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did
to keep his campers safe. Not many teen witches would sacrifice themselves for
a child. And while Ian had pointed out to me many times his own discomfort is
nothing compared to the life of the child, I think we all know exactly how
great his sacrifice truly is.”
    “Yeah, man,” Scott said. He clapped his hand on Ian's back.
“He's going to miss the rest of the school year, and he told me he was the
starting goalie on his team.”
    A series of pitying noises filled the room.
    Ian's face flamed around the bandana.
    “Let's all give Ian a hand,” Mrs. L said.
    We clapped and cheered. Ian finally gave up the embarrassed
act, and he started bowing. Scott hooted. The two Gregs broke into an
unbelievably well-choreographed dance.
    We all cheered more.
    Finally, the group calmed down.
    “Grab some pizza,” Mrs. L said. “You deserve it.”
    The others made a dive for the pizza. Except Ian, who
grabbed a coke and straw.
    I took the opportunity to ask Mrs. L for my phone. “I know
we get them back soon, and I'm not trying to cut in line. I just wanted to try
to talk to Ian before we left.”
    Apparently, I'd said the magic words because Mrs. L beamed
at me as we walked to her desk for my phone.
    “Thanks.”
    “Thank you, Emma. I hope you'll consider coming back.”
    I had been dreading this week. I was exhausted, and I had
poison ivy on my calf. “Of course,” I answered. “I'd love to.”
    She handed me my phone. “Good to hear,” she said.
    I powered up my phone, turned off the ringer, and waited for
the text from Scott's phone to come through. Then I looked back at the group.
Sophie had two cans of Coke in front of her, and she was inhaling her pizza.
The others, except for Ian, were happily munching on a slice. Ian had
disappeared.
    Sophie looked my way, and I held my finger to my lips. Then
I backed away from the group to text Ian without everyone clamoring for their
own phones.
    Now that I had everything I needed, I hesitated. Chicken.
Just do it. “Can we talk? It's Emma,” I texted.
    I wasn't sure if he would reply. I stuck the phone in my
pocket and ordered myself to go back to the others so I wouldn't obsess.
    My phone vibrated before I had taken my second step.
    I stopped, turned around, and whipped out my phone. Had he
really answered?
    He had!
    “Sure, what's up?”
    Here goes nothing. “I'm sorry your spring got ruined.”
    “No big deal. I'll live.”
    “I wouldn't have been able to save him. I'm going to start
studying magic like you guys said.”
    “Good. You should. But I knew because Mrs. L did it for me
once. I was one of the slow learners.”
    He had been a troublemaker? I couldn't picture it. I thought
about him bonding with all those campers and jumping in to make them feel
better about themselves. I could picture it. “If you hadn't been you, Owen
might have died.”
    He didn't answer, so I sent another text. “Can I text you?”
    “Isn't that what we're doing?”
    “I mean later. From home.”
    "Sure.”
    “Good.”
    Mrs. L was calling me over. “One last piece of business.
Each of you has earned a bonus this week.”
    “One free selfish potion?” Scott asked.
    “No. Close. The punishment for your next selfish charm or
potion will be attenuated. The punishment will be milder and shorter in
duration.”
    We all cheered.
    “Now grab your things from your cabins. Your parents will be
here any minute.”
    Sophie busted me as soon as we were alone. “What happened
with Ian?”
    “How do you know something happened with Ian?”
    “You're grinning like a love-sick idiot.”
    “Thanks.”
    She crossed her arms. “Tell me or die.”
    “I texted him. We're going to talk. Well, text.”
    Sophie hugged me. “He is so perfect for you. I'm proud of
you.”
    “Proud of me?”
    “Yeah, you're so shy and reserved. I was worried you
wouldn't talk to him.”
    Shy and reserved? Really. I wasn't that bad. Sure, I didn't
have her experience with boys, but…
    “Let's go,” she said,