and I were alone, I at first found that I was so nervous just being around him, it was hard to concentrate. As time passed and we began to cast together, I became more comfortable with it all. He still made my stomach do flip-flops every time I saw him, but I was starting to be able to actually hold a conversation with him without getting all tongue-tied and saying something completely stupid. I never stopped smiling when I was around him. Actually, I was pretty much happy whenever I was with either of the Astleys. I felt like I could really be myself.
When the three of us spent time together, we mostly talked about magic and spells. Asher even taught me a few incantations that he’d been using for years. Like the chameleon spell that allowed a person to completely blend into his or her surroundings, until they literally disappeared. He confessed thathe’d used this one on several occasions to spy on his parents and even on Abby. I couldn’t wait to use it in my own life. Abby showed me a speed-reading spell, which I realized was probably the reason she was able to blow through a dozen books a week. I wasn’t exactly a book person, but I figured this could come in handy the next time I had to cram for a test.
“I’ve been trying to do the blowing-up spell you guys showed me last week, but my accuracy is really bad,” I said as I stood at Abby’s locker. I was careful to keep my voice low whenever we talked magic in public and kept watch for anyone who might sneak up on us midconversation. “I was aiming for an empty soda can the other day and ended up hitting my mom’s fruit bowl. I had to lie and tell her I accidentally knocked it off the counter. She would not have been pleased to find out I’m using magic to destroy things around the house.”
“Are you concentrating on the object itself? You need to picture it in your mind as well as see it with your eyes,” she said, sifting through the enormous pile of books in her locker, most of which weren’t school related. “Or maybe your aim is just off. Try moving your hand around to see if it helps you hit your target. You might just naturally lean more one way.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I said, my mind beginning to wander as I looked around the hallway. A group of football players bumped into each other and trash-talked as they walked by us. One of them caught my eye and winked at me. “Hey, girl,” he said, before continuing on his way.
I rolled my eyes and turned away. Stuff like that was so weird to me. I was still trying to get used to the attention I was now getting from everyone, guys in particular. Part of me was like, “Don’t bother paying attention to me now if you didn’t pay attention to me before.” But on the other hand, I couldn’t help but enjoy the fact that they were interested.Wasn’t that why I’d wanted popularity in the first place? For people to know and like who I was?
“Why would you want to be popular if that’s what happens all the time?” Abby asked, acknowledging the football player who’d just hit on me. I shrugged in response. One of the first conversations Abby and I had was over her confusion about why I was suddenly spending time with The Elite. Since she and Asher were both sort of lone wolves—I think I was only welcomed into their pack because magic bonded us—the popularity quest didn’t make sense to her. She thought I was especially crazy to get involved with The Elite, given the rumors and the way they treated people around school, but I’d told her I had my reasons. It didn’t stop her from giving me a hard time about it, though.
And she wasn’t the only one. The Elite had also noticed that I was suddenly splitting my time between them and the Astleys. I don’t know if it was jealousy or if they didn’t like me hanging out with people they hadn’t approved of, but they ignored me whenever I was around Asher and Abby. As much as I didn’t want to, I was getting the hint. It didn’t mean I was
When the three of us spent time together, we mostly talked about magic and spells. Asher even taught me a few incantations that he’d been using for years. Like the chameleon spell that allowed a person to completely blend into his or her surroundings, until they literally disappeared. He confessed thathe’d used this one on several occasions to spy on his parents and even on Abby. I couldn’t wait to use it in my own life. Abby showed me a speed-reading spell, which I realized was probably the reason she was able to blow through a dozen books a week. I wasn’t exactly a book person, but I figured this could come in handy the next time I had to cram for a test.
“I’ve been trying to do the blowing-up spell you guys showed me last week, but my accuracy is really bad,” I said as I stood at Abby’s locker. I was careful to keep my voice low whenever we talked magic in public and kept watch for anyone who might sneak up on us midconversation. “I was aiming for an empty soda can the other day and ended up hitting my mom’s fruit bowl. I had to lie and tell her I accidentally knocked it off the counter. She would not have been pleased to find out I’m using magic to destroy things around the house.”
“Are you concentrating on the object itself? You need to picture it in your mind as well as see it with your eyes,” she said, sifting through the enormous pile of books in her locker, most of which weren’t school related. “Or maybe your aim is just off. Try moving your hand around to see if it helps you hit your target. You might just naturally lean more one way.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I said, my mind beginning to wander as I looked around the hallway. A group of football players bumped into each other and trash-talked as they walked by us. One of them caught my eye and winked at me. “Hey, girl,” he said, before continuing on his way.
I rolled my eyes and turned away. Stuff like that was so weird to me. I was still trying to get used to the attention I was now getting from everyone, guys in particular. Part of me was like, “Don’t bother paying attention to me now if you didn’t pay attention to me before.” But on the other hand, I couldn’t help but enjoy the fact that they were interested.Wasn’t that why I’d wanted popularity in the first place? For people to know and like who I was?
“Why would you want to be popular if that’s what happens all the time?” Abby asked, acknowledging the football player who’d just hit on me. I shrugged in response. One of the first conversations Abby and I had was over her confusion about why I was suddenly spending time with The Elite. Since she and Asher were both sort of lone wolves—I think I was only welcomed into their pack because magic bonded us—the popularity quest didn’t make sense to her. She thought I was especially crazy to get involved with The Elite, given the rumors and the way they treated people around school, but I’d told her I had my reasons. It didn’t stop her from giving me a hard time about it, though.
And she wasn’t the only one. The Elite had also noticed that I was suddenly splitting my time between them and the Astleys. I don’t know if it was jealousy or if they didn’t like me hanging out with people they hadn’t approved of, but they ignored me whenever I was around Asher and Abby. As much as I didn’t want to, I was getting the hint. It didn’t mean I was
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