Love Fortunes and Other Disasters by Kimberly Karalius Page A

each one.”
    Hijiri examined each charm eagerly. She sniffed the pages and rubbed her thumb over the print. Whenever she was done with each page, she nodded at Fallon before tearing out the page herself. “You’ve got good instinct. These are love charms.”
    Fallon grinned at the compliment. “Thanks. How about you? What makes you so knowledgeable about the love charms?”
    The girl shrunk into herself again.
    â€œHijiri?”
    She took huge, gulping breaths before speaking, her voice just above a whisper. “I make them.”
    â€œCharms? Like Femke and Mirthe?”
    â€œBetter.” There was no arrogance in her claim—only fear. “I’ve been making love charms since I was little.”
    Fallon smothered her surprise.
    â€œMy parents noticed my talent early and wanted to enroll me in Grimbaud Middle School. But I wasn’t stupid. I knew what was going on here with Zita’s shop. No one but her is allowed to produce love charms. Even crafting charms in secret has risks, and I’m … not a brave person. I would have been content crafting my charms in my hometown rather than come here.”
    But now Hijiri was in Grimbaud. A high school freshman. “Your parents won.”
    â€œThey wouldn’t listen.”
    Fallon understood that perfectly. “Where’s home for you?”
    â€œLejeune.”
    â€œWow. That’s so far from here!”
    â€œI know. Yet my charms worked. Sometimes. That’s how I managed to survive school until now,” Hijiri said, tugging at her hair.
    Fallon pressed her lips together. She didn’t want to steer the conversation into dark memories. The poor girl was already huddled in the chair, trying to compress herself into nothing. “Why haven’t you told the club about your talent?”
    â€œGrimbaud scares me. The way this town has been is not natural.”
    â€œZita.”
    â€œYes. This mysterious queen of love charms.” Hijiri rubbed her nose. “I’m supporting the rebellion because I want to see this town free again, but I can’t be a fighter. I don’t know how I’ll help.”
    â€œWhat about your own love fortune?”
    â€œIt’s not surprising.”
    â€œBut it hurts.”
    Hijiri ducked her head. “Making charms for others distracted me in the past. Now I have nothing to hide behind. But still, there’s something I want to make. The ultimate love charm.”
    Fallon leaned closer. “What is it?”
    â€œYou’ll laugh.”
    â€œI won’t. I promise.”
    Hijiri wiggled the bag of fern leaves. “Did you know that ferns symbolize sincerity? That’s a powerful component to have in this love charm. Only true words and feelings can make it work.”
    Fallon had never thought much about ferns. Mrs. Smedt kept the pots of ferns watered in the patio. “What kind of charm?”
    â€œSomething right out of a fairy tale. I want to make a true-love kiss.”
    Fallon bit her lip.
    â€œI told you not to laugh.”
    â€œI’m not! It’s just … wouldn’t that be hard to do?”
    â€œLove has called this town its home, so love charms made here are the strongest. I have a chance.” Hijiri raised her head. Her eyes, uncloaked by her hair, were startlingly dark. “True love’s kiss is a thing of stories. It doesn’t exist yet, but I want to create it in the form of a charm. If I succeed one day, it will work miracles.”
    The complex stirred around them. Most students still slept, but someone’s alarm went off nearby; the walls didn’t stop such sounds from escaping into the patio. Fallon struggled to say something, anything, about Hijiri’s grand dream. Her head told her that creating such a charm was impossible. That was why magic kisses only happened in fairy tales. But her heart leaped at the idea.
    â€œWinter break will give me time to try some