Enchanted, A Paranormal Romance / Fantasy (Forever Charmed) (25 page)

“Aw, ok, you win best boyfriend award! It’s a date then,” Mandy said squeezing Steve’s hand. Mandy didn’t really relish the whole idea of shopping. Having to find just the right thing, having to try on all the clothes, but Steve was right, it was worth it to spend time with each other. She was looking forward to that.

Mandy met Steve after school at his car and they drove down to Newington, New Hampshire. There was a Macy’s there, and Mandy figured that was her best bet to find a dress without wasting a lot of time or turning the afternoon into a major hassle. Steve played the part of the vigilant and chivalrous boyfriend exceptionally well. He sat in the little pink chair outside the dressing rooms with Mandy’s purse perched on his knee. He oohed and aahed over each dress Mandy tried on, stuffing her so full of compliments that Mandy was sure that soon her head would disengage and float away like a helium balloon. After five wardrobe changes, Mandy finally settled on an emerald green number. It was shorter than she normally would have gone, but she loved the other features of the dress and the color was so deep and rich that she decided to let her guard down, at least for this one time. It was a faux wrap dress, sleeveless. On the side, where the wrap would be tied, was an emerald green stone flanked by glittering diamond-like rhinestones surrounding it in a circle setting. Where the dress pulled away from the bauble it had a ruched-like look to it. The hem of the dress was cut on an angle so that it made an upside down V where the fabric met, showing off Mandy’s legs. Mandy felt like a million dollars in it, and she could tell Steve approved as well. Perhaps the best part was that Steve had told her that it really brought out her eyes. Her eyes had always been a source of disappointment for Mandy. She had a sort of eye-envy over girls who had those perfect wide set eyes, framed dramatically in thick, long lashes, and gleaming that perfect shade of blue or green. Her own were quite the opposite in her opinion. You couldn’t get much more boring and plain than brown, and with only stubby little lashes, they didn’t do a lot for Mandy. So to have them complicated was a big deal.

They were driving home when Mandy suddenly realized she didn’t even know the date of the dance. “So when’s this dance, anyway?” she asked.

“I know. It’s ok, I understand. But I’m glad we spent today together, and I’m glad we’re going to the dance together. There’s going to be a lot of jealous guys when they see you on my arm!”

“Yeah, right,” Mandy laughed. They pulled up to the school parking lot so Mandy could retrieve her car from where she had left it after school. “You really are the best boyfriend though, you know,” Mandy said looking Steve in the eyes.

“And I’ve got the best girl in the world,” Steve said, kissing Mandy on the forehead. Mandy wrapped her arms around Steve’s neck loving the feeling of being with someone who liked her for her.

“I better go. It’s getting late,” Mandy said reluctantly.

“Me too. See you tomorrow?”

“Of course,” Mandy said brushing her lips across Steve’s. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Mandy slipped into her car, and started the ignition, cranking the heat as she did so. It never seemed to be warm enough for her. She waved at Steve and pulled out of the parking lot, heading towards home and watching in the rearview as Steve turned the opposite way towards his house. That’s when she saw the third rose sitting alone on her passenger seat and she felt like the wind had been knocked out of her.

This time the rose was a deep shade of red, scarlet almost. Mandy pulled over to the side of the road. Her hands were shaking, but she was glad she was alone. She didn’t want to worry Steve. She felt her mind racing a million different directions at once as she reached for the single stem.
How did this get in my car, why me, who is doing this, what next, what do I do?
Mandy wished there was mute button on her brain. The soundtrack playing a million miles an hour wasn’t helping to calm her nerves. She picked up the rose, mistakenly pricking herself on one of the thorns in the process. “Ow!” Mandy said to no one, instinctively bringing her maimed finger to her mouth to soothe the puncture. She held the rose before her eyes. No doubt it was beautiful, a perfect specimen, but none the less it was ominous. The thorns seemed extra prickly as if someone had painstakingly sharpened each one, which was completely ridiculous.

There was a note hanging from the head of the blossom just like last time. Mandy felt a surge of dread course through her body. She didn’t even want to open it or look at the flower any more, much less read whatever it said, but she knew she had to.

Mandywitch,

Enough of your games. We’ll be playing by my rules now. First rule is to ditch the boyfriend…for good. If you don’t do as I say, actions that could have been deemed unnecessary will be taken. I can only imagine they will be unfortunate and regrettable. We’ll catch up soon, and I’m sure we’ll see eye to eye.

Until then,

Your Secret Admirer

Mandy felt her skin pucker up in goose bumps as if a hundred baby spiders were dancing their way up her arms. She had to struggle to compose herself. This was by far the most menacing and disturbing of the three flowers she had received.
Ditch the boyfriend…something regrettable and unfortunate will happen
. She couldn’t ditch Steve. Could she? But what if whoever wrote this note was serious? There was a definite threat hanging in the words. She didn’t want to ditch Steve, she didn’t want to hurt him, but she didn’t want him to get hurt physically either. She got the impression that this wasn’t just some stupid prank, this had turned serious. Mandy suddenly realized that she would do whatever this note and any other future notes told her to do because she didn’t want to be the cause of injury to anyone. And although she felt her heart shrivel up at the sheer thought of it, she knew that tomorrow she would break up with Steve. For his own good. Mandy wiped a tear off her cheek, threw the rose and the note out the window of the Buick, and drove on towards her future.

* * *

Chapter 27

The alarm clock rang too soon the next morning, jolting Mandy awake from the thin veil of sleep she had been in. She had spent most of the night tossing and turning, dreading the task the new day would bring. She had to break up with Steve today.

Mandy’s stomach turned at the mere thought of it. It felt like a rubber band was constricting her middle and she couldn’t breathe normally. She splashed some cold water on her face, trying to calm herself down, and saw the black circles under her eyes. She looked awful.
Good, maybe Steve won’t take it so hard since I’d be embarrassing to be seen with today anyway
, Mandy thought to herself sarcastically.

Steve was waiting for Mandy with a grin on his face in front of her locker, the same as any day, only today Mandy couldn’t meet his eyes or return his smile. Steve noticed something was wrong right away and the grin faded from his face. “What’s wrong? No offense, but you don’t look too good. Are you sick or something?” Steve said worriedly.

“We need to talk,” Mandy said, stopping in front of him. She didn’t want to look him in the face but she forced herself to. He had to believe she meant what she was about to say or she could be putting him in danger.

“What is it?” Steve asked, putting his hand on Mandy’s shoulder.

“I can’t do this anymore. We can’t be together,” Mandy whispered, feeling like the rubber band was now constricting her throat, making it almost impossible to breathe let alone talk.

“What do you mean? I don’t understand what happened…” Steve stuttered, clearly thrown off guard.

“Nothing happened. We’re just not right for each other and there’s no point in stringing you along…” Mandy shrugged, trying to remain calm but feeling like an evil villain in the process.

“No, we are right for each other. It’s effortless when we’re together! I know you feel that way too,” Steve protested, reaching for Mandy’s chin. He brought her face up, forcing her to look at him. “You just said last night that you wouldn’t have it any other way…” Steve said quietly.

“Well, I was wrong,” Mandy said, jerking her head away from Steve quickly so that maybe he wouldn’t see the tears building in her eyes and threatening to spill over. She turned her back to him and started to open her locker.

“Mandy, we can work this out. It doesn’t have to be like this,” Steve said, the desperation in his voice almost tangible.

“Yes it does. Listen, I don’t want to see you anymore. I don’t want to be around you. I don’t want you to wait for me at my locker or between classes. Just stay away from me, ok?” Mandy forced her voice louder, trying to get her point across.

Steve stared at Mandy. His mouth hung open a little, the shock and pain written across his face. His eyes seemed glazed over. He shook his head a little. “Mandy, I…”

Mandy didn’t wait to hear what he would say. “I don’t like you anymore Steve, ok? In fact, I never really liked you. I just felt bad for you. And I let it go on for too long. I’m sorry. But this is how it has to be. So just stay away from me. Far away!” Mandy slammed her locked and reeled off towards class before Steve could recover and come after her. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks now.

She ducked into the girls’ bathroom to try to collect herself, happy to find it empty. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and was surprised to see that she looked even worse than she had before she left the house. She hadn’t thought that was possible. Her face was red, and along with the black circles under her eyes, the skin surrounding them had now puffed up. Her hair was a nightmare. None of that really mattered to Mandy at the moment though. She felt wrong, all hollow inside. She couldn’t bear to sit through classes all day. She had always played by the rules, never been so much as tempted to break them on a normal day. But this was not a normal day. Today she didn’t care. Today she was breaking the rules. Besides she didn’t want to risk having to talk to Steve again.

Mandy picked her backpack off the floor and left the bathroom, heading for her car. Today she was ditching school for the first time ever.

* * *

Chapter 28

Mandy wandered around downtown aimlessly. Normally she would be freaking out that someone might see her, that she might get in trouble for not being at school, for not being where she was supposed to be. In fact, someone did see her. She should have known better than to pass right by in front of Enchanted Dew Drops, but she didn’t have the energy to change her path. She passed by sullenly, giving her Nana a half-smile if you could even call it that as she passed by the big picture window of the store. Nana’s brows knit together and she frowned at Mandy, completely aware that something was amiss. Nana was out the door of the shop half a second later, calling after Mandy, imploring her to come and talk to her. Mandy pretended like she didn’t care and she kept walking, forcing herself to quicken her pace. Normally she would never blow Nana off like that, but today wasn’t normal. Today she just didn’t care. She was vaguely aware that Nana might tell her parents on her, but there was also a good chance that she would know enough to keep Mandy’s secret. Nana was intuitive like that. At some point she’d have to come clean to Nana, but now was not the time for that.

She passed by the lifeless windows of the Golden Rod, with the taffy machines dead behind the glass like mummies in a sarcophagus. She stopped in her tracks and touched the glass, finding herself still surprised that the Golden Rod had closed down. It just felt wrong somehow. She caught her reflection in the streaky glass, frowning and looking drawn. Suddenly another face was reflected next to her, looking serious and frowning as well. As she became aware that she was not alone, she felt a hand on her elbow, urging her away from the glass. “Come,” Ophelia said quietly, directing Mandy towards her shop.

Part of Mandy wanted to yank away from Ophelia, but most of her just didn’t care. Besides it felt like it would surely be too much effort to actually get out of her grasp and away, so she went willingly with her.

“In,” Ophelia directed, pulling aside the red velvet curtains that always hung closed, a barrier between the store front and the actual inside of the store. Mandy followed the instructions mutely. The inside of the store behind the curtain was dark and dusty, yet somehow still felt rich and ornate. It didn’t seem to match up with Ophelia at all. Mandy would have expected to find more gaudy props inside, like crystal balls and eccentric lighting, or tin stars and moons hanging on the wall, and perhaps plastic lawn furniture. Instead the furniture seemed to be mostly antique. There were dark woods and deep velvets. Heavy drapery covered the back window and porcelain lamps were scattered here and there. Plush oriental rugs covered the floors. Milk glass vases bursting with blooms from Nana’s shop, Mandy was sure, were squeezed into the empty spaces. The air was thick with dust, flowers, and a sickly sweet tobacco smell. It smelled old, from another time, but somehow warm and thus comforting. Ophelia pulled out a red velvet chair with a straight back. “Sit,” she gestured from Mandy to the chair. Mandy did not protest, but dropped into the chair, a small sigh escaping her lips.

“You are in danger. Normally I charge for readings, however I felt it was my duty to warn you and play my part in destiny,” Ophelia announced calmly, raising her eyebrows at Mandy, clearly waiting for some sort of response or reaction.

Mandy looked back at Ophelia just as calmly, trying to sort through the swirl of thoughts that was racing through her brain so she could pick out something intelligible to say. “I know,” was all Mandy could manage to squeeze out.