Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking? (2 page)

Ava stepped off the bus and gazed at the sky. The rain had slowed, and the storm seemed to be passing.

“I wish I had an umbrella,” Alex grumbled as she stepped off behind Ava.

“Our house is only down the block.” Ava shrugged. She didn't care about wet hair the way her twin did.

“Only?” Alex sighed and walked alongside Ava. Suddenly she stopped. “Why did you steal my costume idea?”

“What?” Ava asked.

“You know what,” Alex said, still not moving. “Somehow you found out about my Spelling Bee idea, and then you stole it.”

“I didn't steal it. I promise,” Ava said. “Come on, let's get home.”

“No, wait! Prove it. How did you come up with Spelling Bee at that exact moment?” Alex asked.

Ava pointed to the yellow-and-black Pittsburgh Steelers jersey she wore. “At breakfast, Mom said I looked like a bumblebee. And I was in the middle of going over words for my spelling test. So I thought of a Spelling Bee. Mystery solved.”

Alex eyed her suspiciously. “Fine, but it was my idea first. You can't be it too.”

“Why not?” Ava asked, heading down the sidewalk. She had no intention of being a Spelling Bee now, but she liked teasing Alex.

“Because you don't even like spelling!” Alex sputtered.

“You don't even like bees,” Ava countered.

Alex's face grew red, and she stalked toward home.

Ava followed, letting out an occasional
“bzzz, bzzz”
to annoy her sister.

“Mom!” Alex called, pulling open their front door. “Mom! Make her stop!”

“Bzzzz!”
Ava teased as she trailed Alex into the kitchen. Their mom was washing the breakfast dishes. Ava suspected she had been in her ceramics studio in their garage since they'd left this morning. Mrs. Sackett's ceramics business had recently taken off. She had already sold one hundred little blue-glazed pots.

“Mom, tell Ava she can't be a Spelling Bee,” Alex demanded.

“You want to be in a spelling bee, Ave?” Mrs. Sacket raised her eyebrows in surprise. “That is so exciting! Did your teacher ask you?”

“Not that kind of spelling bee,” Ava said. She hated to disappoint her mom, but spelling was definitely not her thing. She had barely managed to pull out a C on her last spelling quiz. But now wasn't the time to share that news.

Alex quickly explained as their dad and their older brother, Tommy, pushed open the back door. Moxy, their Australian shepherd, ran to greet them. She got the most excited when Coach came home.

“We ended practice early because of the rain,” Coach said.

“Well, I'm glad you're home. We can all have dinner together,” said Mrs. Sackett. Family dinners were rare during football season—especially on a Friday night.

“I'm not glad. The play-off game is a week from tomorrow,” Coach grumbled. “We need the practice.”

“That's not the only thing next week,” Ava reminded him. “It's your birthday on Sunday!”

“It'll be a busy weekend,” Mrs. Sackett said. “And the big game is on Halloween! It's fun that they're doing the game on a Saturday afternoon instead of Friday night. The fans are supposed to come in costume. And then Dad's birthday the day after.”

“What do you want for your birthday?” Alex asked him. She loved shopping for gifts.
Shopping for anything, really,
Ava thought.

“How about a party?” Tommy suggested.

“No way!” Coach said. “No gifts. No party. All I want is for the team to win the play-off game.”

He clipped a leash onto Moxy's collar. “I know you hate the rain, girl, but you need a little exercise. Let's go run a few plays.”

“Poor Moxy,” Tommy said, as Coach left with their dog.

“Listen,” Ava said. “We need to plan something for his birthday. We have to celebrate.”

“But if the Tigers lose . . .” Alex didn't finish her thought.

No one said anything. They all knew it would be a horribly depressing birthday if the team lost the game.

“Alex, you're the best,” Emily Campbell gushed. “Lindsey wouldn't come with me.”

“It's no big deal,” Alex said. “I love the mall. Besides, Lindsey is probably busy getting ready for her party.”

Lindsey had texted Alex and Ava last night with official invites. Alex's eyes darted around the Ashland Mall, searching for inspiration for a new costume. Even though Ava had assured her she wouldn't also be a Spelling Bee, Alex had decided to come up with something else. She wasn't sure if she was going for scary or pretty. Either way, she wanted to look spectacular at the party.

“Lindsey thinks I'm obsessed with Madame Sibyl, just because I binge watch both her TV shows, but I'm not.” Emily defiantly pushed her straight blond hair behind her ears.

“Wow!” Alex took a closer look at her friend. “Both of them?”

“Totally. I've seen every episode of each at least three times. Madame Sibyl is amazing. She can see into the future and talk to the dead. Don't you love her too?” Emily asked.

“She's fun to watch,” Alex agreed. She and Ava had watched Madame Sibyl's reality show, but they always ended up laughing at the psychic. All her predictions seemed pretty wild.

“I can't believe she's here signing her new book at the Book Nook. I so want to meet her and get her autograph!” Emily bounced with excitement. “Don't you? And you can get one for Ava.”

“Sure,” Alex said uncertainly. She didn't tell Emily, but Ava had refused to come along. She said she didn't want an autograph of a charlatan. Alex had taught Ava that word last week. Alex loved vocabulary words. She collected them the way some girls collected nail polish or lip gloss. And she always shared her new words with her family—whether they wanted to hear them or not.

Alex wasn't sure whether Madame Sibyl was a charlatan, or a fake, but she was happy to keep Emily company. And go shopping.

“The signing doesn't start for another fifteen minutes. Can we make a detour?” Alex asked.

“I don't want to be late,” Emily replied.

“Pretty please? I'll be fast. I need to get my dad a birthday present.” Alex pointed to Mangia Bene, a store with brightly colored kitchen utensils. Baking was her dad's second love, after football.

“Okay, but let's hurry,” said Emily, ushering Alex into the store.

Alex walked quickly through the aisles, inspecting baking pans, waffle makers, and food processors. “This store is making me hungry,” she said. “We should go eat.”

“No way! Madame Sibyl is only here for a short time,” Emily reminded her.

“One more second,” Alex said, still searching. Then she whooped when she spotted the perfect gift. She held up a football-shaped spatula. “Dad will flip! Get it?”

“Got it. It's excellent,” Emily agreed. “Now buy it. Come on!”

Alex quickly paid, and they raced to the bookstore. A line snaked around the signing area. They stood behind an old woman with white hair and hot-pink sneakers.

Alex craned her neck to see Madame Sibyl. She was young and fashionable. Her ebony hair was piled in a messy topknot, and she wore scarlet lipstick, but she looked smaller in person than on TV.

“This is going to take a while,” Alex said. “I'm hungry. How about I run to the food court and get us some snacks?”

“Oh, no! You have to wait with me. You can't miss meeting her,” Emily said. “Besides, the line's moving fast.”

Alex groaned. “I may wither without food,” she half joked.

“Hello, girls,” a bookstore employee greeted them. He was dressed in all black except for green cowboy boots. His name tag read
HANK
. “I'm selling Madame Sibyl's book, so you're all ready to go when it's your turn to get her autograph.”

“Oh, yes!” Emily cried, pulling money from her wallet.

“How about you?” Hank held a thick book out to Alex.

“No, thanks,” she said.

“Why not, Alex?” Emily asked.

“She's not my thing. I'll read yours,” Alex promised.

“No one's touching my book after Madame Sibyl touches it!” Emily warned.

Suddenly Alex understood why Lindsey said Emily was obsessed.

“I'll just say hi to her then.” Alex waved Hank away.

“I wonder what she'll tell me.” Emily stared at the book's glossy cover.
The Power
was written in bold silver letters. “I hope she sees good things in my future.”

“A boyfriend? Fame? Fortune?” Alex asked.

“All of it and more!” Emily giggled.

“Watch out, world, here comes Emily!” Alex teased. “Soon you'll be on the cover of every magazine from Hollywood to New York.”

“Wait, I almost forgot. I have news,” Emily said. “There's going to be a new girl in school on Monday. And she's from New York City!”

“How do you know that?” Alex asked.

“Mrs. Schiller told Mrs. Navarro, and Mrs. Navarro told my mom,” Emily explained.

“Of course!” Alex laughed. Moms were always warning their kids not to gossip, yet they seemed to gossip most of all. “So who is she?”

“Her name is Charlotte Huang. That's all I really know. I bet she'll be cool, since she's from New York,” Emily said.

“Really? And what did you think I was going to be like when you heard I was moving here from Massachusetts?” Alex asked playfully.

“Oh, super cool,” Emily assured her. “Actually, we thought it was cool that your dad was coming back to Texas to coach football.”

Alex nodded. Her dad had grown up in Texas.

“Ohhh!” Emily suddenly squealed. “We're next.”

Alex stood next to Emily as they approached the table. Madame Sibyl wore tight white jeans, a sparkly silver tank top, and strappy silver heels. Alex thought she looked totally cute—but a little overdressed for a Saturday afternoon book signing in a mall.

“Girls, girls, how wonderful of you to come. I love my young fans,” Madame Sibyl said, reaching for Emily's book.

Her throaty voice sounded the same as it did on TV. Alex had never been this close to a TV star before.

“C-can you sign it to Emily? That's me,” Emily said quietly. “I, uh, watch your show.”

Alex gazed at her friend in surprise. Was Emily nervous?

“She has watched
all
your shows a
zillion
times!” Alex blurted out.

“A true fan!” Sibyl smiled. “I will write that.”

Emily blushed and stared wide-eyed as Sibyl's pen scrawled across the book's title page.

“And what about you?” Sibyl turned her gaze to Alex. “Not a true fan?”

“Uh, no, I mean, I watch . . .” Alex fumbled.

“But you didn't buy a book?”

Now it was Alex's turn to blush. “Moral support. I came along for my friend.”

Madame Sibyl arched one thin eyebrow. “I would think a girl like you would be interested in my book.”

“Excuse me?” Alex said.

“You are a good friend. But you are an even better sister, no?” Madame Sibyl's voice was so low, Alex had to lean forward.

“What?” A nervous giggle escaped Alex's lips.

“You are strong, my dear, but together with your twin you are even stronger.” Sibyl's dark eyes bored into Alex's.

A familiar shiver made its way down Alex's back. “How do you know I'm a twin?” she asked.

“I can sense we share the Power, but yours is twice as strong because there are two of you. The Power of Two.” She reached out and grabbed both of Alex's hands. “Can't you feel it?”

Alex pulled back and blinked rapidly. Beside her, Emily gasped.

“Sibyl?” Hank stepped in between them. “You're scheduled for a break. There's coffee in the manager's office.” He turned to the rest of the line. “She'll be back soon, y'all.”

Alex stared after Sibyl as she followed Hank to the back of the store.

Suddenly the air grew hot and suffocating. Alex's lungs contracted and her hands shook. She needed to get out. Whirling around, she headed for the exit that led into the mall.

“Oh my God. Oh my God,” Emily repeated as she followed Alex.

“What was that all about?” Alex asked, stopping next to the indoor fountain. She took several deep, calming breaths. Nearby, a little boy tossed a penny in for luck.

“She connected with you,” Emily said in awe.

“I have no idea what that means,” Alex scoffed.

“She psychically sensed that you were a twin,” Emily said.

Alex shook her head. “Oh, please! We're in Ashland. Everyone in this town knows I'm one of Coach Sackett's twin daughters.”

Emily pointed to the bio written on the book's back cover. “Sibyl isn't from Texas. She's from Louisiana.”

Alex gulped. She didn't have an answer for that.

“She said you have powers.” Emily began bouncing on her toes with excitement. “Do you? Have you ever done anything psychic?”

“Of course not!” Alex laughed. “The woman is a fraud.”

But as she said it, she thought back to yesterday. Wishing for Ava in the storm. The Spelling Bee.

Her stomach tightened.

“That would be so cool if you had the Power like Madame Sibyl,” Emily said.

“I don't,” Alex said. “I wish Ava were here. She would have totally laughed at Sibyl.”

At that moment, her phone dinged
.
Alex gazed at the incoming text.

“It's from Ava,” she said quietly.

“What?” cried Emily. “What does it say?”

Alex could barely get the words out. “Ava's text says, ‘I'm here.' ”

Emily sucked in her breath. “Whoa! You just wished that! You and Ava do have the Power!”

Alex texted back.

Where are you???

Mom and I are waiting in the car by the door next to the art supply store. Hurry up. I'm hungry!!!!