Read Online The Witch Is Back by Brittany Geragotelis - Free Book Online

wasn’t about to lose mine because I treated people badly. I recognized that I’d been blessed. With numerous talents like my ability to throw multiple back handsprings in a row or argue just about any topic. I’d also hit the genealogical jackpot. Being a direct descendent of one of the most powerful witches of all time had left me with magical gifts most others didn’t have.
    It was with this mindset that I walked into our first session at Brighton, pumped to learn and ready to rock every challenge they threw my way. I was even looking forward to making new friends. Since graduating from Astor High in May, my relationships with my old friends had grown strained. I’d heard that this often happened to people after they graduated and moved on to separate colleges, but I hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.
    Plans to spend our last summer together had disintegrated as I learned about Brighton. And then Sofia headed off to cheer camp, while Bethany and Trish flitted to Europe for the quintessential post-high-school backpacking trip. So, I found myself without my trendy trio for the first summer in forever.
    I was friendless.
    And apparently overly dramatic. But what was a girl without her friends? Nothing. The Cleri sort of filled the hole left by my old social circle, but even with them it was an odd relationship. I’d been their leader. Still was, if you considered the meetings I regularly held to make sure the Parrishables stayed gone. They still looked to me to guide them and that made for an unequal balance of power between us. We were friendly, but I wasn’t sure we were “friends.”
    Expanding my friendship circle was exactly what I needed. Especially since I felt like there was no one I could really talk to about this ex-girlfriend thing. And I was in serious need of a sounding board. Luckily, Colette had turned out to be much cooler than I’d expected and I felt like I was already making progress with her.
    â€œHey guys!” I said, walking across the grass behind the cabin to meet up with the Cleri members who had already sat down within the mini amphitheater.
    So far only Jasmine, Jinx, and Sascha had shown up. Like a weird Three Musketeers. Sascha was chatting excitedly as Jinx attempted to get a word in here and there, and Jasmine rested back against the edge of a stage, looking bored. Or angry. Or annoyed. I still couldn’t tell any of them apart.
    â€œThis is Colette,” I said, gesturing for her to come closer. She joined me, twisting the bottom of her shirt absently. But instead of looking down at the ground, intimidated by the group in front of her, she locked eyes with each of the girls and gave them genuine smiles. “She’s rooming with Abby and me.”
    â€œNice to meet you,” Sascha said, sliding her butt off the edge of the stage and coming forward to shake Colette’s hand. Jinx followed suit, but when I looked at Jasmine hoping she’d at least try to be friendly, she just nodded her head and said, “What’s up?”
    â€œSo good to meet you guys!” Colette said.
    Jasmine took in Colette’s outfit and stared at her blankly. “What’s your deal?” she asked finally.
    If Colette was offended, she didn’t let on. Instead she just stood there, and answered as if she were asked the question all the time.
    â€œWell, what do you want to know?” she asked genially.
    â€œWhat’s with the outfit?” Jasmine asked back.
    This was the sort of thing I’d been afraid of. The rest of us were used to Jasmine’s blunt nature, but to strangers, her attitude could be misconstrued as hostility.
    â€œJasmine!” I scolded and then turned to Colette apologetically.
    But she didn’t bat an eye. “My aunt Betsey gave it to me. She always sends me her latest creations,” she said. Jasmine’s comment hadn’t bothered her one bit.
    â€œIs this your first time at