So, this morning, I decided to roll out of bed a bit earlier than usual to soak in some quiet time at the old mill. It's one of those spots that's usually deserted at this hour, which suits me just fine. Oh, and did I mention? It's my birthday today! Big 17. Crazy, right? Feels like a bit of a milestone considering everything. But hey, I made it through my first year here in one piece, so that's something to celebrate.
Anyway, besides the birthday vibes, there's this decade dance happening tonight at school. And honestly, I'm way more hyped about that. Lizzie's been going all out planning it for days now. Say what you will about her, but that girl's got party planning down to an art. Plus, she's got something special in store for my birthday – a little shindig with me and the super squad after the dance. Can't wait!
As I mentioned earlier, I headed to the old mill this morning to enjoy some peace before the party begins. There's a slight nervous flutter in my stomach, remembering the chaos from the last gathering when the witches decided to have a bit too much fun and got drunk. Poor Wade ended up floating off the roof like a fairy. And then there's the uncertainty of letting Lizzie pick out my outfit for tonight. This whole decade dance thing is new to me, so I'm curious to see how it unfolds.
I've been sketching here for a while, enjoying the quiet solitude that's been missing from my life lately.
Suddenly, I feel hands covering my eyes. "Guess who?" Jo's voice breaks through my thoughts.
"Jo, I could hear your breathing from a mile away," I tease. She plants a quick kiss on my cheek and settles beside me.
"Happy birthday, y/n," she says softly, her hand brushing against my cheek.
"Thanks, Jo. How did you find me here?" I ask as she pulls her hand away.
"I checked everywhere else, and here was my last guess," she replies with a smile. "Excited for tonight?" she continues.
"Definitely. Has Lizzie woken up yet? She's in charge of my outfit," I mention.
"Actually, she asked me to bring it. Said she had some things to sort out before the party," Jo responds.
"Do you need any help setting up?" I offer.
"Nope, it's your birthday, so take a break. Speaking of which, Lizzie's staying at Dad's tonight, and you should swing by my room later for your present," Jo says eagerly.
"You know you didn't have to," I start to protest.
"I don't want to hear it. Trust me, you'll like it," Jo interrupts with a grin. I smile back and agree, "Okay, I'll stop by later."
"Perfect. I'll catch you at the party then," she says, pecking my cheek once more before departing. I was prepared to continue enjoying my solitary morning, but not ten minutes later, MG comes rushing in.
"Thank God you're here," he says, visibly relieved as he spots me. "You okay, mate? You seem... kind of on edge, actually."
"Quick question. Can you see him?" he asks, pointing behind him. When I glance, there's no one there. "See who?" I inquire.
"Him!" MG insists.
At this point, I start to think MG has officially lost his mind. "MG, there's no one there," I assure him.
Suddenly, he hisses in pain. "Boy..." he growls, looking angrily beside him.
Yup, he's gone nuts. "MG, buddy, I think that animal blood might have gone bad or something because there's no one there," I try to reason.
"Do you remember that guy Lizzie told us about, Sebastian?" he asks.
"Oh yeah, thanks for reminding me about that," I reply, getting up and giving him a smack on the back of his head.
