by Sarah Adams
“You'll just have to hang out with me again to find out,” he laughed.
“Later,” Amber waved as she watched him pull out of the driveway.
Chapter Nine
Monday
Despite spending most of Sunday afternoon searching the web for more information about the spell book Amber was no closer to reversing the spell. Her search yielded plenty of spells (both loves spells and otherwise) and plenty of warnings about love spells. What it did not produce was a way to reverse said spell. She had asked around on a few forums and everyone had told her that she just had to let the spell run its course and try not to get too attached to him until then.
“There's no way. The spells already out there! U should have been more careful!”
“Haha! Silly little girl! U shouldn't play with things you don't no about!”
“OMG! Do u really like him now? Talk about karma! It's going to suck for u when it finally wears off. LMAO!”
They were all right. She should never have done the spell, but Amber wasn't giving up on reversing it. Karma was already biting her behind anyway. She did like Joshua Kirk. He could make her laugh and he could play guitar. Joshua Kirk made her feel good in her own skin, but that would end when the spell finally lived out its life.
Joshua wasn't on the bus and Amber wondered if he would be at school. His dad might have needed him to help again or the spell died over night. Why had he been riding the bus to school anyway? He had a car. Okay, it could have been his parents' car.
“Hey,” Tamara said, when the pair met at their lockers.
“Hey,” Amber said.
“You never called me this weekend. How did it go?” she asked.
“It went great. Too great, Tamara,” Amber sighed.
“What's that supposed to mean? You're not still caught up on that spell stuff are you?” Tamara asked.
“It's real,” Amber sighed.
“Just forget about it okay. You did the spell, but since magic isn't real nothing happened,” Tamara said.
“Then how do you explain him suddenly noticing me?” Amber asked, “After I screwed up the spell?”
“Coincidence. He most likely noticed you before, but you just didn't notice him,” Tamara sighed, “I'll see you in drama.”
“Later,” Amber sighed.
Amber had a Joshua Kirk free morning. She saw Joshua Nelson three times, but the glamour had worn off.
“I can't worry about his dimples right now,” she told herself, “I have bigger fish to fry. He's just a minnow anyway.”
“I'm worried about him,” Amber told Tamara at lunch.
“Why? People miss school all the time. Maybe he skipped or something,” Tamara said.
“Or maybe the spell went wrong again and it's fried his brain. He could be out there walking around like some lovesick zombie,” Amber sighed.
“No, just no, girl,” Tamara shook her head, “What would he be yelling 'AMBER! AMBER!' instead of 'BRAINS! FEED ME BRAIN!'?”
“I'm being serious, Tamara,” Amber sighed.
“So am I,” Tamara said, drinking the last of her chocolate milk, “Do you want to go shopping this weekend?”
“Can't I'm busy,” Amber said.
“Doing what?” Tamara asked.
“Doing what I'll be doing forever or at least until the spell ends on its own,” Amber sighed and stormed off.
'The Secret Book of Spells for Ladies in Love' was still not at the library that evening when Amber checked.
Tuesday
“What's wrong, kiddo?” her dad asked on his way out the door.
“Nothing,” Amber said, pushing her cereal around the bowl.
“We'll talk about it later, okay?” he said before disappearing.
“I need toothpicks to hold my eyelids up,” Amber groaned.
She had stayed up late again continuing her search online. All she had to show for it was a lack of sleep and the bags under her eyes. After she finished breakfast she tried to use foundation to hide the tell-tale signs of her sleepless night and failed.
“Screw it,” she shrugged looking at the clock. She was running late and it was raining, “I don't have any more time to mess with this.”
Amber quickly washed the makeup off and grabbed her backpack and umbrella. She held tightly to the latter as she walked to the bus stop. The wind caught her umbrella and carried it across the street. She chased after it until it became caught in tree branches too high for her to reach.
“Damn it!” she swore and pushed her wet hair out of her face.
“Taking advantage of the free shower?” a voice called from behind her.
“What the…?” Amber turned around to see Joshua's car, “Not funny.”
“Since you don't appreciate my humor, maybe I won't offer you a ride to school after all. Maybe you'll appreciate Larry's humor,” he laughed.
“Shut up,” Amber laughed.
“Don't just stand in the rain! Get in!” Joshua said.
Amber slipped off her backpack and slid into the passenger seat.
“Thanks,” she said, slamming the door shut and locking out the rain.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Now that she was still Amber could feel the goosebumps that had formed on her body, making her shiver.
“Let's swing by your place so you can change,” Joshua said.
“Thanks,” Amber frowned, “I must look like a total loser.”
“No, you don't,” Joshua smiled, “You look like a person who was caught in the rain. It happens to everyone, but wet hair is beautiful on you.”
“Thanks, I think,” Amber laughed.
“That's the love spell talking,” she thought to herself as she sprinted back inside.
Amber's morning classes were canceled. The school board was hosting an assembly on the school's new adaptation of the zero tolerance policy. She and Tamara were whispering back and forth, as were most of their classmates.
“Has he asked you to the dance yet?” Tamara whispered.
“No,” Amber shook her head, “Do you have a date yet?”
“No, but I'm thinking of asking Doug,” Tamara said.
“Doug from the basketball team?” Amber asked, “I thought you didn't like jocks?”
“No, I don't like Joshua Nelson or Alexander-the-Not-So-Great. I never said I didn't like jocks,” Tamara giggled.
“Girls!” Mr. O'Bannon warned from the row behind them.
“Sorry,” they both muttered.
For a few minutes they were quiet, but soon their attention strayed again.
“You're going to ask him?” Amber asked, “Isn't that a little backwards?”
“No, it's not,” Tamara shook her head, “I've seen something I want and I'm going to go for it. That's pretty straightforward, not backwards.”
“I don't think I could ever ask a guy to the dance,” Amber said.
“You should ask Joshua to go with you,” Tamara whispered.
“I can't and you know wh…” Amber began.
“BE QUIET!” Mr. O'Bannon hissed leaning between them.
“Ahh!” Amber startled and nearly fell backwards.
“Both of you out of here! If you can't listen quietly you can wait in the hall!” Mr. O'Bannon said.
“Gladly,” Tamara said and stood up.
Amber cringed. She would never talk to a teacher that way. Sheepishly she followed Tamara into the hall. Being sent to the hall during assembly was supposed to be a punishment, but it was an escape.
“Don't worry about it, Amber,” Tamara said, “We get to talk now, without O'Bannon butting his nose into our business.
“Yeah, I guess so,” Amber said, sitting down against the wall.
“So are you going to ask him?” Tamara asked.
“I told you I can'..” Amber's words were cut short again by an approaching figure.
“Hey Amber and Amber's BFF,” Joshua grinned.
“Her name's Tamara,” Amber smiled.
“That's cool,” Joshua said
, sitting down next to Amber, “What did you guys do to get kicked out?”
“Talking,” Amber shrugged.
“Let me guess, O'Bannon sent you out?” he asked.
“Yep, that would be the one,” Tamara said, “Well, I have someone to go talk to, so I'll be leaving you kids alone. Later.”
“Later.”
Amber stared at the wall studying an indention in one of the stones. Unsure of what to say now that they were alone she waited for Joshua to say something. The bell rang signaling it was five minutes until lunch. Amber waited to hear the stampede of footfalls fleeing the auditorium, but they didn't come.
“Looks like they're going to make us eat late,” Joshua said.
“The school board always does that stuff. Put us on a schedule. Break the schedule. Then wonder why nothing turns out their way,” Amber laughed.
“I don't think they've thought it out that far,” Joshua said, “They most likely want to get it over with as much as we do.”
“I've never been in trouble for violence. Our school has maybe one or two fights a year. I think we could have all lived without a morning long assembly on the new policies,” Amber said.
“Well, we got out of it anyway,” he laughed.
“What did you do to get sent out here?” Amber asked.
“Nothing. I simply walked out,” Joshua said.
“They didn't stop you?” Amber asked.
“Nah, they know they're fighting a losing battle,” Joshua shrugged.
“Maybe,” Amber laughed.
Joshua brushed a loose lock of hair away from Amber's face and gently tucked it behind her ear. She smiled at him and her cheeks flushed. He leaned in closer to her, making Amber's heart race. She knew she should turn away or stop him. Joshua Kirk was under the influence of a love spell. It wasn't right, but Amber didn't stop him.
Her tongue flicked over her lips and she moved into meet him. She had kissed a boy once before at summer camp during a secret game of spin the bottle, but it hadn't felt like this. Amber's eyelids drifted closed and she rested her hand on Joshua's shoulder.
BANG! BANG!
The auditorium doors swung open and crashed into the walls as the students who had been forced to endure the ending of the assembly were released. Amber jerked away from Joshua, blushing. As they stood she glanced at him. He was smiling.
“What?” Amber asked, trying to suppress the laughter that threatened to bubble over her lips.
Joshua shook his head and together they walked to the cafeteria. The line was already long and Amber couldn't find Tamara anywhere.
“I think I'm going to wait at the normal table,” Amber said over the noise.
“Sounds like a plan,” Joshua said.
His fingers entwined with hers as they made their way to the table. Amber spotted Tamara standing in line. She waved at her, but Amber pretended not to notice. Tamara would join them soon enough.
“So I was wondering,” Joshua said.
Amber tilted her head to the side and studied his brown eyes.
“Yes?” Amber said.
“I was wondering would you go to the dance with me?” Joshua asked.
Amber's heart raced and she could hear the blood pumping in her ears. Whoosh! Whoosh! Thump. Thump. She focused on the sounds as her brain tried to wrap itself around the question.
“I can't,” Amber said.
“Okay,” Joshua nodded, looking down at the table.
“It's not that I don't want to, because I do. It's complicated,” Amber said.
“Girls always claim everything is complicated,” Joshua chuckled.
“No, this particular situation is very complicated and unbelievable, because it almost shouldn't be possible,” Amber said.
“What you have a secret boyfriend from Mars or something?” Joshua asked.
“That would be much simpler. We can go with that answer, if you like,” Amber said, attempting and failing at a smile.
“So you're already seeing someone?” he asked.
Amber's mind flashed back to the kiss they shared in the hallway.
“No!” she said quickly, “It's not like that. I'm not like that. I wouldn't have kiss... Just I'm not like that,” Amber said, “If I told you the truth you wouldn't believe me.”
“Try me,” Joshua said.
“I'd love to,” Amber thought to herself.
Joshua Nelson walked by the table with Sandra attached to his arm. Amber glanced at him, but didn't swoon.
“You're the one who caused this,” Amber thought to herself as she watched him walk by.
“You're not still caught up on him like you were in sixth grade, are you?” Joshua asked.
“No!” Amber said. Her words coming out more sharply than she intended, “Not anymore. Something cured me of that.”
“Yeah, I think she finally realized how dense and shallow he is,” Tamara said, as she took her normal seat at the table.
“Yeah, totally,” Amber said, springing to her feet, “The line's short now. We should go get lunch.”
“Yeah,” Joshua said following her.
Amber and Tamara exchanged a look of arched eyebrows, that said they totally had to have a talk soon.
“So what's really up, Amber?” Joshua asked.
“It's complicated,” Amber sighed.
“You're not going to tell me are you?” Joshua asked.
“No, because you wouldn't believe me anyway,” Amber said looking away.
“How do you know that?” he asked, “You're not even going to give me a chance?”
“Fine,” Amber sighed, looking around to make sure no one was listening to their conversation, “You only like me because of a love spell.”
Joshua studied Amber's face for a moment and then deciding it must be a joke, burst into laughter.
“I'm serious, Josh,” Amber said.
“You expect me to believe you're a witch and you cast a love spell on me? If you were a witch you would have cast a spell on Nelson to make him like you a long time ago,” Joshua said.
“Actually, I don't think I'm a witch. Not like a real one anyway. I've never done anything like this before, but I did cast a spell. You're right it wasn't on you. I was aiming for Joshua Nelson, but it hit you. He lied about his favorite color and the lie he told just happened to be your favorite color,” Amber said.
“You can't be serious,” Joshua said.
“I am,” Amber said with a shake of her head, “I told you that you wouldn't believe it. That's why I should have left it alone. I should have left it at 'It's complicated'.”
“I don't think I'm under a spell, Amber, and that's something I'm pretty sure I would know,” Joshua said.
“How? Are you a witch?” Amber asked.
“No,” Joshua laughed, “Believe me. The spell you cast, didn't make me like you.”
“How do you know that?” Amber asked.
“I just do,” Joshua shrugged, “What does any of this have to do with the dance anyway?”
“A lot. I can't keep doing this. It's not right. It's not fair to you. If you only like me because of the spell,” Amber sighed.
“What if I told you, I didn't care whether it was a spell or not?” he asked.
“That would be the spell talking,” Amber sighed.
“What do I have to do to prove that I'm not spellbound?” Joshua laughed.
“Help me figure out a way to break the spell,” Amber said.
“Fine, we'll meet at the library on Friday and try to figure something out. I have to work every evening until then,” Joshua said, “But say we break the spell and I still like you, will you go to the dance with me then?”
“If you still like me after the spell is broken, I'll go to the dance with you,” Amber said.
“By the way, plan on being my date for the dance,” Joshua laughed.
“What makes you so sure you're going to like me after we reverse the spell?” she asked.
“Some things you just know,” Joshua
said.
After school Amber stood by the stone pillar listening to Tamara ramble about Doug while they waited on their rides.
“He said yes! Then when we talked in Chemistry he said he wanted to ask me out, but had been too shy. He thought I'd say no! Girl, do you hear that? That's why us girls have to learn to go for these guys! They're chickens,” she laughed.
“I'm not so sure I would want to date a chicken,” Amber laughed.
“Whateva,” Tamara laughed, “So are you going to the dance with Joshua?”
“Maybe. If he still likes me after the spell is reversed,” she said.
“Amber, BFF, girl, tell me you didn't tell him about that stupid spell? Tell me you didn't. No, you can't lie to me. You did. Why did you do that?” Tamara groaned.
“It was only fair, Tamara,” Amber said.
“Is he still talking to you? Did he run away from you like you were a total psycho?” Tamara asked.
“No, actually, he still wants to go to the dance with me,” Amber said.
“Then either he's psycho or he really likes you,” Tamara said.
“Of course he does. At the moment at least. Remember he's under a spell,” Amber said, “There's Dad. I have to go.”
“See you tomorrow,” Tamara said
Friday
“So how are we going to reverse the spell?” Joshua asked, deepening his voice in a corny attempt at sounding spooky.
“You're vampire impression needs work,” Amber laughed, “but that's the problem I don't know how to reverse it.”
“And the library is supposed to help us?” Joshua asked.
“Well, it all started here,” Amber said.
“That it did,” Joshua laughed.
“What's that supposed to mean?” Amber asked.
“Nothing,” Joshua shrugged, “I was just agreeing with you. Why don't we go across to the plaza and get something to eat before we start searching for the magic grimoire.”
“We only have a few hours to look,” Amber said.
“Yeah, and if my stomach is growling I'm going to be useless,” Joshua said.
“Fine, but you're buying,” Amber said.
“Starting to take advantage of your love spell victim, I see,” he chuckled.
“What? No!” Amber said, “Never mind. I'll look and you can go eat.”
