Graceful Read online

  Leo bangs his mallet on the side of a tree. Since it’s rubber, it makes pretty much no sound. He waves his arms instead. “All right, all right,” he says. “I know it’s hilarious that Mrs. Kelly thinks I clogged up her toilet, but we have more important things to focus on.” He holds out his hand to me. “Do you have the code?”

  I pull a folded piece of notebook paper out of my pocket and hand it to him. “I traced it,” I explain as he kneels down and spreads it out on our patio. The others gather around him.

  One by one the members of Team Grace gasp and turn pale. “This outer circle is about me!” Amanda says. “Me and Leo.”

  Rory points to the middle ring. “And this is me!”

  Tara wordlessly points to the circle inside Rory’s.

  I peer closer at the outer ring. All I see is a string of pictures: an apple, a duck, a candle, a cake, a potted plant, a bee, a lollipop, a football, a lizard, a drum, and then something square with eyes. “What’s that one?” I ask.

  Amanda shudders. “That’s SpongeBob SquarePants.”

  I look up, confused. “I don’t get it. What does a cartoon character have to do with the two of you?”

  Leo picks up the paper. “All of the things in this circle have something to do with our eleventh birthday. The one where we met Angelina for the first time.”

  “Look, David,” Amanda says, pointing to the tiny picture of the bee. “That’s you!”

  They all laugh, and I don’t bother to ask why it’s funny. Willow Falls is full of stories, most of them known only to a few. I got to see glimpses of them when I first got my powers, but now I only see an occasional flash when I sense a connection between two people. The older members of Team Grace each have a glowing, white light around them, and when they are all together like this, the lights reach for one another until the air pulses with a golden glow. These are the kinds of things I keep to myself.

  “Do you think this means Angelina’s not done with us yet?” Tara asks, the paper in her hand shaking.

  I can see the fear in her eyes. From what I’ve learned of her story, out of everyone on Team Grace, she had it the hardest. She and her family had to move every few years because Angelina kept finding them. Finally Tara was forced to come to Willow Falls to stay with relatives she barely knew, and then the craziness really began. Now her family is moving here, and she’s looking forward to a fresh start. One that doesn’t include Angelina.

  I stare down at the circle. The pattern reminds me of something, but I can’t think what it is. I close my eyes and reach deep down inside me, feeling around for the tiny magical spark resting there. I take a few deep breaths and focus harder. I can feel the spark like a lightning bug buzzing and zigzagging inside, warming me up and connecting me with a power greater than myself.

  Suddenly I know two things for certain. First, Angelina is done with the others, but I’m not. They’re a part of something big that’s coming, but it’s not today. It’s not this month. But it’s coming.

  And second, I need to do whatever it takes to get my full powers back, because when that big thing comes, I have to be ready to protect Willow Falls and everyone in it. I focus on the light within me, willing it to tell me more. It only twinkles and fades out.

  When I open my eyes, Team Grace is happily munching on a steaming, fresh pizza that has suddenly appeared on the picnic table. I know there’s no chance a pizza delivery guy dropped it off while I had my eyes closed. Leo and David are holding two slices each and grinning.

  “That is one handy talent, Grace!” Leo says, his mouth full of gooey cheese.

  I join them at the table and rest my head in my hands. Willow Falls is in big trouble.

  Dear Diary,

  Well, the strangest summer of my life is now over. And that’s saying a lot considering a few years ago I was stuck in my eleventh birthday for eleven days!! Still, I think traveling back in time out-weirds being stuck in time. Or maybe it’s a tie!

  I’m sure I wasn’t the only one today who was relieved when Grace told us that she won’t need us for a while, even though I feel a little guilty. Getting to be a part of the turnover of power from Angelina to Grace was an awesome experience, and I’m totally honored and all that, but I need to catch up with my real life. Like, Kylie invited me to go running with her in the mornings, and since it’s the first time my sister has asked me to do ANYTHING with her since we were little kids, I said yes. So now I have to get running shoes. And last-minute school supplies. Also, Stephanie’s having her thirteenth birthday party tonight — a swimming party — and I’m nervous since it’s mostly her gymnastics friends. Being a drummer in the school marching band has not upped my coolness factor. Having a boyfriend might, but I’m definitely not telling any of Stephanie’s friends about me and Leo. I just don’t know if I’m ready to be an official “girlfriend.” It sounds so grown-up. Leo always wants to “talk about our relationship,” but I keep changing the subject. It’s like all he thinks about. I know that’s supposed to be what I should want. Ugh, SOOOO confused. I think I just need a break.

  School starts in two days!!! I can’t wait to see if I’m in any classes with anyone from Team Grace. Well, of course Grace and Bailey won’t be in my classes, but I’ll still see them at school. Bailey’s a good kid, or a “good egg” as my dad would say. Going through what Grace is going through without a best friend by her side would be awful. I wish I had told Stephanie what was happening on my eleventh birthday while I was still going through it, but I was afraid of how she’d react. Grace is much braver than me, in many ways. I guess she has to be. I don’t think I’d want to be in her shoes, but she seems to be taking it pretty well. If someone told me that a vortex of magic energy had selected me, the one person in a hundred years, to protect a whole town, I’m pretty sure I’d be hiding under my bed right now.

  Kylie was right when she said writing things down would help me sort out my feelings. I think it’s helping. She gave you to me on my eleventh birthday, and I shoved you and your shiny purple cover in a drawer, and kinda forgot about you. Sorry, Diary!!

  TTYL,

  Me / Amanda / Drummer Girl / Girlfriend of Leo’s (not sure) / Best friend of Leo’s (always. At least I hope.)

  Ode to Magic Pizza

  By Leo Fitzpatrick

  O magic pizza, you are so yummy,

  Now you are sitting in my tummy,

  I swear you taste better than the real stuff,

  Almost like you were made with Marshmallow Fluff!

  Mmmm, fluff!

  Fluffernutter sandwiches are the best,

  And I have tried all the rest! But this poem is about

  Magic Pizza, which I will miss a ton,

  Because Grace kicked us out

  Of all the fun.

  She must want to keep you all to herself,

  Nah, I’m just kidding, but it will be rough.

  I’ll miss Team Grace and especially “A,”

  But I know I’ll still see her every day,

  Because now she’s my girlfriend … Yay!

  Rory: OMG!!! You are my first real text with my first real keyboard!!!!

  Jake: Your parents finally gave in?

  It took all my babysitting $ from the whole summer but I got it! I can even get pictures! It’s all very exciting!! :D times infinity! Sorry, that came out sounding way girly.

  Well, you ARE a girl after all! That’s what I like about you, it doesn’t take much to make you happy! ;-)

  True. So where are you right now?

  Backstage at my LAST D&P!! Huzzahh!!

  D&P?

  Oh sorry! Stands for Dog and Pony show. It’s where the cast tries to impress the people interviewing us so they want to be our best friends and say nice things about our movie.

  Have fun!

  I’d rather be hanging out in your strange town with you and your strange family and strange friends. ;-)

  LOL, my town and my family are definitely strange, but my friends are pretty normal.

&n