Page 33 of Violet

“No. But I know Screech. Everyone does.” I narrow my eyes at him. “Are you sure you invented it?”

Cash takes his phone out of his pocket, hits a few buttons, and starts to hand it to me. Then he pauses. “You do know how to use this, right?”

“Yeah.” I don’t quite meet his eyes.

It’s weird, because for the past year, I’ve been proud of what I accomplished. I’ve been able to shift into Violet and maintain her form all day, every day. I’ve managed to keep myself from shifting around Nole, and I never once gave in and half-shifted when it would have been easier. Plus, I’ve convinced all of Silver Springs—including actual seniors—that I’m an eighty-year-old librarian. And managed to hide from them.

I should be proud, shouldn’t I? Except, knowing that I outright lied to Cash—that I tricked him—just makes me feel guilty. And terrified, because now he knows the truth, and he literally holds my life in his hands.

“What am I looking at?” I ask when he hands me his phone.

“My Screech account. Proof that I’m—”

“Cash Howe,” I say as I stare at his verified profile.

He shrugs and takes back his phone. “I’m just mad I didn’t think of it first.”

“Think of what?”

“Your chameleon gig.” Cash shakes his head.

“What gig?”

“Didn’t Violet hire you to pose as her at work?” Cash asks.

I shake my head. I could lie and pretend she did, but honestly, what would be the point? If I want to convince him to keep my secret—and help me keep my identity hidden—I’m going to have to tell him the whole truth.

“Wait, so you’re not a chameleon for hire?” he asks.

“What does that even mean?” I ask. “Wait, are you calling me a prostitute?”

“Of course not!” He shakes his head vehemently. “Wait, you are a chameleon, aren’t you?”

“I thought it was obvious.” I roll my eyes and shift into Cash.

He grins in relief. ”But you weren’t posing as Violet at work?”

“I—” I hesitate.

“Violet’s been working at Spell Library since we moved here,” Violet answers for me.

Cash looks between us.

“Wait, so you’re both Violets?” he asks. “How is that possible?”

“Young people these days,” Violet mutters. Twenty points. Not that she needs them, since she’s exactly who she says she is. “Both our parents named us Violet. It happens, you know.”

Cash chuckles, not seeming the least bit insulted. “So you don’t work for an agency? You don’t work with other chameleons?”

I shake my head, and Cash suddenly grabs me by the waist. I yelp as he lifts me in the air and spins me around and around, a huge grin on his face.

“Cash, put me down!” I shriek. “Would you please explain what’s going on?”

“You are a genius, little furry!” he cries. “I need to make sure it hasn’t been invented yet. If I don’t, it’ll be bugging me all night.”

“What will? You’re not making any sense!” I cry as he pulls out his phone.

“Chameleon for Hire!” Cash says. I open my mouth to speak, but he quickly cuts me off. “I’ll name it something else. Hire a Chameleon? Clone Yourself For a Day?”