Trish’s eyes grew wide. “That’s either incredibly impressive or incredibly creepy.”
“It’s a gift,” Bethany said, looking satisfied.
“Yeah? Then why are you getting a C in American history?” Trish asked.
Bethany shrugged. “It’s not interesting to me. Now, if we learned about the designers that people wore when we invaded other countries or which leaders had extramarital affairs while in government, then I’d own that class. But the stuff they teach us is totally boring. What Hadley wears on a daily basis is way more my speed.”
“Well, I wear the same stuff all the time,” I said, turning on my heel and walking away. The truth was, Bethany was right about my revolving wardrobe, but there was no way I could let her know that. Barring having rich parents, no one my age could afford as many style changes as I’d made in the last year, and telling the truth was out of the question. What was I supposed to say? I have a new outfit every day because I’ve put a charm on my wardrobe. Ask me how?
Yeah, right.
“I seriously can’t remember the last time you sported a rerun,” Bethany insisted as she struggled to keep up with my click-clacking footsteps.
“Of course I wear clothes more than once.” I could feel the power coursing through my words as I said them. It wasn’t like I was brainwashing them or anything. I simply had a way of convincing people of things I wanted them to believe. This was my gift, as Bethany had put it just a minute ago. It’s probably why no one ever wanted to go up against me in debate class. “Hello? I wear this jacket nearly every single day.”
“Well, yeah, I guess so… ,” Bethany said reluctantly, but giving up the fight.
“New or old, the girl looks hot,” Trish said. There was the tiniest hint of jealousy in her voice, making me wonder if it was a compliment or just an observation. She took out a compact and checked her own reflection as she walked. The exact opposite of me in the looks department, Trish knew that she always came in second on the “Hottest Girls at Astor High” list. She acted like it didn’t bother her, but every year her hair got a little blonder, her skirts got a little shorter, and her cup size got a little larger.
I personally couldn’t care less what anyone thought of me here at Astor, as long as I was still the most influential girl around. In the end, looks didn’t matter all that much to me. Although of course, they didn’t hurt. All in all, I was fully comfortable with the skin I was in.
“Okay, new subject. Are we on schedule for the class meeting after school?” I asked, maneuvering myself around a group of guys who were either reenacting a scene from an action movie or break-dancing in the hallway. “We’re supposed to come up with a theme for homecoming and decide what charity the proceeds will benefit this year. And, Sofia, can we make sure that everyone’s there on time today? I have an appointment at five that I can’t be late for.”
“A date kind of appointment?” Bethany teased.
I rolled my eyes at her. “You know I don’t date high school boys, B. And besides, when am I supposed to have time for a relationship when I’m busy running this school, cheering on our athletes, and keeping my 4.0 GPA intact so I can graduate at the top of our class and get into the Ivies?”
“Yeah, but part of having it all is having it all. And that includes a man,” Bethany said.
“Or men,” Trish chimed in with a devilish smile. “You know you could have any guy here. Probably a few of the girls, too.”
She may have been right, but romance was the last thing on my mind. I’d watched too many girls get derailed by a cute guy with a cool car. It would take more than that to catch my eye. I needed a challenge, someone who could make it worth my while and wasn’t intimidated by strong women. And as far as I’d seen, the guys at our school just didn’t fit the bill.
“Ah, but I have you guys and that’s all the fun I need,” I said jokingly, bumping my hip into Sofia’s. She returned the bump and giggled at me.
The bell rang and I looked around as people began to scurry to their first classes. Bethany and Trish gave us a wave and headed back in the direction we’d just come from, promising to see us at lunch. I turned and looked at Sofia before continuing toward our respective classrooms.
“I’ll make sure that the word gets out about the meeting today,” Sofia said, hugging her books tightly to her chest. “Is your appointment after school anything I can help you with? Need a shopping partner or a copilot?”
I smiled at my mini-me. “Nah, I’ve just got to go and see some old friends of the family, that’s all,” I said. “But I promise, next time I need a wingwoman, you’ve got shotgun.”
She beamed and hopped a little before disappearing into the computer lab. I wouldn’t have minded having Sofia along for the drive, especially since it was going to take nearly an hour for me to get to the meeting spot. But then she wouldn’t be able to come inside once we got there, and I didn’t think it’d be fair to make her sit outside until the meeting was over just so I could have some company along the way.
Nope. I’d be making this trip alone once again.
Chapter Two
“Whooooa, caught in a bad romance,” I sang at the top of my lungs along with Lady Gaga. I was in my car, jamming to the megamix playlist of the over-the-top pop singer that I’d created just for this trip. It was the perfect music to get a person in the mood for some spell casting.
After all, I’d known Gaga back when she was just plain Stefani Germanotta, a gangly teenager who liked to play the piano and put on productions of musicals at coven gatherings. It wasn’t until she’d fully embraced her magical side that she really hit it big in the entertainment world. I mean, why else would people be okay with a young woman running around in the crazy outfits she wore?
Still, you gotta love a girl who uses her God-given talents.
The song ended as I pulled into the Hobbses’ driveway, parking behind at least three other cars that were already lined up in a row.
Looks like I’m the last one here. Again.
I hated being late to anything, and according to the clock, I still had a minute until the meeting would start. Turning off the ignition, I swung the car door closed behind me and bounded up the front steps. Ringing the doorbell, I smoothed down my dress, ran a hand through my hair, and waited for someone to answer.
“Well, hello, Hadley!” Mrs. Hobbs said when she opened the door. She was pretty, in her early forties, maybe, and was dressed in a pair of jeans and a black sweater. At first glance, she looked like your typical suburban mom. However, I knew better.
“Hi, Mrs. Hobbs!” I said politely, waiting for her to invite me in. When she stepped to the side, I joined her in the foyer.
“Everyone’s already downstairs. Why don’t you grab something to drink on your way? You know where everything is,” she said before disappearing into the living room, where the TV was blaring.
“Thanks!” I shouted, rushing to the stairs and taking each step as fast as I could in my four-inch heels. When I’d made it down to the bottom safe and sound, I pushed open the door to the basement den and burst inside.
“I’m here! I’m here!” I yelled, scurrying to my usual spot on the windowsill.
“You heard the girl, let’s get this party started!” said Fallon, sitting on a beanbag chair in the corner. I narrowed my eyes at him and made a face. He was kind of dorky-looking and his body was a bit too puny for his head. But it was his out-of-control hair that really labeled him a grade-A nerd. If I didn’t know Fallon personally, I’d probably gloss right over him walking down the hallway. But I did, and he was a total thorn in my side.