“Got lucky.”
“I heard you got this look in your eye right before you swung, like you knew it was going out of the park.”
I deliberately dig around in my bag more than necessary so I don’t have to meet Toni’s gaze. “That’s crazy. Was a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
I hadn’t used magic, I know I didn’t, not even on a subconscious level. Did I? I’m just naturally strong and decided not to hold back as much as I had throughout the rest of the day. Add in a dose of luck and, voila. The art of blending into the normal population didn’t include a sixteen-year-old girl hitting a baseball into the next county. But that didn’t mean I had to fake weakness.
“Okay, everyone, we’re pencil sketching today, focusing on shading and detail. Your choice of topic, but nothing too risqué.” Ms. Appleton levels a pointed look at a couple of boys at a table near the front of the room.
Toni leans over and whispers, “I think they took this class because they thought there’d be nude models.”
I cover my mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
“Jax?”
I jerk at the sound of Ms. Appleton saying my name and wonder if I’m already in trouble. Let’s see, I’ve acted like a crazy woman by bolting out of the lunchroom, gotten on the bad side of most of the girls in the school, shown up their queen, and now I’m going to end the day by getting into trouble for talking. Yeah, my day has been all kinds of normal.
“There are sketchpads in the back of the room. You can use one until you get your own.”
It takes a moment for Ms. Appleton’s words to sink in, that they aren’t a reprimand. In fact, the teacher smiles at me. I smile back and go to retrieve a sketchpad.
As I put pencil to paper, everything else fades away. I’ve almost made it through day one of being a normal high school student, and that is a bigger accomplishment than anyone else in the building can possibly fathom. So I let worries and anxiety flow away, at least for the hour during which I can escape into my art.
When I finish my sketch of what others will likely see as a sorceress but I know to be my mother in all her magical beauty, I sit back to stare at it. Maybe I’ll frame it and place it in my tiny RV. It’ll be like Mom is watching over me as I sleep at night.
“Damn, girl,” Toni says from beside me. “That’s awesome.”
I come out of my own little world and look over at Toni, who is staring at her own sketch now with a look on her face like she’s smelled a skunk.
“Methinks I have an inferiority complex,” Toni says.
“Let me see.” I grab Toni’s sketchpad and turn it so I can see the drawing of a spaceship. “Is this Serenity?” The sketch is a bit clunky, but the shape of the ship from Firefly is recognizable.
Toni smiles. “You are so my new best friend. I can almost forgive you for being A-Rod and Leonardo da Vinci and America’s Next Top Model all rolled into one.”
The description goes against everything I’m shooting for, but I can’t help laughing. I hand the sketch back to Toni. “I’m none of those things.”
“Yeah, right. You just keep on believing that. We don’t want your pretty little head getting so big it explodes all over the school and makes a dreadful mess.”
I laugh again, and wonder when I’ve smiled so much in one day. Even with the altercations with Stacy and the angry stares of the other girls of Baker Gap High, this has been one of the best days of my life. The best since before the death of my mother six years ago. I stare down at my sketch and swallow hard.
Paulina Pherson had been beautiful beyond description, and just as powerful. But she’d rebelled against her family’s centuries-old vendetta against mankind. She’d wanted to step away from the violence, the ugliness, to use her power for the good of witchkind and mankind. As soon as that desire had been uttered, she’d sealed her fate.
“Jax, that’s a stunning sketch,” Ms. Appleton says from beside me. “May I?”
I leave the past in the past and look up at the art teacher, who is indicating she wants to show the sketch to the class. Though showing off my artistic talent also doesn’t fall into the goal of blending, I nod. My mother was taken from the world much too soon. I’m proud to share her with these kids who don’t have a clue she was anyone real, that magical beings actually exist in this world.
Well, except for Keller. But he probably views them all as inherently evil, and for the most part he’s right.
I glance at Toni. Does she know what Keller does at night?
I’m busy tonight.
Keller’s words and Toni’s response replay in my head. Toni knows.
I close my eyes and wonder how I’ve managed to befriend the two people around whom I’ll have to be most careful. Fate rolls with laughter in the distance.
As expected, the guys in the room ohh at my sketch, no doubt to impress me into thinking them date worthy rather than true appreciation for any artistic talent. And the girls, well, there’s less enthusiasm, except for Toni and a couple of girls in the back of the room. I recognize one of them as Phoebe, the girl I sit next to in History. I smile at the duo, and they smile back. So every girl in school doesn’t despise my very existence—kudos for me.
Thankfully, Ms. Appleton shows off and commends a few other students’ artistic efforts as well, diverting the attention from me. Despite my need to lay low, I can’t help the pride that wells up in me that my artwork has been deemed praiseworthy. So different from when my tutors had scolded me for doodling instead of practicing my mind control on unsuspecting humans. My mother would be proud.
The final bell of the day rings, releasing the teenage population of Baker Gap from their bondage and into the outside world. Releasing me from those unwanted memories that keep creeping into my thoughts.
I go over homework assignments in my head as I navigate toward the bank of lockers. Am I the only person in the building looking forward to my homework? Okay, that’s about as far from normal as I can get, but it’s so freeing after the years of private tutors smothering me with their constant presence. American History and Algebra seem so wonderfully average compared to Levitation of Large Objects and Methods of Pain Infliction.
“Hey,” Toni says as she hurries up to my locker, her own backpack already over her shoulder. “You should come with us to Squeaky’s.”
“Squeaky’s?”
“It’s the local burgers and shakes place, complete with indoor and outdoor seating. Not to mention the stunning view of Bob’s Used Cars across the street.”
“I really should be getting home. Lots of homework.” I pat my fat tote for emphasis. “Speaking of which, why doesn’t your backpack look like it’s about to give birth like my bag?”
“I did most of the work already.”
“When?”
“During other classes. I’m pretty good at multi-tasking.”
“Who’s Supergirl now?”
Toni rolls her eyes. “Whatever. Come on, just for a few minutes. It’s your first day, so you have to get the full Baker Gap experience. It absolutely will not be complete without some post-school cheese fries and a chocolate shake.”
I waver. I want to get home and decompress, not worry about everything I say and every movement I make, but potential fun tempts me.
Fun. Actual fun.
“Keller will be there,” Toni says in a teasing, sing-song voice.
My gaze shoots back to Toni’s, and I wish I’d done better in my Masking Emotions class.
Toni laughs. “You should see the look on your face.”
“Why . . .”
“Oh, come on,” Toni says. “You like him. He likes you. It’s as obvious as the fact Baker Gap will never have a Macy’s.”
“He likes me?” Had he actually said it, or was Toni guessing?
“Duh. Maybe you have a little dumb blonde in you after all.” Toni slips her arm around mine and leads me toward the school exit.
We walk a couple of blocks before I shove the knowledge I should stay far away fro
m Keller aside and ask the question swirling inside my head. “So, Keller isn’t mad at me?”
“Mad? Why would he be mad?”
“I don’t know. After I hit that homerun in P.E., I saw him heading inside and he looked, well, not happy.”
“He’s a competitive athlete. He doesn’t like to lose. Testosterone and all that.”
“He’s on the baseball team?”
“No, he’s a cross-country runner.”
That explained his lean muscles.
Toni points toward the edge of her own mouth. “You got a little something here. I think it’s drool.”
I push my new friend in the upper arm, causing us both to laugh. “Okay, enough at my expense. What about you? You got the hots for anyone in particular?”
“You mean besides Jensen Ackles?”
“Um, hello, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t live here, unless he’s shooting something nearby and I wasn’t immediately made aware of that important fact. If he is, you’re going to have a fight on your hands.”
“Hey, you stick with Keller. Leave me the superstar hotties.”
“Seriously, dating anyone?”
“That would be a big, fat no. Baker Gap isn’t exactly awash with stunning specimens of young manhood or intelligence. Keller’s about the best catch, and contrary to what you might hear about those of us who live in Appalachia, we don’t date our cousins.”
We reach Squeaky’s, which looks like it might have been a drive-in during the ‘50s but no longer has the call boxes. The place is packed with a lot of familiar faces from school, some filling the inside tables, others circling the ones outside under bright picnic table umbrellas.
“Like I said, the place to be.” Toni leads the way to an outdoor table beneath a purple umbrella.
Eric jumps up at the sight of us, and there’s another girl sitting next to him. But no Keller. I fight irrational disappointment and wonder if a side effect of leaving the coven is the loss of my mind. But then Keller steps out of the front door of Squeaky’s and stops in his tracks, a tray filled with food held in front of him.
Toni makes an amused sound of exasperation and goes over to drag her cousin back to the table. Then she points one index finger at Keller, the other at me. “Sit, both of you. I’m going for food.”
We do as she’s commanded, and I become aware of several things at once. My own nervousness matched only by Keller’s fidgeting, a look of disappointment on Eric’s face and a sense of relief from the other girl—Paige, that’s her name. I suspect that Paige is pining away for Eric, and he, being a typical human male, doesn’t have the first clue. Maybe I can get Toni to work her strange kind of matchmaking magic there, too.
“So, how’d you like your first day?” Eric asks.
“It was fine. Still trying to get all the names straight.”
“I’m guessing you won’t forget Stacy’s anytime soon,” Toni says as she returns to the table with cheese fries and sodas for herself and me.
Keller shakes his head.
“Unfortunately, I think it’s burned forever into my brain.” I catch sight of Stacy’s hateful glare where she sits with Liv, Brianna and a couple of jocks a few tables away. Stacy ignores them all, her fury at me sitting next to Keller more obvious than if it were scrolling across her forehead like a news ticker. If Stacy were a witch, she’d be flaying the skin from my body right now. I shiver at the thought.
“Must be different here after living in a city,” Paige says.
I bring my attention back to my fledgling circle of friends. “Quieter, smaller, but nice.”
Groans around the table indicate the long-time inhabitants don’t equate quiet and small with nice.
I look up at the imposing height of the mountain flanking the town. I’m not going to try to convince my classmates that Baker Gap is great. Hadn’t I, too, wanted to get as far away from “home” as possible, to experience something different?
I nibble on my cheese fries, still too nervous to have much of an appetite. My whole body hums with Keller’s presence mere inches away.
When he turns to look at me, I nearly choke. “Would you like a milkshake?”
“Uh, sure.” I offer a shaky smile. “Thanks.”
“What kind?”
“Chocolate,” I say, then have to swallow against the dryness invading my throat like an army of blowtorches.
“Chocolate,” someone mimics behind me.
My jaws clench at the sound of Stacy’s grating voice. She really is taking this mean girl, queen bitch thing a bit too seriously. Though it’s difficult, I ignore her. If Stacy can’t get the reaction she wants, she’ll go away. And good riddance.
“You want chocolate, here’s your chocolate.”
I gasp when I feel cold hit my scalp. It takes a moment for me to realize Stacy has upended a milkshake on the top of my head.
“Oh, look at that. All her glorious blond hair doesn’t look so glorious anymore.” Stacy and her followers laugh. “Don’t mess with me, witch.”
I surge to my feet, anger at how Stacy has filled “witch” with venom propelling me, the blackness of my kind rising inside me until even my vision turns dark. It breathes like a distinct entity inside me. As I catch Stacy’s gaze, a gust of wind sweeps paper cups and napkins from the outdoor tables, sending them sailing down the street. It makes my chocolate-soaked hair stir around me.
Fear flits across Stacy’s face before she remembers she’s supposed to be the one with the upper hand here. But that moment of fear is enough to send a shock through me. Dear God, I’ve nearly lost control again. I’ve never felt that much blackness inside. And I’ve never altered the weather around me. I force the darkness back down into the cave within myself, shaking as I do so.
“Excuse me.” I head for the bathroom. Everyone will think it’s to wash the ice cream out of my hair or to cry. They won’t have any idea it’s to prevent myself from killing one of their classmates.
Chapter Four
Once inside the bathroom, I splash cold water on my face to dampen my raging temper. I could use a good dunking in a river, but there isn’t one close at hand.
The door opens and I stiffen, determined not to lose my cool no matter what Stacy does or says. I will succeed at a good, normal life. I will.
“You okay?” Gone is the usual teasing, fun lilt to Toni’s voice. Now, she’s all genuine concern.
“Fine. Just embarrassed.”
“Well, you’re not the only one,” Paige says.
I glance up, and a trickle of water drips off the end of my nose. “What?”
“Keller just told Stacy that he’s met kindergartners with more maturity, loud enough for everyone outside to hear. She looked like she was about to cry. Ran to her car and peeled out like rubber was going out of style.”
I glance down into the bowl of the sink. “I didn’t expect to end my first day here as public enemy number one.”
“You’re not.” Toni pulls some of my dripping hair away from my face. “There are a lot of people who don’t like Stacy or her groupies.”
“Applause actually broke out when Keller told her off,” Paige says, satisfaction ringing in her voice.
“Why does she hate me so much? She doesn’t even know me.”
“Stacy’s used to getting whatever Stacy wants.” Toni leans back against the countertop. “Except Keller. He’s the only guy she deems worthy who refuses to go out with her. And the fact he was attracted to you from the first moment he saw you is burning a stupendous hole in her oversized ego.”
I shake my head. “I just wanted life to be normal here.” I don’t realize how revealing that statement is until I look up and see the other two girls giving me questioning looks.
“Hate to break it to you, but you’re not normal,” Toni says.
I swallow hard, past the grapefruit-sized lump in my throat. “What . . . what do you mean?”
Toni points toward the mirror. “Look in there. You’re beautiful. Movie star beautiful. Until
people get used to it, the guys are going to trip over themselves staring at you and the girls are going to be jealous that you’re stealing all the attention.”
I glance in the mirror at Paige, who blushes.
“Sorry, guilty as charged.” Paige shrugs. “Can’t help it. I saw Eric looking at you the way I wish he’d look at me, and that little green monster in me took over.”
“I don’t like Eric. I mean, I like him, but not romantic like.”
“I know. One look at your face when you saw Keller told me that.”
“I’m that obvious, huh?” That’s so not good news.
Toni laughs. “You should get ‘obvious’ tattooed across your forehead.”
“Yeah, that would be attractive. Hey, maybe it’d get me sympathy instead of angry looks from every girl in school.”
“Not every girl,” Paige says. “Personally, I think you’re pretty cool.”
I snort a laugh. “Thanks, but I think you’re in the minority.”
“You might be surprised.” Toni pushes herself away from the sinks. “We’ll wait for you outside.”
I nod, wait until the bathroom is mine alone before I shove my head under a stream of water to wash out as much of the ice cream as possible. I squeeze the water from my hair with paper towels and wish I had a hair dryer. Actually, I can wave my hands and dry it in two seconds flat, but I don’t dare indulge in even that bit of magic after what just happened outside. That seething darkness inside me, the other side of myself, scared me more than anything I’ve experienced since my mother’s death.
I stare at myself in the mirror. All that stares back is a blond, teenage girl, almost normal. But she isn’t normal. Toni has no idea how right she is.
I hide in the bathroom for ten more minutes, hoping that the outside world will go away while I’m tucked out of sight. Pretty convinced it won’t, and suddenly mad at myself for acting the victim, I straighten, give myself a little mental pep talk then head out of the restroom and through the restaurant. I’m sure I’m quite the radiant beauty now with my wet hair, splotchy makeup and milkshake-splattered shirt.
White Witch Page 4