Teen Witch of Beverly Hills (Preview Only)

6. Observers

"Let's do it!" Riley says with excitement.

Kyle grabs the spellbook and begins reading the instructions. Riley and I listen, prepared to follow the steps. "Pour the mixture into the stone bowl, with a picture of Logan."

I look at Riley, "Did you bring the photo?"

She grabs a Polaroid of Logan from the back pocket of her jeans and carefully places it into the bowl. I pour the herb mixture into the bowl, covering Logan's frozen face.

"Okay, next, light the bowls contents and wait for the flame to change color." Kyle hands me a match. The mixture lights easily and we sit eagerly, waiting for the flame to change color.

After about thirty seconds, the flame changes. "It's pink!" Riley squeals.

I look over at Kyle with excitement. His jaw drops in amazement as the flame begins to die.

"Wow, that really worked. Okay." He says, before looking back down at the book. He continues, "If the spell is successful, the flame will leave behind silver ashes once it dies down."

I shine my phones flashlight into the bowl as we lean over to examine the smoking remains.

"It's silver," I say in amazement.

"Once the ashes are cool to touch, they can be stored for safe keeping."

I hand Riley a tiny jar glass I found in my moms cabinet. She carefully pours the silver stream of glittery dust into the mouth of the jar.

Clap... Clap... Clap.

I turn around. I feel stomach do a flip when I see Maddie and Libby standing in the shadows, about ten feet behind us. Oh, no.

"That was quite the performance," Maddie says as she snakes her way over to us. I wonder to myself how long they've been standing there.

"Who are they?" Kyle asks me. I look at him and shake my head as if to say 'not now'.

"So, you think you're going to win Logan back with a little love potion, huh?" Maddie asks mockingly, now standing in front of us.

Riley looks over nervously at me, waiting for me to reply.

"That's cute." Maddie says, rolling her eyes as she giggles, "Oh, don't worry. I won't tell Bridget. I want to see how this all plays out."

"It was probably a bad idea." Riley says.

"Oh, you think this is actually going to work then?" Maddie says.

Libby snickers.

Maddie leans over and picks up the spellbook from the ground.

"Please don't touch that!" I plead.

"Under a full moon burn the mixture in a stone bowl with a photo of the one you admire," Maddie reads aloud before turning to look up at the moon, then back at Libby. They both burst out in laughter.

"She asked you not to touch that," Kyle shouts.

Maddie throws the spellbook onto the ground. I feel knots form in my stomach as I look at my mothers mangled book lying on the ground. The knots turn into fire as I feel my body fill with rage. "Stay calm, Ellie," I hear my dad's voice say. I jump slightly, then look around. He's not here, but I notice I'm suddenly calm. I look back at Maddie, who is now walking over to Kyle.

"And, you are?" Maddie asks, staring blankly at Kyle.

"Kyle. He's a friend." I blurt out, hoping a quick answer will send them on their way.

"Why I haven't seen you around?" Maddie says, suspiciously, still looking at Kyle.

"I homeschool." Kyle answers back.

"Oh. A homeschool boy? Well, Kyle, I'll let this one slide then. But for future reference, no one tells me what to do. Got that?" She says, grabbing Libby's arm as she turns around.

"Let's see what this little love spell can do at school on Monday," Maddie yells back. Libby giggles.

We stand watching them walk out of sight. I run over to the spellbook and pick it up off the ground. My heart sinks when I notice a few torn pages.

Riley gasps when she see's the damage.

I feel my eyes tear up. "How am I going to explain this? Mom will never forgive me."

"I'm so sorry, El," Kyle says, "we will figure something out."

I nod and carefully tuck the book into my bag. We quickly gather our stuff and head for the gate.