In bed, I poured over the day, finding it hard to shut down my mind. Now that I made my decision about school, I couldn't wait. I was looking forward to talking to Brad, to making friends, to stop volunteering as a punching bag and just be myself. And if they didn't like me? No big change there. I was mad at myself for letting the years of bullying get to me. When had I gotten so weak, so unwilling to stand up for myself? When did being like them become more important than being me?My mind shied away from the answer. I think I knew wherever it came from was at the core of my distaste for magic. Ever since I could remember, I felt an aversion to using my power, like something inside me screamed "No!" every time I tried to tap in. It didn't hurt or anything, aside from making my stomach queasy and giving me a brief case of the dizzies. It almost felt like my conscience trying to stop me. Over the years I'd grown to listen to it. Maybe it meant I wasn't supposed to be a witch after all.

The walk to school went a lot faster than normal, probably because I was so pumped up from the fight with Mom and Erica. I was still a raging bundle by the time I hit the steps. I didn't even for a second think about what might be awaiting me care of Alison and company. In fact, I already decided to stop waiting for them to do to me, but to seek them out instead and get whatever was coming face to face. Much preferable to being stabbed in the back over and over again.I'm pretty sure my new aggressive nature scared the crap out of the entire school, not just the mean girls. I thought the other students scattered like frightened birds on Monday. Today was a whole new ball game and I was calling the plays.Each time I encountered one of Alison's girls, instead of the punishment they planned, I had the satisfaction of seeing their sick little plot sputter and fail in their hands, unused, forgotten. I learned one thing very quickly--these bullies only picked on those who were scared of t

It was almost dark by the time I arrived home. I trudged into the back yard, dragging my bag along behind me. It wasn't until I reached the ward surrounding the house, though, that I felt the presence of my father.Just lovely. She had to drag my dad into this.I went immediately to the basement, do not pass go, do not collect a butt whoopin'. I made it down the stairs with my shoulders back, unwilling to let her see me as weak, not caring what either of them thought right then. My mind was already made up. As soon as Uncle Frank and Sunny rose for the night, I was going to ask them to help me get away from the family once and for all.I walked across the basement into the center of the pentagram as my parents watched. I took my place in the middle of the ancient symbol and stopped there, crossing my arms over my chest, feeling very calm, calmer in fact than I expected to be under the circumstances.Of course, it helped Dad radiated sympathy and love.Cheater."Hi, Syd," he said.

I was getting tired of the same argument going around the kitchen, especially since it was about me and proceeded as if I wasn't even in the room. Always nice to be ignored.The Vegas insisted that without my intervention and whatever it was I did, they would not have survived and possibly taken the whole coven and half the neighborhood with them. And yet, Mom was still forced to face the challenge Dominic raised about me.We may not have been talking to each other right then, but my mother was totally on my side. Which was a huge surprise."It's irrelevant," Dominic said for the hundredth time so even his supporters were getting tired of him. "The child is obviously a menace and needs her power restricted."My mother laughed. And laughed. And laughed some more. The family stared at her after a while, even Erica. Dominic's face turned two more shades of purple.Mom finally wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand."If you can figure out a way," she said, "to restrict that kind

This was fantastic. All of a sudden I actually had a friend. Me. Or, at least, the beginnings of one. Things were definitely looking up. I practically bounded up the stairs to my room, almost knocking over my sister on the top step.When she saw me grinning, she smiled back. I hugged her impulsively, my good mood just too much to keep to myself.Naturally, Meira took full advantage."I love you, Syd." She beamed up at me, amber eyes glowing."I love you too, Meems.""No, I really love you." She clasped her little hands in front of her chest and spun in a circle. "Really, really."How obvious was she? It made me laugh."Okay," I said, "what do you want?"Ice cream!" She bounced on her toes, clapping and giggling.I hesitated one moment before remembering the coast was clear. Since I didn't have to worry about being picked on anymore, the prospect of visiting the local hangout didn't seem so daunting.Inside of ten minutes, I settled into a booth across from her while she shive