A Farewell to Charms Read Online Free Page A

you absolutely everything I can.”
    “Everything you can. But not everything.” She shook her head. “And that’s what hurts the most. More than the fact that we like the same boy and I think he likes you. I can get over that eventually. It’s a crush, not undying vampire love. I was already getting used to the fact that I would never be able to talk to him. But I think he knows what’s up with you. You’ve told him, but you won’t tell me.”
    I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t say anything. She was right. About all of it. And it blew my mind that Kylee knew me so well, that she was perceptive enough to know that I had a huge secret. It was just a much different secret than she thought.
    Kylee stood up and brushed off her jeans. “Sorry, that’s been on my mind for a while. I guess the party just brought it out. I’m going inside.”
    “Yeah, I better go before someone from the party walks by and sees my dad head-banging in his car,” I said. “Can we talk more? Tomorrow?”
    “Maybe next week. I need some time to, um, think.” Kylee gave me a weak smile before running up her driveway and disappearing into her house.
    Whew. I didn’t have many solutions here. I had to either tell her the truth about Reed and Façade, or get my magic to fix everything. Otherwise, our friendship was going to take a serious hit. And it’s not like there are a million Kylees running around Idaho, or even the world. Or even this galaxy.
    While Kylee was probably home watching something dumb like My Best Friend Was Abducted by an Alien, I put on
    Casablanca , a movie I had always adored but now watched with special attention. Right before our play had started, Reed quoted a line from this movie. And my princely crush, Karl, said the same lines the first time I met him. Karl later claimed he hadn’t even heard of Casablanca . So how many freshman boys know lines from a seventy-year-old movie and use them in conversation? Reed had to be Karl’s sub. He had to.
    The movie ended, and the music from the credits was interrupted by a familiar vibrating sound from inside my purse. My manual. Wait, my manual? Now?
    So much for a quiet night at home.
Darling,
    I hope this finds you well. I snuck into your final performance and saw you kiss that poor boy’s costume head. I hope it was dry-cleaned regularly. But, brava! So much spirit and talent. So strange that you would be cast alongside another employee of Façade, and a rather valuable one at that.
    Yes, we know about Reed Pearson. Of course we know. Although a relationship between subs is permissible, it’s not promoted. We don’t want you comparing circumstances—it’s important to remember every sub has a different experience. You are all special to the agency. So although we certainly won’t forbid you from remaining friends with Mr. Pearson now that you’re aware of your commonalities, we do hope you keep your interactions light. Focus on adolescent concerns, whatever those may be. No plotting to take over the greatest magical organization in the world. Ha!
    In other news, preparations have already begun for my promotion to the Façade council. Such a delicious secret I’ve been carrying around—the news will be announced at an upcoming formal ceremony. What to wear, what to wear? While I consider that, you should get started on your next gig. Yes, I’ve included your Betterment of Elite Sub Training, better known as BEST. Although BEST is still considered part of Level Two, we’ve never had a sub rise so suddenly, and we’re still making arrangements for your promotion. Usually, a match is selected after a sub has worked for a particular client many times over many years. So we’d like you to do this job while we finalize your long-term position.
    And don’t worry. This list might seem daunting, but now that you’re so in tune with your magical emotion, we know you’ll shine in any position! Empathy can be felt for the strongest or feeblest of princesses, and