Midnight Magic, page 97
“Adalaine!” Victor shouts. “Are you crazy? You know better than to interrupt someone in the middle of a spell!”
“I’m not going with you.”
“Yes, you are.”
“No, I’m not.” I glare at him. He takes a step closer, getting in my space. His body is so close that I can feel the heat of him against my own.
“You are coming with us, there is no other option,” he says firmly, and I take a step back, feeling like I can’t breathe. Vance takes my hand and pulls me out of the room while Victor works to get my stuff packed.
“It’s for the best, Adi,” he says softly. “You can still come to classes, but you don’t need the stress of this place. Your father would be so upset.”
Tears burn at my eyes. “You don’t understand, Vance. Leaving is just going to make them all hate me more.” He moves in front of me, letting go of my hand and placing his on my hips, and I look up at him.
“Then let them hate you. A couple more years and you won’t have to worry about them at all. This will be a good thing. We’ll take care of you.” He presses a kiss to my forehead and I lean into him. He slides his hand up my back and hugs me tightly.
I’ve always felt safe with them and maybe moving in with them is a good idea. I’m sure it’ll cause all sorts of new rumors, but who cares? Can’t be worse than what they already say about me, can it? I guess this isn’t the worst thing to happen to me.
I hear the shuffling of items and know Victor’s got his spell going.
He comes out a few minutes later with one giant suitcase. I glance into my room and it’s completely empty, all except the bed, dressers, and desk.
“I can’t wait until I can do that.” I wipe my eyes and give Victor a smile. “Thank you.”
He holds his arm out and I move to him. He wraps it around my shoulder and pulls me close. Gods, how I missed this. Missed having them to go to when I needed them. Why didn’t I think of this sooner? Not the moving in with them part, but the support part.
Though thoughts of moving in with them does bring a smile to my face. I can shower without issue. Sleep later and not worry about missing meals. I’ll be able to study without getting interrupted, and the overall atmosphere will be better. They’re gone most of the day since the shop has long hours, so I’ll have the house to myself…
“Where am I going to sleep? I don’t want to mess up your lives.”
What I don’t want, is to feel like a third wheel. I do not want to interrupt whatever routine they have with each other.
“You can have my room,” Vance says. “I’ll stay on the couch.”
“No,” I say. “I’ll go on the couch. You—”
Wait… his room? Don’t they share a room? Maybe they aren’t there yet?
“Nope, it’s already been discussed. I sleep on the couch most nights anyway.”
“What? Why?” I ask.
“Too many video games,” Victor says with a smile. Vance shrugs and doesn’t deny it.
Not wanting to dig into their business, I leave it as that. If they’re going to be nice enough to let me stay with them, the least I can do is mind my own business.
“Are you guys sure about this?” I ask as we reach the door to leave the school. It’s still early and it’s Saturday, so most of the girls are probably still sleeping or not home at all, especially after the party last night.
“Adi, we are positive. You should have stayed with us from when we first saw you at the beginning of the year.”
That would have been so nice. I let out a sigh. “Okay, as long as you’re sure…”
Vance pushes the doors open and I step out into the cool morning air, the sun shining brightly. We make our way to the parking lot and get inside Vance’s car.
There are no traveling portals on campus since none of the students can use them on their own. It would do nothing but cause problems, giving kids reasons to break rules, so they don’t have them here at all. The teachers drive in either with their own vehicle, carpooling, or a taxi service, and students who don’t live here have to get dropped off by their parents since they don’t allow students to park their cars here… The rules are a little outrageous, but I guess I can understand why they do it.
Victor puts the suitcase in the trunk, and I get in the front, resting my head back against the headrest and shutting my eyes.
Soon enough, we’re pulling up in front of Victor and Vance’s house. I’ve been here before, but only a few times for dinner, and I’ve never stayed overnight.
I glance at Vance in the driver’s seat… are they really dating each other? I mean, I’m fine with it. You’re allowed to love whoever you want, but why don’t they act like they’re together then? That’s what I find to be the most strange. And when did that happen? I remember them dating people when we were younger, but nothing since I’ve been here in school—which I guess hasn’t been all that long. Less than a year. They could have been dating someone? I wish we were close like we used to be, but there isn’t enough time in the day. Though one of the best things about me moving in is that we’ll get there again.
I just know it.
We were close before. The three of us were best friends and did everything together when we were young, regardless of my being younger than them, and I’m confident we’re going to have that again.
Well, living with them is certainly going to answer a lot of questions for me, and raise about a hundred more, I bet.
We get out of the car and Victor carries my suitcase inside and stops at the stairs.
“Vance will make you breakfast, I’m going to unpack your clothes and school stuff. The rest will have to stay in here for now, but if you need anything just tell me. It won’t be hard to get.” I nod and follow Vance into the small kitchen where he starts to pull ingredients out of the fridge and place them on the counter.
“If you want to come to the shop later, I have the stone you needed.”
“Thanks,” I say, taking a seat. My head is starting to hurt and I could really use a nap.
He gets to work on making breakfast and soon enough a plate of eggs and bacon is placed down in front of me, along with orange juice. “After you eat, go upstairs and get some sleep. We’re heading out to the shop. You can come by when you wake up if you want. Hang out or something. Or stay here, whatever you want to do. Call if you want a ride, you can use the phone here for whatever you need.”
I nod, feeling way too tired for words. Vance leaves me alone in the kitchen and I start to eat. The food is so good. I can’t remember the last time I ate something this flavorful.
I guess I could get used to this…
CHAPTER 10
It’s Monday before I know it and the weekend goes by relatively smoothly. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I’d worried about everything going wrong. Me constantly getting in their way, doing something I shouldn’t, walking in on them… doing things. Thankfully none of that happened.
Victor dropped me off at school this morning since Vance tends to sleep in late. I saw him on the couch this morning and felt guilty for taking up his space. He didn’t look very comfortable, but Victor, as if he can read my mind, assured me he was fine and it’s normal for him to sleep there. I almost asked why they don’t sleep together, but kept my mouth shut.
It’s none of your business, Adalaine.
I keep telling myself this when a question pops into my head. Before leaving the car, I told Victor I’d meet them at the shop after detention and just ride home with them. Helping out at the shop is the least I can do, considering what they’re doing for me.
“Oh, look, it’s the little slut,” Arigold says as I walk by on my way to the headmistress’s office.
“First she tries to get naked in front of both schools, now she’s sleeping with two older men,” Gialee responds, looking at me with a raised eyebrow.
“Gross,” Arigold adds, pointing to the back of her throat and mocking a gag.
I think of responding to them, but it’s not worth it. The more I ignore them, the better it’ll be. They’ll soon forget about me. They can’t torment me as much in class as they could during our free time, which I’m no longer here for. They’ll grow bored of it eventually; I just need to keep my mouth shut when they spew their hateful comments at me.
Even if they did know about Victor and Vance dating one another, they’d still say the same thing about me, so nothing I can say will stop it.
I’ve been hearing comments like that all day though. Every girl I pass has some sort of slut comment to throw at me. At this point, I’m expecting them and they’re no longer shocking. I am impressed by some of the creative things they’ve come up with. A few comments about the day have been quite comical.
Mentions of me giving sex for money—cliché.
Taking it up the butt—not original.
Sucks dick so good I’d win a prize—where’s my trophy?
In fact, I hear two more comments on my way to the headmistress’s office, but barely register what they are.
I’m too eager to get this spell and everything I need for it.
It’ll be difficult to complete it now that I’m living with Victor and Vance, but I still plan on going through with it. These girls need to see how it feels. I’ve put up with them for so long, tried to ignore everything they’ve done to me, but after that last stunt in the woods, I’m angry. That is crossing a line. I can handle the comments, handle the pranks, even having to walk through the halls in nothing but a shower curtain, I can handle it. But trying to strip me naked in the middle of the woods for all to see? That’s too much. If Victor and Vance hadn’t of showed up, how far would they have gone? Taken all my clothes? Would that have been the end of it though? Or was there more planned? The thought makes me sick. They could have done anything to me out there.
Anything.
I’m glad I escaped with my life and that I was unharmed entirely.
And after hearing my ghost friend’s story, I can’t let it go. There is so much anger in this world from people being picked up, and it’s awful and unnecessary. Someone needs to fight against them. Knowing I could be in that ghost’s shoes makes me sick.
The only people I have who care about me are Victor and Vance, but how long would they have looked if I had disappeared for good?
I’d like to think forever, but I can’t be certain about that.
As I step into the office, I’m greeted by Wentzel with a wave. He’s on the phone, so he mouths a “hello.” I wave back and drop my bag by his desk quietly, catching sight of the headmistress almost immediately as her door has been left open.
Wentzel covers the bottom of the phone with his hand and speaks in a low whisper. “She’ll be off the call in a few. She said to start out here first.”
I nod and grab the supplies from the back closet. My routine every day has been just about the same. Cleaning with a side of cleaning. Oh, and more cleaning.
It’s not about the place being messy—because I’d eat off every inch of this place at this point—it’s about her having power over me and the ability to make me do something that doesn’t need to be done. She’s just as bad as the girls who go here, and I bet she was a bully when she was in school. As I dust the shelves, my stomach drops at the thought of that book being gone. Why hadn’t I thought of that possibility before?
That won’t be good at all. How will I get the spell then?
Or what if the headmistress never leaves her office? The thought has me working quicker, wanting to finish up out here so I have to go in there. No way will she let me go early….
“I’m gonna be here for a while, have her go home when she’s done out there. Come back tomorrow.”
The headmistress’s words have me freezing in place and my body going cold.
No way.
Of all days for her to do something she would never, ever do, it has to be today?
I need that spell!
Wentezel looks at me with a raised brow and I nod. “I heard her,” I whisper.
“Shouldn’t that be good news?” he asks so quietly that I’m reading his lips more than hearing his words.
“Oh, it is. I just hate how she has to shout it.”
He nods. “Yes, I understand. Okay, well Thursday it is then. I guess there is no other choice. I assume the shipping fee will be back at its normal price then? Fabulous. I sure will. Have a nice day.” He hangs up the phone before standing and gathering his things. “I’m out for the day. Just leave when you’re all set,” he says to me as he puts on his suit jacket. It’s a navy blue that looks very nice with his gray slacks.
“Thanks, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Good night!” He waves and leaves the office. Lucky him, he gets to go home. I have no idea why he stays at this job. He must get paid good money to put up with Headmistress Flerowitz all day.
I finish cleaning out here quickly. If I have no chance of getting that spell tonight, I may as well just leave early then. After grabbing all of my things, I head straight to the shop and hang out with Victor and Vance until it closes. I stay behind the counter and work on homework as they restock, take inventory, and clean. I offered to help but they refused, telling me I need to focus on school.
This kind of life is going to be hard to give up when I graduate.
* * *
*.*.*.*.*
* * *
It takes over a week of detention before I’m able to even look at the book again. I’ve gone through a myriad of emotions over it, and even considered breaking into her office, which is a little nuts, I know.
She finally steps out for a meeting, and I shoot right into the office, thankful to find the book still there. I get it opened but spend so much time just trying to find the right page that I only catch one other ingredient before the headmistress’s heel clicks can be heard.
I shove the book back under the shelves and hurriedly get to my feet and rush to the other corner just as she steps through the doorway.
“My meeting was canceled but I have some calls to make. You can finish up in here another time. In fact, just go home.” She dismisses me with a few flicks of her wrist. It needs no response, so I just grab my things and leave.
As I exit the doors of the school, I decide to take a detour before meeting the guys at the shop. I need something to lift my spirits because I’m in an awfully foul mood over this spell.
The cemetery is just through the woods, and it takes me a little over twenty minutes to walk there. I open my mouth to call for my friend, but then I remember I don’t know his name. I’m not going to just yell out “Hey, ghost!” or “Here, ghosty!” because I feel like that would be a little rude. It doesn’t matter much though because I make my way to his tree and he pops out almost immediately, effectively scaring me for the second time.
“You scared me,” I say, placing a hand on my chest and taking a breath.
“Sorry.” He smiles his half smile that’s starting to become a little adorable. “I came up with a name!”
“You did?” I take a seat and lean back against the tree, excited to hear what he’s come up with. “What did you pick?”
“Theodore Felix Watts,” he says proudly. I raise a brow.
“That’s quite the name.”
“My mother’s name was Theodora…” he adds quietly, placing his hands behind his back.
“You… you remember your mother’s name but not your own?” My heart squeezes at how sad that really is. He nods.
“I wish I knew why.”
I pat the ground beside me and he takes a seat. I have this strange urge to put my hand through him.
“You can do it if you want, it doesn’t hurt.”
My mouth falls open. “Can you read my thoughts?”
He chuckles. “No, it’s just a normal question.”
“I don’t want to be rude…”
“It’s not rude.” He turns to look at me. “I really don’t mind. Can’t even feel it.”
“Okay.” I reach my hand forward slowly, the closer I get, the colder the air feels. I put it through his shoulder and he yelps in pain. I jerk my hand away so hard I almost fall back and have to catch myself.
The air is filled with his laughter and I can’t even be mad. That was a good one.
I right myself and start laughing too. After a few minutes, we catch our breath and settle down.
“I’m sorry, I had to do it.”
“You know, I can’t even blame you. I’d probably do the same.”
“Okay, really this time, go ahead.” He holds out his hand and I reach forward again, that cool air hitting my skin. Once I go through him, the air is even colder. Like I’ve stuck my hand in a freezer, but it also feels sort of wet, almost like mist. “Is it what you thought?” he asks, and I pull my hand back, turning it over to look at it. It looks no different than it did before.
“I don’t know what I thought.” I look up at him and shrug.
“What brings you here today? Are you sad again?”
“I think I’m in a constant state of sad.”
“That’s… sad.”
We stare at each other before breaking out into laughter again.
“Actually, I was hoping you could do me a favor.”
“A favor?” he asks. “I can try.”
I take a deep breath before explaining that I need his help to get the ingredients and spell from the book.
He nods happily. “I can definitely do that. But you’d have to leave the book open to the page since I can’t touch it. Do you think you can do that?”
“That should be easy enough.” My stomach growls and we both look at it. “I should probably get going.” I think of making a joke about eating but think better of it. Hopefully food is something he’s forgotten about. I can’t imagine knowing food exists but not being able to enjoy it. I get to my feet and brush off my butt. “I’ll come back to visit again, and we can make plans for the book?”
He stands, fidgeting with his fingers and I wonder if he can feel that…
“C–can I ask something before you go?” He doesn’t meet my eyes when he asks.
