Today is the scariest day of my life. It's barely the start of my junior year, at a new school where everyone is already sorted into their cliques and I'm in the outliers. Of course, the art of popularity is complicated. I don't exactly care to be popular, but I'm most certainly not up for being the new kid with no friends two weeks after the school year has already started.

To be popular is difficult. You have to fit the aesthetic of the student body, which from what I've seen, is straight, glossy hair, expensive clothes and six pounds of makeup. I personally can't afford the crap they have on, but when you're a witch with a low moral compass when it comes to magical shoplifting, the price of designer clothes isn't a big issue.

What exactly do I mean by magical shoplifting? Well, if I have the right rhyme in mind and I know exactly what I want, it'll be there in my closet. However, in magic, everything comes from something, which means all of my ratty old sweaters and jeans are in a Versace store somewhere and my closet is full of runway-worthy clothes.

However, I'm also a crappy witch, and my new sexy wardrobe is thanks to my older cousin Aislynn. She's having her Samsorta this year, and I'll bet she's going to be the girl to lead the wonderment spell too. I, on the other hand am stuck doing megels every day because my mother refuses to give me a copy of the Authorized and Absolute Reference Handbook to- okay, screw that. My spellbook, basically. My older brother has one, my cousin has one, my mother and aunt have their own copies, but not me. I've always gotten the short end of the stick with magic. Even when I stole my brother's copy to try and learn some of the spells, I could never do them right. It appears the only spells I'm good at are teleportation spells, which while useful, aren't all that fun.

I sigh, and spray my hair with glitter. I look at the porcelain face in the mirror, the girl who's supposed to be the popular girl version of Taryn Logan, the girl who has to dress to impress to get anywhere in the cliques. When I walked into JFK High, I had to be popular.

"I hope you know that shit isn't gonna make you any friends."

I grit my teeth and turn to face Keith. "I don't care what you think."

"The feeling is mutual."

"Then go to work and leave me alone." I turn back to the mirror, my skin crawling.

Keith steps up behind me and yanks my hair back. I yell in pain and struggle.

"You know, maybe I should give that Versace store a call and tell them where all the clothes have disappeared off to. In fact, I have some pictures of all the missing clothes, right in your closet." He shoves me, and I bang my leg into the table. Keith laughs at me, then walks out of the room.

With tears in my eyes, I look down at my leg, which is thankfully not bleeding. I take a few breaths to compose myself, then gather up my stuff and grab the batteries off my desk.

"Take me to the place inside my mind,

the power of my fists shall ye bind!"

"Alright class, let's give a warm welcome to our new student, Taryn Logan."

I wave. "Hey. I'm Taryn, I'm seventeen and I'm from Los Angeles."

I see several girls perk up from that last statement. I only lived there for a year, but I had been pretty close to a lot of those high-end stores. Of course, I'd done some magical shoplifting there before we moved.

"Los Angeles, how interesting." Says the clearly uninterested teacher. "We do have one more seat in the back, next to Juliana."

I glance back at one of the two glamour girls in the back. The one the teacher points out waves and smiles at me, her teeth perfectly straight and white. Her hair is brown with amber highlights and she's wearing a black tank top paired with a gray denim jacket and skirt. She's clearly popular.

I sit down at the desk and lace my fingers together, resting my chin on them. The girl is trying to get my attention, but I'm pretty much lost in my own little world. I'm wondering if there are witches here. I'm wondering if I can pop over to Lozacea at lunch. I'm wondering when Aislynn is going to visit again.

Finally, I glance at the girl with a soft smile. "Hi. Did you need something?"

"I wanted to know if you'd like to sit with me and Melissa at lunch, today. We'd love to introduce you to the fashion show crew." Beside her, a redheaded girl smiles waved at me, dressed in black jeans and a navy blue long sleeved shirt.

"Sure, I'd love to. I just have to make a quick call first." And by quick call, I meant going to the caf at Lozacea and getting an orange chicken lunch. A witch should never subject her or himself to disgusting school lunches.

"Hey, hey! It's the Littlest Witch coming through!"

I roll my eyes as my cousin wraps her arms around me. She's wearing yet another one of her hundreds of halter tops and blue jeans. Somehow, she makes monotony popular.

"I am not little anymore, Aislynn." I say picking up my newly zapped-up P.F. Chang's takeout.

"You'll always be little to me. You and Keith both." She ruffles up my hair and I frown in annoyance. "Where are you running off to?"

"Back to school. The 'cool kids' want me to sit with them."

"I was wondering what happened to the real Taryn Logan." She makes that annoying 'tsk tsk' noise at me. "You shouldn't have to change yourself to make friends."

"Oh please, the only thing I've actually changed is the fact that I'm wearing make up. You know I 'secretly' like designer clothes and shoes. You know I'm not just trying to fit in." Of course, that was a total lie, but anything to get her off my back.

"I know, I just want you to be careful is all." She leans forward and lowers her voice. "We remember what happened in Los Angeles, right?"

"What happened back then has nothing to do with this. The only reason they liked me there was because I was open about my magic."

"And the only reason the kids here like you now is because of your clothes."

"That doesn't mean they can't like me for who I am as a person. It hasn't even been one day, Lynn. You have to give it time. I'm sure someone in the popular crowd is genuine."

She shrugs. "Maybe, but you can't always be sure."

I pat her arm. "I won't let the big mean kids get to me. So stop worrying, okay?"

My phone blips at me, and I open it up.

SMS from Jewel: Were r u?

"My presence is wanted in New York. I'll see you later." We hug again, and I run out the door.

"Taryn! Over here!"

I strut over to the center lunch table where a bunch of glossy girls and jocks are sitting. One girl in particular is dressed up in all purple.

"Jewel, who's your new friend?" Asks Barney the Dinosaur.

"I'm Taryn. From L.A." I keep it short and sweet and open up my takeout.

"Smart choice. The food here sucks." Melissa, the redhead from earlier says over a slice of white pizza.

"Yeah. I never eat the crap the schools serve. Even the lunches in L.A. suck."

"So, Taryn? Are you a good dancer?" Barney asks.

I shrug. I have rhythm, if the dance is choreographed, but freestyle? God no.

"Well, we do need dancers for the fashion show. What grade are you in?"

"11th."

"Cool."

The populars all talk amongst themselves, and I take the time to enjoy my orange chicken. I'd thought about getting some rice and kimchi, but I'd probably kill my one chance at popularity with a lunch as dank and funky as fermented spicy cabbage.

My phone blips again, and I open the text.

SMS from Aislynn: Look out the window

I look up, and see her on her broom, waving and smiling.

I love you! she mouths, then zooms off.

I giggle, then turn to Melissa, who's also staring at the window. She glances at me, a weird look on her face.

"Can I help you?" I raise an eyebrow, challenging her.

"I thought- never mind. So, Marianna…" she turns her attention back to the all-purple senior girl and I giggle again. She'd seen Aislynn, that much was obvious. She'd probably brush it off as her imagination running wild.

Whatever floated her boat.