Wish by Alexandra Bullen

Author:Alexandra Bullen [Bullen, Alexandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Family, Sisters, Social Issues, Family & Relationships, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy, Magic, Body; Mind & Spirit, Fantasy & Magic, Magick Studies, Dating & Sex, Teenage Girls, Siblings, San Francisco (Calif.), Emotions & Feelings, Wishes, Death; Grief; Bereavement
ISBN: 9780545139052
Publisher: Point
Published: 2009-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

22

All it took was a full day of pretending that nothing was going on between her and Soren for Olivia to realize that “getting excited” wasn’t going to be much of a challenge. Every time she so much as caught a glimpse of him at school, through the window of the language lab door, or doing tricks on his skateboard in the courtyard at lunch, her stomach twisted into a giant pretzel.

Determined to orchestrate at least one accidental-on-purpose hallway encounter, Violet had tracked Soren’s schedule and planted Olivia in the upstairs student lounge just before the last bell of the day. This way, Violet reasoned, Olivia could position herself for a casual crossing-of-paths while innocently working on homework, the prop of her math notebook open in her lap.

“I’m so glad I found you.” A soft voice suddenly spoke from behind Olivia’s shoulder. Olivia looked up from a scramble of calculus equations just as Calla collapsed into the nubby couch on the other side of the glass table.

“Hey, Calla,” Olivia said, willing her pulse to stop drumming in her ears. Violet spun around from where she’d been perched on the top of the stairs, her eyes wide with concern. This wasn’t exactly the accidental encounter they’d had in mind. “What’s up?”

At first glance, Calla seemed okay. Her dark wavy hair was clean and shiny, and she looked perfectly put together in skinny jeans, a soft white V-neck, and a tangle of long brass chains. The only thing suspicious about her appearance were the oversize black sunglasses she was wearing inside.

“Are you busy this afternoon?” Calla asked, rummaging around in her bag for her water bottle and unscrewing the round top. Olivia’s eyes jumped back to Violet, who appeared too stunned to be of much service, and then back to Calla, who was swallowing a big sip of water and sighing like she’d been parched in a desert for months. “I could really use your help with this fundraiser we’re putting together for the thrift store. We have our first committee meeting after school today, and it would be great to have you on board.”

Olivia caught a flurry of movement and looked up to see Violet shaking her head deliberately and crossing her hands over each other back and forth.

“Oh,” Olivia stuttered. “That sounds great, but, unfortunately, I—”

“The thing is,” Calla whispered as she leaned across the table, a tumble of hair falling over her shoulder, “Lark and Eve are supposed to be helping out, and I know they’re trying. It’s just…well, usually I’d do everything myself, but I had kind of a…crazy weekend…”

What did crazy mean, exactly? Crazy busy? Or crazy sad? Olivia felt a sharp tightening in her stomach as she imagined Calla after the gala, telling her friends what had happened. Explaining that it was over with Soren.

Calla shook her head gently, the scent of vanilla shampoo floating in the air between them. Then, with slow, careful motions, she lifted both hands to the sides of her face and pulled her sunglasses down onto her lap.

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