“Jahla—”
“Don’t Jahla me. You’re thinking it too.”
He was, but they still needed to buy things from her, and it wasn’t like she owed him anything, let alone an explanation for all the shit being hidden from him. So maybe insulting her wasn’t the way to go.
Tabitha let out a soft laugh. “Ah, you young ones, always so impatient. Rude or not, I will say, it’s not a bad thing to have someone by your side who is willing to speak up for you. Now, while I can’t answer your questions, I can fulfill whatever is on that list in your hand.”
Ollie smiled hesitantly and handed it over when she held her hand out. She glanced down at it, her smile dropping as she read, before looking back up sharply. “I don’t know if I feel comfortable giving you what you need, considering I know exactly what this creates. There are some dangers that one should avoid until ready.”
“My, um…cat didn’t seem to be worried?” Ollie explained slowly, as he didn’t know what else to say. In his mind, as long as Red didn’t seem worried, then he figured things would be fine.
She stared for a moment before sighing and saying, “I’ll be right back.” Then she disappeared through the double doors behind the counter.
He glanced over when he felt eyes on him, wincing at finding Jahla’s gaze narrowed suspiciously. “Yes?”
“How dangerous is this cluster ghost?”
Ah…that was the question. “I mean, if you are asking if it can hurt me, the answer is…yes. As for how much and how dangerous, we don’t exactly know. But it should be fine, as long as I don’t let it touch me.”
“And being the unathletic individual that you are, how exactly do you intend to stay away from it?”
“I’m notthatout of shape,” he huffed. “Besides, Noble will be with me.”
Jahla opened her mouth, but nothing came out, so she sighed and rolled her eyes. “Fine, fine, but if you get hurt, I’m hiding a book.”
“What book?”
She smirked evilly. “That is the question, isn’t it?”
Ollie sputtered, “S-stop threatening my books!”
“I will when you stop putting yourself in danger,” his friend chimed.
Ugh, he supposed Jahla hiding one was better than her previous threat of burning…but still!? He started to argue more, but stopped when Tabitha returned. In her hands was a boxed double burner, and stacked on top of it was a grocery-sized paper bag and a small cauldron, with another smaller paper bag sitting inside it.
Setting the things on the counter, she said, “That will be two hundred even. I’m sorry about the price, but unfortunately, some ingredients have become harder to get lately, and others were always difficult to begin with. Though, being a Cross, I imagine money isn’t an issue for you.”
“Not really.” Ollie smiled and shrugged, before remembering something. “Oh! I almost forgot, I want bread too. A loaf ofItalian, one of white, and lastly, one of honey wheat.” He looked at Jahla. “Do you want anything, my treat?”
His friend pursed her lips, glancing towards the display for a moment before saying, “One Italian, and a loaf of honey wheat as well.”
Tabitha nodded before she quickly grabbed and bagged the loaves for them. After typing into the cash register, she said, “New total is two hundred and twenty-nine dollars and fifty cents.”
He quickly paid while Jahla picked up the potion-related things. Then he grabbed their two bags of bread, grateful that Tabitha had separated their orders, before they both turned to leave.
But as they were walking away, Tabitha called out, “Worry not, my young friends, youbothwill get the answers you need when the time is right. Some will come sooner than others. Stay safe!”
He frowned when Jahla stiffened oddly beside him at her words.
Jahla ignoredOllie’s stares as they got things settled in the car, doing her best to take slow, even breaths while her heart beat out of control.
“Something wrong?” Ollie asked after buckling his seatbelt.
She faked a smile. “No, nothing at all.”
Her friend stared for a moment longer before he nodded and pulled out of their parking spot, starting the drive back to the library.
Jahla tried not to feel bad about not being completely honest. But it wasn’t like she had lied. It was nothing, because she was not a witch. Who knew what Tabitha was talking about. The woman was obviously suspicious anyway, with how secretive she was being.
