Witch Read Free Page B

Summerland,’ I added, trying to sound more like a normal human being.
    And actually, I had to admit, Summerland was beautiful. We’d reached the top of the Ortega Hill and the view stretching along the Californian coast as far as the eye could see was breathtaking. Even with its cold green ocean and heavy sea-fog that rolled in and clung to the cliffs like clockwork at three p.m., turning a sunny afternoon into a misty winter day, there was something almost magical about the small town, perched on the steep coastline, with its tall, quirky Victorian-era homes set on narrow streets that wound up the steep hills like a maze.
    I had spent most of my time after school for the past two weeks happily wandering on my own up high in these foggy hills, looking out over the ocean. But right now I was enjoying having company, a lot.
    All too soon we reached my house.
    â€˜Well, see you at school tomorrow,’ Bryce said with a wave.
    I just nodded dumbly at him and ran up the path.

Three
    â€˜Vania Thorn, do you have the solution to this equation?’ Mrs Hestalow said, tapping her pointer on the board.
    I was in the front row and could see her bright-red lipstick staining her teeth. She was wearing a black-and-white polka-dot dress and pointy-toed black patent-leather pumps. I liked Mrs Hestalow. She looked more like a fifties rockabilly chick than a maths teacher, and she was friendly to me. Unlike Mr Barrow, who just seemed to hate me more by the day. I had bumped into him when I’d rounded a corner in the corridor on the way to maths. I’d apologised, but he’d just stood there silently, staring at me with his cold beady eyes. Thinking about it sent a chill through my body, making the hairs on my arms stand up as I replied to Mrs Hestalow.
    â€˜49 x = 147. x = 3.’
    â€˜Very good.’ Mrs Hestalow smiled and turned back to the board. I returned to gazing out the window and thinking about something much more pleasant than my weird chemistry teacher . . . Bryce.
    The bell rang and I jumped. This was the last class of the day, and I was walking home with Bryce again! He had come up to me at lunch when I was in line at the canteen and quietly suggested it.
    Cassidy and one of her bitchy friends had been watching and had rolled their eyes when they saw us standing together – but thankfully hadn’t thrown an orange at me again. I was so surprised I’d just agreed by nodding at him dumbly. Bryce was Cassidy’s boyfriend, and yet he wanted to walk me home?
    I had butterflies in my stomach as I dumped my books in my locker. As I was closing my locker door I saw Amelia and Alyssa walking away down the hall. They had their backs to me, but as if they sensed my presence they both stopped suddenly and turned around to wave to me. Amelia winked and then they ran off. I wondered if they psychically knew I was meeting Bryce.
    Bryce and I had agreed to meet at the drinking fountain near the entrance to the school. I sat on the stone block next to the fountain as a stream of students flowed out of the building and down the stairs. It was a warm afternoon but I left my jacket on so that Bryce wouldn’t see how small my breasts were. Yes, seriously. I knew he was with Cassidy, but I still wanted to look the best I could and it seemed like all the cool girls in America looked like Barbie dolls. I would never be that. My parents wouldn’t buy me a boob job, for a start – not that I was too keen to go under the knife anyway. But I was also not too keen on advertising how flat-chested I was. And so I sat there sweating a bit.
    I waited there until the schoolyard was deserted. This wasn’t good. I chewed my nails nervously. Was Bryce standing me up? Maybe all this was just a plot to make me look ridiculous. He and Cassidy and that whole group were probably hiding behind a building, watching me and laughing.
    I stood up and brushed off my jeans. The butterflies in my stomach had been