Enchanted, A Paranormal Romance / Fantasy (Forever Charmed) (4 page)

Mandy was not someone who liked extra attention. Instead she most often shied away from the lime-light. She felt awkward and uncomfortable, like she was a new specimen of flower that Nana had just put up for sale. Like she was being examined. She felt as if she was playing her role in a most unbelievable way and she was scared everyone could somehow see through her façade. She knew how she was supposed to come across: as Nana’s friendly, sweet, outgoing granddaughter. Mandy supposed she was friendly at least, but only after she got to know someone. And in order to know someone she had to first overcome her shyness. Outgoing, ha! She was the furthest thing from outgoing that existed in this whole town. She was sure of that. But, Mandy didn’t want to disappoint her grandmother, so she tried to play the role she had been assigned to the best of her abilities. She smiled and waved, and tried to act like any normal teenage girl.

In between the ongoing introductions Mandy thankfully had the inconsequential job of taking down special orders, answering the phone, and running the cash register. She could handle those tasks. She had worked last summer at the Victory grocery store in Boston as a cashier. Comparably this job was pretty easy. The pace was slower and more laid back. She didn’t have an angry manager scrutinizing her bagging techniques or long lines of customers glaring at her because she couldn’t get the coupon to scan. On the contrary, most of these people, Nana’s friends and acquaintances, seemed rather friendly and happy and interested even to meet Mandy. She would rather have gone incognito, but as that idea was impossible, this alternative wasn’t so bad she supposed.

There was another girl working in the flower shop who was introduced to Mandy as Alyssa. Nana informed Mandy that Alyssa would be going to the same school as Mandy, and what a coincidence, would also be starting her senior year. Alyssa had smiled at Mandy and said, “Everyone calls me Ally.”

Mandy had smiled back and nodded at Ally. “So, do you like it here? Your grandma said you were from Boston. Must be a big change, huh?” Ally pointed out.

Ally laughed and threw Mandy an odd look. “It’s not all that bad, you know. The kids at school are really nice, and believe it or not, we do get sun and nice days. Maybe we can hang out after work tonight. I can introduce you to some kids.”

“Um, okay, thanks. After work, then,” Mandy struggled to form her lips into the fake smile as she inwardly grimaced. She wanted to smack her hand against her forehead for agreeing to that one, but she supposed that would not be keeping to her role very well as a well-rounded, adaptable, fun-loving teenage girl.

All day long she cringed as the clock neared five o’clock. For at five o’clock, the little flower shop would close. Nana would lock the door, they would count up and lock up the money, sweep up, and leave. She would be forced to go hang out with Ally, whom she barely knew, and who knew how many more kids that she didn’t know at all. She would be introduced and shown around and forced to make small talk and answer questions and be expected to be normal and laugh at the right moments and effortlessly fit in. What in the world was she going to do?

Mandy contemplated the alternatives. If she gave in to the nervous breakdown she was surely on the brink of having, she probably could get out of tonight. But then she would have the reputation as the weird, unstable new girl. She didn’t exactly want that. She could start breaking all the vases or pour bleach on the flowers. Maybe Nana would fire her and then she could leave before five o’clock and “forget” to meet Allie. Only she doubted Nana would actually fire her. She could “accidentally” break a vase and “accidentally” get a flesh wound that might warrant a few stitches and then she would have to stay in and recover.

As she was trying to decide which option was most viable, Mandy was distracted by the tingling of bells on the door. “Well, well, you must be little Mandy!” said a cheerful looking man. The gentleman’s cheeks were pink as if someone had been pinching them, and his balding head was practically glowing as if he had shined it especially.

“How time flies. I remember seeing you as just a little child. I suppose you don’t remember me. It’s been too long. Hank Hickle. You can call me Hank.” Hank winked at Mandy as a lopsided grin lit up his round face.

“Ok, Hank. Can I get you anything?”

“Oh, yes. I came here for some flowers, of course. Is your grandmother in?” Hanks eyes darted around the shop, searching for Nana.

“She’s in the back. If it’s something out of the refrigerated section I can get it out for you, or if you’re looking for a specific bouquet you would like to have put together I can write it down and let Nana know.”

“Well, then. What I am looking for is something special for someone special.” Hank lowered his voice at this and leaned in over the counter towards Mandy. “Your grandmother will know what I mean if you tell her I would like some yellow daisies.” Hank winked again at Mandy. She wondered if he had a nervous twitch.

“Ok, yellow daisies it is,” Mandy repeated.

“Hush, child! No need to shout about my business!”

Mandy looked at him with confusion plainly written on her face, but the customer was always right. “Okay, I’ll just go let Nana know you are looking for yellow daisies and I’ll be right back,” she whispered.

The lopsided grin reappeared on Hank’s face and he laughed a quiet, nervous laugh, all the while his eyes scanning about the store. Just then the bell rang again behind Hank, causing him to jump and spin around like his life depended on it.
Note to self, these town people are crazy!
Mandy thought. A boy with short, dark brown hair calmly entered the store, eyeing Hank wearily. “Hey, Hank. How’s it going?” the boy asked casually.

“Oh, Lucas. Good to see you my lad! Tell your father I say hello, will you?” With that Hank turned his back on Lucas. Lucas raised his eyebrows at Hank’s back and then met Mandy’s gaze. His eyes were a muddled shade of green, like the color of a lake midsummer. Mandy felt the blush creeping into her face and spreading down to her neck, embarrassed to be caught staring.

“Um, sorry, I’ll be with you in a second,” Mandy squeaked out. She turned and fled into the safety of the back of the store, glad to be on Hank’s errand. Ally was waiting for her just out of sight.

“Lucas got to you, right?” Ally giggled.

“Lucas? Oh, that guy. No, actually it was that other guy, Hank. He’s kind of creeping me out.”

“He doesn’t mean any harm. He’s just like that. We all think he likes to pretend he’s on a secret mission when he’s really just getting some harmless flowers. Probably going senile or something,” grinned Ally. “But, seriously, did you not catch a glimpse of Lucas?”

Oh I caught a glimpse all right, and I’d like another
, Mandy thought to herself. “Yeah, I mean I saw him waiting out there. So what?” she said to Ally.

“So what? So he’s beautiful is all! You must be immune to his powers,” laughed Ally. “Wish I was…”

“Powers? What do you mean?”

“He’s hot! But be forewarned, he’s off limits. His dad owns the Golden Rod. They’ve got money, and he’s not allowed to
affiliate
with us nobody’s,” Mandy snickered.

“Okay…so what’s he doing in here?”

“He’s his dad’s gopher. Does all his errands for him and gets a hefty allowance. He comes in every week to place an order for his dad. Flowers for the restaurant, flowers for their house, candy for his mom. You know, just normal rich people stuff.” Ally rolled her eyes.

“Hmm…Oh geez! I gotta go give Hank’s order to Nana.” Mandy walked away leaving Ally to stare after her shaking her head.
Strange girl
, Ally thought.

“Nana?” Mandy raised her voice a little as she rounded the corner. “There’s a guy named Hank out there. He’s looking for…”

“Yellow daisies. Yes, I know. Almost ready,” Nana announced.

Mandy looked suspiciously at her grandmother. Hank had lowered his voice considerably, to almost a whisper even, when he had asked for the daisies. “How did you know? Did you hear him all the way back here?” Mandy asked.

“Oh, he’s a regular Mandy. You’ll start remembering too before long.”

Logical enough, Mandy thought. Still, there was something slightly irregular here. Mandy was almost sure. She could almost feel it. She just couldn’t put her finger on it. She stood there lost in her thoughts, staring at her grandmother who was wrapping a shiny piece of cellophane around the bouquet of yellow daisies. Nana taped it in place and then reached to the shelf above the worktable taking down a little vile filled with some sort of white, powdery looking stuff. It caught the light just right and seemed to gleam at Mandy, the same way Hank’s eyes had looked when he winked. Nana serenely shook some of the powdery stuff over the top of the daisies and then blew on them lightly, saying something under her breath too low for Mandy to decipher.

“Oh, just my secret mix of plant food. It helps them.” Nana smiled and began walking with the bouquet towards the front of the store.

“Doesn’t the plant food usually go in the water Nana?” Mandy asked.

“To each his own, Mandy.”

They were out front behind the counter now so the conversation abruptly came to a halt. Mandy realized with relief that Ally was all over helping Lucas. She was batting her lashes at him and laughing a bit too loud. Nana was ringing up Hank, so at least Mandy didn’t have to worry about dealing with any more of that weirdness. She leaned against the counter, letting her mind wander. She had only been here a few days but things seemed so different, so strange. The people here were definitely weirder than in Boston. Maybe it was the effects of a small town. Mandy figured she’d just have to get used to it. Hopefully she wouldn’t turn weird too.

Mandy was jolted out of her reverie by the tinkling of the door bells as Hank let himself out, yellow daisies in hand. Suddenly she felt eyes on her and turned to see Lucas staring at her. Ally was still shamelessly trying to flirt with him, but it seemed as if Lucas didn’t even hear her. He was shamelessly staring at Mandy.
What?!
She shouted in her head at Lucas.
Is there something on my face? What is your problem?
She said nothing aloud, only threw him a quizzical look and went to go wait in the back until he left when she would be free from his scrutiny. She could feel his eyes on her back as she retreated. She tried to pretend like she didn’t notice or care.

Mandy’s grandmother was in the back sweeping the floor clean of the flower stem clippings and the other greenery that had fallen during the day. Mandy’s eyes found the clock on the wall. Quarter to five.
Awesome
, thought Mandy.
Almost free to go hang out with all my cool new friends
, she added sarcastically to herself. She sighed.

“Something wrong dear?” asked Nana.

“Not really, Nana. Ally wants me to hang out with her tonight, to introduce me around. It’s just hard being the new girl.”

“Everybody’s new at something at some point, honey. It will pass. And I’m sure everyone will love you! You’ll have fun,” Nana consoled Mandy. “Actually, hon, why don’t the two of you take off now? I don’t think we’ll get too busy in the next few minutes. I’ll close up tonight. Go have fun!”

Wonderful
, thought Mandy. She tried not to show her lack of enthusiasm as she hung up her apron on the hook and said, “Thanks, Nana.” Mandy walked back to the front, hoping furtively that Lucas had finished up whatever business he had here and would be gone. Luck was on Mandy’s side. There was no sign of Lucas, but she found Ally staring in a daze out the door after him.

“Ally? Nana says we can go if we want,” Mandy said.

“What? Oh, right. Cool! Let me just go hang up my apron.”

Ally wasn’t gone long enough for Mandy to fall too much farther into her imagined hole of despair. She came back appearing to have fully recovered from the fog Lucas had left on her. “So, what do you usually like to do for fun?” she asked chirpily.

“Not anything exciting. Mostly read, really,” Mandy said feeling self-conscious.

Ally threw her another weird look. “Well, we are not reading tonight, Mandy. Actually I know a bunch of kids are meeting up at the Fun-O-Rama, so we’ll start there and see where we end up. C’mon!” Ally grabbed Mandy by the wrist and led her out the front door, bells tingling in their wake.

* * *

Chapter 4

The Fun-O-Rama was a dingy, sticky, too warm arcade sitting directly next to Short Sands Beach. The front of the arcade was completely open to the outdoors, allowing the cacophony of musical rides, coins spilling, alarms alerting winners, and the high-pitched voices of gleeful children hyped up on sugar to spill out onto the surrounding beach. The interior consisted of one large, high-ceilinged room. The floor looked original to the early 1900’s; wide, well-worn wood planks lined it, in continual need of being swept for all the sand that was dragged in from the constant influx of traffic. Another nostalgic touch was the lack of air conditioning. Large fans were situated here and there to try to cool off the masses as they swarmed the kiddy rides, skee ball games, pinball machines, and prize counter. There was not a lot of room to maneuver in there with all the kids running seemingly blindly in a frenzy to and fro, and the adults trying to keep tabs on them in between the overwhelming amount of teenage couples on dates. It was constantly sticky from humidity and children; it was dark and had a certain musty, damp smell. For these reasons, it appealed to almost everyone except parents.