When I reached home, the lights were off and my grandmother was already asleep. I found a Post-It note on my door from Nona that said simply: “Mom called.”

I’d spent the last hour breaking laws and risking arrest, but none of that compared to the anxiety I felt at those two words. I’d rather return to the school and face the psycho janitor than call Mom.

My mother might have loved me, but she sure didn’t like me much. And who could blame her? I mean, I was the weird one. My sisters were so much easier—sharing Mom’s love of music and performing. They even kept their rooms clean. But my room—and my life—had never been tidy. The imaginary friends of my childhood hadn’t been imaginary, and I’d often known things—disturbing things, like our elderly neighbor falling down the stairs and lying there until I convinced my parents to check on her. Or the time I’d told my sisters’ piano teacher that her daughter had a broken arm—minutes before the hospital called.

And I knew without being told that Mom was going to send me away. My bags were already packed when she gave me the news. Sure it hurt, but I didn’t let her know. Never once did I argue. Instead it was Dad who took my side, accusing Mom of overreacting. But in the end, he preferred peace to war and quietly gave in to Mom’s decision. Now my only contact from Mom was a monthly check to cover my expenses.

So why had she called now?

I awoke still wondering this the next morning. But I had no intention of picking up the phone to find out. If Mom had something important to say, she’d call back.

Deciding not to call Mom was easy; picking an outfit proved a bit difficult. After trying on four shirts, two skirts, and five pairs of pants, I finally settled on a scoop-neck yellow shirt and dark jeans. Then, I brushed on a bit of makeup. For a finishing touch, I fastened on tiny gold stud earrings. Tasteful—even attractive—but definitely not unusual.

When I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I was smiling—thinking of Josh and anxious to get to school. Would he be waiting by my locker?

He was. And his face lit up when he saw me.

Josh talked about his weekend as I sorted through my locker. He’d gone to a meeting of magicians and learned how to make empty shoes walk on air.

“Not really walk, of course, just appear to.” He snapped his fingers. “Like magic.”

“How can I tell if it’s a trick or real magic?” I asked, grabbing my English book.

“Easy. There is no real magic.”

I wondered if he’d say the same thing about psychics.

Josh went on to describe his great aunt’s ninety-ninth birthday party. Instead of gifts, everyone came with a funny story or joke to share. His story involved a bowl of green Jell-O and a teacup poodle, and I was still laughing when we reached our first class. The teacher hadn’t arrived, so we waited in the hall along with some other kids.

Josh tossed his backpack by the door, then turned back to me. “So how was your weekend?”

“Dull,” I answered with a shrug. “No poodles or Jell-O.”

“Nothing interesting?”

“Nope.” Except for seeing a ghost and getting caught by the janitor for breaking into the school. I hesitated, then added, “Well, there was something funny.”

“What?”

“My grandmother lost her notebook and I found it—in the refrigerator.”

“Why’d she put it there?”

“So she wouldn’t lose it.” I giggled at his confused expression. “You had to be there, but believe me, it was weird even for my grandmother.”

“I believe you.” He squeezed my hand. And the way he was looking at me, we weren’t talking about Nona anymore. My heart sped up as he leaned closer. We were standing in the middle of a school hallway, with kids all around, yet it was like we were alone. And I was sure he was going to kiss me.

“Sabine!” Penny-Love came rushing between us like a tornado, her curly red hair tangling around her freckled face. “Wait till you hear!”

“Hear what?” I said a bit sharply.

“Then you don’t know? Wow! It’s all over school!”

“I doubt that.” Josh checked his watch. “School doesn’t even start for ten minutes.”

“The buzz doesn’t run on school time.” Penny-Love paused to catch her breath, then exclaimed, “Someone broke into the school last night!”

“Broke into … ?” My legs almost buckled. “Oh, no!”

“Oh, yes. Dunlap is talking to the police right now.”

“The police?” Dunlap was the principal. I felt sick. “They’re here?”

“Two cops with guns and everything. Who do you think did it? Crime is only supposed to happen in big cities, not here. This is so exciting!”

Josh frowned. “What was damaged?”

“Windows were smashed, walls painted with swearwords, garbage cans knocked over, and they stole stuff from a supply room.”

“But how could that happen when I was—” I clapped my hands over my mouth. “I mean—how could anyone do such a thing?”

“Shocking, huh?” Penny-Love shook her head, but the sparkle in her eyes was a dead giveaway she was enjoying this.

“Probably some punks from Regis High,” Josh said with a scowl.

A few other kids had gathered around to listen, whispers spreading.

“This is more serious than a rival school prank,” Penny-Love added ominously.

“Were there any witnesses?” Josh asked.

“Yeah. I heard a neighbor saw someone running out of the school. She thought it was a girl.”

“She didn’t get a good look?” I asked anxiously.

“Guess not.” Penny-Love shrugged. “But there were paint handprints found by the supply room.”

I glanced away, cursing myself for not washing my hands before leaving Jill’s. Would the police be able to match the prints to mine? While I’d gotten in trouble at my previous school, I’d never been arrested. I didn’t think my fingerprints were on file anywhere. Maybe I was safe … for a while. Besides, the worst I’d done was trespass, which technically wasn’t breaking and entering since Danielle had a key. And nothing had been vandalized when we’d been there.

“What about the janitor?” I asked. “Why didn’t he stop the vandals?”

“He didn’t get a chance.” Penny-Love lowered her voice. “Poor guy.”

My pulse jumped. “What do you mean?”

“I guess the janitor must have caught them trashing the school.” She paused before adding dramatically, “He was attacked and found unconscious. He’ll be able to tell who did this when he wakes up. If he ever does.”