Charmed Forces #19 Read online

  “No,” Natalie said, and he broke into a relieved grin. “We were just sailing. I figured you wouldn’t care. You’ve barely said two words to me since we got back to camp—till now.”

  “Yeah, see, I’ve got a reason for that, too,” Logan said. “It’s a little strange, though—”

  “Strange? I can deal with strange. You should see what’s been going on in my bunk this summer.”

  “Yeah, I saw that stuff in the paper about the big mystery of bunk 6B. What is that about, anyway?”

  “I can’t tell you right now, and anyway, you’re changing the subject.”

  “Right. I was going to say that I would have tried harder to get back together with you, even after I saw you with Donovan, if it hadn’t been for Alaric.”

  “Who?” The name sounded vaguely familiar.

  “Alaric. I’m his CIT. He has an older sister in your bunk. Sloan?”

  “Oh, right.” Natalie nodded. “What about him?” Logan’s explanation was getting odder. What could a ten-year-old boy have to do with her and Logan getting together?

  “It sounds kind of stupid, so just listen and don’t say anything for a minute, okay?” Logan said.

  “Okay.”

  “You just said something.”

  Natalie rolled her eyes. She knew when Logan was teasing her. She zipped her mouth closed and raised her eyebrows to make her face say, Okay now?

  “Okay. Alaric told me that my aura was very green—”

  Natalie burst out laughing. “What?!?”

  “Nat, you promised.”

  “Sorry. But come on. Your aura?”

  “You’re making this pretty hard,” Logan said.

  Natalie made the zipper motion again.

  “Alaric told me that a green aura meant I’d bring trouble to people of the opposite sex,” Logan said. “I was a jinx to girls! Of course I didn’t take this seriously, even though his mother is a past life regression therapist. I laughed the whole thing off. That’s when the bad things started happening.”

  “What bad things?” Natalie forgot her vow of silence again, but Logan didn’t seem to care anymore.

  “Remember that little girl at the cookout, the one who burned her tongue on the hot dog?” Logan said. “That was the first sign. I didn’t think anything of it, but then that girl at the campfire got stung by some kind of bug. And when I sailed past Donovan and Gaby’s boat, Gaby fell overboard. And then you got a splinter in your foot . . . There were other incidents, too, ones you weren’t around to see. But they started piling up. And soon I realized that Alaric was right—I really was a jinx to girls.”

  “Um—okay.” What she really wanted to say was, “Who are you and what have you done with Logan?” But she didn’t dare, in case it embarrassed him too much to finish the story.

  “So that’s why I avoided you,” Logan said. “I was dying to see you, but whenever I got near you something bad happened, and I didn’t want you to get hurt because of me.”

  “That’s so thoughtful,” Natalie said, inching away slightly. “But what about now? Here we are, sitting side by side, and nothing bad has happened for five whole minutes.”

  “Alaric says my aura has blued a little,” Logan said. Natalie stifled a laugh. His aura had blued? Words she never thought she’d hear from Logan’s mouth—or anybody’s. “He’s really good at reading auras,” Logan said. “Anyway, he says I’m safe now. No more jinx.”

  “Great!” Natalie said. “So what now?”

  “Now,” Logan said, “I ask you the big question: Would you like to go to the dance with me? Um, assuming my aura stays clean, of course.”

  Natalie laughed. The whole camp had magic fever, even cool Logan. And it was so sweet the way he worried about her safety! She didn’t hesitate.

  “Yes,” she said. “I’d love to go to the dance with you.”

  “Awesome,” Logan said.

  “It’s a trial run,” Natalie said. She liked Logan, but she didn’t want to rush into anything. She still thought about Reed, the boy from L.A., sometimes. So it was best to take things slow. “After all, you’re just recovering from a green aura.”

  “That’s cool,” he said. “We’re testing the waters. Making sure our auras are a good match.”

  “Right,” she said. But she had a feeling their auras would match up just fine.

  Alyssa only really knew two girls in 5C—Gwenda and Winnie. And they were both pretty much the last people in camp Alyssa felt like talking to. Gwenda argued with Alyssa every time she opened her mouth. And even though Winnie had publicly apologized for pranking bunk 6B, Alyssa still didn’t quite trust her.

  But Alyssa couldn’t put off returning Amy any longer. Mandy was on her back and her conscience was beginning to bother her. If she’d lost a great amethyst like Amy, she’d want it back, too.

  Alyssa got her chance that morning as she passed the newspaper office. She spotted Winnie inside, typing up a sports story. Alyssa just hoped Winnie wouldn’t write a Lakeview Tattler exclusive on the whole episode.

  “Excuse me,” Alyssa said. “Did someone in your bunk lose an amethyst?”

  Winnie turned around. “Yeah,” she said. “We’ve been wondering what happened to it since the first day of camp.”

  “Who lost it?” Alyssa asked.

  “Do you have it?” Winnie asked.

  Alyssa protectively covered the lump in her purse with her hand. She wasn’t quite ready to surrender the stone. “Are you the owner?”

  “No,” Winnie said. “Gwenda is.”

  Gwenda! Of course. Miss Geology. Spawn of Mr. Spock and a female robot. The least likely person in the whole state of Pennsylvania to believe in Amy’s mystical power, who was even more skeptical than Mandy. Alyssa couldn’t believe that Gwenda, of all people, was Amy’s rightful owner.

  “Thank you,” Alyssa told Winnie. “I think I know where the amethyst is, and it will be returned to Gwenda very soon.”

  “Great,” Winnie said. “But why don’t you just give it back to her now?”

  “I have to find the person who has it,” Alyssa lied.

  “You have it,” Winnie said. She pointed to the purse. “Isn’t that it? Your hand flew to your purse when I asked you if you had it.”

  Darn Winnie’s reporter’s instincts. “No,” Alyssa said. “This is . . . well . . . it’s just some stuff.”

  “Whatever.” Winnie turned back to her computer and started typing again.

  Alyssa left the office. She took Amy out of her pouch and rubbed the shiny purple parts. Poor Amy! To Gwenda rocks were just . . . well, rocks. Amy would get no understanding from someone like that. It was a shame. But Alyssa had to do the right thing.

  Right after the big regatta that afternoon.

  chapter SIXTEEN

  Gaby tied her white sneakers and pulled her hair back into a neat ponytail. Then she double-checked the fastener on her lucky anklet to make sure it was secure. The day of the regatta had come at last, and she was ready to win the battle of the boats.

  Most of her bunkmates were out at their various activities, except for Alyssa, who had gotten permission to take a quick shower. Mandy sat on her cot in her little counselor’s nook, absorbed in filling out some kind of counselor forms.

  As Gaby reached for the sunblock she kept in her cubby, a swatch of familiar fabric caught her eye. A corner of Alyssa’s purse—the purse she kept Amy in—peeked out from under the clothes Alyssa had tossed into her own cubby.

  Gaby’s hand instinctively reached for the purse, but she stopped herself. The day before, in arts and crafts, she thought she’d seen Alyssa slip something into that little purse. What could it have been? Did Alyssa keep anything in there other than Amy? Gaby had never really thought about it before.

  Curiosity got the better of her. Gaby decided to take a quick peek inside the purse. She glanced at the bathroom and at Mandy on her bed. No one was looking.

  Gaby pulled out the purse and looked inside. Nestled next to the amethyst w
as a small white piece of paper. She pulled it out and read it.

  I, Alyssa, officially predict that the winner of the first regatta will be Candace and Valerie.

  Oh, no! Alyssa was predicting her doom!

  The water in the shower stopped running. Gaby stuffed the paper inside the purse and put the purse back in the cubby.

  “I’m going to the lake now,” she said to Mandy.

  Mandy looked up from her papers and smiled. “Okay. Good luck, Gaby!”

  “Good luck, Gaby!” Alyssa called from the bathroom. “I’ll see you down there!”

  “Thanks!” Gaby left the bunk and wove her way through the woods to the dock, her mind racing. We’re not going to win? Can it be true? What should I do?

  Should I warn Donovan?

  But what good would that do? He’d probably think she was silly for taking her bunkmate’s prediction so seriously. He had no idea what kind of strange events had been going on in 6B that summer; he’d never understand. He’d probably be angry with her for having negative thoughts about the race.

  When she reached the dock, she found the sailors busy getting their boats ready for the race.

  “Hey,” Donovan said. “Ready to kick some butt?” He plucked at the worn gold T-shirt he was wearing. “I’m rocking my lucky T-shirt, so we’re good to go.”

  Gaby smiled wanly at him. So he was superstitious, too. If she brought him bad news, he would probably think of her as a jinx. And what kind of boy would ask a jinx to the Midsummer Dance?

  We’re going to overcome Alyssa’s prediction, Gaby thought. By sheer force of will. We are going to win this race, and I’ll show Donovan what a good sailor I can be.

  She wasn’t sure she believed it, but she was ready to try her best.

  She lifted her foot to show off her anklet. “I made myself a new good luck charm just for the race.”

  “Awesome,” Donovan said. “Let’s hit the water.”

  His goofy surfer grin melted her heart. Just the sight of him made her completely crumble. Pull it together, she told herself. Concentrate! You’re going to win!

  She grabbed a life jacket and they pulled their Sunfish into the water. “I scrubbed the hull this morning,” Donovan said. “She’s clean and ready to go. Here’s our strategy.” He put an index finger in his mouth and held it in the air. “The wind is light today, but it could pick up once we’re out on the lake. We’ll run to the first buoy with the sails let out, and then tighten them up on the second leg and try to pick up speed. Okay?”

  “Got it,” Gaby said, her mind clicking away with plans. Donovan was in charge of steering the boat and controlling the mainsail. Gaby’s job was to work the jib.

  The other sailors, including Candace and Valerie, unfurled their sails and prepared their boats. A good crowd gathered on the dock to watch, including most of bunk 6B. Sloan was cheering for Tom and Alaric. Gaby waved to Alyssa and Natalie, who shouted, “Go, Gaby! Go, Candace! Go, Val!”

  Hmph, Gaby thought. She knew who Alyssa secretly favored.

  Gaby took her place in the Sunfish. Donovan untied the boat, hopped in, and pushed off from the dock. They sailed out toward the starting line, where Hank sat in a motorboat, ready to start the race.

  “Okay, Gaby,” Donovan said as they neared the starting point. “It’s up to us now. Teamwork. We can do it. Oh, and if I yell at you, don’t get upset or take it personally. That’s just what happens during races.”

  Gaby swallowed. So he was going to yell at her even if she did well? No matter what?

  “Okay,” she said. “I won’t.”

  Hank blew the horn and the race started. Candace and Valerie were first over the starting line, followed by Tom and Alaric. Gaby and Donovan were close behind in third out of ten boats.

  “Rats!” Gaby muttered.

  “No, we’re okay,” Donovan said. “Good start. Let out the jib a little.”

  Gaby let out the smaller front sail. Donovan tilted the tiller to the right and the boat took off. They overtook Tom and Alaric, and were catching up with Candace and Val.

  Donovan moved the tiller again, and Gaby instinctively pulled in the jib. “Good,” he said. “Here comes the first buoy. Ready about?”

  Gaby ducked, and as Donovan shouted, “Hard a-lee,” the boom swung around and they turned at the buoy. Gaby popped back up and readjusted her sail. They’d made such a good, tight turn that they’d cut in front of Candace and Val.

  “All right!” Donovan said. He tugged on his sail’s line, and Gaby tugged on hers. She hardly thought about it; she just did it. They were working in sync, almost as if she knew what he wanted her to do without him having to say it.

  Gaby glanced back. The rest of the pack were just rounding the buoy and falling behind fast. Candace pulled up beside Gaby and Donovan. They didn’t wave or smile. This was no time to be friendly. This was serious. Gaby could see Candace’s determination to win on her face. Donovan’s face had the same look.

  Their two boats led the pack; the race would come down to them. Only one boat could win. Gaby got caught up in the spirit of competition. She forgot all about Alyssa’s prediction. She didn’t care what anyone said; she wanted to win.

  Candace and Val inched ahead by a nose. Gaby tightened the jib and her boat edged in front. What a cool feeling—she adjusted the sail and the boat responded. She was in control! Well, partly in control. But it was a rush.

  “Second buoy!” Donovan called. “Ready about?”

  “Hard a-lee!” Gaby shouted, ducking the boom. Another tight turn. They pulled half a length ahead of Candace.

  “They need to work on their turns,” Donovan shouted, laughing. “We’ve got them now!”

  The wind picked up. Gaby tightened her sail still more. They zipped along, but Candace inched toward them. They were on the last leg now, the crucial part of the race. Gaby glanced back. Logan and Alaric had caught up and were now a boat length behind Candace. The rest of the field was eating their dust, so to speak. Choking on their wake was a better way of putting it, maybe.

  They were neck and neck with Candace and Val as they approached the finish line. Gaby read every tiny gesture Donovan made and adjusted her sail accordingly. She leaned forward, willing the boat to go faster. They were going to win—she could feel it.

  But just as they crossed the finish line, Candace and Val squeaked ahead. Hank blew the horn. Gaby and Donovan had lost by a nose.

  “Shoot!” Donovan stamped his foot. “Shoot shoot shoot!”

  Gaby’s heart sank. They’d lost. She couldn’t believe it. They’d sailed so well; they’d done their best. But Candace and Val had beaten them.

  Alyssa was right again.

  Logan and Alaric crossed the line third. The other boats wandered in one by one. Donovan steered to the dock and tied up the boat.

  The crowd on the dock jumped up and down and cheered. The girls of bunk 6B surrounded Candace and Val, hugging them. Then Alyssa threw her arms around Gaby’s neck. Gaby was almost tempted to bow down at Alyssa’s feet and say, “I surrender to your power, O Great One.” She might have done it if she hadn’t been so mad about losing.

  “You were great!” Alyssa said. “You came in second! That’s fantastic!”

  “I know,” Gaby said. “But I wanted to win. We were like a well-oiled machine out there. I really thought we had it. In spite of what some other people might have predicted.”

  “It was very close,” Alyssa said. “Next time you’ll beat them.”

  “Is that an official prediction?” Gaby said.

  Alyssa cast her a wary look, her hand flying to the purse at her side. Gaby wasn’t going to admit that she’d peeked in Alyssa’s purse, but she couldn’t help ribbing her friend a little.

  “Woo-hoo!” Candace cheered. She and Val slapped each other five, ten, fifteen, twenty, and then hugged each other in excitement. “That was incredible! We won!”

  Gaby was surprised how disappointed she felt. She’d really gotten into the race. For a whi
le there, she wanted to win more than anything. More than anything.

  Donovan was being a good sport, congratulating the other sailors, but Gaby knew he had to be disappointed. She was, too. Her dreams of the two of them winning together were shot, for now, anyway.

  “Good race, Gaby.” Candace offered her hand. Gaby shook it. “Second place is no shame. Especially when the finish is so close.”

  “I know,” Gaby said. “But I really wanted to win.”

  “You never know, Gaby,” Candace said. “Sometimes coming in second has an upside.”

  She smiled mysteriously, and then disappeared into the crowd.

  An upside? What was Candace talking about? What could be good about coming in second?

  Still, Gaby latched on to this one small hope. She had no idea what Candace meant, but maybe she was right.

  Oh, please let there be an upside, Gaby thought. She prayed to the forces of nature that empowered Alyssa and Amy. Please, please, an upside . . .

  “Nice job.” In the boathouse, Donovan offered Candace his hand for a sportsmanlike shake. Candace shook it. “You pulled it out at the very last second.”

  “It was super close,” Candace said. “It could have gone either way.”

  “But it didn’t,” Donovan said. “You beat us fair and square. Congratulations! We’ll get you next time.”

  The crowd was beginning to disperse. There was an awkward silence in the boathouse. Candace had been so happy about winning, she’d forgotten for a moment what winning meant. She knew she had something to tell Donovan, but she dreaded saying it.

  She pulled off her life jacket and tossed it in the bin. “You sailed a great race out there,” she said.

  “You did, too,” Donovan said. His eyes stayed on her face, bright and expectant. “But the race is over now. Up next—the dance.”

  Her stomach flipped. “The dance. Right, the dance.” Candace swallowed, her mouth dry. “Donovan, you seem really nice and I totally respect you as a sailor. But I’m afraid I can’t go to the dance with you, or any boy.”

  His face fell and he dropped his gaze to the floor. “Oh.”