Accidentally Evil Read Free

say. Dru and Jo’s room is decorated in bold colors—hot pink, lime green, and neon orange the same shade as Miss A’s hair. I picture our mess of a room and shiver.
    Ivy reads my mind. “Relax. We’ll get our room done tonight.”
    â€œHallie! What happened to your nose?” Dru asks, justnow realizing it’s twice its normal size and still growing.
    My hand goes to my nose, and I wince in pain. “­Welcome-back gift from my roomie.”
    Ivy eyes are apologetic. “I said I was sorry.”
    I finally get a good look at Jo. Over the summer she went from pimples and do-nothing hair to model-­worthy glam. Blemish free, just-right makeup, and hair that looks like Rumpelstiltskin himself spun it from gold.
    â€œHoly Saffra, Jo!” I say. “You look great!”
    Her face flushes. “One of my cousins spent the summer with us to attend cosmetology school, and I became her project. And this is what happened.”
    â€œWell, I guess she got herself an A!”
    â€œShe even took me to her school to show me off, like I was a new puppy or something.” She rolls her eyes like she was embarrassed, but I know how much that must have meant to her.
    Dru leans in close, her voice a whisper. “Have you seen them?”
    We all look at each other, shaking our heads.
    â€œI don’t blame Kendall for staying out of sight,” Ivy says, her voice deep with smugness. “Wonder if she’s learned how to talk with her new tongue.”
    We burst into uncontrollable laughter.
    Last year, when I was still testing out my gift of transformation, I cast a spell for Kendall’s true heart to be shown. I had thought the old Kendall—the sweet, funny Kendall I had known before third grade—was in there somewhere. When her true heart was shown, her tongue forked like a snake’s. The last time I saw her, she was impossible to understand because her tongue kept slipping out and searching the air. It flicked just like a snake’s. As a rule I’m terrified of snakes. But I can handle Kendall. I think.
    â€œSo, Hallie,” Jo says with a knowing smile. “Talked to Cody?”
    My face flushes red-hot. “No.”
    â€œYou’re the worst liar I’ve ever known. It’s written all over your face.”
    Ivy examines my face. “You’re right, Jo. She gets that weird little tic in the corner of her eye.” She puts her finger on me, and I pull back. “See?” she asks. “Right there.”
    â€œAnd her face gets all red and splotchy,” Jo adds.
    I instinctively bring my hands to my face. “Excuse me, but I’m standing right here.”
    Dru crosses her arms. “Then come clean. Did you talk to him?”
    â€œWe e-mailed,” I say.
    â€œWell?” Ivy said. “About what?”
    Family. School. Witchcraft. Everything.
    I shrug. “Stuff.”
    Dru gives me an I’m not buying it look. “How often did you hear from him?”
    â€œI don’t know. It’s not like I kept count.” 219 times.
    â€œAnd?” Ivy pushes.
    I force conviction into my voice. No one needs to know I really like him. I’ve barely admitted it to myself. “And nothing. We’re just friends.”
    â€œWe’re supposed to have more events with Riley as Crafters,” Ivy says. “My sister let that slip.”
    Ivy’s sister graduated from Dowling but chose to live a regular “civilian” life. Now that I have them, I can’t imagine leaving my gifts behind, letting them go dormant. But that’s just me. I can see how being a witch might not be for everyone.
    There’s a knock at the door, and all four of us turn, waiting for the door to open. Miss A can enter without a key, and we aren’t expecting anyone. But Miss A doesn’tbreeze through an opened door, and there’s another knock. Then another. Each one harder than the last.
    Dru walks to the