we had for your first episode,” Jamie told him.

Oscar’s face brightened. “Viewing party?”

Jamie nodded. “A bunch of people from school came over. I think some of them might even start watching regularly now!”

“Well, Natalie Blackwell definitely will,” Hailey added knowingly. “She has a massive crush on you.” She gave Oscar a look that seemed to mean he was supposed to be flattered or impressed. Probably both.

His brow furrowed. “Who?”

“Natalie. Blackwell.” Hailey stared at him, her blue eyes wide. “She’s so cool. Her family owns the Blackwell Building, which is super haunted. She’s practically famous. I told her I could set you guys up when you come to New York. Like on a date.”

“It’s a big deal, Oscar,” Jamie added solemnly. “First, Natalie Blackwell. Next thing you know, you’re dating Taylor Swift.”

Hailey glowered at us, arms crossed, as we started snickering uncontrollably. “It is a big deal, but whatever.”

Before she could pick up her breathless ramble again, I turned to Oscar. “Hey, why didn’t you come down earlier?”

“Oh!” Oscar leaned across me to grab his iPad off the table. “Aunt Lidia was chewing me out about something.” He swiped the screen a few times, pressing his lips together like he was trying not to smile.

“You seem pretty happy about getting yelled at,” Jamie observed, and now Oscar was grinning for real.

“Because it was worth it. Check it out!”

He turned the iPad around so we could see the screen, and I groaned.

“Oh my God. You actually did that Rumorz interview?”

“Whoa, awesome!” Hailey exclaimed, and she and Jamie started to read. I gave Oscar a look.

“You didn’t ask Lidia first, did you?”

He wrinkled his nose. “I was going to, seriously. I e-mailed Shelly back, but I figured I’d have time to ask Aunt Lidia about actually doing the interview on the flight. But Shelly responded really fast and asked me to call while we were stuck at the airport, and I . . . well, I did.” He smiled nonchalantly, but I saw a flash of guilt in his eyes before I leaned in to read.

“If an adult is embarrassed about being into something kids are into, that’s their problem,” Hailey murmured under her breath. “Seriously, though.”

Jamie started laughing. “Wow, I can see why Lidia might be upset,” he said when he finished reading. “Rick Wallace is kind of a big deal as far as critics go—I’ve heard Dad griping about him before. And you just straight-up insulted him on a rival website. Which is awesome, by the way,” he added, and Oscar beamed.

“Thanks.”

“That was great,” Hailey said fervently, pushing the iPad closer to me. “I didn’t know you guys were starting a web series! Graveyard Slot, that’s so cool!”

I bit my lip hard, still staring at the screen even though I’d finished reading. My good mood was quickly vanishing, replaced by anger. Still, I tried to keep my voice light