Cath rolled her eyes. Theres got to be a happy medium.
Im happy, he said, so this must be it.
Cath bought herself a Cherry Coke from the bar and ignored the beer. Reagan bought two plates of drippy orange nachos. Levi bought three giant dill pickles that were so sour, they made them all cry.
Reagan won the first game. Then Levi won the second. Then, for the third, he talked the guy behind the counter into turning on the kiddie bumpers for Cath. She still didnt pick up any strikes. Levi won again.
Cath had just enough money left to buy them all ice cream sandwiches from the vending machine.
I really am the Strike Out King, Levi said. Everything I write on my shirt comes true.
Itll definitely come true tonight at Muggsys, Reagan said. Levi laughed and crumpled up his ice cream wrapper to throw at her. The way they smiled at each other made Cath look away. They were so easy together. Like they knew each other inside and out. Reagan was sweeterand meanerwith Levi than she ever was with Cath.
Someone pulled on Caths ponytail, and her chin jerked up.
Youre coming with us, Levi asked, right?
Where?
Out. To Muggsys. The night is young.
And so am I, Cath said. I cant get into a bar.
Youll be with us, he said. Nobodyll stop you.
Hes right, Reagan said. Muggsys is for college dropouts and hopeless alcoholics. Freshmen never try to sneak in.
Reagan put a cigarette in her mouth, but didnt light it. Levi took it and put it between his lips.
Cath almost said yes.
Instead she shook her head.
* * *
When Cath got back up to her room, she thought about calling Wren.
She called her dad instead. He sounded tired, but he wasnt trying to replace the stairs with a water slide, so that was an improvement. And hed eaten two Healthy Choice meals for dinner.
That sounds like a healthy choice, Cath told him, trying to sound encouraging.
She did some reading for class. Then she stayed up working on Carry On until her eyes burned and she knew shed fall asleep as soon as she climbed into bed.
Words are very powerful, Miss Possibelf said, stepping lightly between the rows of desks. And they take on more power the more that theyre spoken.
The more that theyre said and read and written, in specific, consistent combinations. She stopped in front of Simons desk and tapped it with a short, jeweled staff. Up, up and away, she said clearly.
Simon watched the floor move away from his feet. He grabbed at the edges of his desk, knocking over a pile of books and loose papers. Across the room, Basilton laughed.
Miss Possibelf nudged Simons trainer with her staffHold your horses and his desk hovered three feet in the air.
The key to casting a spell, she said, is tapping into that power. Not just saying the words, but summoning their meaning.
Now, she said, open your Magic Words books to page four. And Settle down there, Simon. Please.
from chapter 5, Simon Snow and the Mages Heir, copyright © 2001 by Gemma T. Leslie
SEVEN
When Cath saw Abels name pop up on her phone, she thought at first that it was a text, even though the phone was obviously ringing.
Abel never called her.
They e-mailed. They textedtheyd texted just last night. But they never actually talked unless it was in person.
Hello? she answered. She was waiting in her spot outside Andrews Hall, the English building. It was really too cold to be standing outside, but sometimes Nick would show up here before class, and theyd look over each others assignments or talk about the story they were writing together. (It was turning into another love story; Nick was the one turning it that way.)
Cath? Abels voice was gravelly and familiar.
Hey, she said, feeling warm suddenly. Surprisingly. Maybe she had missed Abel. She
was still avoiding WrenCath hadnt even eaten lunch at Selleck since Wren drunked at her. Maybe Cath just missed home. Hey. How are you?
Im fine, he said. I just told you last night that I was fine.
Well. Yeah. I know. But its different on the phone.
He sounded startled. Thats exactly what Katie said.
Whos Katie?
Katie is the reason Im calling you. Shes, like, every reason Im calling you.
Cath cocked her head. What?
Cath, Ive met someone, he said. Just like that. Like he was in some telenovela.
Katie?
Yeah. And its, um, she made me realize that well, that what you and I have isnt real.
What do you mean?
I mean our relationship, Cathit isnt real. Why did he keep saying her name like that?
Of course its real. Abel. Weve been together for three years.
Well, sort of.
Not sort of, Cath said.
Well at any ratehis voice sounded firmI met somebody else.
Cath turned to face the building and rested the top of her head against the bricks. Katie.
And its more real, he said. Were just right together, you know? We can talk about everythingshes a coder, too. And she got a thirty-four on the ACT.
Cath got a thirty-two.
Youre breaking up with me because Im not smart enough?
This isnt a breakup. Its not like were really together.
Is that what you told Katie?