Page 17

Corey

FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, COREY IS WISHING HE COULD DISAPPEAR. Because, of course, the stagehands have uniforms.

He’s pressed into a corner, tugging at his shiny purple vest. The black pants have a sequin waistband that screams fourth-grade dance recital , and the elbow-length black gloves are itchy and way too tight.

And the worst part? Alonso De Luca is wearing the exact same thing.

Alonso stands at the other end of the hallway, adjusting his gloves. A few of the performers glance their way and giggle behind fake nails. Alonso doesn’t seem to notice; he’s talking to one of the drag queens, who wears a curly blond wig the diameter of a dwarf planet. Underneath the makeup is Aidan Lostis, who’s a year behind them in school. Alonso is lucky to have an ally backstage; all of Corey’s friends are out front, confused by the brief text from Corey saying he’d volunteered to “help out.”

Corey can leave. He can have his dad write Ron a check for the laptop, and then they can forget this ever happened. But right as Corey is about to make a move, the bathroom door opens, and Penny walks out.

And Corey is immediately distracted.

Penny is in a costume, too, but it’s higher quality than Corey’s, which was probably purchased at one of those Halloween warehouse stores. Penny’s outfit is torn jean shorts and a corset under a suede fringe jacket, and…

Wow. The corset is doing things for her.

Corey pointedly looks away. He doesn’t know why, but he really doesn’t want her to catch him staring. He adjusts his vest with suddenly sweaty hands. When the performers burst into cheers, Corey is convinced they caught him checking her out, that he’ll have to deny finding her attractive.

It wasn’t the realization he expected to have tonight, but the truth is that Penny Emberly is pretty. Really pretty. And somehow Corey never noticed.

But the performers aren’t laughing at him. They’re laughing at Penny. Corey dares another glance in her direction, and his jaw drops.

She’s wearing a fake beard.

“Iconic!” a performer shouts.

“I love it,” says another, blowing Penny a kiss.

Penny tugs self-consciously at her facial hair. “I wasn’t sure if it fit the aesthetic.”

“Of course it does!” says one of the performers. “Your mama would be proud.”

There’s a gasp. Ron has stopped in his tracks, one hand fluttering to his chest. His eyes are shining with tears.

“Penny, get over here,” he says with a tight voice. “We’re taking photos.”

Penny groans. “But, Ron—”

“Your mother will disown me if she can’t see photographic evidence of this, so you get your cute little butt over here right now.”

Alonso appears beside Ron like an apparition. “I’ll take the pictures.”

“How very accommodating,” Ron says, eyeing Alonso before he reluctantly hands over his phone.

That’s when Corey notices it.

Alonso takes photos of Penny and Ron, then Penny with a bunch of the performers. But when he’s done, Alonso’s eyes stay on Penny, even after he gives Ron’s phone back.

Corey looks from Alonso to Penny to Alonso again. Alonso must be staring at somebody else. Because there’s no way Alonso and Penny—

Ron claps his hands right next to Corey’s head, and Corey flinches as his ears ring.

“Everyone, we’re starting in five!” Ron says. “Princess Androgynous is up first, with Georgia Peach on deck. Remember, ladies, we need to keep these transitions snappy. We’ve got a full roster tonight.”

Everyone is distracted, doing final prep for the show. Corey’s eyes find Penny again. She’s slightly apart from the crowd, fidgeting with her beard.

Corey weaves through the performers, letting himself be pulled toward her. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” She glances at him. “Sorry about all this.”

“Sorry about the laptop.”

Penny shrugs, and they fall into an uncomfortable silence. This is the perfect time for Corey to bring up the curse. That’s the whole reason he’s here—because even though the curse is unbreakable, there’s a tiny part of him that wants to believe otherwise. He glances up, and sure enough, Alonso is glaring daggers at him. They definitely can’t talk about the curse when he’s around.

“Ron should’ve kicked him out,” Corey mutters.

Penny pulls her beard down so she’s wearing it like a necklace. “Actually, do you have a minute?”

“Sure,” Corey replies, but he immediately regrets it when Penny gestures at Alonso. “Seriously?” he says as Alonso saunters up.

Penny tries to smile. “Let’s use the office.”

Once they’re sequestered inside, Corey crosses his arms. “The show’s about to start, so we should make this quick.”

Alonso smirks. “You’re real excited to show off our costumes, huh?” He nods at Penny. “You told her everything. I’m in disbelief.”

“She deserves to know. What she doesn’t deserve is to see your pasty ass. Did it ever occur to you to stay home?”

Alonso’s mean smile disappears. “I know you think I’m a sociopath, but I didn’t want this to happen. Not to Penny’s mom, and not to anyone else. I never have.”

“That’s bullshit.”

Alonso glances at Penny, who meets his eyes. Something passes between them.

“What?” Corey says.

“Yeah,” Penny says. “Tell us why you stopped by.”

“Not in front of him ,” Alonso says, and then his eyes go wide. “Was this your evil plan, Penny? Get us into these outfits and trick us into breaking the curse?”

“Breaking the…” Corey’s heart is suddenly pounding. “What are you talking about?”

“You weren’t supposed to be here for this, Corey, but I guess you would’ve found out anyway.” Alonso holds out his arms, as if to present himself on a silver platter. “I want to help.”

“Help with what?” Corey says.

“Your football plays. The hell do you think, Barrion? I’m talking about the curse.”

That doesn’t make sense. Corey looks to Penny, but she’s staring at Alonso with bright eyes.

“You’re being serious?” she asks.

“How would you help?” Corey says. “There’s nothing you can do.”

“What if I found a way?”

“You’re not a witch, remember?”

Alonso smirks at Penny. “So you couldn’t keep his secret, but you kept mine? I’m flattered.”

It clicks. Corey is either going to pass out or projectile vomit. “Please tell me you don’t have magic.”

Alonso’s jaw pops to one side, but he doesn’t say anything.

Corey takes a step back, holding out his hands. “This is a joke, right?”

“Calm down, Golden Boy—”

“You’re telling me the Council lied to us. That your family has had their magic this whole time, and my family had no idea .”

“I never said anything about the rest of my coven.”

Corey barely hears him. His skin is hot with anger, because his family has been living across the street from the De Lucas like defenseless animals.

He has to do something. Alonso can’t be allowed to use magic on him or anyone else. Corey steps forward, ready to scream, to fight, to hurt Alonso as much as humanly possible.

Then Alonso holds up a hand.

“ Feet on ground, soul on ice ,” he whispers, and the words echo into every crevice of the room.

And then Corey is frozen.

It’s like sleep paralysis except worse, because the weight isn’t only on his chest. It’s all over him, as if a hundred walls are pressing on every angle of his body at the same time, holding him up. Suddenly he’s on the verge of hyperventilating.

“Before you lose your composure,” Alonso says, “I need to explain a few things.”

Penny grabs Corey’s arm, but he can’t feel it. Her eyes are full of terror, but when she looks at Alonso, they grow dark. Angry.

“What did you do to him?” she says.

“It’ll wear off in a minute. I just need to get some stuff off my chest.” Alonso holds up one finger. “First of all, the Council did seal my family’s magic. When I was a kid, I realized I could use mine. I don’t know how it happened or why. Second , my family has no idea, because I’ve barely ever used it.” He frowns. “Well… except now.”

Corey is going to end him.

“And third, I might’ve found a way to break the curse.”

Suddenly it’s not just Corey’s body that isn’t working. His ears fill with a high buzzing sound that drowns out everything else.

Alonso lowers his hand, and Corey’s limbs become heavy. It’s like lifting a full pitcher of water when you’re expecting it to be empty. Corey loses his balance, stumbling to his knees.

There’s a long silence. While the pins and needles of the spell recede, Corey slowly straightens up.

“I’m leaving,” he says, his voice quivering. “Penny, you’re coming with me.”

“Corey, hang on. We should hear him out.”

Corey’s voice explodes out of him like a bomb. “ No. We should run as fast as we can. You saw what he did to me, right? And you know what’s happening to your mom! That’s what magic does.”

“But that’s not all it does!” Penny stands in front of the door, holding one hand out in Corey’s direction. “Please, Corey. Please stay. What if he’s right?”

“And what if he curses somebody else? That will be on our heads. Believe me, we’re all better off with his magic under lock and key.”

Alonso shrugs. “Fine. It’s Penny’s mom’s funeral.”

Corey sees red. Before he even registers what he’s feeling, he lunges at Alonso.

“ Stop! ” Penny shouts. She throws herself between them, placing her hands on Corey’s chest to hold him back.

“Why are you defending him?” Corey’s voice is too loud, but he can’t hold this in. “His family killed my mom!”

“You’re right. And my mom is about to join her, which is why I’m willing to try anything .” Penny leans in a little closer, and her eyes capture Corey just like they did at the hospital, pulling him in until he can barely tell which way is up.

“We know what will happen if Alonso’s magic can’t help us,” she says, “but what if it can?”

Corey wants to move away from her, but he’s rooted to the spot. This time, it isn’t because of magic. It’s because of the sadness in Penny’s face. The desperation.

Corey recognizes it. He feels it.

But working with Alonso De Luca isn’t an option. It can’t be, even if he wants to break the curse more than anything. But isn’t that why Corey came here today? To tell Penny he wanted to find a way to save her mom, no matter what?

Corey turns to the witch. He doesn’t bother keeping the warning out of his voice. “Why are you willing to do this now? Why didn’t your family step up before my mom died? Or my uncle, or my cousins?”

Alonso’s face darkens. “I told you, my family doesn’t know about my magic.”

“Why wouldn’t you tell them?”

“Because I don’t want it.”

Corey scoffs. “Right. That’s why you’re parading it in front of us now.”

“You know this curse has defined my entire life, too, right? Without magic, it’s like everyone in my family is missing a vital organ or something.”

“Then why don’t you give their magic back to them?” Corey says. “What’s stopping you?”

“A single witch isn’t strong enough to unseal anyone’s magic. I don’t even know why I can use mine. It was a fluke.” Alonso shakes his head. “I’ve ignored it for years, but if I have it, I might as well try to be useful.”

“Why don’t you use it?” Penny asks.

Alonso’s jaw tenses. “It’s destructive. Look what it’s done to the Barrions.”

The words hit Corey hard, cracking the foundation his life was built on. This is the first time Alonso has ever come close to an apology, or even an acknowledgment of the harm his family has done.

“Believe me or don’t, but I want to try,” Alonso continues. “If the Council finds out about this, I don’t know what they’ll do to me. I’ve got a lot to lose, too.”

Alonso could lose magic he doesn’t even want, but what does Corey have to lose? The trust of his family. His dad’s respect. His own pride. And if he does nothing?

Then Penny’s mom dies, and Corey can never fall in love.

Alonso is watching Corey, and for once he doesn’t look smug.

“How would we do it?” Corey asks.

Before Alonso can answer, Ron’s voice booms from the hallway. “Penny Anne! We’re up!”

“One second!” Penny yells back, and then she turns back to Corey and Alonso. “So?”

“Let’s talk tomorrow,” Alonso says.

Corey runs a hand over his curls. He should take some time to think about it. He can’t see the situation clearly, not through the heavy sadness and years of rage. But the hope he’s tried not to feel is back in full force, and there’s no getting rid of it now. So Corey nods.

“Penny!” Ron yells. “Ticktock!”

Penny’s breathing is shaky, but she straightens her beard and leaves them behind. Corey follows a moment later, not looking at Alonso as he passes him.

Ron throws an arm around Penny and sweeps her out into the front of the café. Corey steps through the door after them, but he stands at the back of the room. Nobody notices him yet; they’re too busy applauding as Ron and Penny make their way onstage.

Ron’s voice booms over the mic.

“Good evening, and welcome to the Idol Wood Revue—Idlewood’s first and only drag show!” He pauses for the cheers. “As you all know, this show is normally hosted by Bitch Cassidy and the Pole Dance Kid, aka yours truly. But Bitch Cassidy has been detained. This town ain’t even big enough for one of her.” The crowd boos, and Ron gives a sad laugh. “I know, I know. But until we break Miss Cassidy out of jail, her progeny will be takin’ her place. Please give a warm welcome to the lovely Calamity Wayne!”

Applause again. Penny looks like she’d rather be anywhere else, but when Ron steps back from the mic, she gives a shy wave to the crowd. The room goes quiet, but Penny doesn’t say anything yet. Her eyes move over everyone until they land on Corey. He smiles and gives her an encouraging nod, even though his heart is pounding. Penny has always been shy. He can’t even remember her giving presentations in class, or maybe they were so awkward that he tuned her out. As the silence stretches, Corey already feels vicarious embarrassment.

Come on, Penny , he thinks. You’ve got this.

Finally, Penny looks away from Corey and smiles. “Um. Hi, everyone.” Her voice is shaky, but a few people cheer for her, and she keeps going. “My mom would never want a moment of silence in her honor, so let’s be as loud as we possibly can tonight, okay?”

The crowd cheers, way louder than before. Corey holds his hands over his head as he claps and whoops. Penny steps aside, adjusting her beard again, and Ron retakes center stage, a proud grin on his face.

“Now, let’s give it up for our first performer! Straight out of the best movie musical of the seventies, please welcome Princess Androgynous!”

Corey holds the door open as Aidan Lostis struts through with a flourish, holding his Pink Ladies jacket. “You’re the One That I Want” starts playing over the Bluetooth speaker that’s acting as their sound system. Penny rushes past Aidan, making a beeline for backstage. Corey holds back a smile as he follows her.

The performers pantomime clapping and cheering for Penny. One of them pulls her into a hug. Alonso is leaning against the back wall, his eyes already glued to her.

Corey doesn’t have a plan. No ulterior motive. He just has a question.

“Hey,” he says, parking himself next to Alonso.

Alonso’s head snaps in Corey’s direction. “What?”

One of the performers holds their phone out for a selfie. Penny makes a peace sign.

“I’m wondering,” Corey says, “if it was someone else’s mom, would you let them die?”

Alonso goes still as a statue.

Ron appears in front of them. “Boys, you’ll be cleaning up after the next act. Think you can handle it without fighting to the death?”

“Maybe,” Alonso grumbles, but his face is bright red.

Corey nods. “We’ll get it done.” But dark thoughts slither into his mind.

Please , he thinks, don’t let this be a mistake.