Page 4 of With the Potion in the Courtyard

"Best seats in the house," she said between bites, and all I could do was shake my head and focus on my fish, pretending not tonotice the lingering stares.

I forked at my peas, keeping an eye on the cluster of teachers with the hunters outside. They were hunched over something in the courtyard, scribbling notes and casting occasional spells that sent sparks shooting into the evening sky.

"Robbie would've had a field day with this," Jessie said.

My cheeks warmed. "You think so?"

"Definitely." She gave me a sly look. "He's got a knack for untangling mysteries, and he'd enjoy the company."

"Right, the company," I brushed off the blush creeping up my neck. We both knew she wasn't talking about the teachers.

Jessie chuckled, then glanced around the cafeteria. A few heads still turned our way, eyes narrowed in curiosity or maybe suspicion. It was hard to tell.

"Looks like you're carved in stone at the academy now," she said.

"Ha-ha, very funny." I managed a smile, but it was thin.

"Hey, don't worry about them." Jessie gestured dismissively with her fork. "There's nothing linking you to Jaylyn's disappearance."

"Is that the truth?" I asked, needing to hear it again. "Should I not be worried? My name is emblazoned in that courtyard."

Her expression faltered. "Well... I mean, it's complicated, right? Maybe be a little cautious."

"Great." I sighed. Last time, if I hadn't acted, I'd have been framed for sure. "If I hadn't done something last time, I'd still be in major trouble."

"Then we'll just have to solve this one too." Jessie's resolve returned as she leaned forward. "We can start investigating Jaylyn's disappearance ourselves."

"Us?" I raised an eyebrow. "Are we qualified for that?"

"Why aren't we?" She grinned. "Besides, what's the worst that could happen?"

"Let's not find out," I said, but inside, I already knew. We were diving headfirst into the unknown, and this time, Robbie wasn't here to help us navigate the murky waters.

Yet.

CHAPTER TWO

I was prettysure everyone had hit the hay for the night when I started gearing up for some snooping. Like an action hero, I got dressed in all black, and like my mother, I got my most comfortable running shoes, just in case. She always did say to be prepared for anything.

When I was ready, I made the mistake of sitting down on my bed. My two furry mischief-makers, Tilly and Simon, began using my lap as a playground while shedding enough fur to knit a sweater. Each time I plucked them off, they took it as a challenge to come back with more enthusiasm.

"Guys, not now," I said, as I tried to de-fuzz my all-black ensemble. There's nothing like trying to goincognito with cat hair glistening under the moonlight.

A soft tap on the door interrupted my furball fiasco. It was Jessie, no doubt. I shooed the cats away, doing my best ninja impression to ensure they didn't dart out the door. I cracked it open and saw Jessie, decked out in her own version of midnight stealth.

Stepping back, I let her inside before closing the door behind her. "How’s it going?"

She grinned. "I just finished writing some letters to my family members."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I’ve got six siblings, and most of them have kids, so I’ve got like a million nieces and nephews. They started this thing where they write to me, like real handwritten notes, and I write them back. It takes a lot of time, but I kind of love it." She followed her words up with a smile.

"Do you tell them anything about this life?"

She laughed. "We’re not allowed, but I started this thing where I makeup crazy stories about what I’m doing. In reality, they think I’m a part of one of thoseMLM things, where I sell crazy bright makeup, and I’m really high in the company. Sometimes I even come to family events with my face looking like a clown just to sell the whole thing."

Now, I was laughing too. "Your life seems so much more interesting than mine."