Teen Witch of Beverly Hills (Preview Only)

5. Plastic Stars

The next day, after hanging out with Mom and helping her with our usual Saturday chores, I run upstairs to my room to double-check that I have everything we need for tonight. After everything checks off, I wrap the sachet of herbs and the spellbook in a blanket and stuff them in my bookbag with a few other necessary items. I look at the clock and I'm disappointed to see that it's only 4:00. This day is dragging.

I grab my phone and start a group text with Riley and Kyle.

Hey guys! Don't forget - meet me outside my place at 10:00 tonight. I have everything packed and ready to go! Eeek! :)

I plug my phone into its charger, ensuring that it has a full battery for tonight. Since excitement kept me awake most of the night last night, I decided I better squeeze in a quick nap, so I too have a full battery for tonight.

I lie down on my bed and stare up at the plastic glow stars above me, as they hang on to the ceiling for dear life. I remember my six year old self being so excited the day my dad hung them on my ceiling. It was just one year before he died. As juvenile as it sounds, those plastic stars know all my deepest and darkest secrets.

I remember looking up at the glowing stars the night my father died, begging them to bring him back to us as if they were capable of granting my wishes. After a while, when I realized my dad wasn't coming back, I gave up and began wishing for other things. More friends at school, good grades, new toys, my school crush to like me back, happiness for my mother, but most of all I wished to learn magic.

Since Mom swore off magic after Dad passed, I knew that wouldn't happen either. But I kept wishing for it anyway, just in case.

From my bed, I scan the rest of my room. My walls are still painted in the soft purple shade my dad had chosen. He insisted it was to be the first thing we do once we moved here. Within the first 24 hours of moving in, my dad began painting my bedroom in my favorite color. That night he hung the stars. It was perfect. I felt safe and I felt loved in our new home.

I try to brush the thoughts of my childhood away as I snuggle under my fluffy down comforter. The sun peeks through the space between my half-closed curtains, its golden light bouncing off the cluster of crystals hanging in my window. Hundreds of tiny rainbows begin dancing around my room as the sunlight bounces off the surfaces of the crystals. As I watch them perform their tranquil dance, my thoughts begin to calm and I feel myself drifting off into sleep.

I'm staring up at a silver full moon when I hear a familiar voice call out to me.
"Ellie? What are you doing?" I look down at hundreds of tiny silver stars shining back at me from my cupped hands. A droplet of blood drips from my palm. It falls down into the pink flame on the ground in front of me. I jump back as the flame hisses in response, turning a shade of green, then back to pink again.
"Don't do this, Ellie."
I look up at the figure in front of me.
"Dad?" I try to say, but no sound comes out.
"Listen to your mother. Please. You're not ready yet."
"I am ready," I try to argue back, but my voice fails me again.
"Trust me."
I watch him as he turns to leave. I try to call out to him, "Da—"

I jump up in my bed, bringing myself into a sitting position. Confused, I look around my room for Dad. I sigh. You were just dreaming, Ellie!

I wipe a tiny bead of sweat from my forehead and I notice my heart pounding. That wasn't a dream. That was a nightmare.

I gasp when I realize it's already dark outside. What time is it? I reach over and grab my phone off my bedside table. It's eight o'clock? I slept for four hours?! Just then, my stomach growls, demanding a meal.