Book of Shadows by Cate Tiernan Read Free Book Online Page B

nerds, not by the cool kids, but in a completely new area around the old cement benches that face each other across the brick path by the east-side door. Raven was there, Jenna and Matt, Beth, Ethan, Alessandra, Todd, Suzanne, Sharon, and Cal. Everyone who had done the circle Saturday night. My heart started a slow, dull pound.
    Before I got there, Chris walked up and spoke to Bree. Frowning, she headed off with him, talking intently as they walked away.
    “Hey, Morgan,” said Tamara, walking up to me. I glanced over at Cal. He was talking to Ethan.
    “Hi,” I said. “How was your weekend?”
    “Okay. I called you on Sunday, but I guess you were at church. How was the circle? What happened after I left?”
    I grinned. “It was really neat,” I said. “We just made a circle and went around the fire. We talked about things we wanted to get rid of.”
    “Like . . . pollution or what?” asked Tamara.
    “Pollution!” I said. “That would have been a good one. I wish I’d thought of it. No, stuff like anger and fear. Ethan tried to banish his stepmother.”
    Tamara laughed, and Janice walked up and joined us.
    “Hi,” she said, pushing her glasses up on her delicate nose. “Listen, Tam, I have to go put a proof up on Dr. Gonzalez’s board.Want to come?”
    “Sure,” said Tamara. “Coming, Morgan?”
    “No, that’s okay,” I said. They walked off, and I headed over to the east-side benches.
    “Hey, Morgan,” Jenna said, sounding friendly.
    “Hi,” I said.
    “We’re talking about our next circle,” Raven said. “That is, if you’ve recovered.” Today Raven was wearing a boned maroon corset, a black skirt, black ankle boots, and a black velvet jacket. Eye-catching.
    I felt my cheeks heating up. “I’m recovered,” I said, playing with the zipper of my hooded sweatshirt.
    “It’s not unusual for a sensitive person to have some kind of reaction to circles at first,” said Cal in his low voice. The timbre of it fluttered in my chest. “I did myself.”
    “Ooh, sensitive Morgan,” said Todd.
    “So when’s our next circle?” asked Suzanne, flicking back her surfer-blond hair.
    Cal looked at her evenly. “I’m afraid you’re not invited to our next circle,” he said.
    Suzanne looked shocked. “What?” she said, forcing a laugh.
    “No,” Cal continued.“Not you, nor Todd. Nor Alessandra.”
    The three of them stared at him, and I felt fiercely glad. I remembered how snide they had been on Saturday night. They were part of Bree’s clique, and it was unthinkable that someone would stand up to them, would cut them out of something. I was enjoying it.
    “What are you talking about?” Todd asked. “Didn’t we do it right?” He sounded belligerent, as if trying to cover up embarrassment.
    “No,” Cal said calmly. “You didn’t do it right.” He offered no other explanation, and we all stood there, waiting to see what would happen next.
    “I don’t believe this,” said Alessandra.
    “I know,” Cal said. He sounded almost sympathetic.
    Todd, Alessandra, and Suzanne looked at each other, at Cal, and at the rest of us. No one said anything or asked them to stay. It was very odd.
    “Huh,” said Todd.“I guess we know when we’re not wanted. Come on, ladies.” He offered his arms to Alessandra and Suzanne, and they had no choice but to take them.They looked humiliated and angry, but they had brought it on themselves.
    Daringly, I gave Cal a look of thanks, and he kept his eyes locked on mine for several beats. I couldn’t look away.
    Suddenly Cal pushed himself off the bench he’d been leaning against and came to stand in front of me. “What do I have behind my back?” he asked.
    My brow creased for a second, then I said, “An apple. Green and red.” It was as if I had seen it in his hand.
    He smiled, and his expressive, gold-colored eyes crinkled at the edges. He brought his hand from around his back and handed me a hard, greenish red apple, with a leaf still attached to