Buried Secrets

Chapter 7: Mean Girls-1

Chapter 7: Mean Girls

A little over a month now since school started, and I might actually have a friend. Plus, I have a cool teacher for English and a writing group. And not one person has said the word lesbian out loud since I got here. I’m thinking Shively might work okay for me—at least for a year. Surely my mom will release me from exile for my senior year…

The only possible problem with Hillary Calvano as a potential friend is this witch business; I know for sure Mom would flip out if she knew, and, as open as Aunt Penny likes to think she is, she wouldn’t like it either. From what I understand, Hill’s family is totally in the dark about the entire thing, and she carries what she calls “The Book” around with her all the time so they don’t find it. Personally, I think it sounds kind of dope—I could so turn up for a witch meeting, or ceremony, or whatever. She said something about “calling down the moon,” whatever that is. I should find out soon, because we’re going to start meeting outside for lunch before Chemistry.

“So, you see, I’m almost ready. I have a Wand—I cut it from the apple tree in our yard in the middle of the night. It was a b***h to get the herbs I needed to give it power, but I finally did it.”

I’m sitting next to Hillary at one of the picnic tables outside of the school cafeteria, eating the ham sandwich Aunt Penny packed for me, and trying to decide whether or not this girl is scary. I think probably not, but I stay silent and let her talk on.

“The bowl wasn’t that hard to get, but I literally had a heart-attack swiping the Strega booze from my dad’s liquor cabinet.”

Hillary takes a bite of her own sandwich as Dax comes up behind us. She gives him a withering look, which doesn’t seem to faze him.

“Hey, ladies. Are we looking forward to chemistry class?”

Hillary answers, “Well, you might be, being the weirdo that you are, but we are definitely not. Now run along, kid.”

“You’ll be sorry when you need my help. I hear today is osmosis day.”

I feel the need to back Hill up. “Whatever. We don’t care about osmosis—or you.”

Hillary and I exchange looks, cancelling Dax. I feel us edge a bit closer to actual friendship. Still, I’m wary about getting too close to any female person at this point…Taylor started out as a friend.

In spite of our poking at him, Dax chooses to sit down on the grass about five feet from our table and eat his lunch. He makes a show of ignoring us, but I can tell he’s still listening.

Hillary resumes her tale of the tools of Stregheria. “I have a wine glass I got at the thrift store for a chalice; did you know that Christianity adopted the idea of the Holy Grail from the Old Religion? Gucci, huh?”

I nod, my mouth full of apple. “Yeah, Gucci…do your parents know you think that?”

Hillary looks a bit put out. “No, they don’t—and I don’t just think it—it’s a fact. I read it in my book, and Grimassi knows what he’s talking about.”

“Well, my mom would totally freak if I said something like that, so I just wondered.”

“It’s a matter of secrecy,” replies Hillary.

“Discretion,” calls out Dax. “I can be very low key, you know.”

We both sigh in frustration. Why is this guy stalking us? The only thing we appreciate about him is his skill in science: not much to go on in thinking we like him or anything. Hillary scoots around so that her back is toward Dax.

“The next to last on the list is the pentacle; I got that online. Of course, I only wear it in my room when no one’s around.”

“You’re supposed to be naked when you work magic,” our eavesdropper interjects.

“You know, Em, I think we need to get on in the classroom and be extra prepared today, don’t you,” Hillary says this loudly and pointedly, toward Dax.

I raise my voice, too. “Right you are, Hill—extra prepared. So that we don’t need any help.”

Dax keeps on making a show of ignoring us, as Hillary and I gather up our trash and book bags. We head into building three; as the door swings shut behind us, I hear Dax say something about us “being sorry” later when we need him. What a loser!

As we take our usual table in the Chem Lab, Hillary suddenly turns to me and asks the question I’ve been dreading since I started hanging out with her, “So, Em, did you have a boyfriend back in Daytona? I can’t imagine that you didn’t…”

“Um, well, kind of,” I stammer. “But…it’s over now. Water under the bridge, so to speak.” Hillary seems to accept this answer, nodding her head in understanding. “I really don’t have time for that, you know, what with adjusting to a new school and—my writing and all…”

“Yeah, I feel you. Me neither. Becoming a witch takes all my concentration. Maybe when I go to college…”

I breathe a sigh of relief. Maybe I will be lucky enough to have Hillary for a friend without ever telling her about Taylor. I consider asking her about her own love life, but decide opening that particular can of worms can wait. Charity joins us, and I turn my mind to the problem on the board. Only near the end of class did I realize Hill had said the pentacle was the “next to last” item. I wonder what the final one is?