A Farewell to Charms by Lindsey Leavitt Page A

talking about makeup, right?” I asked.
    Reed squeezed my elbow and whispered, “Desi, careful—”
    I shook him off. “No, I’m just saying, I’m all for equality, but you’re thinking small potatoes.”
    “And what potatoes would you have in mind?” Gregory sneered.
    “What about where the magic for that makeup comes from?” I asked.
    The older girl flipped her dark hair. “Don’t tell me you’re going to go off on animal testing. It doesn’t hurt the organisms to take magic, you know.”
    The group stared at me like I was a creature from one of Kylee’s favorite movies. Reed looked at his feet. So they all bought the same story—extra magic came from organic material. None of them knew the harsh truth. And if I told them, would they believe me? Doubt it. They all had a great job. Why question that?
    “Never mind,” I grumbled.
    “And, I’m sorry, but how long have you been a sub?” Gregory asked. “I don’t mean to be obtuse, but you’re obviously very young and inexperienced. So why are you here? I’m curious.”
    Because I know secrets you don’t. “I don’t know. I just am.”
    “Are you doubting Genevieve?” Reed cut in.
    Gregory barked a laugh. “Of course not.”
    “Well, Desi obviously must be very talented and smart if she’s gotten so far so fast. So maybe we should give her some respect.”
    “How long have you been here?” Isabel asked.
    “Almost six months,” I said.
    “Wow,” Gregory said. They stood there, staring at me, trying to figure out what made me so special.
    It was in that moment that I made up my mind. I could either be a part of the problem, or I could be a part of the solution. I had tried to be rational, tried to play by the rules, and it just wasn’t working. I could wait until it was my turn to address the council as a substitute ambassador, but who was to say they would listen to me? I mean, they already KNEW about sub-sanitation; they were the ones who invented it. No, I needed to take some action myself.
    Now was the time to make a real impact. “I have to go.” I hobbled away, out of Dorshire, away from all the confusion. There were footsteps behind me, but I didn’t look back. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I took a painful hop down each stair, trying not to let the ankle slow down my resolve. I was starting to form a plan now and wouldn’t have much time to execute it.
    “Desi!” Reed caught up to me easily, his hand light on my shoulder.
    “What do you want?” I asked.
    “Why are you so mad?”
    “I’m not.”
    “You are. Here, let me help.” He swooped me up into his arms and stuck my crutches on top of me. I didn’t even have time to object—he had me down the stairs and seated on a bench before I knew it. My skin was all tingly from his touch. He kneeled down in front of me and brushed a hair away from my face. “Now. Is this about that crazy stolen magic story?”
    I flinched. Story? He made it sound like I’d wiggled my way into this little club. I didn’t ask for any of this. I was actually really happy at Level One, trying to make little impacts in my clients’ lives, not worrying about ambassador meetings and Matching and power. Reed didn’t get that because he was a legacy. Born and bred to be a part of Façade. He’d lived with this his whole life and had never had cause to question.
    “It wasn’t a story,” I said.
    “Okay. But what I’m really concerned about right now is how upset you are.”
    I buried my face in my hands. He might think I was nuts, but he also cared about me, or at least cared if I was upset. He’d defended me in front of all those people, not worrying if he looked crazy by association.
    Who could blame him for thinking I was making up my “story”? The sub-sanitation room is really one of those things you have to see to believe. Which meant I needed to include Reed on my plan. I was going to the sub-sanitation room. Right now. Meredith had a special key to get in, but Reed said that I