THE RED DIAMONDS WITCHES

CLASSMATES

CHAPTER TWO

CLASSMATES

In just twenty-four hours, I found out that my mom was missing.

Two girls I didn't even know were in my house.

They claimed they knew me because of their mother, but apparently, their own mother was missing too.

And somehow, they had come to me to find out if I knew anything about where their mothers had gone.

Of course, I told them to leave first thing in the morning.

But no.

Instead, they decided to enroll themselves in my school.

I’m Aria—the dork girl of Bridge High.

I have lived my whole life with my mom. Just the two of us.

Until I woke up one morning and discovered that she was gone.

No note.

No message.

Nothing.

I had no idea where she was.

The worst part?

Two complete strangers were now sitting in my house, telling me that we were the three destined witches.

Witches.

Seriously?

I was the typical teenage dork girl.

I wore glasses.

I had brown eyes and brunette hair.

I was slim, average height, and probably the least interesting person in Bridge High.

My life had always been simple.

School.

Homework.

My mom.

Repeat.

There was nothing magical about it.

So when Serene and Maya started talking about witch spells and some mysterious spell book, I knew they had to be crazy.

Still, I went to school that morning.

I told myself that my mom probably just needed some time away.

Maybe she had gone on vacation.

Maybe she would come back before dinner.

I refused to believe those girls.

Especially their ridiculous story about witches.

I walked into my classroom.

Unlike the two strangers in my house, everyone here was familiar.

These were my classmates.

People I had known for years.

I walked straight to my usual seat at the front of the classroom and dropped my bag beside my chair.

Then I pulled out my book.

Finally.

Normal.

I could forget everything that happened at home.

Or at least, I could try.

“Nice school.”

A voice suddenly came from beside me.

I jumped.

My book nearly fell out of my hands.

I slowly turned my head.

Serene and Maya were standing beside my desk.

I stared at them.

They smiled.

“Hi,” they said together, waving at me.

My mouth dropped open.

“What are you doing here?”

Serene pulled out the chair beside me.

“Come on, Aria. You actually thought we were babbling when we said we were the three destined witches?”

I immediately looked around the classroom.

“Shhh!”

I put a finger against my lips.

“Don't say that here!”

Serene frowned.

Then she leaned toward me.

“You shush.”

She placed a finger against her own lips.

Maya sighed.

“Both of you, behave.”

I stared at them.

How could they be so calm?

My entire life had suddenly turned upside down, and they were acting like this was completely normal.

“I can't have two strangers in my life,” I whispered.

Serene folded her arms.

“Trust me, we don't want you either.”

Maya's eyes widened.

“Serene! That's not nice.”

I didn't wait for another argument.

I grabbed my bag.

I was done.

Done with witches.

Done with strange girls.

Done with mysterious mothers.

And most importantly, done with Brooklyn.

I rushed out of the classroom.

My heart pounded as I ran down the hallway.

I couldn't stay here.

I couldn't stay at home.

I couldn't stay in Brooklyn.

I had to leave.

But there was one thing I couldn't run away from.

My mom.

I needed to find her.

No matter where she was.

No matter what those girls were hiding from me.

I was going to find my mom.

Even if I had to leave Brooklyn to do it.