Witches in Training (#2 in the Witches Trilogy) [rewrites ongoing]

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Charming

VINNI

"She's impossible." I mutter, withdrawing angrily from the room. "Good luck convincing her."

"Here." Keane says impatiently, pushing past me to enter the room.

"I know you think you're good," I start, but am shushed by a smiling Louis.

"Trust him." He says.

"But-"

"You'll see."

It's barely a minute later that Keane slips out of the room and holds up my old ebony wand, looking smug. "I believe you were looking for this, Vinni?"

I snatch it in disbelief, running my fingers across the soft ribbon, weighing the familiar weapon in my hand. "How did you-"

"Keane's Hidden Ability," Louis explains, eyes sparkling, lips twitching, "is charm."

"Charm?"

"Irresistable charm," Keane corrects, winking. "I could convince anyone to do anything without them even realising it."

"In short, like my power, just less forceful and more glamorous." Louis grins.

I eye Keane suspiciously. "That seems rather convenient for you."

"It helps." He admits.

"I don't know if you shape your power or your power shapes you." I shake my head. "Self-absorbed m-" I cut off my sentence and blink.

"Is something wrong?" Keane asks in concern. "Vinni?" He puts his hand on my shoulder, looking genuinely worried.

"I- I don't-"

"Did I say something? I'm sorry..."

"No! No, you didn't do-say anything! I-I don't know." I say, flustered. "I-something-um." I lose my train of thought staring at Keane. He's so nice, and polite, and, well, good-looking. That perfectly tousled, sleek black hair, the gorgeous navy blue eyes, flawless skin, the easy smile. I wonder distantly why I never saw how perfect he is until now.

"You're really cute when you're flustered." Keane smiles slightly.

My cheeks flood with colour. "You too. I mean, you're not flustered-you're not cute-I mean, not in the cute cute way, but the cute, I mean-you're-I-"

Keane laughs. "See what I mean?" He says, gently brushing away my hair from my face.

"I-yes-I-" I stammer, blushing.

"It's adorable." Keane lowers his head until his forehead rests against mine. My heart is literally pounding. "You're adorable." He amends softly. Centimetres away, he slides his hand around my neck and kisses me, tilting my head slightly upwards. I respond almost automatically, mind focusing on nothing else but this.

Then there's an explosive laugh that pierces my mind like a bullet. I recoil; Keane pulls away, grinning. Louis has collapsed on the floor, shaking with uncontrollable laughter, tears in his eyes. "Crap, Keane, can you not?" He manages to choke out amidst bursts of laughter.

I realise, with dawning horror, what I've just done. Or to be more specific, what Keane has just done. "You-" I sputter. "You... I'm going to..."

"What, stutter at me?" Keane grins.

Cheeks burning for a totally different reason, I make to punch Keane, who backs away laughing. "You're utterly dead, fairyboy."

"Wasn't that my name?" Louis asks, looking hurt. "In a way, Keane's power is more dangerous than mine..." His next words are swallowed by his chortles.