Page 30 of Practically Magic

“What?”

“So what are you going to do about the rituals? I know you need your one true love. If you can’t get Colton to your house for Halloween—”

“I’ll get him there,” I say.

“I think you should call Harry. Have her call her boyfriend. The one she dumped right after Halloween her senior year. What was his name? Jack?”

I pull at a loose thread on my quilted coat and watch the stitching unravel. “I don’t need perfect Harry to cast her perfect spell with her perfect boyfriend. I’m going to do it. With Peter.”

“Who’s Peter? Seriously, Kat, you are not making sense.”

“I mean Colton!” I cry. I stomp away and then wait for Laney to catch up. We’re going to be late for school at this rate.

Laney thinks for a moment. “If it makes you feel any better, Mayor Croft seemed really upset about the intruder. Maybe Colton will cancel his party—”

I brighten. “Yes! I mean, I’m not thrilled about the break-in, but maybe you’re right. Then I can offer to have the party at my house where there are no chaperones, and Colton will think I’ve saved Halloween.” I warm at the thought of Colton and me greeting people at my front door. Now all I have to do is get rid of Harry.

We’ve reached the school parking lot. Kids are pouring into school, walking or getting off buses. I see Colton and two friends getting out of a car together. “I just need to find a way to get him alone, but we don’t have the same lunch period and the only class we have together is chemistry. I’m not doing it there.”

“Definitely not.” Laney purses her lips. “What about stopping by his house? We can do some investigating and maybe float the idea of you hosting.”

“Laney, you are brilliant!” Maybe I don’t have my sister in my life, but I do have the next closest thing to it. I reach up to touch my crystal out of habit and remember. It’s shattered in a million pieces in the kitchen. My hands tingle in response to the thought. I try to push my sadness away. I don’t need Harry or the crystal. I can do this on my own.

11

Mystic Hollow Community Page

New post from Mayor Croft’s Office: Due to an unforeseen issue at the mansion, tonight’s meeting is canceled.

Comment from SOCCER DAD12: Saw the mayor run screaming from his mansion this a.m. What’s going on?

Comment from GIVEBROOKIEACOOKIE: I heard the sheriff was called in about a ghost sighting.

Comment from SOCCERDAD12: What? LOL! Can’t wait to see whatever video he’s working on!

After school, I follow Colton to the town green, but instead of going home, he heads to Witches Brew. I guess he’s enjoying football practice being canceled for Hallo-week. Unfortunately, everyone else is also at Witches Brew.

“You okay there, Hadley?” Zach asks, stopping by my table and looking down at my notebook. He’s wearing a navy-blue Henley today and green cords like he’s auditioning to be in a fall advertisement for Mystic Hollow. “It’s not like you to do your homework here where I can see your answers.”

I take a sip from my frosted mug, enjoying the bite of the sugar rim. Today Zach handed me an apple cider before I even asked. It’s exactly what I needed. “How do you know I’m not writing down the wrong answers so you’ll copy them and fail?”

Zach’s lips tug up slightly on one side. “Like you’d ever write down the wrong answers.”

“True,” I admit, sip the last of my cider, and wave my glass at him. “Does this come with free refills?”

He rolls his eyes. “You didn’t pay for the first fill.”

“Please?” I ask sweetly. He sighs heavily and takes the cup. I call after him. “Don’t forget to refresh the sugar rim!”

Zach takes the empty mug back to the window where his brother Landon is working. I see Landon say something I can’t hear. “Shut it,” Zach says as he returns with my drink.

I accept it with a grin. “No whipped cream?” I tease.

“Don’t push it, Hadley.” But for some reason, he’s smiling too. He pulls a rag out of his pocket and cleans off the table for me, which has sugar crystals on it from my previous drink. “So what really brings you in today? Hoping to talk to someone special?”

“Actually, I am,” I say, glancing over at Colton.

Zach squeezes his eyes shut for a moment. “Don’t tell me you’re going to his party too. I thought you were going to have one.”