I'd found out that not only am I a witch, but that I had magic all the time. The power to see magic around me, to hear people's thoughts, to move objects with my mind, to stop time, and to make myself blind and deaf to others. I still hadn't told Mackenzie.
Now I was at a school dance with her, her mom, her little brother, and her dad. Mackenzie was nervous about dancing with me, but I had made the decision that I would only get to touch her twice, and I wasn't going to be creepy about it. I wasn't going to be touching her butt, but I was going to hold her hand because we were going to have this brief moment of intimacy at least once. That was how it was going to be.
I was thinking about that as I walked into the auditorium. My name was being called over the PA system. The lights dimmed as the announcer came on.
"We are here to introduce a very special guest," the man said and he paused for dramatic effect.
Uh-oh, I muttered to myself. I didn't know what was up, but I was sure it wasn't good. I didn't have much time to think about it because suddenly the lights came up and dozens of cheering students were looking at me. I was outed.
"This is a nasty bit of magic," I spit loudly, and my voice echoed throughout the space.
I froze. Mackenzie looked at me weirdly and took a step back.
"Dammit," I muttered. "I'm not an idiot, you know."
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
I knew it was weird that she didn't say anything else.
"Mackenzie," I said. "Let's wait in the cloakroom until this is done."
"Okay," she said, still whispering. "I'm sorry I got you in this. I didn't think this would happen."
I slipped my hand into hers and we made our way into the cloakroom.
We sat down on the bench next to each other.
"Mackenzie," I said. "We'll deal with this."
"How?" she said. "They know your name."
"Something," I tried to reassure her. "But let's get out of here now. If we stay I am going to freak out. We have to get out of here."
"They will ask for you to stay on stage," she said.
"I'll leave," I said. "I'm taking you home. We're spending the night there."
"Okay," she said. "I can leave. I'll text my mom and let her know."
She pulled her phone out of her purse and went to work. I took my phone out of my pocket and texted the same message to my own mom. I needed to get out of there. I couldn't take this. Not when my roommates knew about me. Not when I had to see the looks on people's faces. This was too much.
"All done," Mackenzie said.
Her mom and brother walked in with her.
Mackenzie's mom's face looked strained. My stomach dropped. Looks like I wouldn't be getting a ride home from here.
"Oh?" she said, looking me up and down. "And what is your name?"
"Julia," I said, staring at her.
She looked Chloe up and down, fashionably dressed as always.
"Julia," she said.
"Mackenzie," she said, holding out her hand.
I watched as Mackenzie's mom nodded. The woman turned to me.
"Not a very common name, is it?" she said.
"No," I said.
"I think we can guess why you're getting out of the school dance," she said.
"I can guess why you're getting out of the school dance," I said.
Chloe's eyes narrowed as she looked at me. "You are from a magic family."
"That's the general idea," I said.
She put her hand out and I took it. It was cold and clammy, like her husband's hand, though Chloe's were smoother. She didn't shake my hand as she had Mackenzie's, instead she pulled me up to her. Her hand fell on my shoulder as she looked me up and down.
"I'm going to invite you to my party," she said.
"Your party?" I said. "Can I get a drink?"
"Her words," Chloe said.
"I'm sorry," I said. "I know you have the advantage. I guess I should mind my manners and let you make the first move."
She nodded and looked at Chloe.
"This is Julia," she said.
"Nice to meet you," Chloe said. "I'm sure we'll be seeing a great deal of you along the way."
"I'm sorry," I said.
"Hush," she said. "You're a friend of Mackenzie."
"I'm afraid the cloakroom is being cleared," the announcer said over the PA system. "So, if there are no more introductions, the auditorium will now be cleared for dancing."
I was getting the sense that Chloe was getting older.
"I'll see you later then," I said, still holding Chloe's hand.
She nodded. She looked back at Mackenzie, smiling. "I'll see you soon?"
Mackenzie nodded.
"We have a lot of catching up to do, when I can get a chance," Chloe said.
"Mackenzie, I guess," Mackenzie said.
"I guess," Chloe said.
She let go of my hand. She kissed Mackenzie on the cheek, and then she took my hand and stroked it.
"I will see you," she said.
"See you," I said.
Chloe walked past us and then her husband entered the school. I looked at Mackenzie. Her cheeks were red.
