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Cap? Chapter One

The neg? Heat?, My luck was always detest? Level. S? Look for my name: Jean. N? Jean

Marie or Jeanine, or Jeanette, or even Jeanne. Just Jean. You? Fran knows that in? they call

the boys Jean? ? the franc's for John.

And okay, I do? Live in the Fran? A. But still. I'm practically a girl named John. If I lived inFrench? To, any jeio.

? that kind of luck I have. The kind of luck I've had since even before the mam? And fill my

CertID? The birth.

Ent? On? It was very surprising to me when the driver of t? N xi? The helped me with my

suitcase. I j? had to endure at the airport and does nobody find him? m to greet me, and then?

on? got the answer to any of my calls, asking where my aunt and uncle were. They n? Wanted

me to, anyway? Be? they changed their id? going? They heard about my m?luck - all the way

from Iowa - and decided that they n? wanted it that this ca? fall down on them?

But even if this were true - and as I told myself a mill? The times since I arrived?baggage claim,

where they would find me, and does nobody saw it? man? being skycaps and limo drivers with

little signs with the name of everyone in them least my - n? had nothing I could do in relation ?

oa this. I certainly n? The could go home. It was New York - and the house of Aunt Evelyn and

Uncle Ted - or forging? NCIA.

Ent? The when the driver of t? Xi, the inv? S go out and help me with the luggage, just pushed a

bot? It so that the trunk was opened a few cents? Meters, n? Was the worst j thing? happened

to me one day.

I took my luggage, each with 5000 pounds, at least - except the box of my violin? course - and

then? to shut the trunk again, all while on my 69 Street? East, with a line of cars atr? S me,

honking impatiently because n? The move could, besides the fact that crossing the street pr?

Studio of my uncles had a van parked in Stanley Steema two vacancies.Why me? S? River. I wonder.

T? Xi t broke? Or? Fast that I practically had to hold me between two parked cars to n? To go

along. The horn ceased when the queue of cars was waiting atr? S t? Xi eat? Ued to move

again, with their drivers lan me? Dirty looks when I walk through.

Were all the dirty looks that did it - makes me realize I was in New York. After all.

E?, I had seen the skyline in the t? Xi, when he crossed the Triboro Bridge ... The island of

Manhattan, in all her gl? Laugh, with the Empire State out of the way like a big, shiny middle

finger.

But it was the dirty looks that really made the difference? A. Nobody? M in Hancock would

never be t? Bad to someone? M that was clearly from out of town.

N? What many people visit Hancock. But whatever.

Ent? Had the street where I was standing. It was one of those streets that look exactly like those

that show on TV when they want to say that something is? located in New York. Like Law and

Order. You? know, tr? s - or four - brownstones (probably some type of housing) close with

brightly painted doors and the stone tilts ...

According to my hand "and, most brownstones in New York was originally a holiday? Single

fam? Read when they have been constructed? Of, by the year 1800. But now divided into

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apartments, then oh? one now - or at? two or more fam? households - by floor.

N? The sister of the brownstone? my m? and Evelyn for? m. Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Ted

Gardiner own all four floors of the brownstone them. That? practically one floor per person

j? Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Ted's? t? m 3 sons, my cousins Tory, Teddy and Alice.

In my house, no? S s? t? hemp two floors, but there were seven people living there?. E s? abathroom. N? What I'm complaining. Still, since my sister? Courtney discovered the festan? The

things t? M been well horr? And resources available in house.

But however high the house of my uncles was, it was really close - only three? S windows

spanning it. Still, it was a pretty nice townhouse, painted gray, light gray with ornaments. The

door was a cheerful and bright yellow. There were boxes of yellow flowers together? S bases of

each window, coixotes flowers with bright red - and obviously rec? Planted m, j? they were mid-

April, and does it very warm enough for them - ger? domains overflowing.

It was good to look at it, even in a sophisticated city like New York, people still perceive what?

The receptive and a box of homemade ger? Domains could be. The presence? To those ger?

Domains cheered me a little.

Like maybe Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Ted had forgotten I was coming today, en? They had

deliberately forgotten by me at the airport because they had changed their id? Was about letting

me come live with them.

As if everything would be alright in the end.

?. With my luck, probably n? Others

I started up the stairs of the front door of the n? Street number 326 East Sixty-ninth, and

realized I n? To get with my bags and my violin. Leaving one bag in lime? Ada, I dragged theother down the stairs with me, my violin under one arm? Others I put the first bag and the bag of

my violin on top of the stairs, and hurried down to get the second suitcase, which I had left in the

lime? Ada.

S? I think I tried to come down too r? Fast, j? I tripped and almost fell face first into the lime?

ada. I managed to avoid? Last second, grabbing me in one of these iron supports that put the

Gardiners around the dumpsters. While I was recovering l?, A little shaken from my cat almost?

Strofadas, a stylized and elegant lady walking with what looked like a rat on a leash (s? What

should be a dog, j? Who was wearing a cardigan) passed and swing? or your lies? to me. As if I

had rolled down the stairs of the Gardiners of purpose for to scare? It or something.

In Hancock, if a person saw someone? M almost falling off a ladder? Even someone? m like

me, who almost fell on the stairs almost every day? she would have said something like, "You?

s est? well?

In Manhattan, however, things were clearly different.

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N? Was at the? the elderly lady and her dog-mouse passed I heard a click. Fixing me?and

discovering that my m? them were full of rust from the basket? I saw that the door of 326 East

Street Sixty-ninth was open and a young, beautiful blonde was looking at me over the stairs.

? Hi? she said curiously.

I forgot about the lady and her mouse, and my almost-diving-in-cement. I smiled, and quickly

climbed the stairs. Even if I n? The could believe how much she had changed, I was t? Happy

v? It ...

... Et? She worried that the n? The would feel the same way in relation? It to me.

? Hi,? said. ? Hi, Tory.?

The young woman, all very small and blond, winked at me without recognition.

? N? It,? she said. 'I will am Tory. Sou Petra.? For the first time I realized that the girl had an

accent ... a European accent. Am I the au pair * of the Gardiners.?

Oh,? I said unsure. Nobody? M told me anything about an au pair. Fortunately, I knew what it

was, because of a epis? Dio of Law and Order that I saw once, where they suspected that the

au pair was killing the children? It should take the account.

I stuck out my hand? The full of rust to Petra. ? Hi,? said. "I'm Jean Honeychurch. Evelyn

Gardiner? my aunt ...?

? Jean? Petra had stretched and automatically shaken my hand? Others Now his grip hadbecome stronger. Oh, do you? Jinx ** mean?

I shuddered, and n? The s? by the press? strong girl? she was really strong for someone? m t?

so small.

N? It, I winced because my reputation? Clearly had preceded me, if the au pair to know me for

Jinx inv? S Jean.

? Right,? said. Because what else could I do? Well done for going to eat? Air again where

nobody? M knew me by my nickname disfavoring. ? My fam? Read call me Jinx.?

And it would continue forever, if my luck n? The change.

____________________________________________________________

* Au pair: esp? Cie maid-bab?-Do everything.

** Jinx: Azara

Cap? Chapter Two

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"But you? n? it should arrive at? tomorrow! " Petra lamented.

The ball cares? The twisting my stomach loosened. S? a little.

I should have known. I should have known that Aunt Evelyn n? The would completely forget

about me.

? N? It,? I said. ? Today. I should arrive today.?

Oh, n? It,? Petra said, still swing? Walk my m? And up and down. My fingers were running out

of circulation? Others Outside the places that were hurting me when I grabbed? metal railing

around the trash, too? m. "I'm sure your uncle and aunt told tomorrow night. Oh! They v? Get

the t? The upset! They would catch you at the airport.Alice at? made a poster ... You? came all

the way alone? In t? Xi? I feel so much by you!Oh my God, come, come! "

With a pace that was contradicted? Laughed their delicate structure? but combined with your

handshake? it? Petra insisted on taking my two suitcases, leaving the violin for me, and loading

them into herself. Overweight n them? Seemed to bother? It even a little, es? It took two

minutes to figure out why, and Petra almost t? the talkative than my best friend, Stacy, l? home:

Petra had changed from Germany to the United States because she's? studying to be a

physiotherapist.

In fact, she told me that going? college of physiotherapy every morning in Westchester, who? a

sub? suburb just outside New York, where, when n? empty stomach? in class, she has to lift

heavy people and help? them on crutches, after teaching? them to wear the bra? oe this again,

after an accident or fall.

The reason it was t? Strong. Because of the heavy lifting of people, and everything.

Petra was living with the Gardiners, paid for his room and feeds? The babysitting my little

cousins. Ent? The while the children? Were at the school every day, she went to Westchester to

learn more about physiotherapy. Within a year she would have your license? Ae could get a job

at a rehab center? Es.

? The Gardiners t? M t been? The kind to me,? Petra said, carrying my luggage to the guest

room on the third floor as if they n? To weigh more than a couple of CDs

E n? Seemed to be needed? River to stop for Petra f? Lego between sentences. Incr? Level,

with english? Sn? Nor was his the l? Native language.

Which meant that she could speak more r? Fast still in his l? LANGUAGE mother.

Do they at? pay me three hundred d? homes per week? Petra continued. ? Imagine living rent-

free in Manhattan, with food and pays well? M, and some cross? M still giving you three

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hundred d? Homes per week! My friends say that the Bonn? too good to be true. Mr. and Mrs.

s? As the father and m? And for me now. And I love Teddy and Alice as if they were my pr?

Selves children. Well, I s? I am twenty, and Teddy has ten, then? "I think he's the n? it could be

my son. But my sister? Ozinho, perhaps. Here, now. This?your room.?

My room? I tried to see the doorframe (?) Around. Judging by the look r? Fast that had the restof the house looking at the stairs, I knew I would live full of luxury during the pr? Coming months

...

But the room in which Petra left my bags took my breath? Others It was totally gorgeous? A

white wall with the mob? Read cream color and gold silk curtains and roses. There was a

fireplace marm? Re on one side? N? Work, this here? Petra told me sadly, when I was trying to

guess how it worked the fireplace in my room again, or something? And a private bath in

another. The sunlight came through the windows, leaving the carpet with a pink tone spotting.

Naturally, I immediately knew something was wrong. This was the fourth most pleasant high

that I had seen. It was a hundred times more pleasant high that my room in my house. And I

had shared that room with Courtney and Sarabeth, both my sister's more news. In reality, this

would be the first time I slept in a room of my pr? Priority.

EVER.

And never in my life I enjoyed both the id? Going to have a bathroom pr? Priority.

This n? It was poss? Level.

But I could tell by the way that Petra was, shaking op? imaginary? river out of things, it was

poss? level. N? Not seem possible, in mas? they were.

? Exciting,? was all I could say. Was it? the first word I could speak from that Petra had come?

ado to speak, below the front door.

Yes,? Petra said. She thought I was talking about the room. But really, I spoke ... Well,

everything. ? very pleasant high, yes? I have my pr? Priority in this apartment house with anentrance? With t? Rreo private, you? know? A? Area of the apartment. You?probably n? saw

it. The door is tilted to the town house. Tamb? M h? a back door to the garden. ? a small private

apartment. I have my pr? Pria kitchen, too? M. The children? The fall? night? sometimes, and I

help them to read? to their home, and at times n "s to watch TV, all homey. ? very pleasant

high.?.

? You? n? empty stomach? joking? I breathed. Mam "and had told me that Aunt Evelyn and the

fam? Were well read it? My uncle Ted, had acquired a promo? The recent chairman of any

company where he worked as Evelyn, a decorator, had added a pair ofsupermodels? Her list of

clients.

Still, could n? Have it ready for me? this.

And it was mine. All mine.

Well, for now, anyway. At? I do It's some confusion? here, somehow.

And I like I known? It, I knew this paragraph? To take a long time. But I could still enjoy it while it

lasts.

? Mr. Mrs. Gardiner and they feel very n? were in the house to get it,? Petra was saying as she

went to the bedside of large size and eat? Meticulously fluff or half-d? Zia pillows below the

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head. ? And they stay? At the? saddest when they traded soubrerem day.They still est? Both in

the work. Teddy and Alice soon come? The school, however. They est? You both very excited

about the arrival of their cousin Jinx. Alice made her a poster to welcome. She would hold it at

the airport when they would take, but now ... well, maybe you? it can hang on the wall of your

room here? You? have to pretend to be pleased with this, at? even if you? n? the est? because

she worked very hard on it. Mrs. Gardiner n? P? And nothing on their walls, do you? v? becauseshe wanted to wait to see how you? est?. She says that j? Five years have passed since? last

time they saw it!?.

Petra looked at me amazed. Apparently, the fam? Households in Germany are living much

longer? Intimate and visit more freq? Ciently that the fam? Households in the U.S.?. Or my fam?

Read, anyway.

I waved to it? A. Yes, that sounds about right. Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Ted visited by me? Last

time when I was eleven years old ...? My voice trailed off. This is because h? had just noticed

that in the large bathroom, install them? es were all metal and shaped like Fish? the swan, with

a? water spout carved out of p? bird. At? even the bar of the towels had wings of a swan in the

end. My mouth was eating? Walk to dry? view of all this luxury. I mean what ever I had done to

deserve all this?

Nothing. Especially lately.

That fact was why I was in New York.

? What about Tory? I asked, with an effort? to change the subject. No better? Thinking about

why? I'm here in New York and n? in the Hancock. Especially because from? Last time I did it

gave that n? sick on. ? When she comes home from school?.

Oh,? Petra said.

This, oh? by? m was different from all others outside that Petra had missed. I noticed

immediately. Tamb? M, considering that Petra had been talking enthusiastically nothing

disguise? Ado, now she looked down and said apprehensively, shrugging, "Oh, the Toryj? came from the school. She's? part of the tr's, in the garden with her friends.?.

Petra pointed to one of two windows in front? bed. I went there? While slowly pushing the thin

white curtain? That curtain white t? The spins as a spider's web "and looked down? garden for a

fairy tale.

Or at least that was what appeared to me. And sure, that I am accustomed to in our backyard

that Hancock est? completely filled with things from my sister? "and the sister's more like new

bikes and toys pl? Plastic, a swing set? it, a dog race, the vegetable patch of variegated Mam?

and cells and large dirt, drained l? by Papa est that? always working on a new piece for the

home never fully built? of.

Why? M, the yard looked like something from a skewer? Ass TV. E n? The 'Law and Order,'

either, but something along the lines of MTV Cribs. Surrounded on three? S side through? S

moss-covered brick, growing roses? And sprouted? Everywhere. There were vines everywhere

at? in smaller, glassed-in (?) Pavilion? on top of one corner of the garden. There was a wrought

iron table and chairs surrounded by a cushioned seat in a carriage down the long branches of a

willow chor? The recently sprung up.

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But best of all was that a low supply, at? even with the tr? s hist? rich windows closed, I could

hear noise. A mermaid sitting stone in the center of the pool with a wide base, with "water

gushing up through the mouth of a fish that was in bra? Hers. I n? The safe could be, while

looking for t? The top, but I thought I saw some orange flashes in the pool. Goldfish!

? Koi,? Petra corrected me when I said this aloud. Her voice was back to normal now that n?

Sn? The est? We discussing Tory I n? Able to help noticing. "They s? Japanese.Andyou? v? Mouche, the little cat in the garden? She sits there? all day, while watching, but never

got one, but she will one day.?.

I saw a flame s? Bita from below the glass roof of the hall? Others You? No really? can see the

inside, because the glass was packed. Tory and her friends should be in, but I n? Able to see?

Them, s? movements their dark, and the flame. It seemed that Tory and her friends were

smoking.

I mean okay, however. I have known? Enough people under the age who smoke in Iowa.

Well, okay. A.

Still, everyone had told me that things were really different in New York. N? The s?things, but

people, too? m. People of my age especially. Like, people who supposedly has my age in New

York s? Much more sophisticated and older for their age that people in my old home.

And that? right. I can handle it.

Although my est? Mage, thinking that my est? Magician has just one n?, Seemed to disagree.

"I think I need to go there? down to say hi to Tory? I said "why I felt like I should.

Yes,? Petra said. "I guess you? must.? looked like it was something she wanted to say, but for

the first time since I had known her, she was speechless.

Great. So what happened between her and Tory?

What about you? want to bet that with my luck, I'd get in the middle of this?

? Well? I said more bravely than I felt, as he put the curtain back on the call. ? You?would pay

attention? it in my way?.? Course.?.

Petra seemed that n? Was the kind of girl who got too quiet time.

Petra seemed that n? Was the kind of girl who got too quiet time. While desc? Masters the

stairs to the second floor, she asked about the violin.

"You? Touches h? Long?"

"Since six years," I said.

"Six! Ent? To you? Must be very good. N" s have a concert one evening, yes? The children?

The go? To love this! "

I kind of doubted that, an? Being that my cousins were really different from children? To my

house. Nobody? M I knew in Hancock likes to hear me play. Except maybe when I did "The

Devil Down To Georgia." But even so, they kind of lost interest, an? Being that I sang the

words. E? 's difficult to sing and play along. At? Patti Scialfa, Bruce Springsteen's wife, who can

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play the violin and singing, never actually does both at the same time.

Ent? Petra asked if I was hungry, and told me about a cooking class? Laughed Mrs. Gardiner

has paid for her to go for that then? Or she could learn how to make American food for the

children? Them.

"I'd make filet mignon for your arrival tomorrow night, but now that you? Est? Here, I think for

dinner tomorrow night n" s will have Chinese food in Szechuan Palace Hope you n? The mind.

Sr . and Mrs. Gardiner? t m a benef? for which heat needs to go. The Gardiner s? very nice,

solid people? vacation, and est? always going to the benef? turnover to raise money for worthy

causes ... H? many of those in New York. And the Chinese food here? "very good," aut?

Semantics - Mrs. Gardiner at? speech, and she and Mr. Gardiner were in China for the

birthday? river of their marriage last year - Oh, here it is? the door to the garden. I think you

see?, then? "o."

"Thank you, Petra," I said, giving her a grateful smile.

Ent? I pushed the glass door that led to op? Uncle overlooking the garden, and is carelessly

steps into the garden itself (carefully holding the support to avoid a near disaster with a flight of

stairs).

Here the source sound was much louder, and I could smell roses in heavy air. It was strange

being in the middle of New York and smelling roses.

Though mixed with the smell of roses was the smell of burnt tobacco.

I called, "Ol?" While achiev? Assess the gazebo, to let them know I was coming.Nobody? Mresponded immediately, but I was sure I heard someone? M saying the word with "F". I figured

that Tory and his friends were struggling to extinguish their cigarettes.

I hastened to enter the gazebo, then? The might say "Oh, n? The worry.? Just me."

But? Of course I found myself talking to six total and complete strangers. My cousin Tory n?

The was nowhere I could see.

What?, You? know. My luck.

Cap? Chapter 3

Coming from among the strangers, a girl whose black hair that matched the color of her

minidress and high heels boots, stood up and came to? me, wiggling her hips as she walked

and looked at me.

"Who you hell? ?? she demanded.

Given the people inside of the hall? Were staring at me with the same hostility, I heard myself

stammer, "Um, I'm Jean Honeychurch, a cousin of Tory Gardiner?.

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The black haired girl said the F word again, now in a really different tone. Ent? She lifted the

am? What she had kept part of the tr "s of the body, and took a long sip from the cup she

held. ? N? The worry,? she said over her shoulder for people in the Pavilion? Others? my crazy

cousin from Iowa.?.

I blinked once. Twice. And then? A third time. ? Tory? I asked incr? dula.

? Torrance? my cousin corrected me. Setting the glass down on a stone bench, she took acigarette from behind? S her ear and placed it among the l? Her scarlet bios. ? What

you? est? doing here? Supposedly n? It was for you? come tomorrow night.?.

? I. .. I arrived early? I said. ? Sorry.?.

Not even me fa? Aa question why I was apologizing for someone else? M that was not even

sense my absence? The Gardiners were the? Only ones who were mistaken as to the day of

my arrival, n? Self.

But there was something about Tory? This new Tory anyway? It made on? in my est? Magician

will tighten further. This was a Tory? This was my cousin Tory, with whom, when the Gardiners

went to visit in Iowa? Last, I had waded down the Pike Creek and climbed? Trees on top of the

prim school? Laugh?

N? Can be. That Tory was plump and blonde, with a mischievous smile and a sense of humor

equally damaging.

This Tory looked like she had been a long time? A really long time "since she had smiled for

me? Last time.

N? What she n? She were beautiful. She was in a super upscale, urban-chic. She had lost the

baby fat? it, and now her figure was slim. Tamb? M, blond hair was replaced? The pageboy for

a (?) Severely cut, black.

She looked like a model? but none of those happy, sunny, like Cindy Crawford. She looked like

a type, a? as the hapless Kate Moss after she was arrested for being caught with coke? on.

Tory, I mean. What happened to you?Tory must have thought something similar? S? I n? the've changed so much since she saw me

for? last time ", she laughed suddenly (able to do this without laughing most of the humor I had

ever heard) and said, 'God, Jinx. You? n? changed him one iota. You?still looks fresh-from-

farm-fresh and hillbilly.?.

Oh T? The n maybe she? Was thinking something of the same type.

I looked up at me. I had dressed with extra care, special morning, knowing that when I stepped

off the airplane? It, if the most sophisticated city in the world.

But obviously my lime? The jeans, su? Having to cotton? Pink, and even Camur? Rose n? They

were enough to disguise? Air which in fact I am the most part, exactly what the Tory had

accused me of being: girl-cool-to-farm and sweet-hick.

Although no "s actually currently live in a cul-de-sac (any type of dwelling? The redneck), and

does it in a farm.

? God? said a voice from inside the Pavilion? Others ? What I n? Would give to have that

hair.? And then? Him, wriggling like a snake, a type t girl? Model-slender as Tory? Tory Tyra for

Kate Moss? slid of the hall? him, and joined the Tory inspec? her in me.

? This? natural? the girl asked as she stood on the fingers of p? it shone like a paint red spring,

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I tried n? fix it basically. She seemed to be using some sort of school uniform consisting of a

white blouse, blue blazer and gray pleated skirt.

But at? even there, a school uniform seemed high fashion. How beautiful she was.

Oh, her hair? natural? said 'n' that Tory seemed to think of it as a good thing, or something. "Our

grandmother had this, too? m.?.

? God? the girl said. ? That? t? the wild. I have known? The girls who pay hundreds to get spiralcurls well. And the color! ? t? it? lived.?.

Hey,? said a male voice of the hall? Others ? The girl v? The yelled over the Red, or n "s let's

get it? Coach?.

The girl who liked my hair rolled her eyes, and Tory? Torrance or greater, as she apparently

preferred to be called? showed something that resembled a smile now.

"God, Shawn? she said. ? Relax.? To me, she said, "You? want a beer?.

I tried n just let the shock appear. A beer? Tory was offering me a beer? Tory five years atr? S

not eating Pop Rocks, because he became convinced that they would explode?

? A? I said. ? N? You, thank you.? N? Because I n? The bevo? I had drunk champagne m? and

Stacy's wedding m? her and with the new stepfather, Ray, "but because I n? the taste of beer.

? N? S Long Island have ice cream, too? M? Tory's friend said amiably.

Oh,? I said, feeling a relief. ? Okay, I take it.?.

Tory's friend made a face. Yes,? she said. 'I will not taste of beer, or something. I'm Chanelle, a

purpose for.?.

? Chanel? I repeated. I n? Was sure he had the right ear.

? Right,? she said. ? S? with an extra L and E to an end. Chanel? My favorite store of the m?

e.?.

? Good thing no? Was the Gucci? the boy who had called the Tory Shawn said.

? Ignore it,? Chanelle told me, while the dark expressive eyes rolled her again when I followed

the Pavilion? Others ? This? Shawn? she said, pointing to a blond guy who was inside with aprinted blouse and sitting in a glass coffee table. He was wearing lime? The long ash, a white

shirt with the sleeves rolled up, tie and a red-and-blue-striped which had been carelessly

knotted and just as carelessly dropped again.

? And this? My boyfriend, Robert, L? above,? Chanelle said.

Another boy, this one with black hair, wearily but with exactly the same clothes Shawn,

balance? Or fits? To me over the cigarette he was smoking.

That's when I realized that everyone was smoking.

"And it? Gretchen? Chanelle said, pointing to another girl? This a beautiful blonde with a

pierced eyebrow? Using the same uniform as Chanelle. "And it? Lindsey.? Lindsey, too? M in

school uniform, was a verse? Gretchen's smallest, less piercing. By inv? S more, she was

wearing a bright red lipstick.

Both girls just recognized my exist? NCIA only. They looked far more interested in drinks than

that held me.

? Right,? Shawn said, rubbing his m? To one another. ? N? S finished with the chat now? N "s

can get back to neg? Heat?.

In the far corner of the hall? Him, leaning against a wall holding a cup was over, which cleared

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his throat.

Oh,? Chanelle said. "I almost forgot. That? Zach.?.

The guy in the corner leaned a can of Coke in my direction? As a kind of salute? Others? Hi,

Jean Press Iowa? he said pleasantly. He, unlike the other two boys, n? Was wearing a tie or

lime? The long formal, but lime? Jeans and a T-shirt. He also? M I thought it was one or two

older than everyone in the Pavilion? What appeared to be more or less my age.He also? M was sexy. Very sexy. In his shirt half broad, dark green eyes, like a Greek God.

? You? n? is the man? Shawn n? Asked him for Zach ... In a very friendly voice? Level.

"I went,? Zach said, while moving to open space? To me in his bank? The left seat. "But I might

take a while.?.

? That loving you?,? Shawn said. But he n? The sounded very happy about it.

? Well? the Tory said as he filled a glass of iced tea and sat in ch? of the Pavilion? Others She

passed the cup to me. I was sitting next to Zach. I hate how you? never joins the gang for a

party, Zach.?.

'Maybe because I n? Turn the darkness before a zombie? It,? Zach said.

"I wish you? were a zombie twenty-seven years? Robert said instantly, while smoking his

cigarette.

? You? ? Chanelle assured. E n? The sounded like she was happy with this.

? Okay, where n "s let? Tory asked. Oh, yes. I need to know before, so you can at least get me

a little. You? Chanelle wants?.

? Well? Chanelle said. I noticed that the su? Have to she had tied around her waist was the

same color blue stripes on ties for boys. Were so well? M of the Gretchen and Lindsey.

So they all went to same school? The Chapman School I had been transferred? moved later

this year, admitted. But there EVENT? Ncias mitigating circumstances.

I swallowed. No better? Thinking right now on the EVENT? Ncias mitigating circumstances.

Nothing to me, thanks,? Chanelle said."God, Chanelle,? Tory said, with l? Bios parted. ? Half-terms. For n? Mention it, the spring

formal. You? want to spoil it? Hello?.

"God, Torrance. Carnations. For n? Mention it, spines. You? My dermatologist wants to kill

me? Hello? Chanelle shot back, no? The roughly one in mimics? The dead Tory Lindsey did

laugh at? the iced tea out through her nose.

? Loser,? the Tory said when she saw it. Lindsey rubbed her nose on the sleeve of su? Have,

and said, "Consider how twenty.?.

? Twenty? Shawn said, punched n? Mere notebook in which he had pulled from a bag that was

in ch? Others ? You?, Tor?.

? The same, I think,? the Tory said.

She lit the pr? Priority cigarette, politely ignoring me, though I was the scope of its vision?

Others I n? The could not believe what I was seeing. I mean, that was bad enough, now a Tory

was brunette and skinny as a movie star. But she was using drugs, too? M? Although I had to

admit n Shawn? Look anything like the drug dealers show that t? Regularly in 'Law and

Order'. He n? It was no beggar or wearing dirty clothes. He looked like? cool.

And the Tory n? The looked like a junkie. I mean, she? totally gorgeous.

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Still, her life, the phenomenon of distance, seemed perfect. For that she needed drugs?

These were the thoughts that were struggling in my fits? To when I sat down. I guess you? I

would say I was suffering from some culture shock.

Tamb? M, n? in my est? magician was tighter than ever.

? And I need a Valium? Tory added. "I've been very tense lately.?.

"I thought that their little trips with Shawn were to avoid it? Gretchen said as he spoke for thefirst time. Her voice was surprisingly serious.

So was what she was saying. Amazingly, I mean. The Tory and Shawn were leaving?

But Tory shot a glance at her friend s? Rcastico. And the finger m? Her studio.

"I can get ten? Shawn said, smiling. ? Anyone can do that, s? that h? some difficulty. I know

this? a lost cause, but what about you?, Rosie? Need anything?.

Beside me, "said Zach," N? You, thank you. I'm fine.?.

Tory looked shocked. ? Zach? she said. ? You? est? right? Because Shawn can really achieve

anything, you? know. None of those shits gen? Rich. His father? a doctor.?.

"Jesus, Thor, the man is? sick, right? Let him,? Shawn said. His gaze stopped at me. ? And

you?, Blondie?.

Tory, who seemed annoyed chuckled before t? Who made the great Iced Tea out through your

nose. This did Lindsey say, "Loser," exactly the way the Tory did when it had happened to her.

I said as he tried n? To demonstrate my fear, "N? You, thank you. I-I'm fine.?.

Hey,? Zach said with a dead voice. ? Good for you?, Jean Press. The first step to admit that

there? a problem.?.

? Thank you? I said, trying to hide the red in my face taking an Iced Tea?

? which I promptly vomit it out.

Unfortunately, vomiting everything in Zach.

Hey,? Robert said on defensisa. ? Talk, No? The vomit, Blondie! ".

Oh my God? I cried. I could feel my cheeks getting in flames. "I'm sorry ... Very. I n? Did thepurpose for? I n? Awaited?.

? - Have? Alcohol in it?.? Tory had recovered and threw some napkins to Zack. ? Why did not

you? think? * called the Long Island iced tea *, his mentally retarded?

"I never drank it before? I said. "I've never been to Long Island. Oh, my God, Zach, sorry.?

But Zack n? Not seem nervous. In fact he had a smile on your face. "I've never been to Long

Island? He repeated thoughtfully, as if trying to memorize the phrase.

? Excuse me? I said again. I really do? The could believe it. Well I could, because that? t

something? bites on my part, clear. But I almost n? Believed you, because - well, because I

threw up all over the LONG ISLAND ICED TEA by a boy I never saw. I mean, I just hit New

York and j? showed a complete fool I am. Tory and her friends must think I'm the worst hick they

j? met.

In my old home no teenager drank or got high, or buying drugs.

They s? n? the entendenderiam this? well, all around me.

? Really sorry,? I said.

Zach smiled at me. I felt that drew my heart? Others

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Firm l', Jean.

? No problem, Jean of Iowa Press. You? want a Coke or something? The smile stretched. ?

And I mean the type carbonated.?.

? Surely? I said completely dazzled by the smile. ? And that is great.?.

Zach went up but sat down again when the Tory barked, "I take this to her? and abruptly

marched out of the hall? Others? Jesus? Gretchen said. ? What h? with it?.

Robert rolled his eyes in the direction? To Zach. ? A suppositions? The slightly wild.?.

"What? Chanelle demanded defending Tory.

"Jesus, do you? encruba I want everything? What about Lance Rosen,? Robert said, between

puffs.

Zach frowned. ? What you? I mean, what did the Tory?.

The au pair, man.? Robert balan? Or fits? His. ? Why else go a great veteran like you?walk to

high school with no "s? You? n? empty stomach? obviously here to buy as well?.

Zach, instead of denying it, as I half expected, s? looked thoughtful.

Hey,? Chanelle said indignantly. ? This n? It? truth. Torrance est? Shawn. It n? The be?flirting

with Zach.?.

If est Tor? Shawn,? Robert wondered, "why she's? Rosen trying to keep away from the au

pair? Huh?.

? Shut up, Robert? Chanelle said, gave him a kick? under the table. ? You? n? the know about

what is? speaking.?.

Hey, no? Knock on the messenger? Robert said. ? This n? It? t? the bad for Mr. Torsten Four-

Point-Oh, it already? you know if you? drew what I meant.?.

? Totally!? Chanelle cried, and Zach said frowning, "N? Meta Press Jean, please. She?new

here.?.

Robert looked at me. Oh,? he said. ? Sorry.?.And I wanted to die more than ever. Press Jean? It was almost t? Bad as the Jinx.

Almost.

Hey,? okay. Torrance and me? Shawn said softly as he watched his notebook, "we have an

agreement.?.

Ent? At the exact moment Tory returned with a can of soda. ? Here Jinx? she said, pushing the

soda for me. What kind of agreement does? S there, Shawn?.

? You? know? Shawn said. His fingers were flying over the keyboard of the Treo, his gaze

glued? screen. ? Relations? The open, and all that shit..

Oh,? Tory said, sinking back into her seat. ? Right. Friends with the benef? turnover.Why No? S

talking about it?.

? For reasons? To none,? Chanelle said quickly, while Ian? Or a look? Robert s?smirked.

I sat there? While trying n? The opinion shocked. Friends with benef? Turnover? I tried to

imagine how it would react if my best friend Stacy her boyfriend, Mike, suggested to her that

they were friends with benef? Turnover instead of a unique double.

Ent? The I shuddered. As the result, I knew, no? It would be nice.

The purpose for,? Tory said to me, while breaking into my thoughts. ? You? ?welcome.?.

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Oh,? I said, looking at? can of soda, forgotten in my hand? it, and feeling become red again. ?

Thank you.?.

? You? s? find? more like these in the freezer? Tory said drought. ? Petra showed him the

kitchen?.

? N? Now?.

'Well, you sure? get a tour? Others This? a? last time I'll fetch and carry for you?.?."God, Tor,? Chanelle said. ? You? ? a bitch (Bitch), that n? the will? Ent? Him, as if

embarrassed by the rudeness of Tory Chanelle turned to me and asked, "So how long do

you? stay? New York, Jean?.

The n? in my est? magician swing? or. I looked at my can of Coke.

"I'm being transferred to Chapman by the rest of the calendar? River school? I said. ? And going

to see? The ent? Here, too? M.?.

I n? The lost that the glances exchanged Lindsey and Gretchen. N? The the

blame.Who? transferred to a new school s missing? A month to finish the semester? ".

A freak like me.

? Right,? Tory said lightly. "I forgot to talk to the guys. Jinx be? ending the semester with us.?.

? Why? Chanelle wanted to know.

On the one hand, I was relieved by Tory apparently n? Having spoken about me. Now I could

tell you everything about me why I'm here.

On the other hand, I too? M was hurt. What was rid? Century, of course.

But you? think she could have mentioned to her friends that her cousin was coming to live with

it. Unless, of course, just that n? It was important to her.

Oh,? I said, as she swallowed. "I h? am little? needed a level of Mudan? a.?.

Tory rolled her eyes. "God, Jinx? she said. ? You? could think of anything more stupid to

respond when people ask you that? They v? The asking and you? know. Very good.?.

Exciting. Both would have to tell you why? I'm here.I felt myself blushing. Again.

? Well? I said. The n? in my est? magician was becoming less of an n?, and more in one

fist. ??... staff.?.

? For the love of God? Tory said, had teamed up with Shawn and gave a pull? On him? S? tell

them. Jinx est? and peek, okay?.

Cap? Chapter 4

Great. Just great.

I admit it, I should know better. I should have had a very natural answer to question of Chanelle

and ready.

S? I n? had. Naturally.

So I guess I deserved what Tory had done.

But at the same time, it was a shock to hear this as well, as if it were subject f? Cyl.

Especially since then? This was the s? half. The other half, of course, s? I knew.

Thank God. Because I n? Would fight with the Tory for saying t? The suddenly that part.

Especially since it seemed to be loving the area? What she had accomplished? My sil?

Advertisements mortified, and the sighs of Gretchen and Lindsey.

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Shawn said? No shit? and Zach, I noticed, with her green eyes looked at me it made me feel

at? even more troubled than I j? was.

Chanelle's eyes were wide. ? Really? she said. ? Spy on? That should be scary.?.

"You? So lucky!" Lindsey shouted, laughed. "I've never been spied upon. How??.

? God.? Tory put the rest of the cigarette over an ashtray. ? N? The h? nothing exciting about it,

Lindsey, you? ? idiot. I knew the guy? a complete psychopath. He'll probably come? here andmurder us? all n "s in our beds. I n? I can believe my parents accept it.?.

Hey,? Robert said, outraged. ? That seal was still good!?.

I n? Able to believe it, anyway. N? On the board. But when the Tory p? To have

s?ADVERTISED so that, t? Casual. Especially considering the fact that I had to leave my house

and all my friends, and school in which, I admit, I had been very popular. I mean, I'm a girl

pleasant high. People like nice girls? BATCH. These types of things n? To happen to nice girls?

BATCH. Nice girls? BATCH N? The s? Spied the?

? unless, of course, they bring with them half of it.

But the Tory n? Knew the other half of it.

So she p? S? announce loudly that I knew?

Tamb? M in front of Zach, who was making my heart? The rumble almost every time I looked at

him.

I wanted to die again. Or vomit. Era's difficult to decide which of the two.

? He n? It? a spy? it,? I said, while I chose my words carefully. And also? M realized through? S

of staff who looks alarmed me lan? Or maybe I had said it rather loudly. I lowered my voice. ?

He n? It? psychopath or something. He? s? a guy with whom I sa, "which took the whole

thing? s? river, very r? Fast.?

And now comes out as my voice? They believe it? Please let them believe it?

? He wanted to hold the m? Them probably? Tory said, facing me directly, and Shawn snorted

with a laugh.

Okay. Well, that was bad.

But they believed it. Tory believed this, anyway.

And that was all that mattered.

When I shot her a look stunted "because I felt like this? what girls like I do? Tory said, "Well,

come on, Jinx. His m "and" a dictator.?.

Chanelle threw me a startled look. ? No way! You? n? it? daughter of a pastor, or??.

Of course she said this as if it were a bad thing. People always react well.

"I too? M am the daughter of a computing consultant? It,? I said. My father works with

computers.?.

But nobody? M was listening. Nobody? M.

? God? Lindsey said. ? That? t? rom? romantic. You? fled the state to escape an obsessive

lover. I wish I had an obsessive lover.?

'I will would pay attention to? At him,? Chanelle said dryly. When inv? S it, s? I'm Robert.?.

Robert noted that the junta was trying to save it. ? What? it? he said when he saw that everyone

was staring at him.

V ' what I mean? Chanelle asked with a big spark in her eyes, I n? Could hold the laughter?

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? At? Shawn broke out with, "What? this? Freaking Oprah? Enough rom? Semantics life this

girl. I need payment, ladies.? He offered him the Treo, so that they could read it all. ? And N?

The I n?'ll Take personal checks.?.

Tory was frowning, but she took for her purse. A Prada, thousand-d? Homes of a spring line that

my sister? Courtney had spoken to our parents that it was? Only thing she wanted for birthday?

Her river. Mam? Ee Dad had laughed as if this is the funny thing? Ada they had ever heard.Tory and Lindsey Gretchen joined a pile of d? Homes. Ent? It, pushing the money to her

boyfriend, Tory asked, "When n? S can expect to be delivered?.

"Tomorrow night," Shawn said, adding the money and piling it into an organized pile before

placing in your wallet. "No m? Ximo second."

"Tomorrow night," Tory said, his eyes glaring.

"Okay, okay." Shawn swing? Or your lies? A. "Tomorrow night."

"Torrance?" Petra's voice called from the p? uncle. "Torrance, his m? And est? On the phone!"

"Damn," Tory said. "I come back already?".

This, I knew it was my cue to make an sa? Of graceful. Well, No? It would be graceful, knowing

me. But a sa? Of.

"I must go, too? M," I said, rising. "I have many bags to discard. It was great to meet you all?" S.

"

I n?'d Sure if this was the right thing to say to a lot of precious teenagers from New York.ButChanelle said, excited: "Nice to meet you", too? M! See you at school! "

Ent? The everything I thought it was good.

"And I," said Zach, too? M leaving, "I hear the call of duty to my C? CALCULATIONS. I see

you? S later!"

? Torrance!? Petra called again.

Tory turned and left the gazebo. Zach followed, and I followed Zach. While vile? Part of the tr? S

Zach was even more impressive than the vile? The front of his had been, I n? Able to listen to

it. All I wanted was to climb at? my beautiful rose room and shut the door and stay there? for a

time alone with my fireplace? "broken", and try to understand what had just happened, not to

mention, what I would do.

Because that paragraph? Was going exactly the way I imagined it would. Not a bit. N? What I

have thought that Tory and I go? Masters spend our time together and playing in a creek?

Climbing? in? trees. I s? n? had expected exactly ...

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Well, yeah.

In p? Uncle, Petra handed the phone to Tory, and smiled at me and Zach.

-Ol ", - she said you see that? S two met. N? Go out through the wall now, Zach?

Zach got his m? Those who were, I realized for the first time, covered with scratches? S, n? The

different ones that I got the rusted iron fence that I jumped to avoid falling earlier in the day.

-N? With those roses grow? T out of control and there atr's, he said, those things .- v? To kill mesomeday.

-You? should enter through the door like a normal person, anyway - Petra say? you? j?est? too

old to be climbing the walls.

To me, she said: - Jean, if you someday? want to visit a museum, or go? ? Opera or theater,

Zach? who should be consulted. He knows all that there? to know about the city.

Hey, what? now? Zach said, looking slightly shuffled? Ado. Robert was right? Zach had a crush

on Petra?

But if he was in love with Petra, do you? n? you could tell watching him interact with her.He

seemed to treat her with the same casual friendly? Level that he had ...

... Well, treated me.

? true? Petra said, laughing at Zach. ? When I got here, and I do? Nobody knew? M taking Mr.

and Mrs. Gardiner and the children? The Zachary took me everywhere. The Guggenheim, The

Frick, The Met. Jazz clubs. At? zool for? magician.?

Zach was more embarrassment? Ado. "I like seals? He said to me, as if that excused the

apparent strangeness of the au pair to take the zool? Magician.

Hm. Maybe he had a crush on Petra.

? And then? O. ..? Petra continuous, while n "s followed by her French doors, at? the deck

"when my boyfriend, Willem, came to visit me, Zachary, he gave us tickets for o. ..how? even if

it is called?

? Cirque du Soleil? Zach said, now looking thoroughly shuffled? Ado. He shrugged his

shoulders and of course, despite that. My father always gets tickets to these things, because of

his work.?

I smiled at him. I n? The could stop. I mean, despite being very good, had some things about

him that was t? O. .. well, friendly? level. I like seals. I would totally have understood if what

Robert had said was true about Tory has a crush on Zach. I had one myself, and I had just met

him.

"Jesus, m? E!? The voice of Tory, p? Uncle, was strident. ? You? est? kidding me? I have

things to do, you know?

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Petra eat? Or closing the French doors, "Jean? she said quickly, "I gotta go pick up the child?

the school. You? I would go with me? The children? The would love it if you? be.?

But Petra N? Was the r? Quick enough doors, no? Oo enough for the kind words of Tory n? To

be heard? Because I have better things to do than to bab? my cousin's inner hick.?

The French doors were shut, and leaned against Petra r? Fast against them, an expression?

The p? Unique in its face. Oh, dear.? She said I'm sure she n? Wanted ...I'm sure ... Sometimes

she says things Torrance n? The mean ...?

I smiled. What else could I do?

And the truth was that my feelings n? The were at least wounded. At least, no? To that much. I

was embarrassed, certainly. Especially since I saw Zach kind of retreat, and the words will

express Ouch when she said the word hick from the inside.

But I was content with the fact that Tory n? It was a sweet, funny? Ada Tory I remember five

years atr? S. This Tory, cool and sophisticated, was a stranger.

And I really, I do? You could have cared less what a stranger had told me.

Honestly.

Well, okay, maybe no? T? The square.

? Est? alright.? I said casually, at least, I expected it to sound casual. ? She probably has betterthings to do than to bab?. The thing that annoys you? people think I need a bab?.? I added, in

case they n? Have understood the mensangem. 'I will need you?

Zach raised his dark eyebrows, but n? To say anything. I had hope? The he n? Was

remembering the history of the South Long Island Ice Tea, but it probably was. Petra eat? Or

making excuses for Tory (? She's? Nervous because of the evidence "," it has gotten little

sleep?) All the way to the front door. I wondered why. After all, this new Tory n? Seemed to

someone? M like? much less needed? anyone? m making excuses for her.

But maybe there were things about? Torrance? I n? and knew what needed to be taken into

consideration? Others Perhaps, in the wickedness of his beautiful garden and your bathtub with

gold, all was not well in the fam? Read Gardiner. At least where Tory was concerned.

'Well? Zach said, when we achieved? Or lime? Ada (I was grateful that I had managed to

successfully maneuver the ladder without falling off this time.)? Was good to meet you?, Jean of

Iowa Press. I live right next door opens, then the "I'm sure we'll see you again.?

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Well, now I had understood the neg? Heat on him coming over the wall? his backyard was

separated from the Gardiners that by stone wall near the Gazebo? and was that way, too? m,

he had the chance to exchange his uniform before the other, as Tory.

Oh, yes, you "s to see? Constantly.? Petra said, apparently in his l? Lished now that t? Hemp

sa? Of the house? and away from Tory. ? Jean is? Chapman going for the rest of thesemester.?

? I learned? Zach said with a wink to me. ? I see you? l?, then? Others At?, Jean of Iowa

Press.?

The wink caused another brown card? Aca. I knew it was best to look the other way.

Luckily, he turned to go. He lived, I saw him, he lived in the house to the left of the Gardiners,

too? M with four floors, painted dark blue with a white trim. If the flower pot, but clearly a front

door painted red such as ger? Domains of Gardiners

Red blood.

Now, because I had thought of that?

? Come on, Jean? Petra said, inclining his lies? To the dire? The opposite to that Zach had

turned. ? School Ted and Alice? on that side.?

? S? a second? I said.

Why? No of course I? could go to, while everything was going well. Oh, n? Others N? The JinxHoneychurch.

N? It, is that I had l?, Planted in the same place as the country bumpkin that Tory had said I was

looking at Zach pass a car that had just parked in a parking lot of posts that you? paid. Anyone?

M from the passenger side was opening his door?

- As a man on a bicycle racing, using a mail bag, coming down the street.

It was there that a lot of things seemed to happen at once s?.

First, the postman turned the bike to shift the car door, and went up in Lime? Ada and beat Zach

...

... if I n? had it at the exact moment, I played along the way and pushed Zach, who can not?

had noticed the car, or bike, or ger? domains veremlho-blood out of the way.

And that's how I ended up getting hit by a bike post office on my first day in New York.

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What if you? think about it, it was s? my luck.

Cap? Chapter 5

? N? The d? not to see?, Aunt Evelyn said. 'Well, d', but with a little makeup, nobody? M will

notice, I swear. And second, when you? eat? air school, surely have? gone.?

I studied my reflection in a mirror m? Others The knock on my right eyebrow had only hours to

live, and j? was purple. By experience? Stico, I knew that by Monday n? Would be the more

purple, but a hunter? Level tone of greenish yellow.

? Sure ", I said, Aunt Evelyn to feel better. ? Of course it will.?

? S? River, "said Aunt Evelyn. ? I mean, if I n? Should know that it was ", I n? Would have

noticed at all. You? would, Tory?

Tory, sitting in a chair in bra? Matching pink m above the fireplace? Marble that n? The work,

said: 'I will not see the.?

I threw her a weak smile. Ent? O, n? It was my imagination? It, after all. Tory had really eat?

Ado to be nicer to me? incredibly cool? since my fits? to beat in the lime? ada.Tory was, I knew

for tr? S of my acquired unconsciously? Stico, who called the emerg? Stico, after watching the

whole thing unfold for tr? S window in the living room. It was Tory who entered the ambulance?

NCIA me while I was unconscious, j? Petra that still had to fetch the children. It was Tory who

was holding my hand? It when I woke up, half-b? Bada and sore, at the Emergency Room.

And Tory was accompanied by his parents, whom I was later released, j? Hospital testsrevealed that I N? had indeed suffered a concuss? it, and does have to stay the paraobserva?

during the night (the bike messenger, there's, escaped without a scratch? it? the his bike was

not even t? the spoiled).

I n? Did id? Would what happened to my cousin get t? Suddenly the sun? Quotes with my well-

being. She certainly n? Not seem to bother me before the accident. Why, just because I was

est? Quick enough to become unconscious, Tory decided that cared about me, I do? Just could

imagine. Anyway, I just had proved the point of Tery: I really am a country bumpkin from the

inside.

? of course, had something to do with the fact that Zach came along. For the hospital, I

mean. Me. In the ambulance? NCIA.

They n? Oo let me go to the emergency room, because n? Being of the fam? Read. And when

he knew I would be fine, he went home.

Still. If what Robert said the gazebo was true? Tory about having a crush on Zach? were

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actually a few precious hours they spent together.

But Zach n? The was here now, and Tory was still being nice to me. What was that?

I lowered the mirror and said, "Aunt Evelyn, I feel t? Evil. You? and Uncle Ted really n? needed

to stay home, his party, for my sake. S been? a little beat up, really.?

Ah, please, "said Aunt Evelyn, swing? M walk her? Into a gesture in the style Pooh. ? N? It was

a party, it was a boring old benefit for a boring old museum. To tell the truth, I am delighted that

you? we have arranged an excuse t? good for the n? to attend.?

Aunt Evelyn? a sister? newest of my m? and but? 's difficult to see any similarities? in

between. The blonde hair? the same, but my hand "and uses it in a long transition? it going

at? hip, and the Evelyn? curled in a stylish and flattering chanel.

I never saw my hand "and who considers cosmetic? Ticos fr? Volos? more to the chagrin of my

sister? ? wear makeup. But Aunt Evelun wore lipstick, mascara, eye shadow? at? even a

delightful floral scent. She looked like? and smell? very glamorous and hardly old enough to

have a 16 year old daughter.

What, I thought, proved that the makeup work.

Aunt Evelyn noticed the empty glass beside my bed. ? You? want more chocolate, Jean?

? N? You, thank you ", I said with a laugh. If I take more chocolate, I'll float away. S? River, Aunt

Evelyn, do you? Tory and n? the need to sit here with me all night. The m? Physician said I'm

fine. S been? a beat and, believe me, j? I had plenty of hits before. I'll be fine.?

"I s? t feel? evil?, Evelyn said. If I only knew you? would come today, no? to tomorrow night, as

n? s pension? we?

? Would have done what?? I asked. ? Made with all bikes Postal shut in advance? N? What that

would work. Still would have found me. Always think.

? s? n that? it? I imagined how his first night here?, Evelyn said, balancing? walk to it a D, "as I

imagined her first night here. Petra would make filet mignon. N? S will go have a masters?

Thymus dining, fam? Read all together, no? Orders in the kitchen ap? S got home from emerg

room? NCIA ...?

I looked for it amicably? A sloping from my aunt. Poor Aunt Evelyn. Now she was eating? Walk

to know how my hand "and should feel all the time. In regard? To me.

I said, sentimentally, "I'm sorry.?

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The fit? The Evelyn rose again. ? Wha? ", She said. ? Sorry? From what you? sorry? N?

It? your fault?

Except? Of course, it was. I knew what I was doing. I knew the bike would hit me, no? Oa Zach.

But I knew that the result n? The foim near what would be, if it was Zach, because I was waiting,

and he n? Others

Why else would the ger? Domains seemed t? The red?

But? No of course I? told it aloud. Because I learned h? long time to say things out loud

s? would lead to questions I prefer n? the answer.

? Knock-knock.? Uncle Ted's voice came through? S the closed door of the room. ? Can we

come?

Tory got up and opened the door. In the corridor was my uncle Ted, Alice, five, in her bra?

Them, and Teddy Jr., ten years, hiding shyly atr? S one of the legs of Ted.

? I have some people here? "Uncle Ted said," they want to say good night? his cousin Jean

before going to bed.

? Well? Evelyn said, looking worried, "I think it s? for a minute. But?

Alice, the minute that her father placed her in ch? Him, jumped up and flew at? my bed, shaking

a peda? the white paper. ? Press Jinx Jinx Press? She balbuviou. ? Look what I did to you?!?

? Gently, Alice?, Aunt Evelyn said. ? Gently! "

I said, "Okay," and put Alice, who was wearing a flowered dress night in my bed with me, as I

used to do with Courtney before, when she left, and still fa? A few times, with Sarabeth. ? Let

me see what you? did for me.?

Alice proudly showed his painting. ? Look ", she said. ? a picture of the day that you?was

born. Ali est? hospital, and here? you?, leaving Aunt Charlotte.?

? Wow ", I said, wondering what they teach in kindergarten-inf? NCIA in New York. ? That's for

sure ...? Gr? Stay.?

? The guinea pig class of them just had puppies? Uncle Ted said apology.

? E v? there? Alice pointed to a large globe of black ink. ? This? the cloud where the light came,

the light went off all lights in the hospital when you? was born.? Alice stood against my bra?

Him, looking pleased with herself.

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I said, a smile that I hoped it would convincingly encouraging:? a? tima painting, Alice. I'll hang?

It right there on the mantelpiece.?

? N A fireplace? The works?, Teddy told me, high end of the bed.

? Jean knows that Uncle Ted said. ? J? est? getting too hot to fire it, Teddy.?

"I told them that this was the fourth best place for you?, Teddy told me. ? Because of the

fireplace j? n? the pay. Because anywhere that you? is, things break.

? Theodore Gardiner Junior!? Evelyn screamed. ? Pe? Excuses? her cousin this minute! "

? Why?? Teddy asked. ? You? it said, m? e. That's why everyone calls Jinx?

"I m sure know boy? Uncle Ted said, "to go? to bed without dessert.?

? Why?? Teddy looked puzzled. ? You? who knows? truth. See what happened today.The fit?

Hers broke.?

? Right,? Uncle Ted said, holding her waist and pulling him from the room. ? No more visits to

his cousin Jean. Come on, Alice. Let's see Petra. I think she has hist? Categories of sleep to

against you? S two.?

Alice pressed her face against mine. 'I will not care if the things break when you? est?around.?

"she whispered. "I like you", and I'm glad you're here?. She kissed me, smelling like a clean

child? To five years. ? Good evening.?

Ah, dear? Evelyn said, quandp the door shut again. 'I will not know what to say.?

? Alright ", I said, looking at a picture of Alice. ? all true.?

Ah, n? To be rid? Particle, Jinx?, My aunt said. ? Er, Jean. Things n? The break when

you? est? around. That same night in which you? was born a comosechama. A tornado, or

superco? Squid or something. And today was s? an accident.?

? All right, Aunt Evelyn? "I said. 'I will not the mind. Same.

'Well, I care.? Evelyn took the empty mug and lifted. ? I say? S children? To the n? The flames?

It over Jinx. ? rid a nickname? century, anyway. Al? Meters more, you? est?almost grown. Now,

if you? sure that n? the needs nothing, Tory and I go out and leave you? sleep. And you? n?

going to get out of bed at? at least ten o'clock in the morning, est? understood? The m?

Physician said enough rest. Come on, Tory.?

But Tory n? Moved the chair. ? In a minute I, m? E.?

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Evelyn N? Seemed to listen? It. ? I think I'd better call your m "and" she said, sa? The room. ?

S? God knows how I'll explain it all to her. She'll kill me.?

When he was sure that his m? En? You could hear more, Tory quietly closed the bedroom door,

leaned on it, and looked at me with those big, blue eyes of her makeup.

? Ent? It? She said. ? H? how long do you? know?

Lowered the painting that Alice had done for me. Were little more than nine hours, and I was

really tired ... even though I was still in hor? Iowa River, then? the were actually less than nine

hours. Physically I was fine, as I assured Aunt Evelyn. The abtida in my fits? Difficult to do?

To? except when it was played.

But the truth was that I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was get that beautiful bathroom m?

Marble and wash myself, then? The back? my large and comfortable? level bed and sleep. That

was it. S? sleep.

But now it seems I have to wait. Because Tory seemed to have a conversation.

? H? I know how long the qu?? I asked, hoping that my tires? on? to appear in my voice.

'Well, what are you? ? a witch? clear ", she said.

Cap? Chapter 6

I winked at her. Tory seemed perfectly s? Laughing, against the door. She was still wearing the

black dress and her makeup was still perfectly combined. Four hours sitting in a chair pl? Stico

in a waiting room of emerg? NCIA n in a hospital? Had done nothing to end its perfect beauty.

? A qu?? My voice failed in the word what?.

? A witch? clear.? Tory smiled tolerant. "I know you? ? a, n? is the way to deny it. A witch

always recognize the other.?

I started to believe, no? Much that the Tory had said, but the curious way she was holding her

body - like our cat always does in the Stanley home, when he's? getting ready to attack? Tory

who was talking s? river.

My luck. It would be better if it were s? kidding.

I said, choosing my words carefully? Tory, sorry, I'm tired and I really want to go to sleep.Maybe

we could talk about that another time ...??

That was the wrong thing to say. Suddenly, Tory was angry.

Oh,? she said, straightening up. Oh, that? like this?, n? the? You? you think? ? better than me,

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why you? has been practicing longer, or something? ? this? Well, let me tell you one thing,

Jinx. I am the most powerful witch in my cl?. Lindsey and Gretchen? Yeah, they do? The s?

Nothing near me. They continue making small and silly witchcraft? The love? n this? the works,

incidentally. There are people at school who is afraid of me. I am t? The powerful. What

you? has to say, Miss. Omnipotent?

My jaw dropped.

The thing was, I should know. I n? To know why, when mam? And Aunt Evelyn told what was

happening and suggested that Aunt Evelyn came to New York for a while, I thought I was safe

here.

I should know. I really should.

? so by what happened this afternoon? Tory demanded. ? The neg? Heat with

marijuana? You? est? really mad at me because he found that I use drugs?

DSIS I still feel bewildered? tra? of even n? to know why?. N? It was as if Aunt Evelyn could

have some id? Than his daughter would be able, or if she had put this obstacle? ? N? It,

Tory. Honestly. I n? To care what you? does. Well, I say, I care. And I think you stupid? fiddling

with drugs? that n es? they were prescribed for you? -?

"The Ritalin's' to help me pass my exams monthly," Tory interrupted. "And Valium's '... well,"

Sometimes I have trouble sleeping. S? It.? Tory had crossed the room and fell down on my

bed.' I will not like the'm addicted to them, or something. I n? to take Ecstasy, cocaine or smell?

in, or anything else. What, your cl? against the use of drugs or something? God, that t? the

face.?

? Tory? I said, I do? the could not believe it was happening. 'I will not belong to the a cl?,

Ok? All I want? be left in peace. No offense, but I'm really tired.

Now it was time for Tory flashing eyes, and she did it t? Curiously, looking at me like one of the

taps in the form of a swan in the bathroom had suddenly come? Ado to speak.Finally, she said?

You? No really? knows, you know?

I shook my lies "to" You know what??

? What you? ? one of n's,? Tory said? You? should have suspected. After all, they'll call Jinx.?

? Yeah, he calls me Jinx.? I said I armagura with n? Had the intention? To disguise? Air.'Cause,

like your little sister? "I said, everything I touch breaks.?

But his Tory was messing it? A,? N? O, n? Others This n? The break. N? Today, that n?

Broke. Jinx, I saw you?. I was on the phone to mam? And walked in and saw the whole thing

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from room-to-be.? Tory's eyes were t? The discerning, they seemed to glow in the dark. ? It was

like you? knew what would happen even before anyone? m doing something about

it. You? Zach played out of the way BEFORE the bike to get there?lime? ada. You? n? would

know that the postman would change direction? Others But you? knew. Some part of you? .-

knew?

"But? clear that part of me knew.? I said frustrated. "I have enough experience? NCIA.When I'm

around, whatever the worst thing that can happen, go? happen. ? a hist? laugh of my life. I n?

No I can? Spoiling anything, if there's something there? to be spoiled. "

? You? n? ruined it all, Jinx? Tory said. ? You? saved someone's life? m. The Life of Zach.?

I shook my fit again? A. This was incredibly? Level. This was what I was sniffling when I came

to c?. And now he eats? Walk all over again. My cousin Tory? a? last person in the world I

would have suspected such a thing? was trying to recommend? air it.

? Look, Tor,? I said. ? You? est? making a big neg? heat anything. I n? Did?

Yes, Jinx. Yes, you? did. Zach can tell. If you? n? had done what you? done, Zach would have

turned a pancake against the asphalt.?

Suddenly my est? Wizard was hurting me more than my fits? A. I said, 'Maybe?

? Jinx, do you? s? will have to face it. You? has the gift.?

My breathing? Froze him in my throat. ? O? what?

? The gift? Tory repeated. ? The Vov? Branwen never told you about?

I let out a nervous laugh. What else could I do?

? You? hist mean that? laugh crazy about the great great grandfather? it, or someone? m? I

tried to sound t? the playful poss? level. ? What?, Tory. N? To tell me that you?believe in those

stupid things. S? The s? hist crazy? vov of vacation? she told the group to look bleak with whom

she played cards in Boca?.?

? N? It? bullshit? Tory said, sounding angry. ? E n? It? a hist? crazy laugh. Our ta-ta-ta-ta-ra

av? Branwen was a witch, in Wales. And Branwen spoke to her daughter, who spoke to her

daughter, who spoke to her daughter del, that spoke to our Vov? the first child of her

daughter? s? the s? older daughters, n? to the younger? have the gift. The gift of magic. ?

Sometimes generates some jumps? Es, I guess. How you? t? m Vov of red hair, "but none of

our hands? s got it.?

My m? Touched my hair defensively, the way we always do when someone? M mentions it.

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? A Tory? I said. I really n? Fa? The?

? You? n? the v? Our ta-ta-ta-ta-ra av? Branwen was talking about n? S. N "s are the first

daughters of our hands? Es. Or whatever, n "s are to how closely they match generates? Of

witches in the fam? Read.?

Oh, gosh. I breathed deeply. The n? in my est? magician turned a bowling ball and was rolling.

? No offense, Tory? I said. "But I think you? saw many epis? episodes of Charmed.Even without

that, I guess you? est yet? a little high because of this afternoon in the Gazebo.?

Tory sighed. "I guess I'll have to prove that to you?, N? The go?

I looked at her nervously. ? How do you? gonna do it?

? N? The worry? she said with a laugh. 'I will go make the mattresses? The levitating or

something.? She got out of bed and went to the door. ? N? The work that way. Stay here.? She

left and went into the corridor.

Legal. Now my cousin Tory thinks she? a witch. S This? ? t? it? t? peak? my luck, anyway.

N? The knowing what else to do, I got the mirror m? It and looked at my stroke a little more. N?

Had no d? Life on this. It was a blunt? O, n? One swell? Others It was ugly and no way I would

go with that for my first day at my new school. My new and ONLY private school in

Manhattan. That every time I thought it made me nauseous.

Oh, well. N? It? like I was some beauty queen to eat? air. What was the friend of Tory, shawm,

called me right? Oh, yes. Vermelinha (Red). That was what awaited me on Monday? People

Esculacho me because I have red hair and I come from a traditionally rural state? I am destined

to be the Iowa Press Jean for the rest of my life?

Well? better than being called Jinx. I think.

Tory returned to the bedroom, carrying a shoe box of paper? Others She closed the door atr? S

it, and then? Brought the shoe box? bed. There was something so delicate that the Tory was

holding the box that did the bowling ball in my est? Algoainda magician seems to become

larger. A basketball, perhaps

If you? open the lid of this box? I said, "and something comes, leaping on me, I swear I'll kill

you.?

? Nothing will jump on you?,? Tory said. ? N? To be an idiot.? She sat and politely and removed

the lid of the box. I leaned forward as he looked quickly to try to see what was under the

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Commons? The white paper, despite the fact that I was pretty sure I n? Wanted to know.

And then? Tory achieved? Or a box and pulled ....... doll.

My stomach turned over. I s? I could get out of bed and run to the bathroom before any peda?

the Kung Pao chicken and spare ribs I had eaten an hour earlier return to top.

How long was I there? kneeling, I do? know. But when I sa? bathroom? feeling, I have to admit,

a little better, the basketball in my stomach had turned into an acorn? Tory was still sitting next

to my bed with the doll in his lap.

I tried to keep my eyes away from that doll.

? You? est? well? Tory asked, looking genuinely concerned.

I s? waved with it? to and crawled under the covers.

The covered? they were much more comfortable? endophenotypes that the l? home?were cold

and soft against my skin.

? That was rude? Tory said.

"I know? I said, my fits? Sinking into the soft pillow. ? Excuse me?

? You? want me to call my hand "and"? Tory asked.

? N? It,? I said, closing my eyes I'll be fine.?

? Good? Tory said? Anyway. About what I was saying ...?

? Tory? I said.

? Torrance? She corrected me.

? Torrance? I said, my eyes still closed. ? We can do it later?

"I'll be right r? Pida? Tory said. ? Below you? v? this doll?

I shook it? The confiramando, my eyes remained closed. N? Would make the difference? To,

because I managed to get a good look at it before my little trip to the bathroom. This doll was

made at home toughest that I j? had seen. It was all patched up by some tissue rec? M-

colored. He was wearing a white shirt and lime? Ashes, and a tie with red and blue stripe. The

strangest thing on the doll? that upon his fits? had a material that looked a lot like human hair, a

little brown, and black hair a little too much like ...

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Well, with the Tory.

Tory's voice was full of pride when she asked, "recognizes it?

I n? Had no other choice n? Being open my eyes.

'I will not know the ...? I said. Ent? The I understood. The doll was wearing a uniform of

Chapman? for Shawn? I asked, her voice low.

? N? The silly,? Tory said with a laugh. She clearly n? Had noticed that something was

wrong. With me, I mean. ? Zach. Est? seeing brown hair? I took him to give a hair cut on m "s

past. He thought I was crazy! Ent? The one I picked up some of his hair, mixed with mine, and I

made this doll. As I keep our hair together, it n? The can fall for anyone else? M. ? a witchcraft?

the v? I love witchcraft? Them. I caught this on the internet. Cool, no??

For a second I thought I'd throw up again. Fortunately, the wave of n? Useas had passed.

"I thought you? going out with Shawn.? I said weakly.

"I am? Tory said "but I always had a thing for Zach? God, it? t? hot, do you? n? find him?? Of

course he? my neighbor, since well, forever. Ent? It for a long time he hardly seemed to know

that I was alive. As a girl, anyway. I've always been a Tory chubby girl next door. But things has

changed since I discovered m? Logic ... and since I made this doll. I think he's? finally eat?'ve

been noticing.?

? He n? The looks.? I said, thinking no coment? River Zach. - 'I will like to play the zombiebefore dark.? ? ? It looks like your type, exactly.? At least, no? The type that the new Tory? in

the opinion? her, anyway? would like improved.

? Yeah? she admitted. ? It? much more beautiful than him at school? at a party. But

you?know. ? s? because he needs me to help him enjoy life more. Everything will change when

I reach my goals.?

When I make it mine.

I closed my eyes and said 'I will find him to fumble with witchcraft? a good id? would, Tory.?

? Why No? The? Tory asked, genuinely surprised. ? Est? gen at our destination? diagnosis. E

est? working, you know? He n? Has the sa?'s Nobody more? M after I made the doll. And it

comes after school almost every day.?

I thought about what Robert and the others had said. I thought the fact that Zach Gardiners

come to every day were more ador? Ergies of the Tory who have made this doll, but the fact

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that Petra was here.

I n? Said it in the mouth high, anyway. I s? said? That seems very ... I n? The know ...coarse.?

? Well? Tory scoffed. ? You? know.?

I opened my eyes to shoot her a dirty look, but n? To say anything. What could I say?She hadreason? Others

In more ways than she knew.

? Either way,? Tory said, shrugging. ? Watch this.?

Ent? Tory removed a needle that was inside the shoe box, and stuck by it? The Snowman

Zach.

Hey!? I cried, as he sat upright in my bed, my heart? the hammering. ? What you? est?doing?

? Relax? Tory said. "I'm punching out his thoughts. V? Now he n? Can help but may think of me

"

I'll admit, I half expected some kind of cry from Zach's room next door. Fortunately, I have only

heard the noise of the source, and police siren coming from somewhere in the city.

? Aiii? I said, stuck the needle in Tory v? Several parts of it different? Of the cotton? The

botched Zach. 'I will the'm pretty sure? on you? he est? thinking. I think he's? thinking about

taking an aspirin.?

? N Zach? The left with anyone else? M since I made this doll.?

? You? j? said that? I pointed to it. Ent? The reluctantly, since I n? Knew Tory would react as I

asked, "But he called you? to leave?.

'Well? Tory said, putting the doll back into the shoebox. ? N? Exactly. But I said, it all comes

here?

? - The day after school. Yeah, you? say that too? m.? I shook my lies "to" Look, I'm sorry, but

this Tor ... such thing as a witch? N? It? a good id? went. Trust me on this. Ok?

? N? It? one thing witch? Tory said. ? E n? It? an id? went. ? a fact. I'm a witch. You?too?

m?. Probably being the first daughter.?

The acorn in my stomach turned into an orange.

? Tory? I said? "I mean, Torrance. I'm talking s? River. We n? The can talk about this some

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other hor? River? Because I really do? The'm feeling good.?

Tory put the lid and closed the box. If you? est? feeling something, s? can be relieved.That at

least you? n? empty stomach? alone.?

? God? I said. "Thanks ... that was comforting.?

"I realized that? a lot to digest at once s?.? Tory continued? And I'll admit, it was a shock to me,

too? M. The fact? that since First Vov? told me this diff? laughed at? last time that all n "s went

to Florida to see her, I thought I was the one. Branwen A that she was talking about her

granddaughter who would receive the gift that she was talking about.But n? Has it deny that,

after what I saw today, you?, Jinx, has the gift too? M. And you?have to admit that? very prob?

level, after having gone through so many causes? es, the vile? to Branwen may have been

somewhat distorted. She must have told the daughters of daughters vov?. E n? The daughters

of vov?. Proqu? vov? has two daughters, and each has a daughter. Ent? Must be the n "s

two. N? S're both witches. Must take place to generate a two witches in? It, right?

Without waiting for my response, Tory continued. ? Ent? The everything you? have to do

now? learn to us? it. The gift that Branwen has left us, I mean. I can totally help you with

that. You? s? have to come from a meeting? es cl?. With our powers? your and my combo? n?

have it or how to say what we can. Lead the school for something. But as for per? God,

Jinx. We can rule the world.

I said quickly? N? Others?.

Tory seemed surprised? Why No? The?

Why? I took a deep breath. She would get angry. I knew that. But Tory's anger was better than

her finding out the truth. 'I will find him to fumble around with m? Logic? a good thing, do

you? know? I mean, I n? To know much about it but let s? say what? true?our ta-tara-seil? av-

WHAT? was a witch, and passed his powers to n? s. ? really nice to use them to trick guys? I

mean, from what I know about witchcraft? Aria, n? To have some kind of regulations that

practitioners must use their powers for good and does it for the bad?

? As you leave the guy? has a crush on you crazy? be bad, right? Tory rolled her eyes? Please

No? The start with this nonsense of respecting nature and worship? Trees?

It was all I could do to n? A slap in her face.

? N? It? a crap.? I said, keeping my m? Around with the effort? Others ? From what I

understand, witchcraft? Aria? use of nature? ? energy. If you? n? to respect their power source,

it will turn against you?. And if you? est? using that power to something bad?such as their

puppet, in which the purpose for b? musician? Zach take the liberty of like who want to enjoy

it? ent? v the bad things? all the back.?

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No Tory? Seemed the most surprised. Now she looked angry.

Your L? Bios had all disappeared pretty, she was keeping them together? T the fort. ?

Thymus? She said. ? Thymus. I thought you? would be a little more open mind to these

things. At? because? its vast European? a. But if you? wants to be a hillbilly for his entirelife? your choice. S? remember, Jinx. N "s when you're here? change id? went.?

She was p?, Holding the box with the doll Zach, and was leaving.

? In fact,? She added, when it came near the door. ? N "s are everywhere.?

Like I j? n? should know that.

Chapter 7

"I walked out the front"

I changed direction to the right track, just to hear someone behind me yell. "Hey, move!"

I hurried out of the way, and the runners passed me by. They were all passing me by. I know I'm

not the most athletic person in the world, or something, but this was ridiculous.

The whole thing was ridiculous, actually. My old school in Iowa only required one year of

physical education during high school, and I had already made my in 1st Year

At Chapman School was different, only the 3rd year is exempt from physical education

classes. Which is great - the rates of obesity in the U.S. are large, it is important to be fit, and

everything.

But that's how I find myself now, on my first day at my new school, running down the dirt track

around the Park Centra - Chapman because the school has a gym, so they make their physical

education at the world famous Park Centra - in a white shirt and a short, which in my opinion, it

was embarrassingly short.

As if I were not bad enough that I go to the slower runner in the world. I had to look stupid doing

it, too.

So typical of my luck.

"Get out of there," someone gasped behind me. So I did. This time it was was a blonde girl with

wings on the foot that washed over me. I watched his tail-tail horse while she was making the

turn and disappeared into the track, and wondered what was different about me that made me a

social outcast at Chapman.

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At first I thought it was not my clothes that were making me a pariah, since everyone at

Chapman had to wear a uniform.

Then I realized I could be my jewelry - or lack of. The majority of girls in my class - including a

blonde girl who had passed me - had diamonds in their ears, some the size of my nails. I hardly

doubt that they were zircons.

And their watches ... I was amazed to find that the Tory was a Gucci. Chanelle had a

Rolex. Nobody at Chapman seemed to have heard of Swatch or Timex.

And apparently the loafers Nine West shoes were not considered appropriate for a second year

student at Chapman. Even I could see that the only difference between my shoes and Hardware

Tory were mere $ 400, had something wrong with mine, even if Tory were accepted.

Except that my shoes were the wrong store and I did not have any expensive jewelry, plus the

huge purple on my forehead - always an attractive accessory - and my complete inability to

enter and exit a room without tripping and bumping into someone or something were apparently

responsible for my loser status.

Even from this distance from home, it turned out, I could not escape my nickname, since Tory

called me so rudely when I dropped a can of soda - which immediately exploded - in the

cafeteria during lunch on my first day, and since then, everyone is following suit, calling me

Jinx.

Jinx. I'll always be Jinx.

You're not a hundred dollar bill when Grandma told us children, we would visit her in her retreatin the Sunshine State. Not everyone will like you.

As if this were not the expected event of the year. As if that was not bad enough if the daughter

of a pastor. I mean, people expect you to be a spoiled, or a total bitch, like the character in the

movie Footloose, Lori Singer.

And that was just what people could just ... say. Thing about the pastor's daughter.Maybe it was

just my way inside. Maybe it was the violin - I joined the school orchestra, the only lesson that I

seem remotely fit me ... even bad waves have been sent when I sat in the second book by the

window.

Like it was my fault that I was a freak who likes to practice.

Or maybe it was my surprise to Kanye West or The Hills and other music concerts and they

were not allowed to attend in my house because my younger brother.

Whatever it is - or something higher than had not considered - it was as if someone had

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stamped out of the pattern on my forehead and most students at Chapman had consequently

agreed.

But at least, out here in the open area of Central Park, did not have a lot of people to see me hit

a tree while I ran, or whatever. Of course, it was just my luck that I had started my first day in

the first Fitness Test. I had actually found that the instructor was joking when he pointed to thereservoir - that was more like a lake, in my opinion - and told us we'd be running around to it

twice.

He was joking?

Apparently not, since the rest of the class - with so many people, all dressed alike, and I'm so

shy, unable to find a look, I had no chance with any of them wish him luck in the race or chat -

get out, run down the trail dirty. I had to reach them.

Still, that was not altogether unpleasant. It was funny to be in such vastness - with several trees

around - and still see the tops of the skyscrapers above the branches.

And he had other people on the trail out of my room. There were tourists, enjoying a walk in the