[ Apple Rose ]
Desperately hoping to find a solution to our problem, we found ourselved stumbling into a sketchy part of London.
There were small shops and bookstores.
We stopped in front of a place that looked promising. Madam Esmeralda, read the old sign above the front door. I look at Luke to see he had the same idea that I had. "Go on in then." I said nervously, pushing him slightly in the direction of the door.
"Ladies first." He countered.
I smirked at that. "I'm a man right now."
He rolled his eyes, "Fine."
Pushing the door open, we were met by a dimly lit shop. The only source of light seemed to be coming from candles that hung on the side walls.
There were old wooden book shelves stocked with leatherbound books, amulets, and things labeled as different types of potions. At the very end of the shop sat a woman who looked to be in her thirties. A crystal ball sat atop the table she sat behind. She was dressed like any typical fortune teller; a white puffy shirt, a long purple skirt that went down to her ankles, around her neck and wrists were various colors of jewelry, and she wore a silk scarf around her head, covering most of her curly black hair.
When she spotted us with her jade colored eyes, a big smile appeared on her face. "Welcome to Madam Esmeralda's humble little shop. I've been expecting you, Apple Rose McCartney and Luke Hemmings."
My heart stopped. "How do you know our names?"
"I know everything." She replied.
.
.
.
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[ Luke ]
"Maybe we should just turn around and run away, Apple. This place is really weird." I whispered to her.
The gypsy looking woman in the back of the shop had scared the crap out of me.
The woman beckoned us over, "Come."
Apple Rose took a step forward, but I stuck my hand out to stop her. I didn't want her doing something stupid and damaging my body. "Wait." I told her, "Maybe we should go to a hospital instead."
She shook her head. "Are you stupid? They'll think we're crazy."
Taking my hand in hers, she dragged me all the way into the shop, stopping in front of the strange woman.
"We need your help." Apple said, reaching into her pockets to pull out my wallet. She sifted through it until she found some cash. Offering it to the woman, she added, "This is all we have."
"Hey." I protested. "That's my money!"
She shrugged, "Someone's gotta pay." She said in her annoying American accent.
"Couldn't you pay?" I asked.
Her eyes narrowed into thin slits. "Did you bring my wallet?" When I shook my head no, she said, "Didn't think so." Turning her attention back to the woman, who had taken my money when we were arguing, Apple told her, "So, can you switch us back?"
The woman shook her head. "I cannot."
"What?" Apple and I shrieked in unison.
"But we fucking paid you." She hissed, full of anger.
"You're angry?" I told Apple, "That was my money. I want it back."
"Now, if you'll stop complaining, I will tell you how you can change back." She said in a calm voice. She instantly had our full attention. She began, "This happened to the two of you because you are very different, like oil and water. You never get along. In order to go back to how you were before, you must become closer with one another."
"What? You mean, like, stand close to each other?" Apple blurted out.
The woman shook her head.
"You must figure it out on your own." She said, "That's all I can tell you."
"So you aren't gonna do anything?" I groaned.
"Give us one of your potions!" Apple ordered. "Change us back right now. I demand you use your potions on Luke right now!" She banged her fist on the table.
I gasped, "On me? Let her use them on you!"
"Sorry," She shrugged in a very nonchalant way, "But there are some things in life that can't be fixed with a simple clap of your hands or a potion. But if you're interested in making your crush fall in love with you, then I have just the thing." She gestured to a small red bottle with hearts on it that seemed to appear from out of nowhere.
"We don't need your help with our love lives. We need you to change us back today!" Apple yelled at her.
"Calm down." I set my hand on her shoulder, which was actually my shoulder.
"Then I can't help you, sorry. But," She paused before heaving a warning, "If you can't manage to change back by the end of the summer, you will be stuck that way...permanently."
She From under her sleeve, she pulled something out that looked like a marble. She threw it onto the ground and suddenly, the entire place was full of smoke. Apple and I began coughing and wheezing, we couldn't see anything past the wall of smoke. I closed my eyes tightly.
When it all finally cleared up, I felt Apple tug on my arm. "Luke..." She said, her voice fearful.
"What?" I asked.
Opening my eyes, I noticed the shop was completely empty. There were no shelves, or books, or the crystal ball, and the woman was gone as well.
We were the only two there.
-
OKAY, SO THE WOMAN TOLD THEM THEY HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THE SUMMER. AND THE CURRENT DATE IN THE STORY IS THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER, SO ITS THE LAST DAYS OF MAY.
THEY HAVE UNTIL THE END OF AUGUST TO FIND THE WAY TO CHANGE BACK.
ANYWAY, I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE THE NEW UPDATE FOR THIS STORY. I'M ON A ROLL IN TERMS OF UPDATING TODA :D
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT.
I LOVE YOU.
-CLARY xx
