Crushing on the Wrong Joshua by Sarah Adams

coming out more sharply than she intended, “Not anymore. Something cured me of that.”
    “Yeah, I think she finally realized how dense and shallow he is,” Tamara said, as she took her normal seat at the table.
    “Yeah, totally,” Amber said, springing to her feet, “The line's short now. We should go get lunch.”
    “Yeah,” Joshua said following her.
    Amber and Tamara exchanged a look of arched eyebrows, that said they totally had to have a talk soon.
    “So what's really up, Amber?” Joshua asked.
    “It's complicated,” Amber sighed.
    “You're not going to tell me are you?” Joshua asked.
    “No, because you wouldn't believe me anyway,” Amber said looking away.
    “How do you know that?” he asked, “You're not even going to give me a chance?”
    “Fine,” Amber sighed, looking around to make sure no one was listening to their conversation, “You only like me because of a love spell.”
    Joshua studied Amber's face for a moment and then deciding it must be a joke, burst into laughter.
    “I'm serious, Josh,” Amber said.
    “You expect me to believe you're a witch and you cast a love spell on me? If you were a witch you would have cast a spell on Nelson to make him like you a long time ago,” Joshua said.
    “Actually, I don't think I'm a witch. Not like a real one anyway. I've never done anything like this before, but I did cast a spell. You're right it wasn't on you. I was aiming for Joshua Nelson, but it hit you. He lied about his favorite color and the lie he told just happened to be your favorite color,” Amber said.
    “You can't be serious,” Joshua said.
    “I am,” Amber said with a shake of her head, “I told you that you wouldn't believe it. That's why I should have left it alone. I should have left it at 'It's complicated'.”
    “I don't think I'm under a spell, Amber, and that's something I'm pretty sure I would know,” Joshua said.
    “How? Are you a witch?” Amber asked.
    “No,” Joshua laughed, “Believe me. The spell you cast, didn't make me like you.”
    “How do you know that?” Amber asked.
    “I just do,” Joshua shrugged, “What does any of this have to do with the dance anyway?”
    “A lot. I can't keep doing this. It's not right. It's not  fair to you. If you only like me because of the spell,” Amber sighed.
    “What if I told you, I didn't care whether it was a spell or not?” he asked.
    “That would be the spell talking,” Amber sighed.
    “What do I have to do to prove that I'm not spellbound?” Joshua laughed.
    “Help me figure out a way to break the spell,” Amber said.
    “Fine, we'll meet at the library on Friday and try to figure something out. I have to work every evening until then,” Joshua said, “But say we break the spell and I still like you, will you go to the dance with me then?”
    “If you still like me after the spell is broken, I'll go to the dance with you,” Amber said.
    “By the way, plan on being my date for the dance,” Joshua laughed.
    “What makes you so sure you're going to like me after we reverse the spell?” she asked.
    “Some things you just know,” Joshua said.
    After school Amber stood by the stone pillar listening to Tamara ramble about Doug while they waited on their rides.
    “He said yes! Then when we talked in Chemistry he said he wanted to ask me out, but had been too shy. He thought I'd say no! Girl, do you hear that? That's why us girls have to learn to go for these guys! They're chickens,” she laughed.
    “I'm not so sure I would want to date a chicken,” Amber laughed.
    “Whateva,” Tamara laughed, “So are you going to the dance with Joshua?”
    “Maybe. If he still likes me after the spell is reversed,” she said.
    “Amber, BFF, girl, tell me you didn't tell him about that stupid spell? Tell me you didn't. No, you can't lie to me. You did. Why did you do that?” Tamara groaned.
    “It was only fair, Tamara,” Amber said.
    “Is he still talking to you? Did he run away from you like you