CHAPTER SEVEN

    I slouched on the bleachers watching my teammates practice. While the other benchers cheered, I pretended to be fixated with my phone. It was practically useless but it served as a protective shield. I could not bare to look anyone in the eye after losing my cherished position.

Why could I not just take it back? I’m back from my random disappearance.

“Hey!” I froze in my seat and watched from the corner of my eye as the boys basketball team poured into the court.

Fuck! I need to get out here without being seen. This was so mortifying.

I rose up and began my descent down the bleachers. I bet they would barely know I left since everyone was too busy fooling around.

“Phoebe, where are you going?”

I cursed in my head. Who the fuck was that? Raising my head, I pulled a smile on as I faced the teams. “Bathroom. Why?”

“Hey.”

My façade almost crumbled when I saw Reed walking up to me. Is he coming to gloat?

“What?” I snapped.

His approach slowed as if wanting to savor the moment of torture. “I’m sorry.”

Taken back, I watched him warily. “For what?”

“Last week. The ball hitting your head.”

Recalling the events of the previous week that started it all, my blood began to boil. This was all his fault and that stupid ball. My only concern right now should be maintaining my spot in NCAA Division I, not learning about witching spells and otherworldly things.

“Save it.”

“Don’t be so mean, Phoebe,” Sam piped in. “He is apologizing.”

“Well, I’m the one he offended and it’s up to me to accept it or not. It’s his fault that I...” I bit my tongue before I could anything further about the new part of my life. They would think I have gone crazy.

“Fuck you and your apology, Reed.” With that, I stormed out of the court.

In the locker room, I slammed my hand against the wall in anger and hissed when pain snaked up my fisted palm.

“Phoebe!” Zoe hurried in. “Is everything okay?”

“Zoe, you are the last person I want to see right now. Just leave me alone.”

“Phoebe, no one could reach you so we thought maybe you pulled out of school or something. Coach chose me.”

“So did everyone else. Now, can you get out?”

“Stop being mean about this. Could you not just accept Reed’s apology? We don’t need a childish beef between the teams.”

“You know it’s more than just that, Zoe!”

“What? Your pride? Or the fact you are not in control anymore?”

I did not like this new Zoe. Zoe always stood by my side when things did not go right. So why was she making me out to be the bad guy?

“If I were you, I would shut my mouth.”

“Phoebe, I’m not a toy you can boss around. I’m your friend.”

“I don’t need a friend who takes what is mine the moment I turn my back.” I advanced on her, sick at the sight of her. If I could just get rid of her, I would have what is mine back.

When I took hold of her neck, she frowned with displeasure. “What are you doing?”

“I told you to shut up.” Her bright warm aura slowly became cold as darkness ate away the light.

Her brows creased as she held my hand and moaned in pain. “Why are you doing this? Stop it!”

It should hurt more. You should feel my humiliation and pain. You deserve this.

Blood began to pour from her nose as she cried, “Phoebe, please.”

Hurt her. Hurt her. Hurt her.

The darkness continued to swallow up the light until a flicker remained. An odd feeling of satisfaction filled me, watching it slowly go off.

“Phoebe Woods, what are you doing?” Coach screamed as she stepped in.

The darkness left as Zoe got yanked away from me. I frowned and shook my head as a searing pain split through my hand.

“Ow!” I flexed my fingers and shook it.

Suddenly, my teammates entered the locker room with shocked faces. I looked down to see Zoe lying in coach’s arms, her neck covered in reddish-pink blisters.

“Take her to the school nurse,” Coach barked at the others. As soon as they carried her out of the locker room, Coach turned to face me. “You are in big trouble, Phoebe Woods.”

I sat in front of the Principal’s office, waiting for my Dad and Zoe’s Mom to step out of the office.

Fuck! What was I thinking? I can’t afford to have a suspension. I wonder if Zoe was better. I did tell her to shut up and leave me alone. She brought this on herself.

Zoe’s mom stepped out first with a disapproving look aimed at me. My Dad followed after, a less concerned look on his face.

“When I told you to learn spells, I’m sure I told you to not use them on defenseless people.”

“You sure did not tell me a lot of things.”

“You are grounded. Be home by six.”

“I have to go to Mama Owen’s.”

“I will come pick you up when you are done. Just dial me.”

“Speaking of dial, what did you do to my phone? Don’t even think of lying like you always do.”

He pressed his lips together before answering, “It was just a simple spell not to distract you from learning, Phoebe. I would never lie to you.”

“Did you really tell Coach I would be absent last week?”

He toyed with his wristwatch, his jaw ticking. “I forgot but I was going to dial her.”

“Stop lying! Just stop lying. Did you really have to ruin this for me after everything? Don’t bother picking me up, I will walk myself home.” I turned to leave and then I remembered. Bringing out my phone, I showed it to him. He stared at it for a brief second and the phone lit up, blowing up with messages and notifications.

The rest of the school hours were spent trying to ignore the disgusted looks from everyone while my phone continued to buzz in my pocket. Great, everyone hates me now. Even Connor avoided me in Auto Mechanics class.

“You are suspended from all summer activities,” Coach said. “Please, cause no trouble if you really want to join NBA. Don’t waste your talent on childish antics.”

As soon as school ended, I walked down the busy street and ignored the insults thrown my way from kids riding bicycles or driving cars. My phone burned hot against my skin but the buzz was slower. I removed it from my pocket and kept it in my bag.

In a daze, I stumbled upon the empty basketball court in the public park. Dropping my bag on the floor, I picked up the dirty brown ball and tossed it from hand to hand. I dribbled around a bit then threw it into the basket. As I continued to play in the sweltering heat, I grew angrier and frustrated.

I was the best. It was not fair.

On hearing approaching feet and constant chatter, I stopped, letting the bounce away. I picked up my bag and walked away.

When I arrived Mama Owen’, I pushed open the door and stepped in. Mama Owen sat at the front desk, nursing a cactus.

A brown bag conjured out of the thin air and landed at my feet. “Go feed the babies. They’ve been starving all day.”

I said, bending to pick the bag up. At least, things will be much quieter here.

Hopefully.