"Oh yeah, runs track?" Bess feigned, thinking hard.
Ashley's frown deepened. "No, he plays football and basketball. He," she blinked, "he has become your, friend? I mean, everyone sees him walking with you."
Bess did smile then. "Ohhh yeah," she nodded. "What about him?"
Bess looked down at where Ashley had wrapped her hand around her forearm pulling them to a stop. People milled around them, though most slowed down to watch what was becoming a scene as Ashley towered over her and her nice and aloof persona was replaced by the one that knew would hold court.
"I don't know what kind of freak black magic you're voo-dooing around, and everyone knows you and your coven are using magic, but he's an innocent guy who you need to leave alone."
A flash of anger entered Bess. She was tired of this town. Tired of wondering when she stepped into its square if she would feel safe or persecuted.
Too many people didn't know how to feel until the wrong person in power told them.
"First, that's offensive. Magic and voodoo aren't interchangeable and you're throwing them around without any awareness to the sanctity of either or their cultural significance."
Ashley blinked. She looked like Bess was speaking to her in a different language, and once her annoyance outweighed her confusion, she leaned in, her fingers digging into her arm making Bess wince and try to pull out of her grip. "Stop being a bitch. If you think you hold any cultural significance in this school, you're delusional. Which begs the question of why one of the school's most popular guys is suddenly hanging out with your weird witchy self. This town is doing exactly what it should have done years ago. Kick you and your freak aunts out."
Maybe Ashley was a bully.
Bess sighed. "Don't worry. Your boyfriend isn't into me." She wished those words weren't true. And she wished they didn't hurt.
People were openly staring now. Bess could see a few phones out. She wondered how much trouble she would get into if she hexed Ashley Cast.
"Want to let go of me before I take one of the videos many people are currently recording to the principal?"
Ashley's eyes narrowed dangerously before she finally threw Bess's arm like she was disgusted she'd even touched her. "Just leave him alone," she warned.
"Might have to tell him to leave me alone," Bess parried before she looked at the crowd filming and winked. "Hey, do you like pastel purple crocs?"
Ashley gave her a look. "What? No. Why?"
"Better start," was all she said as she turned and walked through the crowd that parted for the smiling Bess who left behind a gaping Ashley Cast, her mind filling in the blanks.
She smiled until it felt forced and the reality made her face shutter.
Because Jeremy Bracker, one of the most popular guys in her school, football and basketball player, surprisingly witty Jeremy was not into her.
She felt the weight of that settle between her ribs making her feel like the rest of her day was spent trying to not go through it woodenly.
It was a half day for summer school and after her last class ended she made sure to scan the halls for Jeremy, or worse, Ashley, as she took unusual routes through the school to get outside. She didn't want to talk with Jeremy, to hear if he'd seen the video yet. She didn't want to have to say the words that he didn't really like her out loud again.
The words were briars inside of her head and out loud they were too much to bear. Once she was far enough down the street from the school, she breathed easier. Aunt Tilly had asked for her to help with the blueberry picking event so she went straight for The Crescent Inn sending her uncle Jay a text reminding him that she'd be home late.
But when her phone buzzed with a text it wasn't from him, but Jeremy.
She quickly stuffed her phone into her backpack without reading it and continued on her way.
29. A Blueberry Affair
The backyard of The Crescent Inn was awash in summer's evening sunlight. Its golden fingers of light dragged perfectly over women dressed in blue, lounging at white picnic tables with baskets overfilled with blueberries and tall, slender flutes of something blue and glinting. Bess smiled as Crystal opened her arms, her blue chiffon kimono flowing in the light breeze. Her hugs were always something to make you feel like you could rest for a few moments and everything else was handled.
"Do you think Aunt Tilly is disappointed with the turnout?" Bess whispered.
Crystal put a finger to her lips and then winked. While the festival hadn't been rife with townspeople like usual, there had been some allies who came and filled the outdoor space with friendliness and laughter. Michelle brought a platter of his croissants with blueberry jam. Judy Lucy, came in blue striped overalls and eyes that sought out Jen, who was not joined byIsla. The woman was built like a forties movie star and laughed like it. Jen didn't seem to notice the attention, but when a woman goes through relationship hardship, she's rarely looking up from a twisted and confused heart.
"Things feel," Bess searched for the right words.
"Worse," Eloise finished for her as she joined them.
