The Invisible Enemy Read Online Free PDF Page B

Believe me, I’d rather be looking at your ugly face right now!”
    I took a breath. I could hear my mother telling me that “an insult is the tool of a weakargument.” I took another breath. Since I was right, I could lay off the insults and just make her—what? Make her say she’s sorry? Make her reappear? Ohmigod! What was I supposed to do now? What was Mr. Donaldson going to say when he saw her? I mean, couldn’t see her?
    “Listen,” I said. “We’re supposed to be getting on a bus….” What should I tell Mr. D.? Or should I not say anything? I felt trapped. I took a step toward the sink and crashed right into Alyssa.
    “Hey! Watch out!” She grabbed me to steady herself, and my sleeve disappeared. My arm flickered, as if it might go next.
    “Whoa!” she said, letting go instantly. “Did I do that?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Do I have magical powers now?”
    “No, you do not have magical powers! But while you’re gone like this, anything you touch will disappear. So keep your hands to yourself.”
    She immediately gripped my arm again. It wavered and vanished.
    “Let go, Alyssa! I just told you not—”
    Without warning, the bathroom door flew open. Alyssa let go of my arm as Michele came in. She had nearly caught me shouting at an empty room.
    “Billie, come on!” she said. “Mr. Donaldson is having a cow about you and Alyssa.”
    “I’ll be right there, Michele. I have to, uh, use the facilities.”
    “Well, what have you been—”
    Her ponytail disappeared. Suddenly her hair went dim and then was gone. Alyssa must have been holding on to it. Michele’s face was intact, but she now looked like a hard-boiled egg with a face painted on.
    Alyssa started to giggle. Michele jumped, and I laughed at the look on her face. But the laughter was coming from two directions. In an instant I knew I had to distract her.
    “Aaaeeeyy! A
spider! In your hair!” I shouted.
    Michele clapped her hands to her head. “Get it off! Get it off!”
    I flapped at her like I was helping, and she ran from the room with a howl. I fell against the wall and cracked up. I couldn’t help it. AndAlyssa sounded like she was choking, she was laughing so hard. It was a couple of minutes before we caught our breath. I couldn’t believe I was having fun with
Alyssa
!

    “This could rock,” she said. “This could really be a party. How long does it last?”
    Hold on, I thought. She shouldn’t be getting so pleased with herself.
    “It depends,” I said.
    “On what?”
    “On quite a few things.”
    “Like?”
    I didn’t answer.
    “Like what, Billie? It just wears off, right? How long do I have?”
    What should I say? I was thinking that maybe she deserved a little punishment. After all, she was still a dirty, rotten thief. Finally, I had some power over her.
    “Glue number one,” I said. “This powder does not wear off.”
    “What?”
    “It does not wear—”
    “I heard you the first time. But it’s really creepy the way your eyes keep missing mine. You’re looking sort of past me, like I’m not really here. It’s distracting. So, anyway, if it doesn’t wear off, what happens?”
    “Hmm,” I said. “I guess we’ll just have to wait and find out, won’t we?”
    I wished I could see the face that went with her choking growl.
    “You are totally whack, Billie Stoner. If you don’t tell me right now, I’ll—”
    “You’ll what? Sue me? Gall the police? Report me to the Department of Witchcraft?”
    “Oh, get lost!” she said, practically spitting.
    That did it. I marched toward the door.
    “Wait!”
    I ignored her and pushed it open.
    “Where are you going?”
    “I’m getting lost.”

9 • Hiding the
Invisible Thief
    I stomped into the hallway.
    Alyssa was right behind me.
    “Wait a minute!” she pleaded. “Please wait!”
    I waited, but I didn’t turn around.
    “It really doesn’t wear off?”
    The tremble in her voice was more than a bit satisfying.
    “It really doesn’t.”
    “So what