"So, you gonna do it?" Charles asked Connor over pizza later that night. "Try out, I mean." Connor had just finished telling him about the soccer recruiter.
"I don't know. I never thought about becoming a professional athlete. I always thought I was going to end up behind a desk."
"Wouldn't hurt your business any, you know, the health club," Charles pointed out. "I mean, who'd you rather be trained by, a pro athlete or just some dude?"
"Good point," Connor said, making up his mind. It would be fun to get paid to do something he loved, so what did he have to lose? "I'd better get some rest if I'm going to be ready, so if you don't mind--" he stood up.
"Yeah, you'd better not hang out here too much anyway. Drew and Dylan are both acting like they have the flu or something."
Connor stopped. "In what way?"
"Oh, you know, tired, outta it, acting like they've got a stomach ache."
"Huh," Connor said. "That's interesting."
"Sure, if you're into germs," Charles said. "Later."
"Later," Connor said, and headed back to his car. On the way home he called Zuli. "Hey. Both Dylan and his roommate Drew might have been slipped a potion lately. I'm thinking Demelza may have started a business for herself."
"Huh," Zuli said. "That so."
"Yeah. Emily Roseland might be a customer. Who was the girl you saw Dylan with?"
"I don't know, but I aim to find out," she said. "Thanks, Connor. I'll let you know what I find."
"Well, be careful," he said. "Or she may decide you're her next victim."
"I'll be careful," Zuli said. "But that witch had better watch her back."
"I mean it, Zu."
"Yeah, yeah," she said. "Later."
Connor hung up the phone, troubled. He hoped he hadn't just done the wrong thing.
Next Chapter 