everlong| hocus pocus

018. daylight savings time

AND SO, TWO UNLICENSED fifteen-year-olds were driving in Mr. Dennison's car. The road was unusually crowded with unattended children due to the song of Sarah. Although this was hardly the smartest idea Jasper had come up with all night, it was the only option they had left. Max's knuckles whiten from gripping the wheel, was creeping along at what could only be described as a snail's pace. His apprehension about driving was evident with every slow, cautious movement. Jasper grew impatient and grumpy. "Come on! Get out of the way!" Max growled.
     "Move it!" Jasper yelled reaching for the wheel. Max threw her hand aside.
"Alright, alright we're out of the way." Max said firmly, trying to steady his nerves as he looked straight ahead. He longed to turn to Jasper and forget the whole mission, but he was aware that they were on a crucial task. In another world, perhaps he'd have used this opportunity to ask her out to the movies like a normal person or a quiet beachside date. He imagined romantic scenarios where they'd share a kiss and everything would magically fall into place. But this wasn't a rom-com; it was their reality, and Max needed to snap out of his daydream.
As the brunette maneuvered the car toward a small, inconspicuous cottage, his confidence in his driving skills began to swell. "You know, Jas, you're really a genius," he complimented, slamming on the brakes with a dramatic flourish. Jasper, though skeptical about their entire plan, couldn't help but appreciate the compliment. Max on the other hand thought this was bigger than Einstein.
"Yeah, yeah, kiss me later, Hollywood." Jasper quipped as they both scrambled out of the car. Max sprinted towards the cottage, glancing back briefly to see Jasper back at the car a thumbs-up before he disappeared inside. He left the door ajar to keep their plan in motion.
"Prepare to die! Again..." Max's voice echoed just loud enough for Jasper to hear. She stood outside, heart heavy as she saw Dani bound and helpless inside the cottage.
Inside, the witch Winifred's voice cut through the night. "You! You have no powers here, you fool!" Her scornful words were almost drowned out by the cacophony of witchy laughter. Max's counterargument, though, made the witches pause.
     "Maybe not! But there's a power greater than your magic and that's knowledge!" Max shouted back. Winifred, unable to ignore him any longer, fixed a scornful gaze on him.
"And what is that, dude?" Winifred mocked, her voice dripping with derision. The witches wheezed with laughter to the point where their lungs hurt, but Max was undeterred.
     "Daylight savings time." he declared. As Jasper, now halfway back in the car, flicked on the headlights, the witches' screams of panic filled the air. Jasper, growing impatient with the delay of seeing Max and Dani inside, decided to take matters into her own hands.
"Guys! Hurry!" Jasper ushered Dani, along with Binx and Max out the door. She stopped almost immediately after seeing who was trapped inside a cage from the ceiling. The group watched as Jay and Jasper locked eyes intensely. "Jay!?"
     "Hey, baby!" Jay yelled back, his tone exuberant. Jasper, puzzled, looked around for this "baby" Jay was referring to.
     "I don't see any babies around here." she retorted, shifting her tone. Max, narrowing his eyes at Jay, turned back to Jasper with a hint of jealousy.
     "Why is he calling you that?" Max demanded. Jasper hesitated for a moment before responding.
     "Uh...cmon, Dani!" She quickly freed Dani from her bindings and scooped Binx out of the burlap sack. Max rushed to the car, urging the girls to follow.
Jasper tossed Dani into the backseat. "Seatbelt," she instructed firmly, making sure Dani was secure. Jasper then jumped into the passengers seat, Binx letting out a sigh of relief at his newfound freedom. Max, hurriedly tossing a pair of shoes into the backseat, gripped the wheel and reversed the car with a jolt, crashing into a sign and sending it toppling.
Despite the chaos, they were finally free from the clutches of the witches. Or so they hoped.