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Mystic Hollow Community Page
New post from Abe Henderson: I’d just like to say Necco Wafers were a huge hit in my day. But don’t worry, trick-or-treaters. My grandkids told me to buy Sour Patch Kids this year.
“I cannot believe this. I should not be in here,” Zach says for the tenth time this afternoon. “I did nothing wrong!”
The constant tap, tap, tap of Zach’s pencil against the desk should make me wince.
But all I can think about is how Colton Croft looked at me.
And winked at me. Scared you good, didn’t I?
Does that mean he put on the Horseman costume .
. . for me? Maybe he didn’t even want to partner with Zara.
Maybe he was just being polite. After all, I saw him open her card and chuck it into the trash, and when Laney and I checked it afterward, it was a thank-you note from her mom to his dad.
Who cares if my spell backfired and I almost burned down the chemistry lab. No one was hurt, and I finally got Colton Croft to notice me.
“Hadley, what are you smiling about? This is serious and all your fault,” Zach grumbles.
“It was your Bunsen burner,” I argue. “Your responsibility.”
“This is why we should have worked together. As lab partners.”
“Both of you, quiet,” says Ms. Gagliano, who is grading papers at the front of the room while she serves as our detention monitor.
Usually, the teachers rotate who proctors detention, but when Ms. Gagliano heard it was the two of us this afternoon, she burst out laughing and said, “This I’ve got to see to believe.
” I don’t think she’s ever forgiven us for beating her at the teacher-student spelling bee in ninth grade.
She really wanted that Spirited Books gift card.
Neither Zach nor I have ever stepped out of line in school before.
We both hand in our papers early. We do all the extra-credit assignments.
We volunteer for every fundraiser, pancake breakfast, and tutoring drop-in center the school runs.
We aren’t late for classes. We never miss school.
Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if we both get the perfect attendance record at high school graduation next year.
But it’s his own fault for meddling with me. He’s always meddling—asking me what I’m doing so he can copy me or poke holes in my logic. It’s bad enough that I have to compete with the ghost of a perfect older sister who is off at college. I didn’t realize I’d have to compete with Zach Powell too.
“I want to speak to Principal Aceste,” Zach says, not quieting down.
“So do I,” I chime in. Zach’s stare is molten. “What? I’m allowed to talk to him too. This whole thing was an accident.” A magical accident, I don’t add.
“Principal Aceste has to talk to the fire chief and the insurance examiner and calm down Mr. Ruth,” Ms. Gagliano says as she circles the top of someone’s paper in a fiery red marker and gives them a 75.
Oof. “Tomorrow morning, I’m sure you’ll both get a chance to meet with him.
” She smiles wickedly. “I bet he will even call your parents.”
My stomach plummets. I didn’t even think about that part.
If Principal Aceste talks to my parents, my party is done for.
Which means spending Samhain—the real name of Halloween—with Colton is also done for.
I can’t let that happen. My spell would have worked perfectly if Zach hadn’t grabbed my hand, I’m sure of it.
I glare at him. His mouth is set in a thin line.
He smells like smoke—we both do. There is still some foam in his hair from the fire extinguisher. My own red hair feels a bit sticky from getting caught in the crosshairs as well. “Can’t you ask Principal Aceste to meet with us after his calls? I’ll wait to explain what happened.”
“And what was that?” Zach snaps.
“You wouldn’t leave me alone. You shouldn’t have gotten involved, Powell. What I do is none of your business.”
“Mr. Ruth made me your lab partner, Hadley.”
“Really?” I don’t remember an assignment so much as a general suggestion.
Zach rolls his eyes in a perfect circle behind his square glasses. “I know you wanted to work with Colton—”
“And I would’ve, if you hadn’t stopped me.”
I hadn’t realized we were leaning in toward each other, and I’m uncomfortably putting all my weight into my elbows, until that same tingly feeling creeps up my hands, pins and needles like I’ve slept on them wrong. I shake them out, flexing fingers to try to get blood flow back.
“I was trying to help, Hadley.”
I snort. “Yeah, I bet. Help yourself.”
Thankfully, we’re both saved by the bell before I can do any more damage.
Ms. Gagliano puts down her red marker and looks at us. “You’re free to go, but I’ll see you both tomorrow. And the day after that. And the one after that one and . . .” She laughs to herself as we exit the room.
Zach and I take one look at each other and storm off in opposite directions. Laney is waiting for me near our lockers.
“Hey,” Laney says sympathetically. “Are you okay? How bad was it?”
I open my locker and start placing every book I own in my backpack.
Maybe I’ll cram for all my tests next week.
I can’t leave anything to chance after today.
“The room smelled like Lysol and bologna, and we just had to sit there since Zach and I already did our homework during study hall. And I have to go back every day from now to eternity. It’s humiliating. ”
Laney pats my shoulder. “Maybe when you talk to Principal Aceste, he’ll listen to you about it being an accident. You two never get in trouble! Like ever.”
I sigh deeply and shut my locker. “I hope so.” We head to the front doors, and I exhale deeply when we get outside.
Leaves are blowing down the sidewalk, the trees on the street in peak form; an array of deep gold, orange, and red leaves greets us, and the sun is just starting to peek behind the clouds.
I feel my whole body relax at the sight of Mystic Hollow putting on a fall show.
“Let’s talk about something that will make you happy,” Laney suggests, hoisting her own backpack higher on her shoulders. “Colton Croft.”
“Shhh,” I say, looking around to make sure no one heard her. “But yes!” We both laugh and I feel my mood lift. “Did you see how he winked at me? Like right at me. I think we had a moment.”
“Are you sure? Because he was also having a moment with Zara,” Laney reminds me.
“He threw out her note. And he didn’t wink at her.
I think it’s a sign. I’ve just got to find the right moment to talk to him about my sure-to-be-epic-not-to-be-missed Halloween party, and then it’s all going to come together.
” I frown. “As long as Principal Aceste doesn’t call my parents and the whole thing is canceled. ”
Laney bites her lip. “No. Don’t say that. He hangs out at Witches Brew after school every day. Maybe you can convince him not to call your parents.”
“Can I do that?” I think it over. Almost everyone in town goes to Witches Brew after school.
Am I going to go beg the principal in front of half of Mystic Hollow High?
“Whatever, it doesn’t matter how embarrassing it’ll be.
This party has to happen. The invites are already out.
Can you imagine if I have to cancel because I’m grounded?
” The idea is too mortifying to think about.
“It’s going to be fine. Even if your parents are called, you know they’ll never believe you intentionally set fire to the chemistry lab.
The party is going to happen as planned.
Everyone I’ve talked to says they can’t wait to see your house.
” She flashes me a little smile. “No one believes me that it’s a normal old house, just bigger. ”
Our Victorian is almost two hundred years old and rumored to be haunted. While witches can see ghosts, they can’t in Mystic Hollow. It’s part of the wards that we cast every Samhain that protect the town from the other side of the veil.
But maybe for my Halloween party, I can try to conjure one. After all, I lit something on fire today. I could probably do a séance if it would make Colton Croft come to my Halloween party.
For a moment, I let myself imagine it: the perfect Halloween party, where everyone is talking about how cool I am. Me, Kat Hadley. Not Harry. I won’t be invisible anymore. They’ll see just how charming this witch can be.
“I think the house is a great selling point,” Laney says, looping her hands in her backpack straps as we pace down the sidewalk toward the center of town.
“Hey, if it’ll get me more RSVPs, I don’t care if you tell them we fly broomsticks on Halloween night and resurrect the dead on our dining room table.”
Laney’s eyes widen. “You’ve never actually done that, have you?”
“No,” I assure her. “I mean, I’m sure there is a spell in my aunts’ books, but that sort of zombie stuff totally gives me the ick.”
“Good,” Laney says, looking relieved. “I know you invited everyone, but I’d rather not attend a party with the undead. Especially if they’re oozing into the candy.”
We both share a face at that. “I just want this party to be one people never forget,” I say, clutching my book bag tighter. “It’s my first without Harry home, so it has to be perfect.”
This night will change everything. Colton will finally see me, not as Harry’s little sister or the less impressive Hadley, but as me.
Our eyes will lock and we’ll slow dance to “Monster Mash” with my hands around his broad shoulders and his on my waist, and he’ll kiss me under a fake spiderweb or whatever the equivalent of Halloween mistletoe is.
“Has Colton RSVP’d yet?” Laney asks. “Halloween is on Saturday.”
I shake my head. “It’s only Monday. I’m going to remind him. If only we had been lab partners and Powell hadn’t blocked me.”
“You think he’s jealous?”
I snort. “Zach? Yeah, of my grades. You know all he cares about is scoring higher than me. Remember how he was during Word Masters?”
“No, because that was in fourth grade, and I don’t memorize every single grade I’ve ever gotten, because I’m normal.”