T*Witches: The Power of Two Read Free

said.
     
    "That, and a zillion other things I haven't done."
     
    "I guess you've always been too busy—with your career, and uh, doing this kind of stuff." Cam motioned toward where Tonya was giving detailed instructions to the photographer. "You must get invited to lots of things like this. It's really nice of you to come."
     
    Marleigh frowned. "It's actually unusual for me to do this..."She lowered her voice. "I mean, the circumstances have to be pretty intense."
     
    Pretty intense? What was she talking about?
     
    "Okay," Tonya shouted as members of both teams gathered to watch. "Cam, stand on Marleigh's left, Beth, hold my place between them—I want to be sure there are no shadows." Tonya nudged the photographer aside so she could look through the lens herself.
     
    Marleigh smiled at Tonya, then turned back to Cam. "Anyway, even though it's really tragic about Tonya..."She glanced up, searched Cam's eyes apologetically, as if she'd said too much, and continued, "These are really the best moments for me, when I can truly give something back. Because after all, these are the people who put me where I am."
     
    Tonya? Tragic? Cam tried to figure that one out, but came up blank.
     
    "Your fans, you mean?" Beth ventured. "It must be amazing to know so many people are into you and look up to you as a role model."
     
    Marleigh grimaced. "Yeah, it's really great. Most of the time, anyway. Some of my fans are kind of, well, over the top. You wouldn't believe some of the weird posts."
     
    "People asking you to come to their birthday parties and stuff?" Cam laughed.
     
    "That doesn't bother me, that's kind of sweet, actually." Marleigh shook her head, as if trying to shake off a vibe. "Lately, there's this one shady creep who calls himself 'Devoted.' Demented is really more like it..."
     
    "More like what?" Tonya handed Beth her crutches to hold, then wedged herself between Cam and Marleigh and threw her arms around them.
     
    "Nothing really. Marleigh was just saying how, uh, intense , some of her fans are," Cam said.
     
    "You mean like me?" A dark cloud scudded across Tonya's face. She glared at them, her eyes overcast with anger.
     
    "Of course not," Marleigh assured her.
     
    "Some guy," Cam quickly added. "Just some weirdo."
     
    Tonya turned to the photographer. "Okay, we're ready now. Everything's perfect."
     
    Later, when the picture went viral, Cam would notice that Tonya was the only one smiling.
     

Chapter 3 — A Face in the Crowd
     

    "The game's gonna start in a second, Marleigh. We better go back to our seats," Tonya announced minutes later, when she was satisfied that the photographer had taken enough shots.
     
    Beth extended her hand. "It was really cool meeting you. Maybe later we can—"
     
    "Yeah, right. Later," Tonya snorted. Throwing her arm around Marleigh's shoulder, she started toward the bleachers. Not before the superstar glanced back at Cam and waved.
     
    "What'd diva divine say?" Kristen strolled over with Brianna.
     
    "Yes, what was your audience with Chica Plastica like? Did she at least say something important—like where she got the cashmere wrap?" Bree faux-gushed. "As if I didn't know. I'm so all over that brand."
     
    Before Cam could answer, the whistle sounded for the second half. The Meteors took the field again.
     
    "How cool is she?" Beth caught up to them. "I mean, wasn't she, like, so... I don't know... real?"
     
    "Which part?" Brianna asked, all sugary innocence. "Her nose? It's definitely been done. Eyes? Custom contacts. And that blond-on-blond hair? Weave job."
"No way!" Beth protested.
     
    "The ultimate brain-boggler is how Tonya got Marleigh Cooper here in the first place. It's not like she has any showbiz connections," Bree, whose dad was a Hollywood producer, asserted.
     
    Beth shrugged. "I've heard that she hangs out with this kid who works at the Music & More store—maybe that had something to do with it."
     
    Bree scoffed. "You mean the slacker who