OMG... Am I a Witch?! by Talia Aikens-Nuñez Page B

said, trying to smile.
    â€œ Not the gross part? What?”
    â€œYou have to mix the clothes into the drink—”
    â€œHuh?” April tilted her head to the side.
    â€œWell . . . you have to stir the used clothing into the chocolate milk,” Eve explained, “and then . . . you have to drink it.”
    April’s heart sank. Blood rushed to her cheeks. She looked at Austin under the bed.
    His eyes look so sad. Ok, ok. I made this mess. I have to fix it. Just get it done!
    â€œI’m doing this for you.” She took a deep breath then calmly stood up. “OK. I have to go to his room. I’ll be right back . . .”
    She tiptoed down the hall to Austin’s room. She opened his door. OMG, it smells like dirty feet in here. I can’t believe I have to do this.
    She looked at the piles of clothes on the floor.
    What is the least gross thing in here? Eww. Not that.
    She moved one of his socks with her foot.
    I have to find something.
    She saw a pair of pants.
    Eww. Not those. I think those are grass stains from practice. The clock is ticking. Find something, find something.
    She looked to the left and to the right. She scanned the entire room then— BINGO!
    Is this his winter hat? I think this is the only kinda clean thing in here.
    She picked up the blue cotton hat and pushed it into her pocket. She quickly and quietly ran back down the hall and into her room, closing the door behind her.
    â€œOK . . .” she said, breathing heavily. “I got it.”
    â€œWhat did you get?” Grace asked.
    April leaned over and put her hands on her knees. With her heart thumping, she pulled the hat out of her pocket.
    â€œCatch your breath, April,” Eve said.
    April closed her eyes. She inhaled then exhaled. “OK . . . I’m ready,” she said firmly.
    â€œOk. Mix the three hat squares with the chocolate milk,” Eve directed. “Stir it around before you drink.”
    April looked at her bookshelf. On top of it was a cup with pens, pencils, markers, and a pair of scissors. As she cut three squares from the hat, Austin growled. “Oh, stop it! I’m sure there’s another hat in that pigsty. Seriously, Austin, I am trying to fix this. Don’t you want to be normal again?”
    Grace looked at Austin, then back at April. “You know he can’t answer you, right?”
    April glared at Grace above the rim of her glasses. “He answers me . . . in his own way.”
    She put the hat squares into the cup of chocolate milk. She slowly stirred it using her finger. The navy blue hat turned an icky grey. The mixture became soapy with little bubbles that grew bigger and bigger, increasing in size until they reached the very top of the cup.
    â€œWow. I think you just made a potion,” Grace said.
    April’s eyes stayed fixed on the cup. She grabbed her stomach. “This is the grossest thing in the whole world.”
    â€œSorry . . . but you have to . . . uh . . . drink ALL of it.” Eve gulped.
    The blood rushed from April’s face.
    â€œI’m sorry, April. This is the hard part,” Eve said.
    This is super gross. He plays sports. He sweats . . . a lot. Who knows how long this was on his floor? But, I have to do this. This is the only way to bring him back and to make sure my parents don’t kill me. She glanced at the clock. OMG, it is 10:15. Mom and Dad will start to worry, or even worse—call Grace’s parents.
    April pinched her nose. She put the cup to her lips. She swallowed.
    Don’t puke, don’t puke.
    She swallowed again.

twenty-three

    Oh no, I think I am going to puke.
    April finished it, slammed the cup down on her desk, and burped loudly. “Oops . . . excuse me!” She covered her mouth. Eve and Grace laughed.
    â€œWhat next? Do I have to go eat his dirty underwear