Chapter 1: Two-Faced Witch? TWO-FACED WITCH?
Okay, I have to read Lucy’s letter just ONE more time.

I’ve already read it, like, TEN times, but I can’t resist reading it again.

I’m giddy with excitement because, newsflash! This weekend is Friends and Family Weekend at Broomsfield Academy!

And do you know what?

My best friend in the whole wide, wonderful world, LUCY LANCASTER, will be here!



Woo-hoo!

I study every detail of Lulu’s cutest stationery ever.

It has a pink-and-white polka dot border. Then in the lower left-hand corner there’s an adorable purse with a pink daisy latch and a yellow loop handle. Leaning against the purse is a pair of strappy, platform sandals with a daisy on top of the front straps over the toes.

So fun!

Oh, and Lucy’s name is engraved in pink at the top.

One word: love.

As I read Lucy’s letter, I can actually hear her voice ring through the words.



Hey, Heideeeeeee!

I can’t believe I get to see you this weekend!

In PERSON!

Somebody please pinch me.

Eeee! I can’t wait!

I already picked out all my outfits, and my bag is packed.

I can’t wait to meet your friends—not to mention your old crush and your new crush. They all sound amazing!

And what about Melanie? I CAN wait to see HER.

Lol!

I know you’ve said she’s changed, so I’ll try to keep an open mind. It’s hard to forget how snooty she was in elementary school.

The WORST! And now she’s your BROOMMATE. I mean, it’s still hard to believe.

I’m literally crossing off each day on my kitten calendar. Only a few days to go!

And don’t forget, you HAVE to give me a private tour of your school. I want to be able to picture you in all the places you go when we’re apart.

See you soon.

Your bestie 4-ever and ever!

LuLu Lucy



I fold the letter and put it on top of my dresser. I’ll probably read it again before I go to sleep tonight, and then I’ll place it in the memory box with all the other letters I’ve received from Lucy so far this school year.

I can’t believe how long it’s been since we said goodbye to each other in my driveway, and then I got into the car and rode off to start living at Broomsfield Academy.

Lucy and I have never been apart this long before.

Will she look different to me?

Will I look different to her?

Eek!

Will our friendship be exactly the same? Or will it have changed?

So many questions!



And what about my family?

I’m so excited about Lucy coming, but I also can’t wait to see my parents and brother. I’m sure Henry will be the same annoying but lovable little brother he always has been. And it’ll be great to have Mom and Dad here, but having Lucy is the ultimate icing on the cake.



We’ll stay up all night talking—or at least until we get so tired that we start talking gibberish.

We’ll talk about my new—sort of—crush, Nick. I say “sort of” because I’m trying not to go too gaga over him like I did with my first crush, Hunter. That crush kind of got out of hand.

One word: understatement.

But I have a confession!

There is one topic I’m always nervous about when it comes to Lucy.

You see, she still doesn’t know I’m a witch.

Can you imagine hiding half your identity from your best friend?

This is the worst thing about being a witch.

Sometimes I feel like a lying, two-faced friend. I positively hate keeping my secret from Lucy.

When I give her a tour of the school, I can’t even show her the best parts, like the cool secret passageways to the fabulous School of Magic.

Ugh.

And I can’t tell her how I cast a spell to make my teacher’s dog talk, or how I gave myself Rapunzel hair when I goofed up a spell.

She would crack up SO hard if she knew!

Sometimes I wish Lucy had never forgotten that I’m a witch, after the whole Perfectus Malus incident back when we were in elementary school. But it’s good that she did. The rules are rules after all. Now that I’m studying magic at Broomsfield Academy, it seems harder than ever to keep this secret from her.

What if I weigh the pros and cons of telling Lucy I’m a witch?

Who knows—it might make me feel better.

Here it goes:


PROS OF SPILLING MY SECRET

CONS OF SPILLING MY SECRET

- I’ll be honest and open.

- I can never take my secret back.

- Lucy will know the real me.

- She’ll be mad at me for keeping this secret for so long.

- I can share all my witch stories.

- It might make her feel weird and left out this weekend.

This exercise reminds me of the time my mom went to traffic school for a speeding ticket. She had to relearn all the rules of the road and why we have them. She said it was really helpful.

Sometimes I need to review the rules of the witching world. As my mom and Aunt Trudy have always told me, being a witch is a privilege. And witches have to protect their identities. There really are no loopholes.

So there you have it. I have to keep my secret.

But this realization still gives me a little ember of sadness.

Right after I make the decision to continue to keep my secret, a sudden gust of wind blows through my open window.

Flutter! Flap! WHACK!

Lucy’s letter flies off my dresser, and the picture of Lucy and Bruce falls face down.

Weird, I think.

I pick up the letter and set the picture upright. I also take a long look at my friends’ faces.

I’ve kept this secret from them for as long as I’ve known them. And what they don’t know can’t hurt them.



Right?

So don’t worry, Heidi, I reassure myself. This weekend will be a total blast. I mean, what could POSSIBLY go wrong…?

Okay, please don’t answer that.