Escape the Covenant || Shawmila [Completed]

Chapter 8

Arms crossed on my chest, I wait for him to start talking. He fidgets and moves his sight anywhere but on me, and I'm on the verge of screaming at his face. «So? What happened back there? Why did I have to hide? »

He takes a deep breath and starts to talk. «You said it yourself that my grandpa wouldn't be pleased to find you in his home. He wasn't supposed to come back so early».

I grow more impatient every second that passes because he's not giving me a valid explanation. «Shawn, cut the crap».

He bites his bottom lip and closes his eyes, resigned. «He doesn't want me to hang out with you... or anyone around here for what matters. I don't want to let him down, but what am I supposed to do? Spend the rest of my days alone? I don't give a damn about who you are or what you do -». He freezes on the spot and stops talking.

For once, I don't know what to say. He knows it. He knows who I am, what I am. To be honest, I'm torn. On one side, I feel the need to run away, go back to my grandma and tell her everything. Tell her that he knows, tell her that we need to do something to fix this situation. Witches shouldn't mingle with normal people. But then, a part of me, the one that's more naïve and hopeful, tells me to keep calm. He knows everything and he doesn't care. He's not frightened by my power or by the risks brought by this friendship. He's even going against his family wishes to be my friend, and that has to mean something!

I stare at him with my big chocolate eyes, waiting for his next move. I see him gulping, his Adam's apple bobs, then he takes a step forward. «Camila» his voice trembles «I... You - you're a... witch. You can't deny it, I've always knew it, since I was a little kid. My grandfather told me to keep my distance from all of you. He's convinced that you are dangerous, but I never saw you doing anything wrong». At first he's a little hesitant, but then his words come out stronger. «I'm not scared. I'm fascinated. I've always wanted to get closer to your world, but it wasn't worth the effort. During the past years I was in this town just for the summer. But now I have to live here and I don't want to be an hermit, an outsider! I'm sorry if I tried to keep the truth from you». I don't move and I don't speak, I stand completely still. «Please, say something» he begs out of breath.

I'm left with two options. One: I get mad at him, tell him to stay away from me because I don't trust him nor his family, and lose the only friend I've ever had. Or two: I swallow my anger, forget this story and the possible dangers of this relationship, and try to be his friend, simple and nice. Either way, he'll still know my secret, the coven's secret. I can't change that and maybe I don't want to.

I begin to head towards the cotton fields. I can feel his sight burning on my back. «If you don't want your grandfather to catch you strolling around with a witch, I suggest you follow me to hide away from this street».

He runs besides me and laugh lightly. «Was it really that simple? No questions, no scolding, no bad blood? »

«Yes, that simple. But I hope you know that if you give me one single reason to regret all of this, you are gonna pay for it»

«Fair enough».

Right now I feel so free and happy and light! No more pressions, no more lies and hiding truths. Just me and my new friend. That words tastes weird on my lips, but I like it.

«Maybe I don't have the right to ask, but can you show me a few tricks or something like that? » he asks, amusement in his voice.

I fake to be offended by his words. «Tricks? What am I, a juggler? I don't do tricks. I cast spells, evoke my ancestors for a greater power, I absorb the energy all around me and bend things at my will».

«That is way cooler than what I thought. So, can you show me? ». His persistence is kinda cute.

«Maybe one day... but first, we need to set some ground rules». Maybe I'm a little paranoid, but caution is never enough. «One: we can't show up at each other's house. My grandma always asks too many questions and your family doesn't like me, obviously».

«How do we keep in contact? Are you sending some sort of magical signal with burned paper? »

«I mean, I could. But I was thinking that we could simply use our phones? »

He blushes hard, the points of his ears go almost purple. «Yeah, sorry... I didn't consider that possibility. Oh God, I'm a dork».

I laugh. «I don't mind it» I say, unable to stop myself from giggling. We finally exchange our phone numbers. «Rule number two: we have to try to live on the low for obvious reasons. Which means we can't go out together in crowed places or act like normal friends. Is it okay for you? »

He nods. «It's not the best, but I understand the circumstances. It's better than to be alone anyway»

What is it with him and loneliness? Sooner or later I'm going to ask him about it. «And last but not least: the third rule. As a member of the coven I have some duties and responsibility to attend. There will be some days in which I won't be able to hang out with you or tell you where I am and what I'm doing. I need you to give me my space when required».

«Once again, I understand Mila. Don't worry about it». His kindness is flipping something inside me and I feel my stomach clench weirdly. This reminds me of a few pages of my mom's grimoire. I recognize all the signs, I know very well what's happening to me but I trust my self-control to keep me grounded.