Free Witch Ball - BK 3 by Linda Joy Singleton

small. But Evan had better luck."
    "Evan!" I nearly choked. "He was there?"
    "Yeah. Lucky guy caught four huge fish."
    Stay calm, Sabine, I warned myself. I took a
deep breath and asked, "So Evan went fishing with
you?"
.
    "We went out in his dad's boat. Evan's got a
real talent for fishing."
    And for stringing people along, I thought uneasily. "Did you guys talk about anything ... interesting?" I asked.
    "Sports and stuff."
    "What stuff?"

    "Nothing much."
    I could hear the shrug in his words. If I pushed
too hard, he'd wonder why. Still I had to know
more. "Did he mention his new girlfriend?"
    "If you mean the girl from San Jose, they were
just friends. He's thinking of asking Eliza Sampson
out."
    Figures, I thought in disgust. Once Evan Marshall got what he wanted, he moved on. That's why
they called him "Moving on Marsh."
    Still, I was relieved josh didn't know what happened at my old school. Not yet anyway. I'd have
to tell him myself-tonight. I wasn't comfortable
having him come to my home, so I offered to go to
his. But he said his parents had invited friends
over, so it wasn't a good time.
    "I'll see you tomorrow," he told me.
    "No sooner? I really need to talk to you."
    "So talk now."
    "It's . . . uh . . . complicated." I paused. "I
guess it can wait."
    "Just till tomorrow. During lunch, we'll sit outside, just you and me."
    "I'd like that."
    "Oh-the doorbell just rang-the Marshalls
must be here."

    "The Marshalls?" I bit my lip. "As in Evan's
parents?"
    "Yeah. They had us over last month, so it's our
turn."
    "Including Evan?" I sucked in a quick breath.
    "He's got to eat, too." Josh chuckled. "Says he
has some big news to tell me. Always something
going on with him ... Oh, the doorbell again. My
parents must be busy. Gotta go!"
    Then he hung up on me.

    Josh didn't show up at my locker the next morning.
    It probably has nothing to do with Evan, I assured myself. josh must be running late. He'll show
up soon.
    When Josh was marked absent in our first period class, I told myself he must be sick. Lots of
people had colds or the flu. Even our homeroom
teacher was out sick and we had a substitute. Still,
I worried.
    As I walked to my second-period class, I imagined Evan showing josh the newspaper clipping
from Arcadia High, revealing my role in the tragedy.
Josh would be skeptical at first, but Evan would repeat what he found out from his last girlfriend. Everyone at Arcadia High knew the rumors about
me and avoided me.

    Is that what josh was doing-avoiding me?
    I moved on autopilot, clutching my books to
my chest and hunched forward as if my backpack
weighed me down. Without meeting anyone's gaze,
I maneuvered through the crowded halls. As I turned
a corner, I felt a sudden prickling on my neck-a
sense of being watched.
    Slowing down, I cautiously peeked over my
shoulder. Nothing unusual, just the usual mayhem
of everyone hurrying to class. But I couldn't shake
the being-watched feeling. Goosebumps raised on
my arms. Should I hide or walk faster? I chose Plan
B, and suddenly sprinted forward.
    Footsteps pounded behind me. I thought I
heard a shout. Then there was a sharp yank on my
backpack and I was stumbling backwards. I cried
out and flailed my arms. Someone grabbed my arm
and caught me before I fell.
    "Who? What?" I exclaimed as I whirled around.
    Manny let go of my arm and grinned. "Watch
yourself, Beany. Almost had a nasty fall."
    "I-I was being chased." I looked around anxiously, still breathing fast. Then I noticed Manny was breathing fast, too. "You!" I accused. "It was
you chasing me!"

    "I called your name but you didn't stop."
    "I never heard you."
    "That's cause you were going too fast. Ever
consider trying out for the track team?"
    "Not even." I readjusted my backpack. "So
what's up?"
    "I got that information you asked for."
    My brain blanked, then a light flashed on. Last
time we talked, I'd asked him to look up information on K.C. and Jack.
    "What'd you