Free Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige Page B

the story he fed the school. Count your blessings, I guess.”
    There was no way I could tell them. Absolutely none. But in spite of myself, I was starting to like this weird, new Team Madison. And I was weirdly touched by how nice they were being to me. Could I trust them? Did it matter? What the hell, it wasn’t like I had anyone else.
    â€œI have a better idea,” I said. “Why don’t you guys help me out with something.”
    Dustin Jr. let out an excited burble and vomited. Madison, not missing a beat as she swabbed him off with a handful of napkins, raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow. “What kind of something?”
    â€œSomething secret,” I said.
    Madison’s eyes lit up. “I
love
secrets,” she said as her baby giggled. “I
knew
there was a reason I missed you.”
    â€œRemember your book report on Dorothy?” She nodded. “You’re going to help me find that bitch’s shoes.”

T EN
    â€œDorothy’s
shoes
?” Madison’s eyes were wide in disbelief. “You really
did
get hit on the head, right? News flash, babe. Dorothy isn’t a real person.”
    â€œWell . . . ,” I said, hesitating. “I can explain—” But I was cut off by the bell for fifth period. Dustin and Madison were staring at me. Dustin Jr. burped and closed his eyes. “Meet me after school,” I said in a rush. “On the front steps. It will make sense. Sort of. I promise.” But they were gathering up their books and bags.
    â€œGotta hose this little dude off,” Madison said, not meeting my eyes. Okay, fine. Madison had been the worst thing in my life before I left for Oz, and Dustin had just been a dopey dreamer who I thought I had something in common with. Who was I kidding? We weren’t friends. And it didn’t matter, because I didn’t need them. I’d done everything else on my own. I could do this, too. Dustin gave me a little wave as they walked away from me.I waved back. At least he’d always been nice. Even if it was only because he wanted something from me.
    I needed a plan, but I didn’t even know where to start. Gert, Mombi, and Glamora hadn’t given me much to go on. In between pre-calc and PE I ducked into the girls’ bathroom, locked myself in a stall, and did my best to send out a couple of tendrils of magic just to see if I suddenly could. But it was no use. I was going to have to do this the hard way, and I didn’t have a clue where to start.
    To make my day even worse, I had a hot date with Assistant Principal Strachan. He’d told my mom I’d have to come in and meet with him on my first day back. The last thing I wanted was to make waves, so I made sure I was at his office ten minutes early. The receptionist, Mrs. Perkins, had probably been working at the high school when my grandmother was in diapers. She was a sweet older lady who always wore matching twinsets, no matter the weather, and kept a stash of lollipops in her desk drawer. Which I knew, because I’d spent a lot of time in Assistant Principal Strachan’s office. But Mrs. Perkins never judged me no matter how many times I got in trouble. I think secretly she was on my side.
    â€œAmy!” she exclaimed as I walked into the school office. “It’s been a while since you visited!” She winked at me and dug a lollipop out of her drawer before I even asked. “The principal will be with you in just a moment. Have a seat.”
    â€œCherry! You remembered,” I said, sitting in one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs. I didn’t really care that much aboutMrs. Perkins’s lollipops, but she always seemed so happy when I took one that I pretended to be excited. A few minutes later, I could hear Assistant Principal Strachan yelling for me from behind his door. Mrs. Perkins winked at me again as I took a deep breath and walked into his office.
    If I’d changed in the last month,