To my readers: You are magical.

  Love,

  Wanda

  1 DREAM BOY

  Little-known fact about me:

  I absolutely love it when I wake up before my alarm.

  It means one beautiful thing: lounging in bed!

  Right now I have a whole half hour to luxuriate in my cool, crisp sheets while I listen to the birds sing, chirp, and call outside my window.

  And best of all, I have time to think about the biggest, most important thing in the whole wide world right now—

  my crush!

  I’ve been thinking about him basically nonstop since my first day at Broomsfield Academy.

  His name is Hunter McCann.

  But I secretly call him Hunter McCutie.

  I really like, like, like him!

  I point my toes and swish my legs back and forth excitedly under the covers.

  Eeeee! I squeal inside my head.

  What if my crush turned into my boyfriend?

  I am positively bursting with anticipation. Ever since I first saw Hunter, I’ve had a nonstop Fourth of July sparkler going off inside me.

  Sizzle! Pop! Hiss!

  It’s like my whole being is filled with fizzing, popping heart-shaped candy!

  Yup, I’ve got it BAD.

  Okay, so how would I describe my dream boy, aka Hunter McCutie? Hmmm, let’s see. Well, he’s…

  SuperCUTE!

  Positively ADORABLE!

  Chatty in a good way!

  Deliciously drool worthy!

  Totally hilarious!

  Bewitchingly magical, as in he is a wizard!

  Fun to be around.

  Rocks a cool beachy style.

  Strong and athletic.

  And did I mention he’s SO SUPERCUTE?!

  Hunter is from California and has that effortless endless-summer surfer look, with honey-colored bangs, freckles, and a swagger that is always ON.

  The best part of all is that I think he likes me too.

  Or at least I hope so!

  Because he’s sweeter than sweet, and I know we’d make the perfect couple.

  Wow, I can just imagine our picture in the yearbook. Hearts EVERYWHERE…!

  Zeeeep!

  Zeeeep!

  Zeeeep!

  Aack!

  That horrifying sound is my alarm clock, and it just popped my beautiful daydream like a cat claw in a balloon.

  I had to buy an alarm clock for boarding school because we’re not allowed to have our phones during the week.

  “Heidi, please turn that killer-bee buzzing sound OFF!”

  That’s my roommate, Melanie Maplethorpe, who is my former BEF (best enemy forever). She’s also from my hometown of Brewster.

  We got the shock of our lives when we moved into Broomsfield Academy only to discover that we were roommates—or rather broommates.

  What were the chances of THAT happening?

  If that isn’t incredible enough, I also found out that Melanie is a witch, like me!

  And there’s MORE madness to this story!

  Melanie and I learned that we actually have a lot in common, so now we’re kinda, sorta friends.

  We’re not best friends, like Lucy Lancaster and me, but I think it’s safe to say we’re friends in progress.

  Wham!

  I hit the button on my alarm.

  Then Melanie’s alarm goes off.

  Bling-a-ling-a-ling!

  Bling-a-ling-a-ling!

  Melanie has a retro pink alarm clock with two silver bells on top.

  She whacks it with her hand, and the room goes quiet for a blissful second.

  Then Melanie throws back her covers, rubs her eyes, and slides into her pink fuzzy slippers.

  Whisp! Whisp! Whisp!

  I hear her slippers scuff into the bathroom. She’s always the first one up. I’m the lounger.

  As I lie in bed, I think about what to wear.

  Now that it’s full-on fall, it’s a little chilly, so I’m going to wear my new sweater. It has wide sage-green stripes, thin black stripes, and medium-wide cream stripes. I’ll wear it with black leggings and a matching green headband. Done!

  Then I roll over and—oops!—fall back to sleep.

  Zzzzzzzzzz.

  I wake up in a panic. Melanie is long gone, but her flowery-fruity perfume lingers. I look at my clock.

  Oh no! I only have twenty minutes to get ready and go to class!

  Eeek!

  I leap out of bed and summon my outfit with magic.

  The outfit flies from my drawers and onto my bed.

  I’m not supposed to use magic outside class unless it’s for homework, but I simply must use it right now or I’ll be totally late!

  My clothes follow me into the bathroom. I splash my face with water, dress, and push my hair back with my headband. I give myself a quick magical manicure: French tips today. Then I fan my fingers and admire my work. So cute!

  Okay, gotta go!

  I grab my backpack and zip down the sidewalk to the Barn—that’s where the cafeteria is. I don’t have time for breakfast, but I do have a few seconds to spare to check the seating assignments. Each student is assigned new classmates to sit with every so often. It’s a great way to get to know everyone in your grade. I always love to see who’s at my table. Maybe Hunter will be at my table this week.

  Fingers crossed.

  When I get to the cafeteria, everybody’s leaving for class. I run my finger down the table assignments. I’m at Table 1, which is Jenna’s table. She’s the resident advisor in my dorm, and she’s totally awesome.

  I go down the list some more.

  Sunny and Annabelle are at my table!

  Sunny and Annabelle are roommates. I met Sunny at the beach one summer, long before we came to Broomsfield Academy. I was so happy to see her on my first day here. She introduced me to Annabelle, and we all became fast friends. I’m so happy they’ll be at my table.

  And oh my gosh! Hunter McCutie is at my table too! Swoon!

  Then my heart totally deflates because Melanie is also at my table. It’s not that I don’t like her. It just stinks because she has a HUGE crush on Hunter too.

  MERGS to that!

  I’ve had to keep my crush a secret from her, since we’re crushing on the same guy.

  The last thing I want is for Melanie and me to slip back into despising each other again.

  But how can I talk to Hunter with Melanie at the table?

  Rats-a-roni!

  Melanie brushes by me on her way out of the cafeteria. She’s talking to a girl named Isabelle Summer. Isabelle is captain of the girls’ soccer team here at Broomsfield Academy. She has beautiful dark, curly hair and wears it in a high ponytail.

  She’s effortlessly pretty.

  Melanie and Isabelle smile as they walk by. I smile back and dash to the cafeteria counter to grab a granola bar. I definitely don’t need my stomach growling in class.

  One word: mortifying!

  As I race to class, I remember I have to pick a famous person to write about for social studies. It’s called a luminaries report. A luminary is an inspiring person of brilliant achievement. There are so many famous people from history who inspire me. I’m having a lot of trouble deciding.

  I’m pretty much lost in my thoughts when THIS happens.…

  CLONK! I bonk into somebody.

  Aaagh!

  Then I look up.

  I’ve crashed right into Hunter!

  Double aaagh!

  Now I have a beet-red face to go with my red hair.

  I wonder if there’s a way to use magic to rewind this horrifying encounter!!!

  But before I can figure that one out, I see Hunter’s sparkling green eyes. His face crinkles with laughter. He’s not mad at me or even annoyed. He thinks our sudden encounter is FUNNY!

  “Wow, Heidi!” he says. “What planet are you on this morning? Are you okay?”

  I laugh like a goofy cartoon character.

  One word: awkward.

  “Sorry, Hunter!” I manage to say. “I’m fine. I was thinking about my social studies assignment. Are you okay?”

  He nods, and he’s still laughing. Maybe he thinks I’m funny!

  Or maybe he’s laughing AT me.

  We both jump when the bell rings. I shift my backpack up on my shoulder. “We’d better run, or we’ll be late for class!” I say.

  Hunter and I take off.

  He’s wearing khaki shorts and a pink polo frayed at the hem. He totally puts the chic into his shabby-chic beach look. I love it!

  “We can make it if we hurry!” he says.

  I’m chasing Hunter McCutie across campus! It’s weird and wonderful.

  English hasn’t started as we slide into our seats. Phew!

  Note to self: write to Lucy and tell her I crashed into my crush.

  It’s SO hard to sit still in class. I feel like a Christmas tree that just got plugged in. Every part of me is blinking and swirling, and I’m trimmed with excitement. I tell myself to chill about a hundred times, but that’s like telling a popcorn machine to stop popping.

  Heidi, you’re a calm, all-together middle schooler.

  I WISH.

  And why do I keep hearing Hunter’s name over and over?

  Hunter McCann. Hunter McCann. Hunter McCann.

  Am I losing my mind?

  Nope. I’m not losing it, because it’s not my voice!

  I look around the room. That’s weird. Nobody is talking, but I still hear the voice, and what’s more, I know that voice.

  Then it hits me.

  It’s Melanie’s voice!

  I’m not used to hearing other people’s thoughts yet.

  Reading minds is my gift as a witch.

  The only problem is that I just discovered my gift and I have no idea how it works. For example, I never know when I’ll tune in to someone else’s thoughts. It just happens.

  And it’s happening right now!

  And guess what Melanie is thinking about?

  Hunter.

  Merg!!!

  Why do we have to like the same person?!

  I zoom in on her thoughts. Now that I know it’s Melanie, her thoughts are coming in loud and clear.

  She’s staring at Hunter from across the room and thinking: One day we’ll get married!

  Seriously? I think.

  Melanie is thinking about marriage in middle school?

  Okay, that’s way over the top. I keep listening.…

  And when we have children, they’ll be so gorgeous. They’ll probably be supermodels. Everyone will stop and stare!

  I cough to get Melanie off her train of thought.

  It’s too much.

  I feel a little sick to my stomach.

  I can’t wait to learn in my magic classes how to control my gift of being able to read minds.

  For now my coughing does the trick, and Melanie starts paying attention to the teacher.

  My thoughts, on the other hand, start drifting away.

  I wonder if Hunter and I like the same things.

  Does he like mint-chocolate-chip ice cream like me?

  Or the color blue?

  Is his favorite animal a dolphin?

  “Hei-i-i-di-e-e?” I hear a voice call my name from far, far away. “Heidi Heckelbeck? Would you care to join us?”

  I come back to earth and look at my teacher Ms. Langley. She laughs.

  “Heidi, please turn to chapter six.” I flip through my book to find the right page. The pages slap loudly as everyone waits for me to catch up.

  Someone snickers.

  Ever since I started having a crush, my head has been in outer space.

  Since when did my favorite subject become boys?

  Okay, make that one certain boy.

  But the more pressing question is: How am I going to make this one certain boy like me? And what if he likes Melanie better?

  I have so many things on my mind.

  No wonder it feels like I’m floating in outer space!

  2 FLIRTING LESSONS

  As I rush into the cafeteria for dinner, I see Annabelle and Sunny waving at me. They know I tend to run late, so they saved me a seat next to them.

  I glance at the table and see Melanie sitting across from Hunter, batting her eyelashes at him.

  UGH.

  I’m going to skip flirting/crushing for this meal and just enjoy time with my friends.

  Sunny doesn’t seem to be living up to her name right now.

  She’s not smiling. Instead she’s looking sadly down at her plate.

  “Oh no! The food can’t be that bad,” I joke. I glance down at my tray, and it actually looks pretty good to me.

  Tonight’s dinner is lemon chicken, with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli on the side.

  “No, it’s not that,” Sunny says, and she even takes a bite of her chicken to show me.

  “Then what’s wrong, Sunny?” Annabelle asks, and she puts a hand gently on Sunny’s arm. “Whatever it is, you can tell us.”

  Sunny lets out a huge sigh. “It’s just a lot harder than I thought it would be.”

  “What is?” I ask.

  “Witchcraft!” Sunny says.

  “I was so looking forward to coming to Broomsfield because I was sure I was going to be the greatest witch they ever had,” Sunny continues. “But I’m struggling in all my magic classes. My spells only work for a little while or not at all, and I can’t memorize the potions I need. I nearly flunked the first potions test!”

  Sunny keeps her head down, but she wipes the corners of her eyes.

  Oh no! Sunny is crying!

  “Maybe Broomsfield isn’t for me,” she whispers.

  “Sunny, no!” I say. I feel so bad that she thinks she doesn’t belong here.

  “Listen,” I continue. “It’s been hard for all of us to adjust. We’re living here and also studying our magic skills for, like, the first time ever.”

  Annabelle nods. “Plus,” she whispers, “it’s hard keeping such a big secret from all the non-magical kids at the school.”

  I didn’t think of that, but Annabelle is totally right. Broomsfield Academy is the only school in the country for magical students, but there are also a lot of non-magical students who go here.

  The School of Magic teachers have cast many spells so that the other students don’t find out about the magic going on all around them, and the magical students have been sworn to secrecy. That’s why we can’t practice magic outside class.

  It’s fun sharing a big secret with my classmates, but it can also be a little stressful.

  “Sunny, we will help you practice your magic,” Annabelle continues. “Don’t you dare even think of leaving!”

  She gives Sunny a big hug, and I reach around Annabelle to squeeze Sunny’s hand.

  “We are all in this together,” I say.

  Sunny looks up and gives us a small smile.

  “Thank you,” she says. “You two always know how to make me feel better.”

  “There’s nothing we can’t do if we help each other,” Annabelle tells Sunny.

  “Speaking of help,” I say, “can you both help me with this?” And I nod my head in Melanie’s direction while she hangs on Hunter’s every word.

  Annabelle looks over and then turns back to me and Sunny. “The only thing you should be around Hunter is yourself,” she tells me. “If he likes you, then great. And if not, there will be someone even better who does.”

  Sunny smiles. “I agree.

  “Here’s to Heidi.

  “And Annabelle.

  “And me!”

  It’s so good to see Sunny happy again!

  And with that, I give Sunny a huge smile and decide I’m going to have a great dinner with my friends and not worry about my crush!

  * * *

  I race to my desk after dinner and whip out my stationery from Aunt Trudy. I study each card and pick one with a pistachio-green border and my name in pink letters at the top.

  So cute!

  I grab a pink felt-tip pen.

  Time to SPILL.

  Hey, My Beloved LuLu Kins!!!

  So far all is well here at Broomsfield. At least, as well as it can be without you!

  My teachers seem nice, and the classes are pretty interesting. I have to write about someone I admire for my social studies class. I wish I could write about YOU!

  How are things going with you? As usual I am all over the place and upside down and inside out!

  And you’ll NEVER believe what happened to me on the way to class this morning.

  It was a CLASSIC Heidi move, and it was all because I was a little inside my head.

  But for good reason!

  I was thinking about my social studies assignment. I was also on the verge of being late for class, so I was walking faster than normal. And that’s when it happened.…

  I totally crashed into my crush, Hunter McCutie!

  I mean, KA-BLAM!

  How did I not see him?!

  I was SO embarrassed.

  Hunter must think I’m a total mess!

  But he didn’t get mad and say, “Watch where you’re going!” He LAUGHED. He actually thought it was hysterical. He asked if I was okay too. And aside from feeling idiotic, I told him I was fine.

  He was fine too. SO FINE!

  Then BRRRRRING!

  The bell rang, and we had to run to class.

  I was actually chasing my crush!

  Lol!

  And I think we had a connection! But who knows?

  Maybe the only connection we had was slamming into each other, but I had major sparks go off inside me, which is nothing new, because I’ve been feeling sparks for him ever since we first met.

  But there’s a HUGE problem.

  Her name is Melanie Maplethorpe.

 

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