homework.”
I went back to my room, finished my math assignment, and wrote a long text message to my sister. Kendall thought she was doing drama? Ha.
95/356
After an hour and a half, I walked back to the kitchen to throw away my apple core. I hadn’t expected Hudson to still be there, and I especially hadn’t expected to see him sitting alone at the table doing his homework.
“Where’s Nick?” I asked.
“He needed to run to the store to pick out some stuff for his science fair project.”
That was odd. I tilted my head at him. “And he left you here by yourself?”
Hudson sent me a look like I should know better than to ask.
“Your parents want Nick to make sure you don’t go anywhere before they get home from work.” He leaned back casually in his chair. “Although that didn’t work on Saturday night, did it?”
“Unbelievable,” I said. “You’re here babysitting me?”
“Nah.” He flashed a smile. “I’m here spying on you.” I threw my apple core away and opened the fridge for more food. I needed to eat now because when dinnertime came, I was telling my dad I wasn’t hungry and spending the evening in my room. I pulled out last night’s enchiladas and took a plate from the cupboard.
Hudson strolled over and leaned against the counter. “So why were those guys in your bedroom Friday night?” I dished some enchiladas on my plate and didn’t answer.
“You’re the only lead in the case,” he said. “If I tell my dad they were over here, the police will bring you in for questioning. Why don’t you make it easier on everybody and tell me what you know.” I put the enchiladas in the microwave and punched in a minute.
“Is there some reason you feel the need to be supercop and crack this case?”
“You mean besides the fact that I was robbed at sword-point?” 96/356
“You’re not even on the police payroll, and I bet you’re working harder than the rest of them.”
He shook his head. “It’s only a matter of time before one of those thugs kills someone. Trust me—everybody down at the station is working overtime.”
I watched my plate slowly rotating in the microwave. “I’m doing what I can.” I had already called for Chrissy several times today.
“Didn’t you learn anything from dating Bo?” Hudson asked. “He pounded your locker today and he would have pounded you too if I hadn’t showed up. And I don’t care how handsome that Robin guy is.
He hurts people. How can you protect him?” He held up a hand in frustration. “How can you be involved with someone like that?”
“I’m not involved with him.” I meant I wasn’t romantically involved. Which was the truth. One kiss while he was holding me up didn’t make us a couple. But apparently the denial counted as a lie. Before I could say another sentence, I caught sight of tiny lights fountain-ing around my head like a garland of sparklers.
Hudson’s mouth dropped open as he stared at me. “How did you do that?”
I put my hand to my head, then jerked it away with an “Ouch!” The sparklers were not only bright but also hot. This was bad. Nothing was burning my head yet, but that could happen next. Was I supposed to stop, drop, and roll, like I was on fire?
Then again, there is only one thing more freakish than having your head unexpectedly ignite with magic sparklers, and that is dropping to your kitchen floor and trying to roll them off your head. I couldn’t do that in front of Hudson, and besides, smothering the flames probably wouldn’t work to extinguish magic fire.
97/356
But how did I get rid of them? I hurried to the bathroom in a walk that was somewhere between a panicked scurry and a don’t-fan-the-flames glide.
In the mirror, I saw a wreath of fireworks surrounding my head.
Worse yet, a message lit up like wording on a scoreboard: She’s lying!
The disclaimer tromped brightly across my forehead. She’s a blasted liar! She’s lying! She’s lying!
“Well, this is
I went back to my room, finished my math assignment, and wrote a long text message to my sister. Kendall thought she was doing drama? Ha.
95/356
After an hour and a half, I walked back to the kitchen to throw away my apple core. I hadn’t expected Hudson to still be there, and I especially hadn’t expected to see him sitting alone at the table doing his homework.
“Where’s Nick?” I asked.
“He needed to run to the store to pick out some stuff for his science fair project.”
That was odd. I tilted my head at him. “And he left you here by yourself?”
Hudson sent me a look like I should know better than to ask.
“Your parents want Nick to make sure you don’t go anywhere before they get home from work.” He leaned back casually in his chair. “Although that didn’t work on Saturday night, did it?”
“Unbelievable,” I said. “You’re here babysitting me?”
“Nah.” He flashed a smile. “I’m here spying on you.” I threw my apple core away and opened the fridge for more food. I needed to eat now because when dinnertime came, I was telling my dad I wasn’t hungry and spending the evening in my room. I pulled out last night’s enchiladas and took a plate from the cupboard.
Hudson strolled over and leaned against the counter. “So why were those guys in your bedroom Friday night?” I dished some enchiladas on my plate and didn’t answer.
“You’re the only lead in the case,” he said. “If I tell my dad they were over here, the police will bring you in for questioning. Why don’t you make it easier on everybody and tell me what you know.” I put the enchiladas in the microwave and punched in a minute.
“Is there some reason you feel the need to be supercop and crack this case?”
“You mean besides the fact that I was robbed at sword-point?” 96/356
“You’re not even on the police payroll, and I bet you’re working harder than the rest of them.”
He shook his head. “It’s only a matter of time before one of those thugs kills someone. Trust me—everybody down at the station is working overtime.”
I watched my plate slowly rotating in the microwave. “I’m doing what I can.” I had already called for Chrissy several times today.
“Didn’t you learn anything from dating Bo?” Hudson asked. “He pounded your locker today and he would have pounded you too if I hadn’t showed up. And I don’t care how handsome that Robin guy is.
He hurts people. How can you protect him?” He held up a hand in frustration. “How can you be involved with someone like that?”
“I’m not involved with him.” I meant I wasn’t romantically involved. Which was the truth. One kiss while he was holding me up didn’t make us a couple. But apparently the denial counted as a lie. Before I could say another sentence, I caught sight of tiny lights fountain-ing around my head like a garland of sparklers.
Hudson’s mouth dropped open as he stared at me. “How did you do that?”
I put my hand to my head, then jerked it away with an “Ouch!” The sparklers were not only bright but also hot. This was bad. Nothing was burning my head yet, but that could happen next. Was I supposed to stop, drop, and roll, like I was on fire?
Then again, there is only one thing more freakish than having your head unexpectedly ignite with magic sparklers, and that is dropping to your kitchen floor and trying to roll them off your head. I couldn’t do that in front of Hudson, and besides, smothering the flames probably wouldn’t work to extinguish magic fire.
97/356
But how did I get rid of them? I hurried to the bathroom in a walk that was somewhere between a panicked scurry and a don’t-fan-the-flames glide.
In the mirror, I saw a wreath of fireworks surrounding my head.
Worse yet, a message lit up like wording on a scoreboard: She’s lying!
The disclaimer tromped brightly across my forehead. She’s a blasted liar! She’s lying! She’s lying!
“Well, this is
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