Strange Magic Read Online Free Page A

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.  I haven’t done anything to you.”
     
              Duncan smiled thinly.  “And I’m going to keep it that way.”
     
              “Duncan!  This is incredible.  We can talk to each other through our thoughts.  How is this possible?  I thought I was going crazy.”
     
              “That was impressive,” Duncan said.  “I almost believed that you were really falling apart.  I would have taken the bait if I hadn’t dealt with your kind before.”
     
              I stared at him.  “My kind?”
     
              Duncan must have realized that we’d held eye contact too long.  Other people would think it was weird.  He moved his gaze back to Mandy, but his words continued in my mind.  “This time I’m going for normal.”
     
              Then I was left alone with my own thoughts.  My mind was reeling from this new discovery.  At least now I was fairly certain that I was still sane.  Other than that, my world had been turned upside down.
     
              I was startled by the sound of the bell.  Duncan and Mandy walked out together as I slowly gathered my books.  I was now on autopilot.  It was the only way I could make it through the rest of the day.
     
              Caitlin watched me with a worried expression on her face as I tried to make small talk.  “You should eat something.”
     
             I managed a smile.  “Since when did you turn into my mother?”
     
             “I’m serious,” Caitlin said.  “When was the last time you ate?”
     
              I thought about it.  “Yesterday morning.  I had cereal.”
     
              Caitlin looked at me incredulously.  “You should be starving by now.”
     
              I shrugged.  “I’m just not hungry.  Anyway, I’ve got the scoop.  Mandy is totally after Duncan.”
     
              Caitlin pursed her lips.
     
              I ignored her disapproval.  “I saw it with my own eyes.  It was seduction 101.  She’s got some killer moves.”
     
              Caitlin sighed.  “Oh, Suzy.  That should be you.  Don’t give up.”
     
              “There are other fish in the sea.  Maybe I’ll go comfort Brad.”  My attempt at being flip fell flat.  I had to change the subject.  I began to engage Caitlin in conversation about her date with Alex.  She realized that this was a good distraction for me.  They were going to a movie, and we debated which outfit she should wear.
     
              Normally, Caitlin drove me home from school.  It turned out that she had forgotten about a dentist appointment that afternoon.  Her mom was coming to sign her out early.  Then Caitlin was driving herself to the dentist.
     
              “At least my mouth will be extra clean.  If Alex doesn’t kiss me, I’m going to kiss him.”
     
              This got a genuine laugh out of me. “Caitlin!”
              “What?  It’s our second date, and I’m a modern woman.”
     
              “That you are.”  I smiled at her affectionately.
     
              As the bell rang, she grabbed my arm.  “We’ll talk tomorrow.”  She gave me a meaningful look.
     
              “Yes,” I said.  “I promise.”
     
              As the afternoon wore on, I began to feel seriously light-headed.  The day was almost over, and I had no intention of going to the nurse again.  Even taking the bus home was a better option than calling my mom to pick me up sick two days in a row.  The last thing I needed was for her to fuss over me all weekend.  Caitlin and I would require privacy for what was going to be the biggest talk we’d ever had.  It would probably test even Caitlin’s open mind.
     
              When the last bell rang, I left all my books in my locker.  Hopefully, Mr. Gates