Page 134 of With a Little Luck

Still—no reaction.

I climb up on the stage and tap her on the arm.

Trish startles and pulls off her headphones. Her eyes widen. “Jude! What are you doing here?” she cries, her southern accent even more stark when she yells. “No—wait, dumb question. You go here! Are you having a great time? It’s so good to see you! Oh, look, your sister’s here, too!” She waves at Pru behind me.335

“Trish, have you seen Ari?”

She fixes her eyes on me and shakes her head. “No, sweetheart. I thought she went to a private school?”

“She’s here somewhere. I need to find her.”

“Okay?” she says, looking at me, a question in her eyes.

I swallow hard. Gesture at her microphone. “Can I …”

Oh god.

“Do you think I could …”

Am I really doing this?

“Maybe …?”

Trish looks from me to the mic. “Oh!” she says. “Yeah, it’s all yours!”

Dammit. It would have been awesome if she’d said no.

Trish hands me the microphone, then turns down the music and gives me a go-ahead nod.

My stomach lurches as I grip the mic in one hand and face the crowd. The dancing comes to a stop. I haven’t even said anything yet, and people are turning to look with curious, somewhat annoyed, expressions. Their eyes sweep over my unconventional attire.

I clear my throat. I’m searching the crowd. For Ari. Or Ezra. But I don’t see either of them.

“Hey,” I say. My mouth is dry, and my voice falters. I’m strangling the microphone, all the while searching. Where is she? “Uh …” My gaze falls on Pru, who gestures at me with her hands, telling me to get on with it. Beside her, Quint is grimacing like he’s watching theDeath Startake out Alderaan and there’s nothing he can do about it.

And then there’s Maya, who has her elbow linked with Noah’s. And Matt, who’s giving me two thumbs up. And César, who puts his fingers in his mouth and whistles.

My adventurers. Who would storm any castle, invade any dungeon, take on any goblin horde. For once, they aren’t here for their story. They’re here formine.

I pull the dice out of my pocket and rub my finger over its familiar triangular planes.336

I am a Level 12 wizard, and I hold magic in my hand.

Please let this work.

I drop the dice, hearing it clatter on the stage by my feet.

Bolstered, I press on. “I’m sorry to interrupt the music, but I’m looking for Ari. Ari, are you here? I know this is awkward, but I really need to talk to you.”

People look around. First at their friends and dancing partners, then the crowd at large. Ari doesn’t go to our school. She came with me and Pru to last year’s bonfire party, but I don’t expect too many people to remember her from that.

“Ari?” I say again.

Someone in the back yells—“Ari’s not interested!”

I flinch.

Mortification is creeping over me. My face is burning. My stomach is writhing.

---