The buzzing droned on for lack of service until my call connected.
“Hey, Lu. What’s up?” Vadika asked. I could hear the smile in her voice. “Did you tell the sun hello for me yet? Or is it goodbye at this time of day?”
I smiled. Neither really, but this was good. I wanted to catch her while she was still in a good mood.
“I need a favor.”
Vadika chuckled. “O-kay.”
“Do you think your parents would mind if I headed over to your place for the weekend? I’ll take care of the cats and everything.”
“What happened?”
“My archnemesis kicked me out of the room because of her boyfriend.” I rolled my eyes as I leaned against one of the slopes of grass.
“Lu, I’m sorry. We all just left. My parents came to pick me up a little while ago,” Vadika apologized with a sigh. “I wish I had known.”
“Oh. To be honest, I’d sort of figured.” Blinking, I kept staring out at the sun, though the air still felt cool and not so comforting any longer. “It’s fine.”
“Are you sure? I could ask to see if we could call a neighbor to get you a key.”
“It’s no big deal, Vad,” I assured her. “I’ll be good. Just another night in the library before I sleep on the common room couch.”
“Gross. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Forget I asked,” I said. “Have fun at the wedding and make some young groomsman’s night.”
She snorted. “Don’t joke. Good luck.”
“You too.”
I waited until the sun was almost the entire way down and watched as the lamps on campus began to turn on one at a time, lighting the way. It needed to be now, or I wasn’t sure that I would ever get up, so I stood, looping my backpack around my shoulders. Still, I took the longer way, heading through the cemetery to get on the main path.
It seemed that out of all the campuses I’d visited before I settled on Barnett, most of them had a cemetery on or very near campus in an oddly foreboding fashion. Gravestones were faded or toppled over, some dating back centuries, as I wandered through the rows.
Today had been a rough day, and it wasn’t even over yet. I still had work to do on my computer and a couch to proclaim as mine for at least five hours, so no drunk partygoers would sit on top of me in the middle of the night.
What a joy.
I kicked at a loose patch of grass before pausing altogether, halting my motivation to go another step. What was I doing here? In the cemetery or on campus? I was basically a loser witch whose best friends were middle-aged women. I didn’t even have a major or clear understanding of what the hell I was going to do next year when I could no longer write that I was a student underOccupationon legal forms.
Just your average witchcertainly wouldn’t be applicable. Nor as well respected if I ran away.
But what else was for me here, except for the people I’d grown fond of and the work I did with Gertie in her garden? I had basically been made to be a retired old lady who secretly sold spells on the side.
Maybe my coven had a point—even if I would never say such a thing aloud.
I groaned audibly.
I needed to stop going in this loop. So what if I was happy with the simple things I found for myself? Happy enough anyway.
Right here, right now.
I didn’t want anything to change. So, what if I stayed in this town forever? I could help Gertie at the house where she’d no doubt adopt another stray cat. I’d swing on her sun porch until I got old and withered and pestered other young ladies interested in witchcraft that they should have more lovers and take more chances and live more life …
I shut my eyes, walking the path before I opened them again. At that moment, however, before I could help it, a small shriek escaped my mouth, quickly recaptured as my hands covered my mouth and I stared down at a body that lay between headstones.
3
