by Zandra Pope
Jeremy blinked. He looked wounded as his hand holding the beer dropped to his side. “Sorry. I was just trying— ,”
“You’re an angel,” raved Ava sparkling more than the glitter on the floor. She grabbed the beer out of Jeremy’s hand. “You even opened it,” she smiled at him and took a sip. “It’s perfect.”
Jeremy’s shoulders sagged. He flicked a nervous glance in my direction and then walked away.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you hated the poor boy,” whispered Hannah.
“I don’t hate him. He was being weird.”
“Offering a girl a drink isn’t weird.”
“It is if you’re me.”
“Greta, you need massive amounts of therapy,” laughed Tabby.
“She does,” muttered Ava shaking her head in disgust. “That poor boy. You just shattered his fragile man ego.”
“What? No I didn’t. He’s a jerk anyway.”
I hadn’t ever shared the talk I had had with Jeremy. As far as I knew, no one else knew what he had done to Greg except me.
“Greta, you’ve liked him for years,” said Ava shaking her head. “What’s happening to you? You’re not any fun anymore.”
I felt horrible. Betrayed by my instincts yet again. I was hopeless with guys, but I felt defensive. “What was I supposed to do?”
“Take the beer, Greta.” Hannah rolled her eyes and acted like she was telling a two-year-old not to stick her finger in a light socket.
“I could get kicked out for underage drinking.”
“You could have a chance with Jeremy. It would have been worth it.” Hannah raised her eyebrows and fingered her blue and gold pendant before she headed off into the crowd.
“Jeremy doesn’t like me. He likes someone else,” I protested.
“Oh please. Teenage boys change crushes like they change their underwear. Hannah’s right, you should have accepted his peace offering.” Ava took a sip of beer and made a face. “Yuck. This tastes like warm ear wax.”
“I’m so sorry I didn’t accept it.” My sarcasm was clear.
“You know you are,” sang Ava surveying the crowd. “I see people I want to talk to. You want to tag along?”
“No, I’ll hang back. Get my bearings.” If she wanted me to ‘tag along’ she couldn’t have picked a worse way to say it.
A few minutes ticked by and the barn filled exponentially. I had no idea the school even had this many kids. It was wall-to-wall bodies. Magical sparks few through the room. Someone conjured a balloon drop. Not to be outdone, Ava conjured a cupcake drop. Everyone loved it, but I wished Ava didn’t have a compulsive need to be the center of attention. Lurking in the shadows of the barn, I was the opposite. I was less substantial than a ghost.
Bodies gyrated to the techno-dance music. It wasn’t my kind of music. I preferred harder, retro stuff, like Witches in Chains, Burning Stakes, and other music from the 90s. Everyone looked like they were having fun.
A lot of them were drinking beer.
I glimpsed Ava. She had a bottle of Batty now. If she got drunk her magic — including the makeover she had cast on me — would become unpredictable. It could wear off revealing my injuries from the night and increasing the chance that Knavish would discover that I had been the one who overheard him.
A commotion caught my eye. Ava climbed on to the snack table. Her face was radiant. She looked so alive. “Let’s have a masquerade ball!”
Everyone on the floor cheered.
At Ava’s word, the room shimmered and transformed into a majestic ballroom. Even though everyone else was magical, there was a gasp of amazement. For someone of her age and training, Ava’s magical ability was without peer. No one else could transform a room like this.
I ran my fingers along the wall. The barn disappeared. She had replaced the dusty, worm-eaten walls with shimmering gold. The glitter-covered floor was marble and pulsing light. Candles on sconces lined the walls and cast a warm, elegant glow around the room. A real D.J. appeared on a raised dais complete with a turntable and sound system.
The snack table Ava was standing on transformed into a stunning party spread with foods like sushi, caviar, stuffed mushrooms, and beef tenderloin medallions. She replaced the golden punchbowl with margarita glasses filled with glowing green liquid. A catwalk appeared overhead, and a stairway labeled: VIP access only. A bouncer stood at the base of the stairs next to a velvet rope barring anyone who wasn’t a VIP.
The barn looked like an exclusive New York club.
But that wasn’t all.
Ava took it upon herself to gift everyone with a masquerade costume. The girls seemed emerge from a personal consultation with Cinderella’s fairy godmother. Exquisite dresses bloomed from the floor and wrapped around them. Dancing shoes made of Italian leather, silk stockings, and ornate masquerade masks completed the look. The guys were next. Ava dressed them with incredible creativity, taking into consideration personalities, likes, dislikes, and in less than a minute, had transformed every guy on the dance floor.
I caught Ava looking at me. She swayed, a little tipsy from the beer, no doubt. She raised her eyebrows — a question to me. Did I want to join the fun?
I crossed my arms and pursed my lips. With a slow shake of my head, I told her - no.
She narrowed her eyes, threatening me with fun. Saying with her look, everyone else is doing it.
I scanned the room again. The noise level ramped up. The outlandish costumes gave the revelers new energy. With a mask, I could be anyone. A new layer of pretend over my tired, worn layer.
I uncrossed my arms and met Ava’s gaze with a hesitant smile and a slight nod.
She beamed.
The fist of anxiety gripped my stomach. What had I agreed to? What would she do? I tried to meet her gaze again and warn her not to go overboard. But her eyes were closed.
Her magic swirled around me. It felt different. It was bolder, unchecked. I gasped as her raw power overshadowed me. In that moment, I understood she wasn’t just powerful, she had the potential to be very dangerous.
My body felt like it was being pushed through a meat grinder. I couldn’t imagine this was what everyone else had gone through to get into costume. I tried to scream, but no sound came out.
In an instant, it was over. I staggered against the wall behind me, grabbed hold and caught my breath. What had she done?
18
A hazy gray gown, the color of cornflowers at dusk, floated around me. I reached for the hem of my skirt and my hand slipped right through it. Ava had magicked me into a gown of mist. Daring and scandalous.
A mask covered my eyes. Sparkling glass slippers peeked out from under the misty hem.
She was going full-on Cinderella with me, minus the evil step-sisters. I couldn’t hold back a smile.
Edging onto the dance floor, people bumped against me as they gyrated to the music. Ava was in the middle of the dance floor spinning in circles with her arms outstretched.
“Isn’t this amazing?” she cried.
“It’s — beautiful.”
She stopped spinning and grabbed my hands. She skipped me around the room, delight blazing in her eyes. My dress swirled around me, somehow keeping me covered.
“Thank you, Greta. I needed this. Didn’t you? Don’t you feel so much freer?”
I hated to admit it, I felt better than I had in weeks. With a costume and a mask I felt — safe.
“It’s fun. I have to admit. It’s fun.”
“Here,” she loosed one of her hands from mine, snapped her fingers, and a frosty bottle of Singed Sorceress Amber Ale appeared. She handed it to me.
“The best beer.”
This was definitely against the rules. My underage tipsy sister was conjuring beer without a license.
“Come on,” she urged with a grin. “Don’t make me break the rules for nothing. Try it.”
I sipped. It was buttery and cool with a bite of heat in the back of my throat. “This stuff is fantastic.”
“Yup, I
had one earlier.”
Wait. That made at least three beers. “How many have you had?”
She threw her head back and laughed. “Relax, Mom. I’m totally fine.”
You’d think I’d be happy that Ava was so joyous and free. I wasn’t. I felt guilty. She’d be like this all the time if it wasn’t for me. I was a chain anchoring her to port when she needed to explore. I was a pin holding her butterfly to the paper.
Ava glanced over my shoulder. She grinned her scheming grin. With her magic, she slowed the tempo of the music to slow and sensual. The lights dimmed.
“Would you care to dance, m’lady?” Jeremy tapped my bare shoulder.
I hadn’t noticed until just now that my gown was held up my magic, not straps or sleeves. Ava plucked the beer from my fingers and waved goodbye with a mischievous grin.
“That’s a great choice of drink. The finest.,” Jeremy said.
Ava had costumed him in a white tuxedo with a black shirt. It was very chic and coordinated perfectly with his matte black eye mask.
He took me in his arms and pulled me against his chest. He was more intoxicating than the beer. I shivered against him, wishing Ava had dressed me in something more substantial than mist. The barn suddenly felt cold.
I wondered if he knew who I was. My mask emboldened me. I lowered my voice, hoping to disguise it enough that he wouldn’t recognize me.
“Not as smart as me.”
Jeremy laughed. His rich baritone rumbled through me and made my knees weak. “You must be new here.”
I saw my in. “I am. Just started.”
“Ava is unique. She has no equal.”
“I’ve heard. I plan to give her a run for her money.”
His dark eyebrows arched over his mask and a smile played on his luscious lips. “I can’t wait to see this play out.”
“Oh. It will be quite a show,” I said. I conjured confidence like Ava had conjured this masquerade.
He scanned the room over my head.
“Am I not doing enough to hold your attention?” I teased.
He met my eyes, “Just looking for a friend.”
“What’s her name?”
“Greta.”
My heart fluttered at the sound of my name on Jeremy’s lips. “What?”
“Ava has a sister named Greta. She wasn’t having much fun.”
“You were checking up on her?”
“Yeah.” He shrugged.
“She must be something special to hold your attention.”
Jeremy was quiet for a few beats. “Greta is her own person. That’s for sure.”
“Was she the odd looking girl standing in the corner the entire night?” I asked.
“You’re an interesting dance partner. You want to talk about other girls instead of yourself,” he whispered into my ear.
Swallowing my heart, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled his ear toward my lips. “What do you want to know?” I whispered back.
“What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?”
I giggled. He whispered seductively in my ear, asking about ice cream.
“Peaches and cream,” I said.
“To match your lovely skin.”
It was my turn to blush. “You’re a slick guy,” I said a little too caustically. Dropping character for a moment had caused him to loosen his hold on me. I felt him tense just a little.
“Sorry,” I giggled. “That was the beer talking.” Even though it was totally not the beer. I had a sip or two out of the bottle before Ava had taken it. The caustic me was the real me.
Jeremy drew me in again and then spun me around. I was a princess who had found Prince Charming. I didn’t want the night to end.
Jeremy and I paused at the end of the song. “Can I get you anything?” he offered.
Ava materialized at my elbow. “There you are Henrietta.”
I wanted to groan. She was drunk. Henrietta was the name of my imaginary friend when we were little.
Ava was not playing fair.
“Oh, hello,” I said. “What was your name again?”
“AVA,” she shouted and then she spelled it for me. “Just in case you didn’t know how to spell it.”
A smile played on his lips. He was so completely kissable. I didn’t know how to kiss, but I did know who to kiss.
“Hen,” said Ava making a move to tug drunkenly at my dress.
“Careful,” I joked as her hand passed through it. “It’s only held on with a little magic.”
Ava snorted and swore. “It’s held on by a ton of magic, girl. Mine!” She snapped her fingers and golden threads sprouted from the top of my misty-gray bodice and wrapped around my shoulders and neck like a gorgeous necklace intertwined with my dress.
“Very nice,” said Jeremy looked at me appreciatively.
“Thanks,” said Ava.
“I was talking to Henrietta,” he said with a wink at me.
I wanted to die. No, not die. I wanted to yell from the top of the barn that Jeremy liked me until I remembered that he thought I was a new student named Henrietta. I had to stifle another groan. Henrietta. What the heck, Ava?
“Hey, I’ll be right back,” I said to Jeremy as I grabbed Ava’s upper arm.
“What’s got your panties in a knot,” Ava complained as she stumbled behind me.
“You do.”
“Oh, I’m just having fun. I’ll tell him it’s you. It’s okay.” Her words were a little slurred.
“No, you can’t,” I said panicked.
Her eyes widened. “Are you actually having fun?”
“Stop. No. I mean, yes. Listen, do me a huge favor.”
Ava bowed. “I am the most powerful magician in the land. I’m a sorceress. Who knows?” She was so tipsy she was getting off track.
I snapped my fingers in front of her eyes.
“Ava. Stay with me. I need you to change me. Enhance me. Can you do it?”
She clapped her hands and jumped up and down. “Oh my gosh! Yes! Yes! Yes!”
“Listen. Are you listening?”
She stopped jumping and stared at me with all her concentration. “I’m listening to all your words.”
“I need to look like a different girl. Like Henrietta.”
“Henrietta isn’t real, Greta.”
“I know that. I need her to be. Jeremy likes her.”
“No. He likes you.”
“Ava. Please. Why would anyone ever like me? He didn’t dance with me all night. Not until you gave me the amazing dress and this mask.”
“He didn’t dance with you because you crushed his manhood. It had nothing to do with your masquerade dress or mask.”
I brushed it off. She was too tipsy to understand.
“Can you change me?”
“I’m more powerful than anyone.” When she said ‘anyone’ she threw her arms into the air and shouted.
“Quiet,” I hissed, grabbing one of her arms and pushing it down. “Can you try to be subtle?”
“I’m always subtle,” she grumbled. Her voice became higher as she imitated me. “Ava, don’t stand out. Ava, don’t draw attention. Ava, don’t break any rules.” She leveled her gaze at me. “I like attention. I like to stand out.”
She was becoming a drunk beast. I had heard about this happening. Some people were overly friendly when they were drunk. Others were sad or angry. Ava went on a power trip.
“Ava, you are my best friend. I’m so sorry that I’ve dragged you down.” Thinking fast, I wondered if I could get her to change me if I played up my new-found, party-girl side. “You’re right. From now on, no more wet blanket. No more worry. We’ll be the fun sisters.”
“Hell yeah!” Ava pumped her fist in the air.
I cringed at her drunken enthusiasm. “Can you change me into a gorgeous, exotic, incredible girl?”
Ava snapped her fingers. “Yup.” She stumbled a little, and I held out my hands to steady her.
“Maybe lay off the beer?”
She
put her fingers to her lips and said in a hushed voice, “I gotta be honest with ya. The margaritas are the real problem, Hen. Very potent. Very.”
“Okay. I’m ready.” I braced myself.
“Did it.”
“Did what?”
“Changed you.”
“What? When?”
“Oh, back when I gave you the dress.”
“What the hell, Ava?”
She giggled. “You’re welcome.” She turned unsteadily and shimmied back to the dance floor.
“I didn’t thank you,” I shouted after her.
19
My watch alarm buzzed at midnight. I was having too much fun to care.
Jeremy and I danced. He was mine. Ava was a whirlwind of magic and laughter. Even if I had been having the worst time ever, I wouldn’t have dragged Ava away.
Ava caught my eye from across the room. She had switched to water. She held up a water bottle and mouthed the words, “Cheers, Mom.”
I rolled my eyes and pulled Jeremy in for a close dance. He nuzzled his face into my hair. My heart flew. My whole being flew. I was so in love with tonight. With the world.
And with being Henrietta.
If only Ava had picked a more elegant name. Oh well, it didn’t matter. This was my one night of reckless abandon. I would relish it. Tomorrow, I’d be beige again.
Under all the glamour and fun, the memory of being beige cast a shadow over my heart. If I had magic of my own, I wouldn’t be chained to Ava. I wouldn’t have to rely on her for my safety. I wouldn’t have any secrets. If I had my own magic, I could be like her — boisterous, fun, reckless, rebellious, and free.
Freedom. That was the heart of all of this. Until I got magic of my own, I would never be free. Nights like this would be one-offs. Nothing I could count on. Like a person starving in a famine ravaged country, I’d take any scraps Ava threw my way. I’d have no control. No choice. I’d just have to take whatever she gave me and be content.
There was the other, unthinkable option, admitting to the world that I was lying. That wasn’t something I could do. It would destroy my life. Destroy Ava’s.
I shuddered.
“You okay?” Jeremy gave me a little squeeze and lifted my face to his. He looked into my eyes. They were bottomless pools of concern.