As The Moon Phases

Bright Futures

    Being that it is my senior year I only need two classes to graduate. It works out pretty well because for homeroom (the first 30 minutes of school and also a class that does nothing for me, like a free period study hall) I share the class with Quinn. It is really nice having a familiar face in the room.

    "Everyone take your seats. This homeroom class is a study hall. It last 30 minutes. During this class it would be prudent of you all to take the time to finish up homework or any projects for classes that follow. As for today since it is the first day of school I suggest catching up on your summer reading lists or you can talk quietly amongst yourselves until the bell rings," the teacher, Mrs. Walker, an stern looking older woman with dyed black hair and serve makeup, states with no smile.

   Quinn leans in and says, "She looks like she bites but I've had Mrs. Walker the past three years for homeroom and as long as you don't interrupt her b**m reading she is a p***y cat."

    My head swings to the front of the class and I see the teacher reading. The book is folded in a way that you can not see the title but there is a light flush on her cheeks and she is lightly skimming her hand across her chest. I couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up inside and luckily I wasn't drinking anything or I would have spit it all over the back of the person sitting in front of me.

    The class turns to me as I let the loud hysterics break from my throat and I have tears running down my face. The back of my hand is covering my mouth and I am trying to contain myself. Quinn is kicking me with her foot. And Mrs. Walker is now glaring.

    "Would you like to share with the class what you find so amusing?"

    "No I am so sorry. It won't happen again, I swear."

    "That would be preferable," is all she says as she turns back to her book. 

    My head turns to Quinn and I give her a stern look. "You shouldn't spring knowledge like that on someone while in the presence of the person you are talking about. How do you know that that is what she is reading?"

    "Well one time I went to ask her for a bathroom pass and my eyes zoomed in on a few words that will haunt me every time I see her reading."

    "Wow, I would have never guessed."

    "So Rowan, since you only have two classes what are you doing the rest of the day?"

    "Well I need to find a job. I wanted to find one before school started but with the short time frame from the time that I moved to school starting, unpacking took up most of my time."

    "What kind of work do you want? I know most of the places around here and I can probably tell you who is hiring and save you some time."

    "I haven't given it a lot of thought but I was thinking about maybe a waitressing job. Or a sales clerk. I have experience in both."

    "Ok. I know two places, one of each that will be hiring. I get out the same time you do I will take you by and introduce you and you can fill out the applications."

    "Oh, that's perfect." We continue talking about this and that and then the bell finally rings, dismissing us from homeroom. We exit the classroom and I tell Quinn bye as we split up heading in opposite directions. I decide to go by my locker before my next class. I don't have much to carry with only two classes but I want to locate the locker since I have ten minutes before the next bell.

    I reach my locker, number 295. I use the combo 29, 5, 3 written on the small piece of paper that the office gave me and open it up. I am glad I was able to open on the first try with no issues. As I am about to close it a bit of light hits the back of the locker and I see a piece of cloth hanging in the top corner. To my delight the Hamsa art I enjoyed earlier is painted on the cloth. I am amazed but I also peek around me. Carrick is the only one who knew I loved that painting but I am going to brush it off as coincidence because it would be kinda creepy if he put this here.

    I stuff my bag in the locker just taking my Economics book, and shut the door. I look down at the book and turn around, taking one step and immediately bump into someone and drop my book onto the persons foot.

    "I am so sorry I am a klutz, I wasn't paying attention," I apologizes bending down to pick up my book and the notebook that wasn't mine that fell on the ground. The notebook was just an every day run of the mill Mead, Five Star, black spiral notebook but the silver design etched into the front put me in a trans. Moons, in all phases, covered the whole notebook, the design was mesmerizing. It wasn't the same as the art on the wall in the courtyard or my locker, this one was more sinister, in a way, but it was beautiful at the same time. 

    "Uh-Um. Can I have that back?"

    I finally raise my face to see who I ran into and look up into dark chocolate eyes. The guy in front of me looks like a bad boy. He is wearing all black, he has black hair and tan skin. I remember now the hardness of him when running into him. It was like hitting a wall. I realize that I am staring at him and I am still holding his notebook. He looks a bit annoyed.

    I stand up with my book in one hand and his notebook in the other. "Sorry about that. I was just admiring your art work."

    This guy is staring intensely in my eyes. He's tall, probably six feet. He reaches down and takes the notebook from my hands. His gaze falls to my chest and then pops back to my eyes. His eyes seems to shimmer and then look darker.

    "Nice necklace," he says with a light accent and starts to walk away, lightly brushing my shoulder as he passes, sending a shiver down my entire body and a hint of wanting.

    My eyes follow him until he disappears behind a door. I notice my heart is racing a bit and my breaths are a little erratic. I look down at my birth moon necklace. I have had it ever since I can remember. I have always been fascinated with the moon and it is strange that people seem to be so intrigued here as well. I have never found anyone who likes moons as much as myself. The bell rings and I head to my next class.

     The rest of the school day passes without anything really interesting happening. I meet Quinn in the courtyard where we agreed. She is already there with Riley, Mona, Carrick and the two guys I saw Carrick with earlier at Cafe Du Monde.

    "Hey Rowan, come meet the guys," says Carrick.

    As I walk up every set of eyes turn to me but I am drawn to one set in particular, Mr. Blue Eyes. I try to look away but he is staring and I can't seem to disconnect.

    "Rowan this is Liam and Declan, guys this is Rowan, my new walking buddy."

    Liam is the brown hair, brown eyes one that although not as muscular as Carrick looks like he could do some serious damage to anyone who messed with him. Declan is the one I am still eye locked with.

    "Nice to meet you Rowan," Declan says still sight locked with me.

    "Yeah, it's nice meeting...um...you both," I shake my head and finally blink, breaking the staring contest. I look around at the rest of the group and notice Quinn looking at me like yeah girl I know.

    "Guys sorry to introduce and bail but Rowan and I have plans to go out and find her a job today so we got to get going," Quinn says.

    I look at her and agree but am too scared to look at anyone else, not wanting to make any more of a fool of myself.

    "It was great meeting you all." I state while walking away arm in arm with Quinn again.

    "Rowan," Carrick calls out with his hands cupped around his mouth, "You and Quinn meet us later for dinner. She knows where."

    I turn to the group and nod my head in acknowledgement. Declan is watching me walk away. Everyone else has sat down at a table with their backs to us.

    "Well, well, well, my, my. What was that I was sensing between you and Declan?" Quinn asks once we are a block away.

    "I don't know what you are talking about. He was staring at me so I felt like I should stare back."

    "Oh was that all? I thought for sure one of you was going to go up in flames. It got hot just standing next to the two of you. Felt like I was in a sauna."

    "I am a very honest person and I will admit to you that that was intense, but I don't even know him so don't make something out of nothing. I wouldn't mind learning more though," I say after a pause and grin at her. She grins back with a knowing look in her eye's, like Yeah, girl you would.

    I left that open as a hint for her to tell me more about Declan. But instead she said, "You will learn some at dinner I am sure but we are here at the first job location."

    I look up to see a red sign reading Saints & Sinners. "What is this place?"

    "Well it is a restaurant. Since you are 18 and have past waitressing experience you shouldn't have an issue getting a job here. They have been looking for help for awhile."

    We walk in and my eyes take a minute to adjust to the low lighting. The whole place is red, the walls the tables and the chairs, it reminds me of a burlesque or the red light district, there is even a stripper pole in the back room. The place looked like a sinners haven but the place is clean and it definitely peeks my interest.

    "Hey Quinn, you working tonight?" asks a busty blonde with massive amounts of makeup on.

    "No Barbie. Actually bringing in some fresh meat to help fill the wait staff"

    My eyes widened a bit at the mention of the girls name. She definitely looks like she was going for the Barbie look.

    "Well that is great, let me get you an application," she replies turning around and walking through a door, I assume it is their office.

    "Wait a minute you work here?" I ask Quinn.

    "Yes. I am not 18 though, I used a fake ID so keep that under wraps. This place is actually one of the nicer restaurants in town. And the tips, let's just say they aren't too shabby. I work here two to three nights a week"

    Barbie comes out and puts a stapled packet and a pen on the counter. "Just fill this out and I need a copy of your drivers license to attach to it. I can make a copy if you can give it to me." I hand over my license and she looks at it. "Well happy 18th birthday, Rowan." she says and then she walks back towards the room where she got the application from, it has to be the office.

    Quinn's head snaps towards me, "It's your birthday?"

    "Yes, I was really hoping I could go through the day without anyone figuring that out!" I state with annoyance.

    "Why?"

    "I just have never been big on celebrating my birthday. I guess it is because I don't have many friends and recognizing it is my birthday and having no one to celebrate it with makes it a really lonely day," I say, again revealing more than I normally would to someone who is still a stranger to me.

    "I won't say anything. Happy Birthday anyways."

    I fill out the papers, take my ID back and hand the application over to Barbie. She flips through the stack and looks up at me. "Well I see you have experience but you don't stay at your jobs for very long is there a reason? I need someone reliable."

    "Well I tend to move a lot. I am a hard worker and I show up to every shift and I am always on time. I don't plan on making any more moves now that I am of legal age. I do have two classes each morning but I am available anytime after 11:00 am."

    Barbie takes a step back from the bar and looks me up and down, from head to toe while chewing on the inside of her cheek. "Well since you are a friend of Quinn's I trust your declaration. I also really like your look. Can you start tomorrow night? I will probably only use you twice a weeks since you are still in school but I would like to do a trial run tomorrow."

    "Sounds great what time should I be here?"

    "Come in same time as Quinn and she will train you. 4:00 pm sharp."

    "Thank you I will see you tomorrow," I say and we shake hands.

    As Quinn and I step out of the restaurant and back on the street I say, "I was hoping to get something full time."   

    "Don't worry I got another place to take you."

    We walk arm in arm again, something I have never done before and it is oddly a comforting feeling. We make small talk and look around at all the different shops and restaurants. Until we come upon a small shop. On the outside I couldn't tell what the place is but there is a small sign attached to the wall, that has some sort of symbol on it I do not recognize.

    Quinn opens the door and a strong incense smell hits me immediately along with a smell that seems familiar but I can't place it. The small shop is filled with wooden masks, dolls made out of some sort of dried herb, candles of different sizes and colors, incense, little vials filled with different colored liquids and packages filled with different kinds of herbs.

    "Quinn what is this place?"

    "Well technically it's a voodoo shop. Voodoo is very big in New Orleans, but this place isn't exactly what it seems"

    "Quinn, it's so good to see you. I don't recall seeing you on the schedule for tonight," say a beautiful African American lady wearing a bright colored dress and big dangly earrings to match. Her skin is smooth, making it hard to place her age, but her eyes show years worth of knowledge, like an old soul lives inside. An old soul that has seen many things over many years. She is flawless, definitely could have made it as a model, she is so breath taking.

    "Hello Aradia, I am not scheduled tonight but I brought a new friend of mine in to fill out an application. She is looking for some work."

    Aradia looks my way for the first time and her eyes widen a bit. She holds out her hand and I reach in to shake it but instead she grabs my hand and flips it over looking at my palm. "Hello, Rowan, you've made a very long journey to get here today and you have a very long journey still ahead of you, because you have yet to uncover your true destiny."

    A shiver runs down my spine and I can feel the color drain from my face and the gooseflesh rise all over my body. "How did you know my name?" I ask with a shaky voice, clearly thrown off and uncomfortable.

    "Well child, I know all. I knew one day you would make it to me but I didn't know it would be at this age. Tell me moon child, how is your 18th birthday going today?"

    I am beyond freaked out now. I have the sweat chills and I don't know how to answer. Looking into Aradia's eyes I feel like she is looking into my soul seeing my past, present and future. 

    "You have fear in your eyes child. There is no reason to be afraid. This 18th year you will discover much about yourself and be faced with many choices, but I see the good in your heart and I know you will be all we have hoped for."

    I look to Quinn and she shrugs her shoulders. "Aradia is psychic. She also is a Wiccan. As am I and Riley and Mona. You don't have to be to work here though."

    Although I still feel creeped out, I have always found myself fascinated with witchcraft. What do you expect with Sabrina The Teenage Witch and The Carft, glorifying it, I always wished I would wake one day with "POWERS". "Can I get an applications?" I ask Aradia.

    "No need moon child, you got the job. Come see me each day after school so I can start your training. I will make sure you are out in time tomorrow to make it to your shift at Saints and Sinners."

    Again I feel shaken by her knowledge of my life. But I tell her I will see her tomorrow and Quinn and I turn to leave. I am still speechless as we walk in complete silence, me with no clue where we were going, lost in a thoughtless abyss.