When people asked me why I was friends with Madeline, the “weird, little gypsy down the block,” I usually gave them a scathing reply before sauntering off. Maddy and I had been friends since we both could walk. She was rather petite with large brown eyes that you could get lost in, in an instant. I, on the other hand, had a tall, gangly frame with eyes that reflected the bluest seas. Or so, my scum of an ex said on the night which he broke up with me. Which was roughly two weeks ago.
“Look who we have here?” Maddy shuffled towards me with her bubbly frame as soon as I opened her front door and got around her rows of beaded curtains. Annoying things
I gave her a tight smile. “When, are you going to get rid of those monstrosities? Being a gypsy doesn’t mean you have to follow all the cliché stuff.”
“Good day to you too Kelsie. I swear a day longer and I wouldn’t know what you looked like anymore.”
I scoffed, engulfing her in a bear hug. “As if. We just met three weeks ago.”
She conceded. “Okay, okay. Now come along.” She dragged me to the dining room. “We have much to discuss. What can I serve you? You know what, don’t answer. Knowing you, it’s probably coffee.”
“I grinned. “You’re right. Just coffee. Black.” Maddie made her way to the kitchen but I could almost swear that I heard her grumbling about how a lady would drink coffee if she wasn’t a weirdo. “I can hear you, you swine!” I yelled after her.
About fifteen minutes later she was back with the tray of steaming mugs of coffee and even managed to balance a tray of coffee pastries too. I took one delightful sip of the brew and let out a groan. “I swear, I really should come live with you. Your coffee is still the best yet.”
She made a face at me. “You know you’re way too career-oriented to come waste your life with your Gypsy bestie.”
I nodded at her in between sips, earning me a swat on the thigh. “Did you add something? It’s giving a different taste. Not bad. Just different.”
“Really? I can swear that I gave you the normal coffee. Let me see.” She took it from me and took a sniff of it. Her eyes suddenly widened and she dropped the mug in a rush, nearly spilling its contents and ran to the kitchen.
“What’s the matter, Maddie?” I ran after her. “I swear you better not have given me any of your weird mixes.”
She gave me a guilty look. “Before you panic, I just want you to know that I didn’t give you anything that will suddenly give you warts on your face or anything.”
“Then what did you do?”
“You know about those rare mushrooms I started growing at the back right?”
“Yeah....?” I replied warily.
“So I thought it would be nice if I harvested some and made it into coffee. Turns out it's the hallucinogenic variety and I put it in the same kind of jar I put my regular coffee and now I may have given you that.” She finished with a flourish.
“You gave me coffee that will make me hallucinate??!!”
“It’s only for a while. I swear it’s not for more than fifteen minutes. Should already be starting now.”
It was like a switch cause I saw it immediately. Maddie’s brown hair turned a brilliant gold. And her bright blue sweater turned magenta in front of me. “Oh, my God. You’re so dead, Madeline Cosgrove. So dead...” I couldn’t finish the last part because I immediately needed a place to sit. I felt Maddie’s hand on me and looked at her. I yelped and let go of her immediately sending me down to the ground. I was suddenly seeing Jimmy’s face. The arrogant jerk. What was he doing here?
“Why are you here, Jimmy? What do you want?
“What could I want from you?” Jimmy turned taunting. Belittling. As usual.
“Stay away from me. You’ve hurt me enough. Just go Jimmy.”
“Please, I’ll do right this time. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
I sobbed and ambled towards him. His blurry face stood out in front of me. “You sure? You’ll do better this time?” My voice took on a pleading note. “You prom -”
“Arrrgghh!” I was suddenly drenched. I blinked and opened my eyes to see Maddie’s amused face. “You’re not Jimmy.”
“And you’re insane if you think I’m letting you go back to that toxic jerk. Salt water really is the antidote,” she muttered that last bit to herself.
I stood up shamefaced. “I mean I wasn’t going to.”
“I should hope so. Come, let’s dry you up. I have the perfect drink that will calm your nerves after all of this.”
I wrenched my hands away. “You must be kidding.”
She burst into fits of laughter. “Okay, I am. Let’s just get you dry. And probably tell you a thing or two about returning to toxic jackasses.”
I followed her solemnly. It was going to be a long night
