It was the only week last-years couldn’t drive in, and Gran was at the office all day. Conrad offered to drive her in the Semprena, but it was bad enough that Gran had decreed he was going to share her car. He is our guest, Ruby. Inside St. Juno’s, charm-cooled air moved sluggishly through the high-ceilinged halls. Lockers slammed, hushed giggles ran around like tiny mice, chalk scratched on the boards, and the chapel was full of an incense hum. It was like she’d never left. Except things had changed. Ellie’s Potential was settled, so she’d moved up into Advanced Charm instead of Basic. Wonder of wonders, Cami’s had too, between one day and the next. Sometimes it did that, and they were in Advanced Charm together. Which meant Ruby only saw them during chapel, French, and High Charm Calc. The rest of the time, she was on her own, and it was not only deadly boring, but it was also . . .
