Witch Is When Life Got Complicated (15 page)

“Looks that way, but I think we have Lester to thank. Now Mum’s all loved up, she’s not so uptight about us.”

Chapter 22

If I had to list my top ten dislikes, karaoke would be right up there alongside Eccles cakes, ponchos and clowns. There were only so many times I could bear to hear the same old songs being crucified.

“You have to come!” Pearl insisted. “It’s great isn’t it Amber?”

“Yeah, we won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”

I think I liked it better when they weren’t talking to one another. “I hate karaoke.”

“There’ll be prizes.”

“Champagne for the winner,” Amber bubbled.

“You don’t want me there, playing gooseberry.”

“Don’t be daft. The guys both love you.” Amber said. “Say you’ll come.”

The karaoke competition was a regular monthly event which apparently the twins never missed. Their fiancés, Alan and William, were going to be there too. The rivalry between the two couples was every bit as fierce as you might imagine.

“If I do go, I’m not going to sing.”

“You have to. It’ll be fun.”

Fun in the same way as having a root canal is fun. “I’ll only come if you agree I don’t have to get up and sing. Deal?”

Amber and Pearl nodded, but I wasn’t sure that I trusted them.

The twins insisted we clock off early, so they could take me clothes shopping for something to wear at the karaoke. Thankfully, this time I managed to avoid any zip-related incidents. I came back the proud owner of a beautiful, halter-neck blue dress. It wasn’t something I’d have chosen for myself, but the girls had insisted I try it on. It turned out they were right.

“You can come with us,” Amber said, her arm through William’s. His car was a sporty blue number with alloy wheels.

“She’s coming with us.” Pearl was hand in hand with Alan. He owned a sports car too—red with a soft top.

Whichever one I chose, I was going to upset the other one.

Just then, a black 4x4 pulled up across the road. The window slid down, and a familiar face smiled at me. “Need a lift?”

“Looks like I have my own transport,” I told the twins, as I made my way across the road.

“I heard you were in town,” Drake said. “Thought I’d pop over on the off-chance. Looks like I got here just in time.”

“You might regret it when you know where we’re headed.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“Karaoke.”

“I love karaoke.”

“You do
not
.”

“Honestly, it’s one of my favourite things.”

“You’ve just gone way down in my estimation. And to think I had you down as classy.”

“Follow us,” Amber called.

“You heard the lady.” I climbed in next to Drake.

The best thing about Club Destiny was the neon sign outside. The lights on some of the letters were out, so the sign now read ‘Club tiny’ which was actually quite appropriate because there was hardly enough room to swing Winky. The six of us shared a table which was so close to one of the speakers that I had to shout to make myself heard.

“Just so you know, I’m not going to be singing,” I yelled at Drake.

“Of course you are.” He flashed that killer smile of his. “You and I are going to do a duet. We’ll show this lot how it’s done.”

“You haven’t heard me sing.”

“You’ll be great.”

After thirty minutes, I still hadn’t recognised a single song. On karaoke nights, you can normally guarantee that certain classics will make an appearance, but the sup world appeared to have its own music biosphere.

Pearl and Alan were the first up from our table. He had a powerful voice and could carry a tune. Pearl—not so much. Amber and William were up next. Once again, the male half of the duo was let down by his partner. If the two guys had partnered with one another, they’d have won hands down.

“Our turn.” Drake grabbed my hand, and dragged me onto the stage. As I didn’t recognise any of the songs on offer, I allowed him to choose. The song had a country and western feel about it—not my kind of thing at all, but it was too late to bale now. Thirty seconds into the song, he put his arm around my shoulder. It felt kind of nice, but I was sure he’d only done it by way of encouragement.

When we’d finished, I was all set to duck out of the way of flying tomatoes, but to my surprise, we received a huge round of applause. Amber, Pearl and the boys were on their feet, clapping and whistling.

“That was fantastic.” Amber gave me a hug.

“You’ll win for sure,” Pearl said. “There can’t be many more to go.”

“If we win,” Drake said, “the champagne is on us.”

The MC took the stage, and announced that there was one more couple to perform. “Please welcome to the stage, the two Ls, Lucy and Lester.”

From a table somewhere at the back of the room, Aunt Lucy and Lester made their way to the stage.

“Mum?” Amber looked agog.

“She never comes here,” Pearl said. “She said karaoke was stupid.”

“Watch and learn,” Aunt Lucy said, as she walked by our table.

Within a few bars, Drake and I had kissed goodbye to the champagne. The two Ls delivered a ballad which was pitch-perfect. When they’d finished, everyone in the room was on their feet.

“I didn’t know Mum could sing,” Amber said.

“Maybe she’ll share the champagne with us,” Pearl said.

Aunt Lucy lifted the bottle, turned to our table, and shouted, “Sorry, girls. This is all for me and Lester.”

“Charming!” Pearl exchanged a glance with her sister.

“Selfish.” Amber pouted. “I preferred it when she stayed at home and did our laundry.”

“I blame Lester,” Pearl said.

Drake touched my arm. “Want to get out of here?”

I nodded. “We’re going to shoot off,” I told the twins who were still moaning about their mother and her new man.

On the way home, we picked up pizza from a takeaway, and parked on a hill overlooking the park.

“Thank you for tonight,” I said, dropping crumbs down my new dress. “I enjoyed it.”

“Me too. It’s a pity we didn’t win the champagne though.”

Every time Drake smiled, I imagined what it might be like to kiss those gorgeous lips. I wondered again if tonight qualified as a date.

“Champagne is overrated,” I said. “Ginger beer all the way.” We clinked our cans together.

“I’ve been hearing rumours about you,” he said, suddenly serious.

“What kind of rumours?”

“Let’s just say they relate to a donkey and a frog.”

“It was a toad.”

“A toad?” He laughed. “Sorry, I stand corrected.”

“How did you hear about that?”

“I don’t think you realise what a big deal it is. Every class of sup has its own hierarchy. It’s rare for any sup to rise through the ranks other than one level at a time.”

“I’m still on level one.”

“From what I hear, the spell you cast was several levels above that.”

“I messed it up.”

“People will be watching you, Jill. And not just the witches and wizards. You’ll be under the spotlight.”

Great—just what I needed.

After we’d finished eating, Drake drove me back to the twins’ place.

“Thank you for a lovely evening,” I said as I made to get out of the car. Would he kiss me?

“Thank
you
. I’ve had fun. I’m still planning on coming over to the human world soon. We’ll have dinner.” That killer smile again. Those gorgeous lips. But no kiss.

“I’d like that. Preferably somewhere with no karaoke.” I waved as he drove away. Maybe it hadn’t been an actual ‘date’ after all.

Barry almost knocked me off my feet as I walked through the door.

“Jill! Where have you been? Let’s go for a walk.”

“It’s late.”

“Please, oh please.”

“Okay then, but just around the block.”

“Yay! Come on then, let’s go. I love to walk.”

Barry was pulling on the lead, but I daren’t let him off for fear I’d spend the rest of the night chasing after him. As we walked, my thoughts went to Drake. I was so confused. He seemed keen to be with me, and yet he showed no sign of wanting to take it any further. Perhaps things moved more slowly in the sup world. And, maybe that was no bad thing—my so-called love life had been a complete train wreck in the human world.

The next morning I was stranded. When I’d refused Daze’s offer of a ‘lift’ back to Washbridge, it hadn’t occurred to me that I’d be stuck in Candlefield without my car. Twenty miles was a long walk—too long. The twins had been up and out early doors to open the shop. How did they do it? I would still have been asleep if some kind soul hadn’t opened the door and allowed Barry to jump on my bed. I’m sure the twins thought it was hilarious.

I couldn’t ask Drake for a lift because: ‘A’ - I didn’t know where he lived, ‘B’ - I didn’t have his phone number, and ‘C’ - he was probably busy. Not that I even knew what he did for a living. In fact, I didn’t know much about the man at all except that he had a killer smile, great lips and dark blue eyes to die for. None of which would get me back to Washbridge.

Aunt Lucy would know what to do, but her front door was locked. I knocked twice, but there was no reply. Maybe she was out with Lester. Maybe she was
still
out with Lester. How come every female member of my new family was loved-up except me? The twins were both engaged, and now Aunt Lucy was with Lester. Even my mother had found herself a man. It was coming to something when a ghost had a better love life than me.

Grandma appeared at my side. “If you’re looking for Lucy, she’s with Fester.”

“Lester.”

“If you say so.”

“I don’t suppose you know when she’ll be back?”

“She doesn’t tell me anything. I’m only her mother after all. She’d promised to see to my bunions this morning.”

Luckily, I’d already had breakfast because the mental image was vomit-inducing.

“Do you know anything about bunions?” she asked.

“Me? No. I have a phobia.”

“Of bunions?”

“Of feet. I can’t bear to look at them. Ever.”

“That’s what comes of spending so much time living among humans. I suppose I’ll just have to attend to my own podiatry.” She turned back to her house.

“Grandma!”

“What now?”

“It’s a bit embarrassing.”

“More embarrassing than falling over a wall?”

“I’m kind of stranded. I need to get back to Washbridge, but I don’t have my car.”

“It’s twenty miles that way.” She pointed a crooked finger.

“Yes I know, but I wondered if you knew someone who might give me a lift?”

“No.”

“When you visited Mrs V, how did you travel there?”

“I cast a spell. What do you think? Unicycle?”

“Could you cast a spell to send me back there?”

“This is all very bothersome. Where is your car, anyway?”

I told her about the Rogues I’d helped to bring to justice, and how Daze had transported me to Candlefield.

“Daisy Flowers, huh?”

“She doesn’t like anyone to call her that.”

Grandma fixed me with
that
gaze.

“But I’m sure she’d make an exception for you.”

“I knew her father. Handsome man, but had a terrible lisp. Does she still wear that awful onesie?”

“It’s a catsuit.”

“It’s a wonder she doesn’t catch her death.”

“So, can you help?”

“Do you know how painful a bunion can be?”

“Not really.”

“Just pray you never find out.” She sighed. “I can’t transport you back, but you can try to do it yourself if you like. It’s a level three spell, so if you mess up like you did with the toad, goodness knows where you might end up.”

I didn’t like the sound of that, but then I didn’t like the idea of a twenty mile walk either.

“I’ll give it a go.”

“Give it a go?”

“I mean, I’ll give it my all. I’ll do my best. I’d like to try—please.”

When I saw the list of images I’d need to memorise, I began to wonder if the twenty mile hike might not have been the better option. But then, I didn’t want to end up with bunions.

“Concentrate,” Grandma said. “If you get this wrong you could end up anywhere in the human world. Or worse.”

“Worse?”

“There have been a few cases of the ‘split’.”

“What’s that?” Did I really want to know?

“The head ends up in one place, and the body somewhere else.”

Maybe I should settle for bunions.

“Are you ready?” Grandma asked.