Don't Drink the Punch! Read Online Free Page B

Jess.
    Kayla laughed. “Yeah, I didn’t think you’d want to go. I did notice that they sell love potions there, though.”
    Alice turned toward Kayla and regarded her thoughtfully. “Really,” she said. “Love potions, huh? As in, if we gave some to Nick and Scott and Anthony and Tom, they’d fall head over heels for us?”
    Kayla nodded, ignoring her friend’s mention of Tom, and smiled uncertainly. Alice didn’t really believe the love potion would work, did she?
    â€œWe could totally spike the punch at your party!” said Jess eagerly.
    â€œAnd get our crushes to drink it and then have them fall totally, madly in love with us!” added Pria breathlessly.
    â€œUm, sure, I guess that’s the idea,” said Kayla, because she felt like they were waiting for her to say something.
    The three girls waited while Alice considered the issue. “We’ll go there tomorrow,” she said.

CHAPTER 6
    The next day, Sunday, the weak February sun shone down on the girls as they made their way toward the mystical shop. The wind had died down completely, making it feel considerably warmer than the day before.
    â€œWhat if it isn’t open?” asked Jess.
    Alice snorted. “Eleven o’clock on a weekend morning? What business wouldn’t be open?”
    But when they got to the shop, a CLOSED sign was hanging on the inside of the door. The girls stood there, looking at it.
    â€œLet’s go,” said Pria, shivering. “This place kind of gives me the creeps anyway.”
    Suddenly the door was flung open, causing all four girls to jump back.
    Matilda poked her head out. Her bangs half obscured her face, and much of what wasn’t hidden by bangs was covered with her huge glasses. The sun glinted off them, making it impossible to see her eyes. “Oh, it’s you,” she said, waving them inside. “Come on in. I’m just opening up.”
    The girls exchanged glances with one another. Then Alice shrugged and led the way into the shop.
    â€œI’m Alice Grafton, and this is Pria Patel and—”
    â€œI know who you are,” interrupted Matilda. “We’ve been classmates since fifth grade.”
    â€œOh, right, I forgot all about that,” said Alice, in a mock-sweet voice.
    There was an awkward silence. Kayla hated awkward silences. She tried to think of something, anything, to say. Then she spotted Jinx sitting on the counter near the back register, grooming his hind leg. The front leg that had been hurt was now bandaged.
    â€œHey, how’s Jinx doing?” she asked Matilda.
    Matilda crossed her arms. “He’s shipshape. The vet fixed up his leg. And I put a healing crystal on his collar, and he’s right as rain now.”
    Pria snickered, but changed to a throat-clear when Matilda jerked her head to look at her sharply.
    Kayla had to agree that Matilda did say some pretty strange things. What seventh grader uses expressions like “shipshape” and “right as rain”? she thought.
    â€œI’m glad he’s better,” she said, walking back toward the cat and reaching out a hand to stroke him. The cat started to purr.
    â€œSo Kayla says you guys sell love potions here,” said Alice, getting straight to the point. “Is that true?”
    Matilda lifted her chin a little and peered at Alice through her thick glasses, her bangs parting. “That’s right,” she said. “We’ve got all kinds of great things here—love potions, complexion creams, beauty elixirs . . .”
    â€œWell if you work here,” said Alice, “why haven’t you used them? I mean, well, especially the beauty products . . .” She trailed off with a little snort and winked at Jess and Pria, who both laughed out loud. Kayla cringed. Did Alice really have to be so mean?
    Matilda’s face darkened, just for a moment, but then she smiled rather