Free The Demon Notebook by Erika McGann Page A

bring any soup,” Grace said. “Don’t bring anything. Don’t come to my house. Please.”
    She felt a pang of guilt at the hurt look on his face.
    â€œI’d just like to see you,” he said quietly. “The weekends feel really long ’cause I don’t get to see you. Monday is so far away.”
    â€œYou two!” barked a passing teacher. “You’re late for class. Hurry up, now.”
    Grace silently thanked him for the interruption.
    â€œI’m really sorry, James,” she said. “I’ll see you later.”
    Then she took off at a jog, cursing herself for a fool.
    ***
    On Saturday, Grace escaped to Jenny’s house, in the hope of avoiding James should he turn up at her house.
    â€œWhy didn’t you just tell him you were going away for the weekend or something?” asked Jenny.
    â€œI didn’t think of that,” said Grace. “I just got all nervous and wanted to run away.”
    Jenny smiled.
    â€œThere was a time when you would never have run from James O’Connor!”
    â€œYeah, well,” said Grace, “that was before we made him all weird. Now he just freaks me out.”
    â€œHe still has nice eyes though,” Jenny said with a wink.
    â€œYeah, but they don’t blink when he’s looking at me.” Grace shivered. “Makes me nervous.”
    â€œJenny!” Jenny’s mom called from the kitchen. “Can you watch the baby for a minute? I have to pop over to see Mrs. Walker.”
    â€œComing, Mom!” Jenny called back. “Come on,” she said to Grace, “you can give me a hand.”
    â€œThanks, love,” Jenny’s mom said, as she handed over the drooling infant. “Won’t be too long. There’s microwave popcorn in the cupboard if you girls get hungry.”
    When Jenny was sure her mother was out of sight, she flicked on the TV to the cartoon channel.
    â€œMom doesn’t let Sarah watch TV. She says she’s too young for it. But Sarah loves it. She goes all quiet when it’s on. You want some popcorn?”
    Grace nodded as she laid out the play mat for the baby. Jenny plopped Sarah onto it and disappeared into the kitchen.
    â€œWant some juice as well? We got this new mixed berry stuff. It’s really nice.”
    â€œYeah,” Grace yelled back. “If you’re having some—”
    Grace couldn’t finish the sentence. She looked at the baby, and horror washed over her. What was Sarah doing ?
    â€œJenny,” she whispered.
    She could hear her friend switch on the microwave, and the corn began to pop.
    â€œJenny!” she said louder.
    â€œI didn’t hear you,” Jenny called. “Did you want juice?”
    â€œJenny!” Grace screamed this time.
    Jenny raced into the living room.
    â€œWhat is it? Is it Sarah?!”
    Grace nodded slowly, her eyes wide, and pointed toward the television.
    Jenny’s mouth fell open, and she let out a small whine of shock.
    There, standing firmly on her pudgy eight-month-old legs and tapping one foot, was Jenny’s baby sister. She looked back to grin at them as she flicked through the television channels, finally stopping at one showing Finding Nemo . She let out a squeal of delight, walked steadily back to the play mat, and sat down.
    â€œShe’s walking.” Grace gasped. “Walking around like a grown-up kid. Her legs don’t even look like they can carry her weight yet.”
    â€œThey can’t,” breathed Jenny. “I mean, they’re not supposed to—she’s too young. It’s spell number six!”
    After one particularly grueling afternoon of babysitting, Jenny had wished that her little sister could take care of herself for just one day. The girls had humored her with an appropriate spell.
    â€œOh, God,” Jenny whispered. “I didn’t think it would look like this. This is so…so obvious . My mom’s definitely