by Zoe Lynne
Copyright
Published by
Harmony Ink Press
5032 Capital Circle SW
Ste 2, PMB# 279
Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886
USA
[email protected]
http://harmonyinkpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
That Witch
Copyright © 2013 by Zoe Lynne
Cover art by Allison Cassatta
[email protected]
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Harmony Ink Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Ste 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA.
[email protected]
ISBN: 978-1-62380-692-7
Library Edition ISBN: 978-1-62380-927-0
Digital Edition ISBN: 978-1-62380-693-4
Printed in the United States of America
First Edition
May 2013
Library Edition
August 2013
This book is dedicated to the family, friends, and fans
who have been so supportive.
Love and appreciation, in no particular order…
Alli—
I want to thank the kids of MAGY for giving me insight into the world of LGBT teens, and for taking me in and accepting me as one of their own.
Joe Cassatta and Jessica Murchie, for always being there and supporting me.
My friends and family, and the fans who have loyally supported all my crazy ideas.
Bia Tanos, thank you for taking that call back in October and wading into the insanity that is my mind.
Bia—
Tara France, for always being at my side even though we’re thousands of miles apart. I luff you.
Spring Gardner for being my friend and guardian angel, as well as for never giving up on me.
Bertha Rayo and Marlene Rayo—thank you for being family without boundaries or conditions and for always accepting me for who I am.
Jagger Tanos, for being an amazing son and blessing me every day with laughter, happiness, and unconditional love.
Last but never least, Allison Cassatta for always believing in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. Love you, Brain!
We also want to thank the wonderful staff of Harmony Ink for giving our baby a home and bringing it to life. As always, you all have been a pleasure to work with.
Chapter 1
JEEZ, Brynn just wanted to hide in her corner of the lunchroom, away from the preppy-populars and the nerd-herds, the drama club geeks and the overachievers, and listen to the new Donnas album while she crammed for her calculus exam. But nooooo, her BFF, Miss-Nancy-Drew-Wannabe, kept nudging her arm every five minutes just to point out something Brynn really had, like, zero interest in. She played along, though, peeking through the cotton-candy-pink bangs covering her face to see what Laura wanted. This time it was Cassidy Rivers, and the queen of the in-crowd looked like she was on the prowl, with her bleached blonde clones loyally in tow, as always.
Brynn rolled her eyes and buried her head back in her book. She didn’t care about Cassidy. The chick didn’t even hit Brynn’s radar, well… except for the fact she was probably the most gorgeous girl Brynn had ever seen. She had these startling steel-blue eyes and pouty pink lips, bright blonde hair that was obviously really hers because her perfectly shaped brows were about the same shade of blonde. Her cheeks were rosy and round, and when she smiled, the cutest dimples formed at the edges of her mouth.
Brynn mentally facepalmed herself. Was she seriously admiring Cassidy Rivers—of all freakin’ people?
Maybe on some level she would’ve liked to have been accepted by Cassidy and the in-crowd. Those kids lived in the nicest houses and had the best cars. They shopped in all the swanky Majestic Hills shops, wore designer everything, and had the best life had to offer. Brynn had the means to fit in. She came from money like the rest of them, but those shops didn’t appeal to her. Name brands didn’t mean anything either. Her favorite boots came from an army thrift store. She listened to bands like My Chemical Romance and The Used, not Bruno Mars and Britney Spears. Still, it would’ve been nice to fit in, but there was no way she would admit that to anyone. No, it was totally more hardcore to pretend the preppy-popular kids were a vapid waste of space, and she could do soooo much better… with her one friend.
One earbud plopped out of her ear and landed in the crease of her book. Laura had her finger hooked around the white cord. The noise from the lunchroom chatter and the object falling in the line of her sight distracted her. Brynn hated being distracted when she was focused on something important, like making the grades she needed to get into the college of her dreams. She turned her eyes up to Laura who sat beside her, purple ponytail high on her head, black-lined, brown-eyed stare set on Cassidy and the pom-pom squad.
“Beware, she’s headed this way,” Laura said.
“Why do I need to beware?” Brynn mumbled as she stuck her earbud back in her left ear. The music was low enough she could still hear Laura without missing out on track five, which would totally go onto a playlist when Brynn got home and could sync her iPod. “She never stops at our table. We’re so not on her radar.”
“Don’t sound so disappointed,” Laura teased.
“Who said I was disappointed? I kinda like it.” Brynn looked up and tilted her head, considering what would happen if Cassidy Rivers actually noticed her existence.
Hmm… probably nothing.
They both watched as Cassidy I’m-destined-to-be-prom-queen Rivers swished on by their table, her bleach-bottle-blonde besties flanking both sides. A few of the brain-dead jocks that always followed them around fell in behind the three girls. It was so tragically cliché and so After School Special.
Brynn couldn’t stand it, or so she kept telling herself.
Keep on walking, girl. Keep on walking, she thought as Cassidy and her clique rounded the edge of the table. Brynn pulled in a deep breath, kept her head low, and only watched them through the part in her pink, chin-length, straight-as-a-freakin’-board hair. She reached up and tugged at one of the six silver loops hanging from either ear—a nervous habit she’d recently developed—and casually kept her black-lined eyes fixed on Cassidy.
A white cashmere sweater clung to Cassidy’s slight curves and met at the pink skirt hugging her waist and thighs. The skirt stopped just above the knee, and below that was a pair of white, high-heeled boots that reached all the way up past her calves. The outfit had to be designer. It had that classy look to it. But what really caught Brynn’s eye was the golden pendant hanging from Cassidy’s neck. It looked Celtic—a knot of some sort—with lots of loops and weaves. Brynn had seen something like it before in one of her cool Gothic jewelry catalogs, but the one around Cassidy’s neck didn’t look like a cheap knockoff. It looked like the real deal—maybe priceless, maybe even antique. It definitely gave Miss Better-Than-Everyone-Else a depth she didn’t have before.
Cassidy and crew kept walking but not without smirking down at Brynn like she was the scum of the earth. Something wicked flickered in that girl’s big blue-gray eyes, something mean and totally deceiving to the rest of the world—the ones who believed Cassidy was as innocent as the Virgin Mary or something.
Pfft!
“Looks like
we got lucky again,” Laura whispered as soon as the in-crowd cleared the table.
Brynn finally exhaled, little strands of pink hair fluttering in the breeze. Yeah, they got lucky again, but they always got lucky. They were such an insignificant blip Cassidy didn’t even bother, not like the poor nerd-herd the jocks loved to bully three tables back.
Something stupid and curious came over Brynn. For some dumb reason, she glanced over her shoulder to see what they were doing. The jocks were hovering over the nerds. Cassidy and the blonde squad worked their way over to the table where the cheerleaders and the other popular kids always sat, but for some messed-up reason, Cassidy kept watching her. If Brynn didn’t turn around now and mind her own business, she knew she would be on the receiving end of some snarky comment, and honestly, Brynn would rather study calculus than get into a battle of wits with the unarmed.
“Why is she staring at us?” Laura asked.
“I don’t know.” Brynn turned back to her book. “Just don’t look at her, and maybe she’ll forget we exist.”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
“Hey, it’s worked for two years, hasn’t it? I mean like, we’re seniors now, and we haven’t been bullied by her or her friends. She doesn’t even waste her time with us. So, let’s just keep doing what we’ve been doing and pretend she doesn’t exist either.”
“Right,” Laura said as she looked down at her lunch tray and the massive helping of beef surprise that had started out as meatloaf at the beginning of the week.
Jeez, Brynn didn’t see how Laura could eat that crap. It smelled like something died on a plate, and the lovely Lunch Lady Brigade couldn’t wait to serve that slop up to the unsuspecting masses. She cringed and began gathering up her books, then grabbed her backpack from the chair beside her. Brynn tucked her iPod into the pocket of her black hoodie and said to Laura, “See you in sixth period.”
“Yeah. Totally. Good luck on the exam.”
“Thanks,” Brynn muttered before heading out of the cafeteria.
She wandered down the nearly empty hallway, past all the bright red lockers, platform boots thumping against the white linoleum. The bell hadn’t rung yet, so most of the other students were still in their classes or hanging out in the cafeteria. Brynn liked the halls like that. She didn’t have to push through the crowds, didn’t have to fight her way through the cliquey circles just to get to her locker. She could take her time and just… chill.
Brynn hugged her black hoodie tight around her body as she headed up the stairwell to the second floor. The Donnas’ latest album played from her iPod and spilled some of her favorite music into her ears. She’d made it all the way to track eleven, and it would probably end right before she made it to her class.
She thought about Cassidy, about how mean and snarky the girl could be. Brynn wondered if that was the real Cassidy or just a show she put on to be the popular girl, because being part of the in-crowd came with certain responsibilities—which apparently included walking all over everyone else in the school. Whatever. It wouldn’t matter much longer. They had one semester left before they graduated. She would go off to college, and Cassidy would… do something with her empty, narcissistic life. Not that Brynn cared what Cassidy did after high school.
Or wait, did she?
Ugh!
The bell rang just as Brynn hit the second floor. Doors opened. Chatter filled the halls. People came barreling by as they went to their lockers. Brynn dropped her backpack off at hers. She tucked everything away in the cramped metal locker, then slammed the door and twisted the knob to lock it back into place. Just as she spun on her two-inch platform heels, she came face-to-face with the one person in the entire school she’d done a real good job of avoiding.
Cassidy Rivers.
“Why were you staring at me, freak?” Cassidy all but spat at Brynn—manicured brows arched, arms crossed over her chest, perfect pink nails tapping against her upper arms.
“I… um…,” Brynn stuttered, hugging herself a little tighter.
“‘I… um…’ what? Did you see something you like?”
“Your necklace,” Brynn blurted for God only knew what reason.
Cassidy laid her palm over the golden knot, but she didn’t look away from Brynn, didn’t look any less put off by Brynn’s presence. Her pink lips pursed, but she didn’t say a word. In fact, neither of them said anything. They just kept staring at each other because apparently, neither of them knew how to speak anymore.
“Well,” Cassidy finally said, nostrils flaring, upper lip curling in disgust, “maybe you should find something else to ogle, because I don’t appreciate being the object of your affection.”
And with those last biting words, Cassidy pushed by Brynn with so much force it made her stumble to the side. Brynn swung back around, glaring at the back of Cassidy’s body as she sauntered over toward her clique.
“You don’t have to be so mean,” Brynn yelled across the way. “I mean, I was going to tell you the necklace was neat… that’s all, but really, it looks ridiculous on you.”
Cassidy twirled around again. The kids surrounding her all laughed. She kicked out one booted foot and cocked her hip to the side, one hand resting at her waist while the other arm held her pink purse.
“Jealous, Nightmare On My Street?”
“What?” What the hell did that mean?
“Are. You. Jealous. Of. Me. Brynn?” she asked slowly, enunciating every word.
“No, as a matter of fact, I’m not. I pity you.” What a lie.
“You”—Cassidy pointed to Brynn, then thumbed back at herself—“pity me? You have to be kidding. I have what everyone wants. What do you have?”
Well, as a matter of fact, Brynn had brains, and she was cute but not vain. She had the best friend anyone could ask for and two very loving parents. She had good grades and a ticket out of suburban California. She had everything she wanted… except the one person she’d been most fascinated with her entire high school career.
Instead of some biting, snarky comeback, Brynn hugged her book tighter and looked away. She absolutely refused to play this game with Cassidy, especially in front of all Cassidy’s friends. She would only be laughed at, and right now, she had more important things to worry about.
She pushed through the group of popular kids as they laughed and teased her. Despite their bullying, she didn’t let them get to her. She ignored them as she continued down the hall to her calculus class, and she sat down at her desk as if none of that had ever happened. Brynn painted a smile on her face—as fake as it was—pulled out her pencil and her book, and readied herself for that stupid exam. Soon enough, the day would be over, and she could drown her miseries in a little music, maybe even a Tim Burton classic.
Yes, she really was that stereotypical.
Chapter 2
“UGH, the nerve of that spaz,” Cassidy muttered under her breath, more to herself than to Jenna, one of her friends who’d caught up to her.
She hiked her pink Juicy Couture purse up onto her shoulder and stopped at the locker where she kept the textbooks for her second-floor classes. Some ugly, no-name, nerdy kid with a crush had offered his locker to her at the beginning of the year so she wouldn’t have to carry her books up and down the stairs. Who was going to argue with that?
“What spaz?” Jenna asked, leaning one sun-kissed, bare shoulder against the locker beside Cassidy’s. She had an inquisitive look in her eyes, the one she got right before she went all Judge Judy and started with her 977 questions.
Cassidy wasn’t going to take the bait. Her lunch was still digesting. The apple and raspberry salad she’d brought from home would surely come up if she had to admit to speaking to that Frankenbride, Brynn. Gah, what had she been thinking? Why did she approach her like that? She would be the social outcast of the century if anyone saw her talking to the creepy emo girl from Loserville with that wannabe friend of hers, Laura or Laurie or something.
“What spaz?” Jenna pressed again.
&nb
sp; This time, she tapped her French-manicured acrylic nails against the metal locker door as a show of impatience. Really? Who did she think she was? Cassidy Rivers didn’t answer to anyone until she was good and ready, and she wasn’t anywhere near good or ready to talk about Brynn.
“Some loser who bumped into me. Forget it,” she replied in a tone that told Jenna to call off her inquisition.
It worked. Jenna pushed off the locker and shrugged her shoulders in indifference, causing the spaghetti straps of her tank top to slide down. She was impossibly thin and bony, and sometimes Cassidy swore the chick took the finger-to-the-throat approach after eating. Whenever she did eat, that was.
“Whatevs. I’m gonna head to Government and Economics. See you at practice after school.” It wasn’t even a question.
Cassidy almost replied with her systematic “yeah.”
She had been on the cheerleading squad since her freshman year and never missed a single practice. She was the captain of the squad and had a regional cheer competition to train for, but her mom had pleaded with her to come straight home after school because her grandmother, aka Nana, was coming into town for a while, and they were supposed to pick her up from the airport.
She’d complained and argued, dramatically pointing out that it was going to ruin her life if she lost regionals because her mother was too codependent to make a simple airport run. In the end, however, her mom gave her the sad look she reserved for guilt trips, which were usually followed by the “I’m doing the best I can as a single mother” speech, and Cassidy agreed. Reluctantly and tight-browed, but she’d agreed nonetheless.
“I won’t be at practice today,” Cassidy replied curtly. “Gotta go do this thing with my mom. Lead the squad in the basic formations and get them tighter on their finishing routine.”
Jenna’s toffee-colored eyes grew so wide Cassidy feared they would pop out of their sockets, and the eyeball juice would ruin her Michael Kors cashmere sweater.
Before her friend started in on another round of questions, Cassidy shut her locker door and turned to walk away, leaving Jenna still standing there, mouth agape. Whatever. She was cocaptain. She could deal.