Terry Richards, a sixth-grade band guy, almost knocked her out with his oboe case. Sophie only just managed to scramble out of the way in time, and she put her hand over her mouth to stop herself from squealing out in protest. Once she regained her composure, however, she realized that the reason he had almost knocked her out was because he couldnât see her.
Nice. Sophie tentatively walked toward her locker, her confidence growing as she stepped past the Tait-bots. None of them even blinked at her, which was a first. Finally, she reached her locker and stood in front of Melissa. Sophie paused for a moment and waved her hand up and down in front of Melissaâs perfect (but sour-looking) face. But instead of even noticing, Melissa merely turned to her Tait-bots and snapped her fingers.
âYou know, nothing annoys me more than having to wait for idiots who donât even have the decency to show up.â The seventh grader pouted as she and her friends swayed off in the other direction. The minute they were gone, Malik turned up beside her.
âSeriously, did you
see
that?â Sophie demanded as she waved her arms in front of a group of kids who were walking past her. None of them even noticed her. âIt worked.â
âWell, yeah. I mean, otherwise youâd just be the girl who was walking around putting your hand in everyoneâs face,â Malik said as the bell rang. Sophie reluctantly stopped her arm waving.
âSorry, but youâve got to admit that itâs pretty cool.â She grinned.
âYou donât have to tell me,â Malik assured her as he walked over to a sixth grader and plucked one of the M&Mâs out of his packet and grinned.
âSo what now?â Sophie asked, trying to ignore Malikâs blatant theft as she caught sight of Harvey and Kara walking toward them. âAre you going to stay at school today?â
âAre you kidding me?â He shuddered. âI mean, it was fun watching you mess with Melissa Tait, but I would rather have my eyeballs pulled out and pickled than have to sit through any more of your classes. Especially since most of your teachers seem like complete imbeciles. Anyway, I thought Iâd go and catch up on a spot of shopping.â
âEr, okay,â Sophie started to say, but before she could finish, Malik disappeared in a puff of Cheetos crumbs just as Kara and Harvey came to a halt next to where Sophie was standing.
Kara wrinkled her nose as she looked right through her. âOkay, that was weird. One minute Malik was here, and then he just disappeared.â
âI know. And whereâs Sophie? Why would Malik be at her locker when sheâs not around? Itâs not even like itâs lasagna day in the cafeteria,â Harvey added, just as Sophie said, âVisible,â and snapped her fingers.
She then watched her friends yelp in surprise.
Karaâs face drained of color, and she tentatively reached out and poked Sophieâs arm to check that it was real. Next to her Harvey just stared.
âOkay, what just happened?â Kara croaked. âWhere did you come from?â
âItâs a long story.â Sophie linked arms with her two friends and told them about everything that had happened. Then she grinned. Let the fun and games commence.
A ND YOUâRE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO SIDE EFFECTS ?â Harvey asked for the zillionth time that afternoon as they waited at the bus stop.
âHarvey, weâve been over this,â Kara said in her calmest voice as she hastily sketched a soothing picture of a tropical beach and thrust it into his hands to try to help him relax. âMalik has promised that itâs completely safe.â
âYes, but since when do we believe everything that Malik says?â Harvey pointed out.
âWell, this time I think we can trust him. Did you not see me turn invisible?â Sophie chimed in, still completely buzzing from her newly found
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