Chapter 7: Mean Girls, Everywhere

Gwen can't do that, can she? I cross my arms, my textbook pressing against my chest. "And if I don't come to this spectacle?"

What could she really do to get more pissed at me? Any moment, the Headmistress would come scurrying down the hallway saying they made a huge mistake.

"Like I said, you'll have to obey my every command." She smiles at me in a way that makes my skin crawl. "It's easy enough to hex you. And the only way to remove the curse is to come to the cemetery at eleven tonight."

Bullies were often all talk and little show. If I leave and tell the Headmistress that Gwen is a bully, I doubt it would go well for me afterward. Seen that too many time with cliques like hers. All it will do will get me labeled as a tattle-tale.

Still, I want to hold my ground and show her she can't intimidate me. "You can't scare me into coming."

"Oh?" She flicks her fingers at me, whispering words under her breath that I can't make out. "There. Just a little sample of what's to come and it will only get worse until you fulfill your initiation- that is if you even can."

"Brene!" Melanie shouts from across the hallway. "Why aren't you getting our lunch?"

"Sorry." I turn away from Gwen and the others. "I've suddenly lost my appetite."

"You need to eat." Melanie ignored the girls, grasping my arm. "That leyline did a number on you. Your face is still pale."

"I look that bad?"

"No, not at all." She bites her lip.

"Gee, thanks a lot," I say. "You know you're a lousy liar."

We rush into the cafeteria that is overflowing with students. Vamps are drinking from dark bottles of blood. My stomach heaves. I so wanted to eat since I skipped breakfast this morning until seeing that, now the thought of food makes me nauseous. Their crimson eyes remind me of the attack and why I'm here in the first place.

Seeing me sway on my feet, Melanie pushes me into a chair. She returns a few moments later and hands me a soda. "Drink this. I'll be right back with some sandwiches and stuff."

Knowing she'll probably lecture me if I don't follow her instructions, I sip at the soda. Slowly, my insides stop churning.

"Here." She gives me a bag of potato chips and a turkey sandwich. "Eat."

"What if I can't?"

"Then I'll spell you." She sits beside me, opening her sandwich.

"Is that what you witches like to do? Cast spells and curse people?" I open the chips, but only because I don't know what else to do with my hands.

She bristles. "Look. I know you've been human for most of your life, so I can forgive your ignorance. But come on, Brene. We're just like you. We get sick and tired. We love and mourn. We play and sleep. How are humans any better than us? There's good and bad among all beings."

"Sorry." I squeeze my eyes shut briefly. "You're right. I'm not upset with you or anyone else. I'm mad that I'm here and no one will listen to me. Now I've got Gwen's initiation thing to do and I've no clue what will be asked of me."

Melanie chokes on her bite of sandwich. "That stupid witch. She invited you?"

"Yeah. Doesn't she do that with everyone?"

"Nope." She shakes her head. "Only two kinds of people get invited to Gwen's initiation parties. One: those she wants in her inner circle."

"And two?" I already regret not eating sooner.

"Those she wants to eliminate."

"Great. Will failing her test get me out of here?"

Melanie leans back in her chair, examining me. "Maybe. It can't hurt."

We turn back to our food, silent as we eat and I debate how I can mess up whatever challenge Gwen has set for me. The bell rings and I rush to Gym. Vampires and werewolves are climbing up the walls with no gear or safety nets. Fairies flutter overhead.

"Everyone needs to run ten laps, then report back here for relays," the coach, a man who looks like a bullfrog except he isn't green barks out.

I race along the track with the others when I spot Gwen smirking from the sidelines. Why isn't she having to ru- my feet trip and I tumble headfirst into the gymnasium floor.

Laughter and snickers echo. "Guess the human isn't used to physical activity."

My face burns from both embarrassment and anger, I stand up, then continue running. It's not long before an itch creeps across my side and I wonder if I'm bleeding.

I hike up my shirt to expose my mid-drift when a waft of honeysuckle and musk scent breezes over me. For a moment, my pain is gone and I'm reminded of my heady dream from last night.

"You okay?" Melanie pulls me to the side of the gym.

"Yeah." I shake my head. What is wrong with me? Do I have a concussion from the attack that's given me brain damage or something? "I-I don't know. Gwen said she put a hex on me? How do I get rid of it?"

"Crap. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Would that have made a difference?" I ask.

"Shit, yeah. The longer you let a spell marinate, the stronger it becomes."

"You two, get to running," the coach shouts.

We start up around the gym again.

"All right. Fine. So how do we get rid of it?" I ask.

"When did she curse you?"

"Before lunch."

She stumbles a step, but catches herself. "Damn! Okay, the spell has attached itself to you. Only way to break it is to complete her stupid initiation. You have to do whatever she says. No matter how silly it seems."

"Wonderful."

* * *

The rest of the day, I pace inside my dorm room. I faked a stomach ache and was excused from my remaining classes. Melanie can't help me. Mrs. Decan asked her to go back to France and see about a necromancy matter. Apparently, she is top of her class and something has happened that her teachers can't fix.

I am on my own.

Whatever Gwen has cast on me is working. Bad luck follows me like a shadow I can't shake. I try to call Lance, but the line goes dead each time. Amelia, Jolene, and Rachel aren't answering my texts. The phone won't even connect when I try to call my aunt. And a black rash has spread across my torso that even when I went to the nurse, she said I looked fine and acted like I am losing my mind.

Maybe I am.

When the clock shows nearly eleven, I creep outside dressed in my jeans and a T-shirt. The wind whips around me and I wish I brought my jacket.

A small fire lights up against the night sky. Gwen and several girls along with a few guys wait beside the flames. Time to get this over with.

"I'm here. What do you want me to do? Spray paint the inside of the dorm or something stupid?"

Gwen holds out her hand. "Give me your phone."

"Wha- why?"

"Because you can't have any outside help with this one."

"Whatever." I place my cell in her outstretched hand.

When it buzzes, she glances down at it. "Who's the hotty?"

"Lance." I cross my arms. "My boyfriend."

"Prove it."

"No. I don't need to."

"Right," she elongates the word and the people around her laugh. "In that case, your initiation is simple. Do a boyfriend spell to bring him here. If he agrees that you two are dating, then I'll take off the hex on you. If he disagrees-"

"He won't." Sooner I can get this over with the better. And the possibility of seeing Lance has me giddy inside.

"Attention everyone, I dare Brene here to prove her witch magic or not by bringing her boyfriend, Lance, across the state barrier into our Academy. Do you all stand witness of the test and initiation, say aye."

"Aye," half a dozen voices answer.

"You have until midnight to complete your quest."

Less than an hour! How am I even supposed to know where to begin? I don't wait, but race back to the Academy. Shouts and jeers echo behind me.

"No outside help, remember?" Gwen calls after me. "We'll know, so no asking your weirdo friend Melanie, or anyone else for help."

My gut tightens. How am I supposed to pull this off? I dash into the library, my heart pounding. I've got to find a boyfriend spell and fast.