Free Frogs & French Kisses #2 by Sarah Mlynowski

combination: 27, 12, 33 . . . It works! My old lock is back! How did that happen?
    I open my locker and find my clothes. And not only the clothes I was wearing today but the clothes I was wearing on Wednesday. As well as my—gasp!—pink shoes. Abracatastic!
    Miri’s spell must have something to do with all this. I grab an outfit and run to a bathroom stall to change. And on the door where the beard drawing was? There’s a picture of a girl inserting a wad of Kleenex into her bra. It’s a rough drawing in black marker, but I know it’s of London. How do I know this? Because on the picture are the words “London Zeal stuffs.”

    “You have to tell me what that fantastic spell was,” I say, throwing myself onto Miri’s bed. I haven’t stopped smiling all day.
    She swivels in her chair. “With this rubber and glue, your actions will bounce right back to you. It’s temporary but still a goody.”
    I laugh. “It was awesome. You have no idea. When I got to computer class, everyone was on the freaks site, and it was filled with weird pictures of London. London bleaching her mustache. London before her nose job. London drooling on her pillow. All of my photos were replaced with shots of her! She was furious and yelling at her entire posse, because apparently they’re the only ones who know the password to get on the site. And then, when I walked down the hall, everyone was doing this weird dance-shuffle thing. And you know what they were calling it? The Hobbling London Limp! Ha! By the end of the day, she was practically Z-list!” Okay, fine, maybe just B-list, but still, she had undergone a definite demotion. Her own posse was avoiding her! “But do you want to know the best part of the day? Her clothes went missing! She had to wear her gym clothes all day.” At least they’re all green, so she didn’t have to break her one-color rule.
    Miri giggles. “And what happened with Raf?”
    Sigh. “Not much.”
    “I thought so. I warned you it might take a while.”
    “I know, I know. I’m just so excited! It was the best day ever!”
    “You know,” she says coyly. “Being happy is really the best revenge. And one way to be happy is to help others. So will you help me with the feeding-the-homeless spell tomorrow?”
    “Absolutely,” I promise. “Your wish is my command. And I owe you big time.”
    I’m still hopping about at dinner.
    “Girls,” my mom says, dishing us mashed-potato-and-broccoli stew. Ew. “Remember Adam from the tour?”
    “Um, yeah,” I say. “The Yankees hottie.”
    My mom laughs, her arm jiggles, and the gravy she’s holding splashes on her shirt. “Oops. Yeah, him. He left a message asking me out.”
    “Go, Mom, go!” I shriek. Score! “I knew my plan would work. See? I told you. Now do you promise to listen to me whenever I have suggestions?”
    “Yes, Rachel, you were right. I promise to take your dating advice.”
    I pass her a napkin. “So when are you going?”
    She scrapes the spill and shakes her head. “Going? I’m not. I already have a date with Lex.”
    I don’t believe this. “Hello? Don’t be crazy, Mom. You can date more than one man.”
    “Rachel, that’s not fair to them,” she says.
    Snort. “Mom, until there’s a ring on your finger, you can date a hundred men. A thousand.” Although I don’t know how she’d remember all their names. Sometimes she has difficulty remembering mine. I guess it comes with the territory when you’re over thirty. Anyway, she’d definitely need some sort of dating filing system.
    “I don’t know, honey. I don’t have that much free time.”
    “Mom, what are your plans for tonight? Read a romance novel? Tomorrow a murder mystery? You’ll find the time.”
    She chews a piece of broccoli, looking thoughtful. “Maybe I’ll see how it goes with Lex first and then set up a date with Adam.”
    I throw my spoon down in disgust. “Mom, Adam called today. You’re not seeing Lex for two weeks. Adam is a hot commodity.