Spellbound

Chapter Three

I couldn't be a more relieved walking to my car after school.

A Fiat 500, and the best birthday present I've ever gotten since Alice. Well, Alice wasn't wrapped in paper per se, but she's pretty much the best friend any person could ever want or have.

As soon as I got into my car, I turned up the heater. Winter seems to be approaching, I thought, putting the car into gear and taking the familiar path to Alice's.

It's quite funny actually considering fall just started.

Outside the sun moved behind a cloud.

Winter is my favorite season, apart from, you know, freezing inside the school desks.

But the snow and the howling of the wind around corners and the sky, a beautiful ocean blue, gives me such a rush. Not the Bahamas-blue, but the deep, dark blue.

I always find it incredible.

It wasn't long before I stopped in Alice's driveway and regretted steeping out of my car when the cold air punched me in the face

Thank god for my obsession with being prepared for anything. I never leave my house without at least a jacket no matter what the temperature.

You know, just in case.

Alice's house is a little hidden from most people. The Wilder's are fond of their privacy, especially Mr. Wilder.

Victorian structure houses here in Jasper aren't exactly common, but the Wilder's have a massive one. Theirs are particularly older than most and was built in the 1800's. The construction is absolutely beautiful and inside it looks even better.

And by better I just mean expensive.

The furniture inside resembles the house itself. All ancient antiques and super expensive.

The mahogany wood floorboards were covered in smooth Persian carpets, which is perfect since the first thing I noticed the first time I set foot here a long time ago, was that Alice and her mom does not like wearing shoes at home.

Don't ask me. Although it weirded me out before, I eventually made peace with it. I asked Alice about that once and she just said her mom will royally kill her if she got mud stains on the carpets.

I walked up the stoned path going up to the front door, my boots crunching gravel underneath them.

Just as I was putting up my fist to knock on the door, the heavy woodset doors swung open.

Freaky, yeah. But to me, second nature. it's like they always know when I'm here.

Mrs Thea Wilder, Alice's mom, appeared in the door with a green slim-fit v-neck dress, despite the cold outside, and a fine gold chain necklace with a small sapphire stone on her neck . She was beyond beautiful. I always thought that that was how a goddess looked like. She had the same chestnut hair like Alice's only longer and the same intensive eyes, only Mrs Wilder's eyes are a deep muddy brown, more earth-like.

Her face broke into a smile when she saw me.

" Leah ! I was wondering when you'd show. Alice called to say you'll be helping her get pretty tonight." She gave a little laugh.

" Hi Mrs Wilder, yeah she told me to come after practice. Not that she needs my 'expertise' on styling." I laughed with her. Mrs Wilder motioned for me to come inside.

Once inside, the heavy doors swung shut again.

"How are you, Leah?" asked Mrs Wilder.

"Oh, I am good thank you."

"You have to excuse Alice, she's not here yet." said Mrs Wilder.

I smiled. Of course she's not. Funny, cause she told me that I shouldn't be late.

" It's all good, Mrs Wilder. I figured as much yeah, I'll just get a drink and wait for her. " Mrs Wilder nodded and we walked to the kitchen. We passed numbers of rooms, of which one was the living room. All laid out with more (no surprise there) Persian carpets. Vintage furniture and a grand piano portrayed a house of incredible value and significant meaning. There was even a small table with crystal containers of liquour . The large windows wore heavy drapes, blocking the almost-gone sun from entering and making the room seem mysterious and eerie.

The kitchen however, was a total different scene.

A long, smooth wooden counter was set in the middle of the room. More modern then the rest of the house.Built-in cupboards made from mahogany wood and a modern built-in stove.

Mrs Wilder opened the Samsung fridge. "Would you like juice or coke or..."

"A coke would be great," I quickly interrupted before she spilled out all the beverages they had.

Okay, obviously you've noticed that they are billionaires. Another thing Alice and I differ from. We are what they call, middle-class. I mean, I'm totally not hating because this is like home away from home sometimes.

"Is everything still all right at school, Leah?" Mrs. Wilder asked.

"Oh yeah, defs, though the most stressful term is on its way and I am so not ready to face it," I sighed.

Mrs Wilder laughed and it sounded like music. "Oh yes, I remember how I used to hate studying history, but I had to take it. History is so unnecessary . We work so hard to make it stop repeating and all they do is keep reminding us of it. "

Words of wisdom, right there.

"You couldn't be more accurate, Mrs Wilder," I laughed.

A brief silence followed before Mrs Wilder asked, "And Alice? How is she doing at school?"

" Yeah, she's doing great. I envy her sometimes. She's a real straight-A student. " Mrs Wilder looked thoughtful.

"Mmm,that's good."

Before anyone could say anything, the frontdoor slammed shut and a few seconds later, Alice's head popped up in the kitchen doorway.

"Heeey you guys," Alice gave her mom a kiss on the forehead, "what is so interesting?"

"Oh nothing much,"Mrs Wilder replied and started for the door,"I'll leave you two now." Then she disappeared. I turned toward Alice.

"You know, the irony of this now, is that you told me not to be late."

Alice sigh," Yeah..yeah. I'm sorry. I was stuck doing..." Alice abruptly stopped mid-sentence, stopping herself from telling whatever it is she was busy doing.

" Stuck doing what?" I asked, curiosity creeping under my skin. Alice suddenly looked very uncomfortable and went to the fridge. She opened it only to close it again.

" Uhmm nothing, really," she replied, not turning from the fridge.

" Nothing?"

" Yeah. My..car just got stuck in the mud and it took some time to get it out." Alice put a strand of hair behind her ear.

I knew in that moment that Alice just lied to me.

She slowly turned around and faced me, her face, except for the twitch of her eye, clear of any sign that she just lied.

I looked down at her feet, which appeared clean.

" Oookay," I finally said," We should probably go find you a dress inside you multi-million dollar closet."

Alice laughed and appeared her normal self. I'm still uneasy about what just happened. Alice never lies, especially not to me.

Why would she lie to me?