Parties & Potions

by Sarah Mlynowski

  When I’m a few bites into my pizza, it happens. The door swings open.

  Dark hair. Brown shirt. Leather jacket. My stomach swoops. Raf. He’s here! Except …

  Same hair. Same shirt. Same jacket. But not Raf. My heart sinks.

  My eyes fill. I put down my slice. Why did Miri bring me here?

  “What’s wrong?” Adam asks me. “You’re hardly eating.”

  I look back at the door. That guy looked nothing like Raf. Not his eyes, not his smile … I look down at my mostly untouched slice. “It’s nothing,” I say. Why am I still thinking about Raf? Raf is history! Adam is my future. He’s funny. He’s cute. He’s a warlock. He gets me. I force my eyes up to meet Adam’s and smile, then look back down at my plate.

  The conversation swirls around me until we’re done. Eventually, we pay the bill and spill back onto the street.

  “Yo, what now?” Viv says.

  “Let’s go to the Empire State Building!” Preppy Triplet says. “I’ve never been. If I was a guy, I totally would have my Sim there.”

  The gang agrees to check it out. We return to the alley and then begin disappearing. Adam puts his hand on my arm before I can go. “Wait, Rachel, hold on a sec.”

  “Sure.”

  Miri looks at me questioningly

  I nod for her to go ahead.

  “You sure?” she asks. “ ’Cause we can just go home. And hang out.”

  “Go,” I say, turning my back, still annoyed with her for bringing me here.

  I hear her and Corey disappear.

  I look at Adam. “What’s up?”

  He takes a step closer to me. Lifts his hand. Runs his fingers through my hair.

  My heart stops.

  He’s going to kiss me. Adam is going to kiss me. This is it. Adam is going to kiss me and we’re going to be the perfect witch couple and live happily ever after. And it’s really going to be over between me and Raf.

  It’s going to feel over. Finally.

  He leans in closer. And closer. And presses his lips against mine.

  And—

  I wait. For the charge. For the fireworks. For the magic.

  But there’s nothing. His lips are cold. Thin. Kissing Adam feels like kissing my pillow.

  I pull back and touch his shoulder.

  He blinks, confused.

  “I can’t,” I say.

  He looks at the ground. Neither of us speaks. In the distance, we hear a succession of honking.

  Eventually, he says, “You’re not over him yet, are you?”

  I want to tell him I am. I really do. But I can’t. I can’t lie to him. But worse, I can’t lie to myself. I shake my head.

  He cocks his head and gives me a half smile. “Do you think you’ll be over him soon?”

  I swallow hard. “I’m so sorry, Adam.” And I am sorry. So sorry. Sorry this didn’t work, sorry I don’t feel the way he does, sorry he’s hurting.

  He closes his eyes for a second and then opens them. “I’m sorry too.”

  “Don’t hate me,” I say sadly.

  “I could never,” he tells me, then sighs again. “Friends?”

  I nod. “Nothing would make me happier.”

  He shuffles his feet. “But would you hate me if I wasn’t your date on Tuesday? I think it might be too weird for me.”

  I squeeze his shoulder. “I totally understand. But you’re still going to be there, right?”

  “Yeah. The triplets have a seat for me.”

  We’re both silent.

  “Should we go meet up with them?” he asks finally.

  “You go ahead,” I say. “There’s someone I need to talk to.” “Raf?” he asks, with a hint of bitterness. “No,” I say, shaking my head. “But someone just as important.”

  “Brace yourself,” I tell Tammy.

  “Okay,” she says. “I’m braced. What’s going on?”

  I called her from the alley and told her I really needed to talk. She was at Annie’s but came over to my house immediately, no questions asked. Of course I beat her here, since zapping is faster than the subway. Anyway, as soon as she got here, I brought her to my room and closed the door. When she sat on my bed, I sat on my computer chair. I want to give her some space in case she freaks. And she might. But I’m hoping she won’t. I’m hoping she’ll be willing to listen— because she’s my best friend and best friends should be able to talk about anything. And I need to talk.

  But first things first.

  I take a deep breath, close my eyes, then let it pour out. “I’m a witch.”

  No answer. Nothing. Has she passed out? I open one eye and see that Tammy is sporting the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.

  I open both eyes. “Huh?”

  “I knew it!” she exclaims, punching an arm into the air.

  “What do you mean? Wait. Don’t tell me.” How could she possibly know? Unless… “You’re a witch too?”

  She laughs. “I wish. But no. I figured it out. See, I’ve been keeping an eye on Wendaline—sorry, Wendy, I keep forgetting she wants us to call her that—and last week she kind of disappeared. Literally Cassandra was coming her way and she ducked into a classroom and she just— vamoosh—disappeared. One second I was watching her and the next she was gone. She didn’t know I was watching, but I remember her saying that she was a witch on the first day of school. I didn’t take her that seriously then, but when I saw her disappear, I thought maybe she hadn’t been lying.” She takes a quick breath. “It seemed crazy to me, but I thought, you never know, right? Who am I to say what’s real and what’s not? So when I found her later, I asked her if she really was a witch. She got all nervous and started mumbling that you were going to be mad. But then she admitted it. That she was a witch! So I asked if you knew, and she got all freaked out and said no, but then she made me promise not to say anything to anyone, especially you. And you’ve been acting weird lately. And there was the fashion show last year, and that weird other language thing this year, and the cupcake and I don’t know. I just wondered. And it’s true! You’re a witch too!”

  I push my chair a few inches closer to the bed. “So you’re not afraid of me?”

  Her eyes dance. “No! Not at all!”

  A few inches closer. “And you don’t think it’s weird?”

  “No! I think it’s the coolest thing ever.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. I’m so happy you told me. I’m honored that you told me. That you feel you can confide in me.”

  Aw. I throw my arms around her.

  “I have so many questions,” she says as soon as I let go. “Did you always know you were a witch? How do spells feel? Did you—”

  “I’ll tell you everything,” I say, “but first I have to ask you something.”

  “Anything.”

  Well. “There’s this debutante-slash-bat-mitzvah-slash-quinceañera witch party thing on Monday. It’s during the day on an island off of Romania. I should add that it’s in a cemetery, totally top-secret, and formal. Wanna be my plus one?”

  “I’m so there,” she says, and gives me a thumbs-up. “Now, start at the beginning.”

  The Big Day

  Happy Halloween!

  After our very early hair appointment, I drag Miri for her first-ever manicure. But while we’re waiting for our turn, she’s totally ignoring me, yammering on the phone.

  “Miri,” I whine. “I’m bored. Talk to me.”

  “One sec,” she says. “Cor? I have to go. My sister’s complaining. I’ll see you soon? Yeah … okay, hang up…. No, you hang up! … No you! … No you hang up!”

  “Who speaks to her boyfriend with a baby voice?” I say in a baby voice of my own. “Who does? Is it you? I liked it better when you just squeaked.”

  She turns bright red. “I gotta go,” she tells him, and hangs up.

  Hilarious.

  Obviously, I speak to her in a baby voice for the rest of the appointment.

  At least by the time we’re done her fingers look so
mewhat normal. I even treat. I kind of owe her for forcing me to go to T’s Pies and confront my feelings for Raf. Sisters sure are sneaky. Clever, but sneaky.

  After our manicure, we head over to Bloomie’s for a little makeup application.

  Of course I buy the new products. Hello, it’s rude not to.

  Back home, we change into our outfits and get ready for everyone to arrive.

  The plan is to meet at our apartment, take some pictures (maybe to show our daughters one day?), and then head over to Zandalusha.

  When I say everyone, I don’t mean our entire guest list, I just mean those of the nonmagical variety, i.e., Dad, Tammy, and Lex. Oh, and Corey.

  Not Raf.

  I thought about inviting him. Of course I did. My dad got over it, and Tammy is super-excited. So maybe Raf would be cool with it too? Maybe I’d apologize, tell him the truth—and then invite him to be my date.

  But I talked it over with Tammy and here was her ad-vice: “Telling Raf is a big decision. A really big decision. And it shouldn’t be rushed by a dance. Tell him if you want him to know, but don’t tell him just because you want him to be your date.”

  So mature, that Tammy. Telling her was my best decision yet. And she’s right. I might want to tell Raf. But I need a clear head—and heart—first. Let me finish with this Sam-sorta business first and then decide what to do.

  When I get dressed, I add the heart he bought me for my birthday back to the chain. For luck.

  Anyway, Tammy squeals when she sees Miri and me all dressed up in our heliotrope finery. She looks very pretty in the black dress she wore to prom.

  “Do you want to try it in another color?” I ask her. “Not that yours doesn’t look great, but I can zap it for you.”

  “Seriously?” she asks, eyes wide.

  “Absolutely.”

  “Sure.”

  “Green would look wonderful on you,” I say. “It would bring out your eyes.”

  “Go for it.”

  I use the color-changing spell and zap her.

  “That,” says Tammy, looking down at her new gown, “was the coolest thing ever.”

  When my dad arrives, his eyes get teary at the sight of Miri and me. “You both look so beautiful and grown-up.”

  He looks pretty handsome himself in his tux and black bow tie. I’m about to offer to zap his bow tie into another color, but decide not to push it. He’ll be witnessing more than enough magic tonight.

  Despite the fact that Jennifer’s still smiling her please-don’t-zap-me smile, and she has my dad’s hand in a death grip, she’s looking pretty stunning in a floor-length black ball gown. I’m hoping it doesn’t take her too long to get over her fear that we’re going to use her for spell-casting practice.

  Dad shakes hands with Lex, gives Tammy and my mom a hello hug, and meets Corey for the first time. Corey calls him sir, which is pretty adorable. My dad laughs and tells him to call him by his first name.

  Corey is already in my good book. Not only did he bring Miri a corsage, he brought me one too.

  He’s a keeper.

  After about a hundred pictures (“Oh, come on, just a few with the hats. Please?” Mom begs), Mom asks us if we’re all ready. “Let me just put a bowl of candy out for the trick-or-treaters in the building, and we’re off.”

  “I guess we’ll use the batteries?” I say. I don’t know who’s going to take who, but I know I don’t want to ruin my hair with the go spell. It’ll go through enough trauma today with the upcoming trim.

  “I brought my passport!” Tammy exclaims. “Just in case.”

  “Not necessary,” I tell her.

  “Er, how does this work?” my dad asks nervously.

  Corey pats his back. “Just climb on and close your eyes, sir.”

  Jennifer grabs hold of my father and looks like she might hyperventilate.

  Mom pulls a long braided gold rope out of the cleaning closet. “Actually, I have an easier way. I hold the batteries and you all hold on to this. It’ll be like the kids at day care walking down Fifth Avenue.”

  “Adorable,” I say.

  It’s happening. Finally.

  They’ve handed out the candles.

  The cemetery isn’t as creepy as I’d imagined. It’s actually pretty gorgeous in a hauntingly beautiful sort of way It looks like the Grand Canyon, with cliffs and tons of space. The auditorium is built right into the stone and reminds me of the Pantheon. The stone seats are in fact gravestones, and while you’d think this would be supremely spooky, it isn’t. It makes me feel like we’re somehow being protected by all the women who came before us. Fizguin explains that once the ceremony is over, the seats will sink into the ground and the whole area will morph into a ballroom under the stars.

  But now it’s time for the ceremony. Our friends, relatives, and extended family we’ve never met are in their seats, hushed and waiting. My whole family made it over here intact. Jennifer screamed for most of it, but at least my dad didn’t pass out. In fact, he whistled when we landed, and called the experience “wild.”

  Now our school is in line behind the girls from Charm School and in front of the Asian girls from Shi. I wave to Wendy, who’s up front. She looks pretty in her long, gauzy heliotrope dress. Pretty but nervous. She has a big job to do today, since she’s the one in charge of the wonderment spell.

  “Let’s go, girls,” says a tall woman in a long black robe.

  Miri squeezes my hand. And it begins.

  The ceremony starts off just as it did in rehearsal.

  Except instead of just our mothers here to watch, there are more than a thousand pairs of eyes on us.

  The other things on us are the ridiculous hats. Yes, apparently Mom was right. Everyone’s wearing a matching witch hat. I hope no one loses an eye. These things are pointy!

  After we’re all in our spots, we start the alimity bit. It takes a while for the golden knife to get to Mom, but when it does, she asks in a voice that carries though the night, “Are you ready to join the circle of magic?”

  “Yes,” Miri says, lowering her head so Mom can easily cut off a piece of her hair. When she’s done, she moves over to me.

  “Are you ready to join the circle of magic?” she asks me. “Yes,” I answer, and show her exactly which piece of hair to cut. No reason to take unnecessary risks, right?

  Next up is the candlelighting. We slowly go around the circle, each saying our spell.

  I thought I’d be nervous, but I’m not. I know this spell and I’m in control of my pillars. I’ve been honest with my-self, I trust my family and friends, I had the courage to con-fide in my friend, I feel loved and am loved, and I have decent karma. I hope. I’ve learned a lot since June and I’m ready.

  When it’s my turn, I chant the spell loud and clear.

  “Isy boliy donu

  Ritui lock fisu

  Coriuty fonu

  Corunty promu binty bu

  Gurty bu

  Nomadico veramamu.”

  My candle’s wick bursts into flame. Wahoo!

  Miri goes next and she says the spell, just as loudly and as clearly. Her flame zings just as high.

  I bump my hip against hers and we give each other a big smile. We did it. “Yay,” I mouth.

  “Yay,” she mouths back.

  We continue around the circle. Glamour Triplet struggles once, twice, and then three times, but her sisters squeeze her shoulders and then she gets it right. Sister power!

  Finally, we complete the circle with Wendy.

  She lights her candle, no problem, and then slowly walks to the central cauldron.

  Here it is. The last step. After this it’s party time!

  Wendy holds her candle over the cauldron. She has to hold it strong while all of us repeat the wonderment spell after her.

  “Julio vamity,” she begins.

  “Julio vamity,” we repeat. It means on the pillars.

  “Cirella bapretty!” she finishes.

  “Cirella bapretty!” we repeat.
That means blooms something wonderful. That’s it! Short and sweet.

  We all wait for the cauldron to catch fire.

  And wait.

  And still wait.

  Uh-oh.

  After a few seconds, Wendy tries again. “Julio vamity,” she says, her voice shaking.

  “Julio vamity,” we repeat. What’s going on? Wendy shouldn’t be having any problems with this. She’s one of the best witches I’ve ever seen. She can do anything!

  “Cirella bapretty!” she says again.

  “Cirella bapretty!” we repeat.

  And then wait.

  Still nothing. Her hands begin to shake as she starts the spell over again.

  “Poor Wendaline,” Miri whispers to me.

  Wendaline.

  Oh, no. I almost drop my candle, but I steady my hand.

  I changed her name. I changed her clothes. I changed her hair. I changed her makeup. I made her lie to her friends. I think back to the time my go spell wouldn’t work and to what Miri told me. When I disguised my true self, my magic got funky. My pillars got blocked.

  Wendy—no, Wendaline—needs everything to be perfect or our wonderment spell will never work.

  It’s up to me to make it right.

  You Never Know

  I need to do something, but what? I need to return her to the way she was before I messed her up. She needs to be Wendaline again.

  I close my eyes, focus on her, and think with all my might:

  All the changes I’ve made,

  Please undo.

  Wendy become Wendaline again.

  I miss the real you.

  As I say it, I realize it’s the truth. I miss her long hair. I miss calling her Wendaline. I miss her crazy outfits. She is who she is, and she should be proud. I’m the one who should be ashamed.

  A rush of cold flows through me, and I cover my flame so it stays lit.

  It works. In front of the entire witch world, Wendaline’s hair grows all the way down to her waist. Her nails go from pink to black, and her makeup gets darker. The colors of her dress get richer, her train gets longer, and her whole being seems to sparkle.