Free Spell Struck by Ariella Moon Page A

explained to Aidan. I pulled out my phone and activated it. The device started beeping, indicating I had text messages and voicemail waiting.
    My insides tumbled when I read the first message. Call me as soon as you get this. Urgent! Mom.
    "Anything wrong?" Aidan asked.
    "I'm not sure." I punched in Mom's number. She picked up on the first ring.
    "Sarah?"
    "Yeah, Mom. I just got out of the movie. Everything okay?"
    "Amy's roommate called. Sweetie, I have to go back there. Your dad is waiting outside the theater to pick you up."
    "Okay." My heart sank like a stone tossed into a bottomless lake. "I'm on my way."
    "Sorry, baby." Mom sounded old, her voice thin like frayed wire. "See you soon."
    "Bye," I said, but Mom had already severed the connection.
     

Chapter Ten
     
    Jordan and Zhù seemed to assume I knew what was going on with Salem, so I kept my mouth shut and my ears open. Zhù twisted in the front seat of his mom's sedan, straining against his seat belt while he said, "This can't be good."
    Jordan leaned forward. "I know. Like, Amy must be in bad shape if she couldn't hang in there until the Thanksgiving break."
    Zhù pushed back his rimless John Lennon-style glasses. "I wonder if she tried to commit suicide again."
    Their worried energy ricocheted around the car. Mentally, I tried to ward it off. Papo's Rule Number One — don't get attached — shrilled like a siren in my ears.
    "Poor Salem," Zhù said.
    Jordan drummed his fingers against the cream-colored seat leather. "Yeah. Like, what if depression runs in her family?"
    What if the mystery appointments Salem mentioned were trips to a therapist?
    Mrs. Wong pulled into a leaf-strewn driveway. Contentment emanated from Jordan's house. Nice people must live there. Kind people. Lucky guy.
    Jordan reached for his backpack as the car rolled to a stop. "Thanks for the ride, Mrs. Wong."
    She gave a brief nod. "You're welcome. Say hi to your mom for me."
    "Will do." Jordan knuckle-bumped Zhù, then pivoted in his seat and knuckle-bumped me. "Later, man."
    "Yeah, later."
    Jordan closed the car door behind himself, then headed to his front door with long, easy strides. Mrs. Wong said over her shoulder, "Dewing Street, right?"
    "Yes, ma'am," I answered. "If it's not too far out of your way."
    "No problem at all." She backed the car out of the driveway and headed toward town.
    A few blocks from Dewing, I began to worry. What if Zhù or his mom recognized the house as a foreclosure? What if they did an online search or made a few calls, and realized we were squatters? I shifted in my seat, unbuckled my messenger bag straps, flipped back the flap and pretended to search for house keys.
    Mrs. Wong made a left onto Dewing. "I didn't realize there were houses back here."
    "Keep going straight. I'll let you know when we get near."
    We passed a newish retail complex and then some shingled suites, the kind accountants and therapists rent. The road curved up a hill. We entered a mash-up of apartment complexes, older homes, mature trees, and picket fences. I silently prayed none of the "family" were outside.
    "Here's my block."
    Mrs. Wong slowed the car. "Which house?"
    My gaze swung from the foreclosed house to the sidewalk, where June walked Mitzi and Artemis. I leaned forward and pointed. "You can stop next to the woman with the dogs."
    "Does she have a Yorkie in her baby carrier" Zhù's voice rose, incredulous.
    "Yep. Mitzi."
    Zhù guffawed. Mrs. Wong glided to the curb and stopped.
    "Thanks for the ride, Mrs. Wong."
    "Any time, Aidan. Pleasure to meet you."
    "You, too." June spotted me and waved. Zhù and his mother waved back. "If you talk to Parvani," I told Zhù as I opened the car door, "thank her again for the ticket."
    "Will do, man."
    I closed the car door and walked over to June. Mrs. Wong drove off, leaving behind car fumes and, I'm sure, unanswered questions.
    "Hi Aidan. How was school?" June's face lit with genuine interest. I wondered how often she had heard from her