Destiny's Witch (BxB)

Chapter 4: No Secret is Safe

Perry

After my run-in with Lucas, I feel an abominable cold in him. Something about Lucas is dark and foreboding. Lucas is handsome and mysterious but there is something about him that makes me want to run in the opposite direction when he is around.

Charlotte would say it is because he is attractive. She tends to think most of the things I do have deeper meaning than they do, especially when it comes to guys.

Charlotte, Eva, Nate, and I arrive at the Pestle and Mortar Café just before the good seats are taken. The small coffee shop is a hotspot located in the middle of Solstice Hills. Most students flock to the spot after a long day of classes.

The café is owned by a woman named Teppe. Teppe is a nice woman who seems to lean heavily into her bohemian roots. She often works in the coffee shop where needed, opting to take a hands-on approach to running the business.

As an extension of her bohemian nature, the coffee shop has taken on much of her charm. The thin, colorful cloth over the windows and soft, whimsical music played over the speakers gives an inviting feel to the café. None of the tables match, though they are all wooden. Some are of varying height. This extends to chairs as well. Her décor employs everything from chairs to stools to bean bag chairs.

Nate grabs us a booth near the back of the room. The wooden-trimmed booth is upholstered with soft orange cushion. The table separating Nate and I from Charlotte and Eva has colorful symbol etched into it. With the knowledge I have now, I wonder why I have never questioned the origin of the symbols before.

Nate orders our drinks with the precision of a best friend and brings them to the table. The girls, once again, launch into discussing their day. Nate and I interject when we can, but the girls are more expressive. Charlotte introduces the twins into our discussion and I spot Eva blush.

"You know the best part? There are two of them! And they said they have another brother and sister. We could literally all date a sibling." Charlotte says.

Eva is amused, but I look to Nate, who has the same expression on his face as I am expressing internally. Eva and Charlotte notice quickly.

"What're those looks about? They're gorgeous!" Charlotte says.

"Are they?" Nate asks.

"Are you jealous of them?" Charlotte asks.

Nate laughs. "Are you serious? The guys are creeps!"

"What?!" Eva blurts.

I clear my throat to interrupt. "I mean, he's right. There's something off about them. Not saying they're unattractive, but there is definitely something off about them."

Nate smiles, clearly pleased with himself. Eva and Charlotte look to each other before their eyes find me again.

"Are you sure you're not just attracted to Lucas...or Finn?" Eva asks. "You don't really know them. Have you ever even talked to one of them?"

"Yes! Kind of."

"And you found him strange?" Eva asks.

"I found him to be a jerk." I say. "Something happened with Jay today."

"Yeah, Mom and Dad are pissed at him. He said you gave him a lecture, thanks for that." Eva says.

"Well, yeah, no problem. But Lucas listened to our conversation and questioned my relationship with him. He inferred we weren't friends and I was just pretending."

"Really? Wow, he may be a jerk. But what about Finn?" Eva asks.

"Does it matter? If he got a bad vibe from the guy, he got a bad vibe." Nate says. "I trust Perry's vibes more than your hormones."

"Meaning?" Charlotte asks.

"Meaning maybe if you two put your hormones in a box and listen, you'd know that we, your best friends, are not under their spell." Nate says.

Nate's words strike me. My newfound sojourn into the supernatural world makes comments like his spark suspicion in my mind. The thrall the twins have over the girls is unnatural. Or possibly completely natural depending on what you believe about hormones.

"Or maybe Perry is attracted to him but doesn't want to be because he's infatuated with Douche—I mean David." Charlotte says.

"That's ridiculous. David isn't Perry's type. It's bad enough Perry had to tutor the dummy, but to suggest Perry is attracted to him is kind of insulting." Nate says.

Nate looks to me and I smile at him before I direct as much dark energy as I can towards Charlotte. I ask Charlotte to go with me to get a scone.

We leave Nate and Eva to bicker about Finn, the other twin. I pull Charlotte away as fast as I can. She knows what is coming as I pull her out of the cafe and onto the street. She immediately begins apologizing for bringing up David.

"You know how Nate feels about him! And you know that David is a sore subject right now." I speak. "I know you don't like him. I get it. I understand it. He's not always the greatest guy."

"I'm sorry. You know Eva and I agreed to be quiet about it. I don't know. I just lost it a little." Charlotte says.

"Just cool it, okay? I get that Lucas is hot. I agree. I also know that there is something very off about him." I say. "Much like David, he's hot but dangerous. I just feel like maybe he's dangerous in a different way. I can just feel it."

"I trust you. But oh my gosh, Lucas and Finn are so hot and I really want to double-date with Eva."

Charlotte's eyes go wide as she spills Eva's apparent secret. Eva is transparent enough I have already deduced she is interested in Finn. Her demeanor when she speaks about him and her insistence of him being a nice guy is telling.

"Oh, I am the worst." Charlotte says.

I nod at her. "Kind of. But Eva's a big girl."

"You're not mad?"

"I'm worried. But she didn't judge me for falling for David, so I can't really judge her for...being interested in Finn. Not outwardly."

"Neither of us judged you for it. I just think you could do better. The guy ghosted you. You don't deserve that." Charlotte says.

"I don't really think he'll be an issue. I didn't see him today and he doesn't seem particularly interested in picking up where we left off." I say.

"I'm sorry." Charlotte says.

Whether she means it or not, it feels good to hear her say it. My phone dings as I fish out of my pocket. Alan has messaged me twice, asking me to meet him in the woods near a park. I growl as Charlotte questions if I am okay. I tell her I need to leave before asking her to tell the others I will see them tomorrow.

I hug her before jogging in the direction of the park, silently reminding myself to study harder to pass the written part of my driver's test.