Enchanted Secrets

by Kristen Middleton

  Kala gave me a slow smile. “Actually, we were on the Internet. Mark was looking up stuff about mind control and witchcraft.”

  “Witchcraft? Did he say why?”

  “No, he said it was for a project that he was working on. So, in all reality, we were working on a project together. I was just giving him… moral support.”

  I snorted. “Like he has morals.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You really don’t like him, do you?”

  “He’s a jerk, Kala. He picks on everyone, not just me.”

  “Well, I’ve never seen him say anything mean to anyone.”

  “That’s because he puts on an act when you’re around. He’s a total tool otherwise, ask anyone.”

  She pursed her lips but didn’t respond. The bus rounded the corner and we waited together for it in silence.

  Chapter Ten

  Tyler sat next to me on the bus. Today he was dressed in black chinos and a white polo shirt with the usual dark shades.

  “What?” I asked, his gaze penetrating me right through his shades.

  He smiled. “Nothing, just trying to figure out if my mom gave you the wrong potion.”

  My eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

  “There’s some kind of Makeup Potion, for witches without steady hands.”

  I laughed out loud. I wasn’t sure which was funnier – the idea of a Makeup Potion or the fact that he spoke of witches as if they were real.

  “It sounds funny, but you wouldn’t believe how popular that potion is. And some of those witches need all the help they can get.”

  I was now laughing so hard, tears were forming. I was suddenly afraid my makeup would run, I held up my hand. “Okay, stop already with the Makeup Potion talk or I’m going to bleed eyeliner all over my cheeks and look scarier than any witch that you could imagine.”

  He bit back a smile. “Sorry.”

  “Anyway,” I said, wiping a stray tear, “the Thinner Potion? It obviously didn’t work.”

  Tyler sighed. “You didn’t need it in the first place. You look fine.”

  “Well, not to most of the twelfth grade,” I mumbled. “If I looked fine, they’d just leave me alone.”

  “Kendra, there are more important things in life other than worrying about how others view you,” he said. “Anyone who makes fun of the way you look isn’t worth trying to impress anyway.”

  “Easy for you to say,” I mumbled. “You’re in good shape and are too cute to worry about things like that.”

  Wow, did I just blurt that out?

  He grinned. “You think I’m cute?”

  My face turned red. “No, I mean… you blend in well with everyone.”

  “So, I’m not cute and I look like everyone else.”

  I groaned. “You are cute, okay? Quit teasing me.”

  He chuckled. “Sorry, I just couldn’t resist.”

  “Did you ever find the item you wanted to show me in the store yesterday?” I asked, changing the subject.

  His face became serious. “I did, actually.”

  “Where is it?”

  “It’s still at the shop. Can you come by after school again?”

  “I think so. I’ll check with my mom and see if it’s okay.”

  “If you want, I can stop by and introduce myself.”

  I stared at him. “Really? You’d do that?”

  He nodded. “It’s probably a good idea, especially if we start hanging out and everything.”

  Hanging out? Did he mean as in dating or just friends? My mom’s going to love this guy regardless, I thought.

  I smiled. “Sure. That would be cool.”

  “Okay, I’ll just get off the bus with you after school. Then we can walk to the shop afterwards.”

  “Isn’t your mom going to be watching for you?”

  “Nah.”

  “Okay.”

  When the bus pulled into the school parking lot, I was so giddy that Tyler was coming over. It might not be a date, but it was the closest I’d ever come to one.

  Chapter Eleven

  I went to the bathroom before first period and studied my reflection in the mirror. I was still amazed by the transformation that a little makeup had created. Luckily, it had weathered the tears Tyler had created with his potion talk.

  “Wow, what’s the special occasion?” asked Hailey Bates, stepping into the bathroom. She was with the two other girls from our health class. “Look at you… makeup and a new dress? Where’d they find the tent to make thing?”

  The other two girls burst out laughing and I rushed out of the bathroom, feeling totally humiliated. I hurried through the hallway, my face streaked with mascara and tears, trying to ignore the smirks and giggles of the other students.

  Damn, Hailey Bates.

  I hated her more than anything at that moment, and all I wanted to do was escape and go home. As I made it to the exit at the back of the school, someone called my name.

  “Kendra!”

  Tyler.

  I stopped and slowly turned around.

  “What… what’s wrong?” he asked walking towards me.

  I shook my head as he got closer and tried to wipe away the tears with the back of my hand. “Um, nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

  He removed his sunglasses and stared into my eyes. “Tell me what’s wrong. Please.”

  I answered without hesitation. “Hailey Bates made fun of me and I lost control of my emotions.” My voice sounded weird, almost robotic, even to myself.

  His green eyes burned into mine. “She’s an idiot. Do not allow yourself to feel belittled by her ignorance. You are beautiful, Kendra, inside and out.”

  A warm rush of pleasure spread throughout my body and I felt tingly all over. My heart lifted and I didn’t care about Hailey’s cruel words anymore. I smiled at him and sighed in relief.

  He thought I was beautiful!

  Tyler put his sunglasses on and took my hand in his. “Now, come with me.”

  ~~~

  “Where are we going?” I asked as he pulled me out of the school.

  “It’s a surprise.”

  My head was beginning to clear as I followed him through the football field. It had been fuzzy before, but now that I was breathing in the fresh air, my mind was racing with questions.

  I stopped walking. “What exactly did you do to me back there, Tyler?”

  He stopped and turned around. “What do you mean?”

  “You know exactly what I mean. You did something to me with your eyes.”

  He shrugged. “Do you feel better?”

  “Yeah, but that doesn’t answer my question. What did you do to me, and why are you always wearing those dark sunglasses?”

  “If I told you now, you’d think I was crazy. I’ll explain it all later.”

  “I’m kind of thinking that I’m crazy right now for following you out of this school.” I shook my head. “Especially after what just happened. God, I just know my mom is going to kill me.”

  He began to remove his glasses again.

  “Stop that!” I hollered, pointing to his face. “Don’t you dare do that thingy with your eyes again.”

  He pushed them back down and smiled. “What are you afraid of? Don’t you trust me, Kendra?”

  “That’s just it! I don’t know you enough to totally trust you. Just please, leave your glasses on.”

  “Fine.”

  I sighed. “So, where are we going?”

  “Just a place I found recently. I think you’ll like it. It’s quiet and peaceful.”

  I actually did sort of trust him, but I wasn’t even sure why. For all I knew, he could be taking me somewhere to slit my throat or take advantage of me. Of course, I wouldn’t have minded the latter so much. He was cute and certainly had a way of making me feel good about myself.

  As we walked away from the school grounds and into the nearby woods, I was amazed that nobody seemed to notice us leaving. Not even the gym class that had just stepped outside and ont
o the soccer field. Nobody even glanced in our direction.

  “Here we are,” he said, stopping abruptly.

  I slammed into him and he steadied me. “Oh crap, I’m sorry,” I said.

  He let go of my elbow. “No problem. What do you think of this place?”

  We were in the middle of the woods in a small clearing. “Well, it’s certainly nice and peaceful.”

  He smiled and then surprised me by grabbing both of my hands. “You’re not that impressed, I can tell. But, I want you to humor me for just a minute.”

  As long as he kept holding my hands, I’d humor him as much as he wanted. “Okay.”

  “Now, I need you to close your eyes, inhale, and take a deep breath of fresh air.”

  I nodded and then closed my eyes.

  “Okay, now clear your mind and think of something that makes you truly happy, whether it’s something from your past or present. Just remember to keep your eyes closed and concentrate. I’ll tell you when you can open them back up.”

  “Okay.”

  “Don’t forget to breathe,” he said softly.

  I inhaled the fresh air and tried to clear my mind, but all I kept thinking of was his warm hands holding mine.

  “I’m going to release your hands,” he said.

  Rats.

  “Kendra? Are you thinking of something that brings you joy?”

  I thought about the half-gallon bucket of cookie-dough ice cream in the freezer at home and nodded.

  “Make sure it’s something that brings you pure happiness. I’m not talking about superficial things, either. Something you really wouldn’t want to live without.”

  An image of my dad popped into my head and my chest tightened.

  “Focus only on your happy memories. Clear your mind of everything else.”

  I thought about my dad and how he used to take my sister and me to the ice cream parlor on Main Street on Sundays. Just like me, he loved ice cream and used to order this gigantic bowl with endless toppings, one that could feed a dozen people. Then, all three of us would grab spoons and eat until we couldn’t stand to look at the bowl anymore. It was a simple memory, but it was one I’d cherish forever.

  “You’re smiling, so it must be good,” he said softly.

  I nodded.

  “Open your eyes.”

  When I opened my eyes, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. Part of me had this fantasy that Tyler would somehow produce my father and he’d be holding out a giant bowl of ice cream.

  “Wow….” I whispered in awe.

  The woods appeared to be glowing iridescently and every color of flower, leaf, and rock seemed to be magnified. Even the grass under our feet seemed to sparkle.

  “Watch,” he murmured as a beautiful doe stepped through the woods and slowly edged towards us. Tyler held out his hand and the deer came close enough to nuzzle it.

  “Wow, it’s so beautiful,” I whispered.

  The doe looked at me with her honey-colored eyes and my breath caught in my throat. I could have sworn she was smiling at me.

  Tyler removed his sunglasses and the doe turned to him. “Transform,” he said.

  A bright light surrounded the doe and I watched in stunned silence as it began to slowly change from a four-legged creature to one who stood on two legs

  Tyler turned to stare at my reaction as a beautiful girl, her long blond hair glowing slightly as the light receded around her, stood before us. When I looked into her eyes, they stared back with the wisdom of someone much older than the teen standing before us.

  “What?” I asked in disbelief. “What just happened? Am I dreaming?”

  The girl chuckled and then curtsied. “Hello, my name is Trixie.”

  My head was spinning. “What are you?” I whispered.

  She giggled again and clapped her hands. “I’m a Shape-shifter, silly.”

  Chapter Twelve

  I must have fainted because the next thing I knew, they were both staring down at me and I was looking up at the clouds.

  “Are you okay?” asked Tyler, grabbing my hand and helping me up.

  I was a little dizzy and my mouth dry. “I think so,” I croaked.

  “I can’t stay very long, Tyler,” said Trixie, looking around anxiously. “Like I’ve told you before, it’s really not safe here.”

  “Okay, Trix. Thanks for showing yourself to Kendra.”

  She nodded and then turned to me. “I’m so glad that they found you.”

  I put my hand on my chest. “Found me? What do you mean?”

  Tyler smiled, sheepishly. “She doesn’t know yet.”

  Trixie covered her mouth. “Oh, I’m sorry.”

  “What’s going on here?” I asked, taking a step back. “What don’t I know?”

  “I’ll explain everything tonight at my mother’s shop. Right now, we’d better get you back to school.”

  My eyebrows shot up. “Do you really think I’ll be able to get through this day normally after everything I’ve just witnessed here?”

  “You’re going to have to try, Kendra,” said Tyler. “It’s too dangerous to keep you out of school any longer, and you have to act like nothing’s happened.”

  My eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me? Too dangerous? What in the heck are you talking about?”

  Tyler grabbed both of my hands as Trixie slipped back into the woods. “Just like I showed you here, everything is not as it seems. There are others at school that can’t be trusted. When we return, you have to act normal and don’t tell anyone of the things I’ve shown you. Tonight, I will explain everything, and I promise you, it will make more sense. Just trust me, okay?”

  “I… I guess. This is just so crazy. Tyler, seriously, I feel like I’m dreaming. Wait a second,” I said, pulling away from him. “Is it that potion your mom sold me? Was it some kind of hallucinogen or something?”

  “No, of course not,” he answered, looking wounded.

  I rubbed my forehead. “Okay. Fine. I’m sorry I said that, but you have to admit, this is some pretty intense stuff you’re laying on me.”

  “I know.”

  I sighed. “So, what do we do now?”

  “We need to finish out the day and then tonight, after school, I’ll explain everything.”

  “Won’t it be easier if you just told me now?”

  He shook his head. “No. I have something to show you. It’s the only way you’ll truly believe what I have to say.”

  I mulled this over and nodded. “Okay. Well, then, let’s go back to the school and get this day over with. I’m dying to find out what all of this is about.”

  He took my hand in his and led me back towards the school. When we reached the school grounds, I stared at the building and bit my lower lip. “I just hope we don’t get detention for ditching class.”

  “Believe me, the teacher won’t even notice we weren’t in class when I’m done with him.”

  Sure enough, when we returned to the school, Tyler spoke to Mr. Henry in private for a couple seconds and the teacher seemed to have forgotten that we’d missed most of the class. We then snuck back to our seats with the other students watching in disbelief.

  “Where did you go?” whispered Amy.

  “Uh, left my homework at home,” I mumbled, not wanting to get into it with her.

  She motioned to Tyler. “What – and he left his home, too?”

  “I don’t know. We just arrived at the door at the same time,” I whispered. “I don’t know what’s up with him.”

  When the bell rang at the end of class, several students got up and then did a double-take when they looked at me. It was then that I realized in horror that I had never bothered to check my makeup after crying. The mascara was probably smeared all over my face. I probably looked like a clown.

  “I’ll meet you in Math,” I whispered to Tyler, who was also staring at me oddly.

  “Uh, Kendra…”

  “Math class!” I called back as I bolted out of the classroom.

  W
hen I stepped into the bathroom, I grabbed some paper towels and turned on the faucet, to dampen them. As I raised my head to look in the mirror, my jaw dropped.

  “Oh, my God,” I whispered, staring at my sister’s reflection.

  ~~~

  I was still trying to compose myself when the door opened and another girl walked into the bathroom. I looked up and recognized her from the bus.

  “Hey, Kala,” she said, reaching into her purse. She took out a tube of lipstick and put some on her lips.

  I raised my hand and touched my face.

  “Kala, you okay?”

  Oh, God, she really thinks I’m Kala.

  Our eyes met in the mirror. “Uh, yeah. I’m fine.”

  “You just looked a little pale there for a second,” she said.

  “I’m fine,” I said, staring back into the mirror. There was no way that I could tell her who I really was; she’d never believe me.

  The girl fluffed her hair and then turned to leave when she gasped in horror. “Oh, my God! Watch where you’re walking, someone left a pair of underwear on the floor!”

  When I looked down, I wanted to die of shame. The panties I’d been wearing had slid right off, and I hadn’t even noticed.

  “Oh, wow,” I mumbled, my face bright red. I stepped away from them. “I can’t believe that someone just left them here. Gross, huh?”

  “Yeah,” she said, scowling. “Very gross. Look, I’ll catch you later.”

  “Yeah, later,” I mumbled, picking the panties up as soon as she left the bathroom. I quickly tossed the underwear into the garbage can and then turned back to my reflection, still unable to believe what I was seeing.

  “Kendra?” called Tyler, knocking softly on the door.

  “I’ll be out in a minute!” I called.

  He opened the door.

  My jaw dropped. “Tyler! What in the heck are you doing? This is the girl’s bathroom.”

  He took off his sunglasses and stepped inside. “Right now, everyone thinks it’s closed for repairs.”

  I took a deep breath and turned to face him. “Well, the potion worked.”