Free Witch Ball - BK 3 by Linda Joy Singleton Page B

josh is absent, but that's no reason to leave."
    "I have to go to the computer lab," I lied. "To
help Manny with this week's paper."
    "He works you too hard."
    "I like hard work."
    She eyed me like she didn't quite believe me,
then shrugged. "Well, have fun."
    "You, too," I replied.
    "Oh, I will." She leaned close to Jacques, entwining her fingers through his.
    He seemed really into her, too, and they looked
cute together. Not long ago Penny-Love had a
thing for Dominic, but that never happenedthank goodness. They weren't at all suited. Jacques
seemed more her type, kind of edgy but relaxed and
friendly. Watching them made me feel sorry for
myself

    When I slipped on my backpack, I bumped
into the table. Jacques's binder and art history
book started to fall, but I caught them. He was so
into Penny-Love that he didn't notice. But when I
glanced down I noticed something puzzling. There
was an inked name on the binder.
    Only it wasn't Jacques.
    Jack Carney.

    I'd found Jack!
    But what should I do about it? If I asked him
about the prediction in front of Penny-Love, she'd
want to know why I hadn't just asked Manny. He
should remember his own predictions-right?
    I stared at Jacques, dying to question him right
away. But strategy was required. It wasn't like he was
going to disappear, not with Penny-Love hanging onto him like a tight chain. I'd wait until she wasn't
around, then talk to him privately like after school,
when he was at his job. I'd find out where he worked
and "accidentally" run into him.

    So I sucked up major self-control and left the
cafeteria.
    As usual, Manny was in the computer lab, his
fingers clicking across a keyboard. He glanced up,
peering through a curtain of dreadlocks, not at all
surprised to see me. "I figured you'd show up."
    "Why?" I scooted into a chair beside him. "You
suddenly turn psychic?"
    "I wish. Nah, I just know you'd want to know
what went down in fourth period."
    "Fourth period? Oh-K.C. Myers!" Memory
clicked. He was right-I was curious. "Did you talk
to him?"
    "He wasn't there."
    "So it was a scheduling mistake?"
    He shook his head. "Turns out he is in my class,
but absent a lot."
    This made me think of Josh. Not knowing why
he hadn't shown up made me worry, especially since
I'd heard Evan was absent, too.
    "I can't figure out how I can have a class with
K.C. and not know him," Manny was saying, gnaw ing on the end of a pencil. "Am I losing my journalistic edge? Usually I'm observant, but I'm drawing a
blank on K.C. My teacher couldn't tell me much except he sits in the back and is quiet, average height,
average build."

    "An average kid that no one remembers? He
has to have some friends."
    "You'd think so, but I asked around and nada."
Manny made a circle with his thumb and forefinger. "It's like he doesn't exist."
    "Well, he must because you found out his address and phone number."
    "No one answers at that number. You want to
check out the address tonight?"
    "Wouldn't miss it."
    "Great." Manny glanced down at his leather
watch. "Pick you up at seven?"
    "Sounds good."
    "It's a date.
    "Not a date," I corrected in a firm tone. "A
business appointment."
    Manny threw back his head and laughed.

    Since Josh wasn't at school, I walked partway home
with Penny-Love. She was floating on a romantic
high and had only one topic of conversation: Jacques
(AKA Jack Carney). This was fine with me because I
wanted to know more about him.
    "His carnival booth was really popular," I said
casually. "My sister loved the face painting he did
for her."
    "He's so talented. I keep expecting him to be
this temperamental artist, but he's always relaxed
and says the sweetest things."
    "He seems cool." We waited at an intersection
while a truck rumbled by. "I heard he went to
Manny's booth. How'd that go?"
    "Fabuloso!" She practically skipped down the
road. "The best prediction ever."
    "Really?"
    "Yeah. He didn't want to do it at first, but I
dared him. I wanted to