Spell Struck Read Online Free PDF Page A

had seen and done a lot."
    "Like he had stolen cars or done drugs?"
    Mrs. O'Reilly tensed in the front seat. I sensed her upping her teen radar.
    "No, of course not." I avoided the rearview mirror. "But I'll never find out what because I totally blew it."
    "Oh no! What did you do?"
    A fresh wave of recrimination blazed across my cheeks and stormed toward my dyed hairline. "He totally ignored the popular girls to sit next to me, then I practically called him a liar over his name."
    "What's his name?"
    "Aidan."
    Evie furrowed her brow. "I'm lost."
    I shook my head. "Don't ask. It was too embarrassing."
    Evie ran her thumb beneath the seatbelt shoulder strap. She wore her usual navy Cal sweatshirt, jeans, and no makeup.
    I caved. "When the bell rang, I told him 'bye,' but he didn't even look up from the plank of wood he planned to carve."
    Evie tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Wait and see what happens tomorrow. Things may not be as awful as you think."
    "I wish." I slumped against the gray leather seat, wanting to believe her.
    Evie glanced at the back of her mother's head, then whispered, "Are you going to work on restoring Teen Wytche tonight? "
    "Depends on how my homework goes. Don't get your hopes up, okay? It's pretty far gone."
    "I'm fine if you can't fix it." Evie shuddered. "The thing creeps me out. Maybe we should just bury it somewhere and forget about it."
    "We can't. It might contain important secrets."
    "Some secrets are better off at the bottom of a deep pit."
    "But what if it contains a spell that could help someone? Someone who is ill." Like Amy.
    Evie's face twisted into an I-don't-know expression. Mrs. O'Reilly made a left-hand turn onto Lucas Drive. My neighborhood wasn't glamorous like Parvani's. Evie lived one street over. Both of our houses were single-story with low ceilings and overhangs that were nice in the summer but blocked the light in the winter.
    The Volvo rolled onto my driveway. Rainwater had pooled in the cracks left from the most recent earthquake. The breeze lifted a maple leaf off the lawn and sent it skidding across the hood of the car.
    "Call me later if you have a chance," Evie said.
    "I'll try. But I have to go to the library and chase down some plays for Drama." I caught Mrs. O'Reilly's gaze in the rearview mirror. "Thanks for the ride."
    "You're welcome, Sarah."
    Evie waved as I got out and closed the car door. I forced a smile and waved back. The Volvo backed into the street, spraying rainwater. A sigh rose through my body and huffed out my mouth. Mom usually worked mornings at the university art library, but had said she would stay late today to make up for the time we had spent in Massachusetts. I steeled myself. If Amy had taken a turn for the worse, then Mom would be home.
    "Hello?" I called out as I crossed the threshold.
    Einstein raced toward me, nails clicking, his surly bark arriving before he did.
    "Is Mom here?" I asked Einstein, lowering my heavy backpack to the floor. Einstein fixed his shiny black eyes on me and sat. I raised my voice. "Mom?" When no one answered, I took it as a good sign.
    No foul-smelling grimoire smoke in the hallway, either — another positive development. Tension eased out of my neck and shoulders. Einstein escorted me to the pantry, where I gave him a treat. He scarfed the biscuit, then lapped water from his bowl, the one I had made in eighth grade art class and had painted on the side: The Universe is expanding. Catch up!
    A quick peek reassured me the spell book was still safely in my closet. My fears temporarily abated, I made a trip to the bathroom, took Einstein on a "potty break" around the block, and then checked my watch. The library closed at five. By the time Mom arrived home, it would be closed. Worry clawed my stomach. What if all the copies of A Midsummer Night's Dream were checked out? It would so be Amy 's fault if I failed the assignment.
    I headed to my room . A faint brimstone stink, like spent matches, hung in the air. I