“He’s nice. Well behaved and cute—obviously.”
Mom picked her fork up. “You know what I mean.”
“I told him.”
That statement didn’t require clarification. Mom leaned forward. “You told him?”
“Well, how else was I supposed to explain not knowing any French after studying the language for supposedly five years? We were partnered in class today—complete humiliation, by the way, almost as bad as last Friday’s debacle during second period in Mr. Burke’s class. I vote homeschool for the rest of the semester.”
“Oh, I’d already forgotten about French class. That does pose a problem.”
“Un problema momento—however you say that in French.”
“Hmmm,” her mom said.
“Know any good language spells?”
Mom studied the contents on her plate. “I’m afraid Charlene’s going to have to drop the class.”
“Yes!” Gray dove into her curry and took a large, triumphant bite.
“So now Raj McKenna and Nolan Knapp know about you,” Mom said. “You don’t plan on telling anyone else, do you?”
“Negative, and they’re both sworn to secrecy, by the way.”
Mom moved her potatoes around her plate, but never took her eyes off Gray. “You never mentioned either boy before.”
Gray shrugged. “Raj and I had fifth period together.” Right, and they’d been so chummy during class. There’s one thing Gray didn’t miss about her old life—English with Mrs. Pritchett. “And Nolan and I paired up at Gathering that time I got my abilities back—or unblocked, rather.” Gray used her fork like a spatula to scoop up the sautéed kale and slide it between her lips.
“They both seem nice. It’s about time boys started taking notice of you.”
Yeah, and she’d spent time with two in the same day. All-time record. “Apparently dead girls are a real turn-on. I mean, what warlock wouldn’t be interested in a witch from the great beyond?”
“What boy wouldn’t be interested in you, Graylee Perez?”
Gray straightened up. “This is strictly business. Raj and Nolan have offered their assistance.”
“I’m sure I’ll hear back from my contact soon.”
“When?”
“I don’t know.”
“And there isn’t any kind of expiration on this spell, is there?”
“No.”
Mom’s tone wasn’t too convincing.
If Raj wouldn’t introduce her to Adrian, Gray would just have to go introduce herself.
Chapter Sixteen
Charlene Perez and Ryan Phillips walked out of first period together. Their bodies were touching, mouths moving. They slowed to a full stop in the hall, quickly finished their conversation, and then parted ways. Charlene walked past Raj without noticing him.
Raj knew Charlene’s entire class schedule. Gray had given him a copy. He doubted he’d learn much during school hours. Charlene was bound to be discreet around her classmates. Raj didn’t have a single class with the witch… which meant he no longer had any classes with Gray.
He stared at her empty desk beside Sadie Howard in English. The entire class had avoided that seat after Gray’s death and every day during fifth period it remained empty.
Raj still remembered the day Gray appeared from thin air. She’d cast a spell over him instantly. Not consciously, of course, but the consequence had been just as powerful. That day felt like a lifetime ago, not two months.
Sure, learning that she’d been dead and was now sharing her sister’s body came as a shock to Gray, but she hadn’t suffered through the shock of her actual death. That was something Raj had known he’d never get past. Even in his later years—even when he left McKinley and Kent behind—there’d always be that girl. That one special girl who’d left the physical realm way too early.
Shay stopped by Raj’s locker at the end of the day. She was wearing her standard heavy sweater over a pair of khaki pants. It was either that or a long plaid skirt and white blouse. You’d think she was attending Catholic school or something. Still, Shay managed to look beautiful at every moment.
“Can you come by this afternoon?” Shay asked.
“What’s up?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
Raj knew there was a lot they couldn’t discuss at school, but Shay didn’t have to be so damn cryptic all the time. And why did he feel like the only time he saw her lately was in the secrecy of her home, as though Raj’s company was an embarrassment?
Raj was just being moody. None of that was true. Shay was the last person who cared what others thought. She was simply on the fast track to college and that meant spending lunches in lab, student council, or the library. Still, she could’ve been there for him a little more. Like after his mom and sister moved away or after Gray died.
Get a grip, Raj, who was the girl in this scenario?
He straightened his spine and reached inside his pocketed for his Zippo. Fine, if Shay wanted to wait to mention what was on her mind, she’d wait.
* * *
Charlene had gone to Ryan’s locker to talk to him. Raj didn’t bother with any pretenses, like reading a book in the hallway. People like Charlene and Ryan were easy to observe openly; so engrossed in their own lives they barely noticed other people around them.
Raj flicked his Zippo open and closed. If either one of them were to look over he wouldn’t bother looking away. He’d stare them down till they cowered. It’d work on Ryan—probably not Charlene.
She began whispering in Ryan’s ear.
Okay, Raj, lip-read. You can do it. But lip reading wasn’t one of his abilities. What Raj was good at reading were auras, and Ryan’s went haywire when Charlene pressed her body into his shoulder to speak into his ear. It was the static equivalent of a hard-on.
Long after Charlene had left Ryan’s side, the boy stared in the direction she’d walked. Raj had nearly followed her then decided on a different course of action.
Keep an eye on Ryan Phillips while you’re at it, Gray had said.
Why?
The little bastard helped Charlene perform a blocking spell on me. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her.
Raj followed Ryan out to the student parking lot and veered off to get to his car in time to follow Ryan onto the road.
Raj gripped his steering wheel. “All right you, twisted freak. Let’s see what you’re up to.”
* * *
“What took you so long?” Shay demanded when Raj swung by her house later.
She’d been on the phone with Max when he walked into her room. Whatever she wanted to discuss must be serious because the moment their eyes locked she’d ended her conversation almost immediately: “Max, Raj is here. I’ll call you back.”
Raj leaned against the wall beside her door. “I had errands. Actually, I’m not quite finished with them. You wanted to say something?”
Shay got up from her desk chair and stood directly in front of Raj. She folded her arms. “Raj,” she began carefully, “is there something you’re not sharing with me?”
Raj raised a brow. “Regarding?”
“Charlene Perez.”
His mouth opened before he could stop himself. Shay naturally caught the motion. “Why are you interested in Charlene Perez all of a sudden?” Raj demanded, trying to go on the offensive.
“There’s something funny about that girl lately,” Shay said. “Last week I heard that she was pretending to be her sister—that she even had to be escorted out of class—her sister’s old class. I saw her in French on Monday and all appeared normal. Then she comes into French Tuesday and suddenly can’t recall a word of the language. Then today—totally fine. What’ll happen tomorrow, I wonder?”
Raj tried to stare Shay down, but she was the one person this never worked on. He broke eye contact then stole another look. Well, why didn’t she share her theory already? “So what are you saying?” Raj asked.
Shay dropped her arms. The only time
she took her eyes off Raj was to walk over to her desk, but the moment she was leaning against the edge she looked directly at him. “The other odd thing about yesterday was she sat next to Nolan Knapp.”
Raj ground his teeth together and tried to appear neutral. His efforts resulted in an achy jaw.
“She selected him as her partner when it was time to pair up,” Shay continued, oblivious to Raj’s distress. He didn’t need to be able to see his own aura to know it’d smoldered from a healthy glowing green to a smoggy haze of brown and mustard.
Shay maintained a steady blue: relaxed, balanced—a born survivor.
“Right before Gray died she chose him as her partner at Gathering,” Shay continued.
Raj dug out his Zippo and flicked it open.
“Please don’t do that in here,” Shay said.
Raj snapped it shut and stuffed it back inside his pocket.
“Since when did we start keeping secrets from one another?” Shay asked.
Secrets? Had Shay ever bothered asking Raj why one day, out of the blue, he’d tried to burn down his house with his sister inside? Raj loved Shay like a sister, but sometimes she was so damn oblivious. Present circumstances excluded.
“I don’t know what you’re insinuating,” Raj said. “But it sounds pretty crazy to me.”
“Is Graylee Perez back?” It was rare for Shay to raise her voice.
“I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me since you have it all figured out?”
“Raj, if Gray’s back this is huge. The coven would flip its lid.”
Raj took a step toward Shay. “Don’t go telling tales to the coven.”
Shay placed a hand on her hip. “Then tell me what’s going on.”
“Fine.” Raj sighed. “Mrs. Perez found someone, we don’t know who, to perform a resurrection spell, but it came out wrong. Gray is Charlene and Charlene is Gray. The switch happens every twenty-four hours at three a.m.”
Shay looked beyond Raj’s shoulder. “Wow. I thought Mrs. Perez was more level-headed than that.”
Of all the observations Shay could make.
Nope, Shay’s existence was as clear as the blue sky beyond the clouds engulfing the rest of the city. She couldn’t understand what it was like to love someone so much you’d do anything to get them back. Mrs. Perez hadn’t used her head. She’d used her heart.
“What are they going to do?” Shay asked.
“Gray’s mom is trying to get in touch with her contact.”
Shay tsked. “Sounds like he’s caused enough problems.”
“How do you know it’s a he?”
“Please—this has to be the work of a warlock; a witch wouldn’t dare.”
“Kinda sexist, don’t you think?”
Shay didn’t even bat an eye. “Totally sexist and also totally true.”
Raj put up his arms. “If you say so.”
“What’s with you?”
“Nothing. Nice chatting.”
“Wait a minute,” Shay said.
Raj only paused for a moment in her doorframe. “Look, I have to go. See you at school.”
* * *
When Gray woke up Thursday morning, it was to the standard-issue lace babydoll. Charlene had left her spiral communications notebook open on her desk beside the bed.
She’d dated her entry and made a notation of the time. Her first entry of the day stated: I woke up in your room!!!
“Yeah? Well I woke up in yours.”
Gray snapped into her own pj’s and stuffed the notebook under her arm as she walked down the hall to her room. At the bottom of her sock drawer, she’d stowed away the luck amulet Raj had given her. It wasn’t just hidden under socks—it was also invisible. Gray filled it in and slipped it inside the pocket of her fuzzy hoodie as she descended the staircase. “Hi, Mom,” she said, joining her in the kitchen.
“Hi, honey. How are you this morning?”
“It’s a Graylee kind of day.” Gray began scanning the notebook after she took a seat on the barstool at the counter. “Charlene won’t drop French!” Gray looked up. “You’re kidding me. Now what the heck am I supposed to do?”
Mom opened the drawer under the phone and pulled out a slip of paper. She handed it to Gray. Gray read it and looked back up. “Dr. Finnegan says I have laryngitis?” Gray looked back down. “‘It’s not contagious. I have decided it is safe for her to attend classes, but advise that she not speak unless absolutely necessary.’” Gray rolled her eyes. “Oh, brother. And what? I’m going to have laryngitis the rest of the semester?”
“Only in French class, but no, it’s only a temporary solution. I pulled out my old Rosetta Stone CDs.”
“You can’t be serious.”
Mom shrugged. “I’m sure we’ll think of something. In the meantime it wouldn’t hurt to brush up on some basics.”
“You mean learn French in one week? Forget it! No merci. Not bon!”
“What’s wrong with French?” Mom asked in a teasing tone. “It’s a beautiful language.” She set a bowl of oatmeal in front of Gray. “Your great-great-grandmother was French.”
Gray rolled her eyes. “And Grandpa was Spanish.” She went back to reading the notebook while she ate her oatmeal. Marcy Kimble had pissed Charlene off and so Gray was not to acknowledge her. No problem. An essay was due in English. It was finished and inside her folder. At least Charlene was organized.
When I told you not to sleep with Blake I didn’t mean avoid him altogether. He said you wouldn’t come over after school Tuesday. He also said you acted weird. I had to spend the whole afternoon doing damage control.
Better Charlene than Gray.
Stop snacking, Charlene wrote. My stomach didn’t feel good when I woke up this morning and my skirt felt tight. I have a very simple diet. Grapefruit in the morning with a handful of granola. Slim Fast shake for lunch. Slim Fast shake for dinner or green salad with a squirt of lemon—no croutons.
If Gray had to stick to that kind of diet she’d rather be dead. She’d never tasted a Slim Fast shake before that week and she had to say it reminded her of chocolate-flavored Pepto-Bismol.
If Charlene could figure out a spell to make herself tan, couldn’t she come up with one to make herself thin?
Gray closed the notebook and reached inside her pocket for the amulet. She slouched over the countertop and dangled the charm in front of her face.
“What’s that?”
When Gray looked at her mom she saw that she was now frowning.
“A luck amulet.”
“Where’d you get it?”
“It was a gift from a guy and no, you wouldn’t approve of him.”
“Nolan?”
Gray snorted. “What’s not to approve about Nolan? Nope, it’s from Raj McKenna.” Gray glanced up, but her mom merely looked pensive.
“Raj McKenna,” she repeated.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Hmmm.”
“What’s with the face?”
“He used moonstones.” Gray could feel her mom studying her. “He must like you a lot.”
“It doesn’t mean anything,” Gray said. “Even if Raj McKenna did like me, I doubt he does anymore. Not since learning I’m a heathen.”
“You’re not a heathen.”
“Of course I am. I don’t believe in God. Do you?”
Gray’s mother twisted her lips. “I believe in a higher power. I’m a witch, after all.”
“Well, sorry I couldn’t bring back a message from Dad.”
Mom walked over and put a hand on Gray’s shoulder. “You listen to me, Graylee. There is nothing wrong with you. It wasn’t your time. I believe the spiritual world is as magnificent and vast as the universe and that we cannot begin to understand it. But there’s a place for you in the great beyond. There’s a place for all of us. It just wasn’t your time.”
The tears came unexpectedly. Gray put her arms around her mom and blinked them away rapidly so that by the time she pulled her head back her cheeks were
dry.
“Raj McKenna always struck me as a good kid. Mrs. Baxter once told me he was one of the most gifted healers she’d come across—and youngest. It’s a shame his mother left him with the dad, but then I have trouble understanding any woman who would leave her child.”
“Well, he did burn their house down.”
“Did he?”
Gray opened and closed her mouth. “He never denied it.”
“I don’t know. Something didn’t feel right about that story.”
Gray shrugged. “Well, I’m off to school.”
“Have a good day, honey.” Her mom gave her another hug. She’d been doing that a lot lately.
Before Gray walked out the door she snapped into a skirt and V-neck sweater.
* * *
Rather than go straight to Charlene’s locker, Gray chose an alternate route taking her through the hallways on the east side of McKinley. She thought she knew where Raj’s locker was, but without him around it couldn’t be confirmed.
Gray felt a tap against her heel. She should have known it was Nolan. He was grinning from ear to ear.
“Hi, Nolan. Find a cure?”
“No, but I think I know someone who can help.”
Gray fell into step beside him. “Really? Who is it?”
“Brock. He’s a warlock up north a couple hours. The guy was put on suspension by his coven for transferring his mother into the body of a younger woman.”
Gray rubbed her hands together. “Sounds like the kind of warlock I’d like to meet. Where is he exactly?”
“Bellingham.” Nolan’s cheeks dimpled. “Wanna take a road trip?”
“How does after school sound?”
“My parents might notice that. What about Saturday?”
“Perfect!” Gray swung around and hugged Nolan. His eyes nearly popped out of his head and his cheeks turned five shades brighter. “Thanks, Nolan!”
“Yeah, totally. Anything to help.” He paused for a moment. “Um, do you want to have lunch together today?”
“I wish.” Gray snorted. “I have to eat with Tweedledee and Tweedledum—don’t want to disturb Charlene’s superficial friendships, you know.”
Nolan cleared his throat. “No, that’s cool.”
“Trust me; I’d rather eat with you any day. See you in French class?”
“Okay. What are you going to do if Madame Girard calls on you?”