Under a Spell by Amanda Ashby Page A

trailed down below Sophie’s knees. And she had managed to make the top, which had obviously been designed for someone with a large chest, a better fit for her almost nonexistent boobs. Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do to makethe cat-vomit yellow stop clashing with her pale hair, but at least she no longer looked like a little girl who had just raided her big sister’s closet.
    â€œGreat, so let’s get out there,” Melissa said as they hurried back onto the court, where Miss Carson was blowing her whistle.
    â€œQuiet, please, ladies,” the coach called out as all the wannabe cheerleaders crowded around her. “Melissa’s going to take you through a warm-up, and then we’ll start the tryouts. Clear?”
    Everyone nodded and formed three lines while Melissa marched to the front. Sophie managed to find a spot as far toward the back as she could and took a deep breath. So far her plan was working, but it really all hung on how good her transcendental wishing skills were. Before she could worry, Melissa clapped her hands and started the warm-ups.
    Ten minutes later, despite her panting, Sophie couldn’t help but conceal a grin since normally she couldn’t manage more than ten lunges in a row, but thanks to her wishing skills, she had done thirty. Even Miss Carson had looked impressed. But real proof was going to be when she did her own routine.
    Thankfully, she had managed to get last in line, which meant that she could watch everyone else and study their moves. Finally, it was her turn. She was just about to start when Melissa hurried over to her.
    â€œHey, I just want to wish you luck.” Melissa grinned.
    â€œYou do?” Sophie widened her eyes, still not quite able to take in the personality change in Jonathan’s twin sister.
    â€œDon’t look so surprised,” Melissa said as she reached out and smoothed down Sophie’s uniform. Then her face wrinkled in concern. “Oh, you forgot to take your watch and jewelry off.”
    Sophie looked at her blankly. “Was I supposed to?”
    â€œUm, yeah.” Melissa nodded her head. “The reason Donna broke her leg was because her foot got caught around a necklace that Amber Smith was wearing, so now it’s a new rule. And since Miss Carson came up with the rule, she might take points off if you ignore it.”
    Sophie quickly started to tug at her watch and her other jewelry and passed them over to Melissa. “Will you hold them for me while I do the tryout?”
    â€œOf course I will.” Melissa beamed. “Anything to help you make the team.” Then she walked back to the judging table, where she and the other cheerleaders were sitting. Once she was gone Sophie loosened her shoulders and headed to the center of the floor. She took a deep breath before she concentrated on visualizing herself doing the routine. She could do this.
    She was a strong and positive person. Not to mention a djinn. She was going to nail this routine. For herself. For Jonathan. And for her dad.
    She grinned as a familiar tingle went racing through her and she felt her physical body and the image in her mind merge into one. The music started, and Sophiemade her first move. Her body twisted and prepared to turn andthen…
she felt herself fall into an undignified heap on the floor.
    Okay, so that definitely wasn’t part of the plan. She tried to ignore the laughter that was springing up from all around her. Instead, she focused on getting to her feet and trying to redo the move. However, despite visualizing every step, the second time she attempted the turn she fell to the ground even harder.
    â€œRight, Sophie, well, that was an
interesting
routine.” Miss Carson blew her whistle to signal that the tryouts were over. “Thank you to everyone who came out today. We’ll be posting the name of the new member outside my office tomorrow.”
    Without another word Miss Carson headed