Free Careful What You Wish For by Shani Petroff Page B

powerful one.
    â€œI hope you mean that,” I said, “because I think I know what will work.”
    Gabi backed up a step. “I know you, Angel. Don’t get any big ideas. I’m not your guinea pig.”
    She really did know me well. She knew exactly what I was going to do. I would use my powers on her—the strongest stuff I could muster. “You didn’t have a problem with me using ‘my gift’ on you before. You even volunteered. It was your idea for me to grant you a wish in the first place.”
    â€œThat’s different,” she said, moving back some more. “Giving something is a lot easier than taking it away. Besides, this wish stuff has you totally freaked out. And when that happens, your powers never work right.”
    I took a step toward her. “I’m perfectly calm,” I said, although my heart was racing faster than usual.
    â€œWhat do you want to do?”
    â€œIt’s easy.” I smiled, showing off my dimples. I wanted to her to feel reassured, even though I was nervous. “I’m just going to take away the wishes.”
    She shook her head. “You tried yesterday, and it didn’t work.”
    â€œYesterday, I didn’t know what I was up against. I only tried to undo part of the wish—Max being all evil. I didn’t know I had to try to take away everything you wished for.”
    â€œDidn’t Lou say the only way this could be reversed was for the wish maker to want to give it all up? That was there was no other way?”
    â€œLou says a lot of things that aren’t true. Of course there’s another way. My powers gave you the wishes; they have to be able to take them away. Lou just doesn’t want me trying anything advanced without his guidance. He’s hoping I’ll come beg him to start my lessons up again.” I put my hand on her arm. “Let’s just give it a try. I can do it.”
    She moved away. “You’re making me nervous.”
    â€œDon’t be.”
    â€œYou have that look,” Gabi said. “The one Rori gets before she does something stupid. Like that time she skateboarded down the staircase and broke her leg.”
    â€œPlease, Gabi, what can it hurt to try?”
    â€œI don’t even want to think about that,” she answered.
    â€œCome on. You said before that you were willing to give up the wishes. But something deep down wasn’t letting you. Well, if we use my powers to get rid of them, it doesn’t matter what you want deep down.”
    She dropped down onto the grass and picked at a dandelion. “Fine. It’s not like I have much choice. You’re going to do it, anyway.”
    That was true. I sat across from her. “Just relax,” I said. “And think about the wishes while I focus on taking them away.” I put my hands on her head. “Undo the wishes. I wish they’d disappear. Make them disappear. Make them disappear.”
    I tried to send out energy from my fingertips to Gabi, zapping the original wish—that all of her wishes would come true—away. I visualized her thinking about it in her mind. I pictured it vanishing. I want it gone. I want it gone. I want it gone.
    I felt something like an energy bolt surge through me. It was the feeling of success.
    â€œI think I did it,” I told Gabi, moving my hands from her head. “Wish for something.”
    â€œI wish you weren’t a nutcase.”
    â€œHa-ha.” I stood up. “Your wishes don’t work on me. Wish for something real.”
    â€œFine. I wish the windows on the McBrin house weren’t boarded up.”
    I almost fell backward as I watched the wood paneling remove itself. How was it possible? “I was so sure I made it disappear.”
    Gabi’s phone rang, and she picked it up. Within seconds her whole face was drained of color. When she hung up she stared at me.
    â€œThat was my mom,” she said, her