Careful What You Wish For by Shani Petroff Read Free Book Online

up and marched right over to D.L. “ That is Max and don’t ever speak about him in that tone again. Because I promise, if you do, we are so done.”
    â€œWhat’s with you?” he asked, reaching for her hand. “Since when are you champion of the charity cases?”
    Okay, this was weird. Why wasn’t D.L. on the Max bandwagon?
    I wasn’t the only one wondering . . .
    â€œWhat did I just tell you?” Courtney yanked her hand away from him. “Quit being so mean. Why can’t you be more like Max?” She stomped out of the room with D.L. following close behind.
    â€œWhoa,” Gabi said.
    I had to second that. Courtney just dissed the hot school bad boy—her very own boyfriend—to stand up for the freaky school dork. I really did use my powers for good.
    Max stood up and walked right past us.
    â€œWait up,” I called out to him.
    He stopped, but he wouldn’t look at me. Just at his feet.
    Okay. I wasn’t looking for a “thank you” or anything like that. After all, Max had no idea that I was responsible for his fabulous new reputation. But I would have liked to have seen a smile. A little bounce in his step. Something to prove using my devil powers was worth it. That it had meaning. But nope. Max looked gloomier than ever.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Gabi asked.
    â€œEverything,” he muttered.
    â€œEverything?” I repeated after him. “What do you mean everything? Everyone is crazy about you. It’s like the perfect day.”
    â€œYeah,” he said, kicking his foot over a scuff mark in the floor. “Just perfect. Now the whole school is out to get me.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” I asked. This was crazy. Was he living in some parallel universe? Our classmates were treating him like a superhero. Gabi’s wish made sure of that.
    â€œYou’ve seen it. They’re all pretending to like me. It’s a big set-up. They’re planning something. I’ll probably wind up taped to my locker at the end of the day if I’m lucky. It’s probably much worse than that. Like this whole president thing. It’s some elaborate scheme.”
    â€œNo,” I said. “Max, they just like you.”
    â€œRight.” His foot moved like crazy over the floor. “All of a sudden, just like that,” he said, snapping his fingers, “they start liking me. No way.”
    I chewed on my nails. This was not what I imagined.
    â€œIt could happen,” Gabi said, nodding wildly.
    Max gave her a weak smile. “No it couldn’t. What’s worse, even people like Cole and Reid are in on it. It wasn’t like we were friends, but at least they never tried to torture me before. Now they’re helping Courtney and everyone set me up.”
    â€œCole wouldn’t do that,” I protested.
    â€œThen why all of a sudden did he offer to help me get ready for basketball tryouts? He barely ever speaks to me. Now he wants to be my friend? He’s probably in charge of luring me somewhere.”
    â€œIt’s not like that, Max. It’s—” I cut myself off.
    â€œIt’s what?”
    What could I say? “It’s because of me and my devil powers”? That “I made everyone want to be friends with you”? So I just told him that I didn’t know.
    Max didn’t say anything else. He just walked out of class.
    â€œThis is awful,” I said to Gabi. My nails were now nonexistent.
    â€œIt’s not that bad,” she said. “Eventually he’ll realize everyone’s sincere, and he’ll be happy.”
    Eventually? I didn’t want eventually. “But now he feels worse about himself. And I caused that.”
    â€œIt’ll all work out,” Gabi said. “Now come on, let’s go. Maybe we’ll get to see Marc on the way to class!”
    How could she think about boys when Max’s future was at stake? “Gabi,