The Invisible Enemy by Marthe Jocelyn Read Free Book Online

mother.”
    “Hello? Billie! Remember me? What are you going to do about me?”
    I tried to stare at her. I wanted to shoot her a killer look like my mother’s.
    “I’m over here, pinhead.”
    I was glaring in the wrong direction.
    “Could you just tell me the spell or whatever to make me reappear?”
    “It’s not a spell, Alyssa.”
    “What is it, then? What happens?”
    “What’ll you give me to tell you?” Having an enemy was bringing out the worst in me. But, I admit, tormenting her came pretty easily. “I have information. You want information. Have you got any cash?”
    “What? I’m supposed to pay you? Forget it, Billie,” she said. “I’m going to follow you around until you fix me back. You told the teacher I’m coming to your place. So I’m coming to your place. And I’m staying till this is over.”
    “No way,” I said. “My mother is at my place!”
    “Well, we can’t go to my place, Billie, because I won’t be there! Even
my
mother would notice that!”
    “I’m not going anywhere with you, Alyssa. I’m sick of you. And I feel like an idiot, talking to myself in the middle of the street. You stole my backpack, and you stole my makeup kit. Ishould have you arrested instead of talking to you. Plus, I’m freezing. So good-bye.”
    I turned to walk away. I took two steps and heard my name called. But it wasn’t Alyssa.
    “Allo, Billie!” Jean-Pierre had come around the corner behind us. He was wearing his adorable, crooked smile and no hat, as usual. How can a boy have such glossy, black curls while I have limp, brown straggles?
    “Have you seen Hubert?” he asked. “I am waiting for Hubert.”
    “No,” I said, “I have not seen Ooo-bear.”
    As cold as I was, I felt sweat under my arms. I knew Alyssa was still nearby, but I didn’t know where, and it was giving me the heebie-jeebies.
    “So,” I said, flapping a dumb little wave, “see you around.” I turned and tripped over Alyssa.
    “Oof,” she said.
    “Oof,” I quickly added, struggling not to fall over.
    Jean-Pierre just smiled.
    “Billie,” he said quietly. “Don’t go yet. I’m never alone with you, and I wanted to ask—”
    Yikes!
    “I was wondering—”
    What? Wondering what? Oh, shoot, why did Alyssa have to be here?
    “Would you maybe like to hang around? With me?”
    “With you?” Was he asking me on a date?
    “Oof!” I gasped again. “Don’t!” Alyssa had punched my shoulder.
    “Oh, please, do not be embarrassed,” he said.
    Embarrassed? I was flat out dying. Jean-Pierre was so not like a regular sixth-grader. Josh or David or Victor would never talk to a girl like this. They mumbled or teased. Jean-Pierre was—well, flirting! And Alyssa was listening!
    “I know you are a bit shy,” he went on.
    “Hah!” squawked Alyssa.
    “Ah!” I covered, squeaking like a mouse.
    Jean-Pierre looked a little disconcerted, but he kept going. “I like that. Shy and funny, not so pushy as Alyssa.”
    My neck exploded in a rush of cold prickles. What was he saying? Oh, shut up, shut up, please!
    “You are different,” he continued.
    “Ow, stop that!” Another punch. Like it was my fault he had seen the real her in only five days.
    “Stop?” said Jean-Pierre.
    I pulled myself together.
    “I don’t want to talk about anyone behind her back,” I said just as Hubert came around the corner of the building.
    “Hubert! Oh, Hubert, thank goodness you’re here!”
    “Allo, Hubert. We have been waiting for you.”
    Hubert rocked from left foot to right. He silently quizzed me, his eyes darting back and forth and his eyebrows pushed up, asking where Alyssa was.
    “Hubert,” I said, cocking my head in the direction of the last punch. “I’m going home, but I’ll call you later, okay? I have to talk to you.”
    “I don’t know, Billie.” Hubert twisted his mouth the way he does when he’s nervous. “I’m going to be kind of busy.” He glanced at Jean-Pierre.
    “Yes, call!” said Jean-Pierre.