The Wish by Gail Carson Levine Read Free Book Online Page A

they all came with me, hovering. Everybody, that is, except Stephanie.
    When Nina let me stop skating, we went to a café in the indoor part of the pier. Stephanie came too.
    We took a booth. I sat on the outside, next to BeeBee. Nina faced me, with Stephanie on the inside.
    Nina said, “So—is California worth leaving us for?”
    â€œYou know I didn’t want to go. At first, I was so homesick, I was constantly in tears. Every night, I’d cry . . .”
    How did she talk so fast and still manage to say each word? Why did she avoid looking at me? And then when she did look, why did she stare?
    â€œ. . . but now Mom’s letting me take this course in psychic healing. I go twice a week after school, and when my friend Keisha sprained . . .”
    Then I got it. Her blank stares were exactly the way everybody had looked at me after Ms. Hannah read the dog essay. Stephanie still saw the same Wilma everybody used to see.
    But why?
    They were all engrossed in Stephanie’s tales of the West Coast. I felt left out for the first time since I’d gotten my wish.
    So at a pause I jumped in. “How come you talk so fast?” I knew I was attacking her, but I was mad that the spell wasn’t working and she didn’t like me.
    â€œYeah,” Nina said. “You haven’t slowed down from the speed of light yet.”
    â€œI thought they were so laid back in California,” BeeBee said.
    â€œThey must think you’re an East Coast freak,” Nina said. “The mile-a-minute mouth.”
    Stephanie stared at us. Then she said, “Let me out.” Nina stood, and she slid out. “I’m sorry I ever—” She was fighting to keep from crying. “—I couldn’t wait to see—I missed you so mu—” She turned and ran.
    I had gotten them to gang up on her. I felt like a total louse.
    Nina stood up. “I’ll go get her.”
    â€œNo, I’ll go,” I said. “It’s my fault.” I wanted to tell her I was sorry.
    â€œYeah,” BeeBee said. “You go. You’ll make her feel better.”
    I ran out of the café. “Stephanie!”
    She turned, and turned away again when she saw it was me.
    I caught up to her. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
    â€œYou’re right, but it doesn’t matter.”
    â€œIt does matter. It was mean. But I’m really not trying to take BeeBee and Nina away from you.”
    â€œThey-already-are-away-I-don’t-live-here-anymore.”
    â€œI know, but we can all be friends.”
    â€œNo- we -can’t.” She slowed down her blast of words. “Because . . . I . . . don’t . . . live . . . here . . . anymore. Am . . . I . . . speaking . . . slowly . . . enough . . . for . . . you?”
    I nodded.
    â€œMaybe you’re as incredible as they say, even if you jumped on me for no reason. But why do you care about me? I’m leaving in a couple of days.”
    I shrugged. “I don’t, I guess.” This was true. I didn’t want to be friends with Stephanie the way I wanted to be with Ardis, for example. “It’s just that at Claverford they all—”
    â€œI’m not at Claverford.”
    Oh.
    Aaah. That was it. The old lady made me popular at Claverford. That was why Stephanie didn’t like me. What a relief. The spell was still working. I was still popular—at Claverford. And Claverford was all I cared about. “I’m sorry I was mean. Can’t you come back? Nina and BeeBee want you to.”
    â€œWell, I don’t want to.” She muttered something under her breath that sounded like a fast chant. I caught “forgive” and “love” and “level.” Then she said, “Tell Neen and Beeb I’ll call them. Tell them I’m not mad.”
    I headed back to the café. I