Love Potion No. 9

Chapter 1 - A Trip to The Carnival

It was a warm Wednesday evening and a festive one for many, as tonight was the first night the carnival was in town. It was an old fashioned county fair type carnival with, rides, games, all the trappings of a typical Midwest county fair.

Ally insisted up and down that they go the first night. In fact she held her breath until everyone agreed. So the whole group piled into two cars and went. The air was warm and filled with the sounds of laughter and music from the carousel. A soft breezed blew the smell of hot salted peanuts and freshly popped popcorn down the long midway. The group, even Lauren, was having a good time.

Shawn had spent 40 dollars at a midway dart throwing game and won Ally a sizeable stuffed monkey. Dinah didn't even have the heart to tell him that the stuffed Monkey probably would have cost him $5 dollars at the local toy store. In any case, Ally was happy, with her new stuffed monkey and the loads of cotton candy she was presently consuming.

Dinah was having fun with the various rides. Matt and Lauren were having a good time as well. With his arm around her shoulder, the couple lazily walked down the midway seeing what there was to see.

Lagging slightly behind was Camila, having a decent time but bothered by one thing. The simple fact that Matt's arm was around Lauren and not her. Camila honestly wanted to be everyone's friend. She even wanted to be Lauren's friend. Though the tempered green eyed girl rarely showed any regard for her. But with Matt she wanted to be more than a friend. She wanted to be Matt's girlfriend but, Matt was in love with Lauren and Camila sadly accepted the hand that fate had dealt out.

As she was walking behind the group, by chance, she spotted what appeared to be a old fashioned gypsy wagon tucked neatly behind the midway. On the side a large banner said.

"Madam Roux - Fortunes told, Potions sold, see or change your destiny"

Camila thought how fun it would be to have her fortune told so she called out.

"Hey I'm going to have my fortune told, anyone want to come with me?" Camila said pointing to the wagon.

"Hey Cabello, if your going to be so gullible to give money away that easy, then won't you give me some." Lauren said acidly.

"I'll go" Said the slightly hyper Ally.

So the pair ran to the gypsy wagon where a young girl with wavy dark hair and typical gypsy clothes sat outside the wagon.

"I'd like my fortune told, is Madame Roux around?" Camila said, with a half giggle.

The girl looked at her with a broad smile. "I'm her granddaughter, Kathy. She's not around but, I'd be happy to read your fortune. She taught me everything she knows. I'll even give you a half off discount of any of our potions"

"Sold"

The gypsy girl led Camila and Ally into the wagon where in the center of the small room was a round table with a black tablecloth. On the table sat a large crystal ball. All around the room there were pieces of gypsy art, bottles with unknown substances in them. The whole place looked straight out of an old movie.

"Sit, Please" The Gypsy girl said, pointing to two chairs in front of the table as she sat behind it.

"So where do you go to school?" The Gypsy girl asked.

"Miami Art's high." Ally answered.

"How much is it?" Camila asked.

"10 dollars but you can pay me when it's done. You may want to buy one of our potions or charms. All very real, and quite powerful." The girl said in a smooth voice.

Camila nodded with a smile, it seemed like it was all in good fun. "Ok read my fortune."

The Gypsy girl looked at Camila with a rather mysterious look. "Ok, Miss what is your name?"