Chapter 24

October 28

After a fabulously uninterrupted night’s sleep I raced around my room gathering my things for school. Not only was I well rested, but I felt completely energized like the time Cal and I ate an entire bag of chocolate covered espresso beans while waiting to see a passing comet last summer. I was vibrating around the room like a hummingbird when I heard my cell phone chirp. I extricated my phone from the laundry hamper, rescuing it from certain watery death, and flipped it open. Cal had sent me a text message.

“Love you and miss you,” the text said.

I messaged him back, fingers flying over the keypad, promising to visit after school. Slipping the phone into my backpack’s front pocket I smiled at the memory of Cal’s sleepy face. He looked so adorable as I was leaving last night. I couldn’t wait for the school day to be over and to be back in his arms. Planning an amulet heist. No one ever said my life was boring.

I tried on numerous outfits before settling on my long black and silver panel skirt and black rock star t-shirt with the letters outlined in metal studs. Silver Doc Martens and a handful of thin silver chains slung low on my hips completed the ensemble. I checked my appearance in the mirror. Not too shabby.

On impulse I tipped my head upside down and shook like I was at the Headbangers Ball. Standing upright, and slightly dizzy, I added a safety pin to one ear. Oh yeah, total rock star.

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, so I left my umbrella on the floor to dry. I pulled on a cropped leather jacket and grabbed my backpack just as Emma pulled into the driveway. Time to roll.

I had my first surprise of the day as we walked toward the school main entrance. Jay and Jared were primping and preening, obsessively checking their reflections in the dark, side window panels. They would then strut themselves in front of a group of giggling cheerleaders. I was reminded of the displays male turkeys put on when trying to attract a desirable female. Two turkeys and a gaggle of clucking cheerleaders. Oh the horror.

Looking back and forth from the J-team to Emma I tried to stifle a giggle, but the dam broke with a hysterical laugh. Emma looked back at me, eyebrow raised, face and brow twitching.

“Oh my God,” I said, gasping. “They still think the virility tonic is for real.”

“Of course they do,” Emma said, smiling. “They’re the J-team; big on muscle not on brains.”

I raised my hand and we bumped knuckles. “So how long do you think they’ll keep this up?” I asked.

I was blinking my eyes rapidly trying to keep my mascara from running. No matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t stop laughing at the Jay and Jared show. Someone should be taping this. It was a total YouTube moment.

“We let them steal six bottles,” Emma said. “This could last awhile.”

“This really is the gift that keeps on giving,” I said. I gave up trying to save my makeup and settled in for the show.

*****

I met back up with Emma in the school parking lot after the last bell.

“I want the last hour of my life back,” Emma grumbled.

“It’s high school,” I said. “I want the entire semester back.”

“But it was horrible,” Emma said.

“In what way?” I asked. “Barry Manilow horrible or biology dissections horrible.”

“I have to pass health class to graduate, but it’s disgusting,” Emma whined.

“Ironic,” I said. Emma was pre-med, but she couldn’t handle health class. Go figure.

“But they were doing obscene things with…with a banana!” Emma said. She looked totally scandalized.

“Wait,” I said. “Back up. What’s this about a banana?”

“The teacher put a condom…on a banana,” Emma said. “Do you know how big a deal this is? She totally ruined bananas for me, forever. I eat bananas like three times a week. I’m a vegan. This is a travesty!”

“I had that happen once,” I said.

“You saw a teacher put a condom on a banana?” Emma asked.

“No!” I said. “My grandmother told me a story of how she was eating a banana and when she got to the last bite a yellow caterpillar wriggled up the center of the piece. Now every time I eat a banana I worry that it’s infested with caterpillars.”

“Yuki, you’re not helping,” Emma said. She started to laugh.

“Sorry,” I said. “Too much information.”

“Way, way, way too much information,” Emma said.

“So I take it you don’t want to hear about the garbage disposal?” I said, teasingly.

“No!” Emma said, squeezing her eyes shut.

Funny, no one ever wants to hear the rest of that story.

*****

Emma and I went to the cabin after a brief stop at my house for supplies. We spent the evening working with Cal and Simon to formulate our master plan of attack for mission amulet swap.

“I think we should do this Friday night,” I said. “I know it’s the night before Samhain, but it’s also when they’re having the annual Salem Witches’ Halloween Ball. Everyone in Salem will be there.”

“I like it,” Emma said. “It’s not a school night, so definitely easier to stay out late.”

“I wish I could be there,” Cal said, squeezing my hand.

“You’re sitting this one out,” Simon said. “We’ll be too close to the full moon and you’re still recovering from your injuries.”

“It’s cool,” I said. “And you’re only a phone call away.”

“I’ll try not to shift,” Cal said, eyes darkening. “I want to be here for you. I’ll have my phone and laptop, so anything you need just call.”

“Do I get to be the getaway driver?” Emma asked, positively bouncing in her chair.

“Can you parallel park?” Simon asked.

“Does the earth revolve around the sun?” Emma asked.

“Okay, you’re our driver,” Simon said.

“I have the perfect hat to wear,” Emma said.

“Hat?” I asked.

“You know how in the movies the criminals wear those black knit skullcaps?” Emma asked. “I bought one at the craft fair and have been dying to wear it.”

“Okay, so Emma you study the maps and put Cal on speed dial,” I said. “If there’s a detour or something he can look online for an alternate route.”

“Simon, are you coming with me?” I asked.

Originally I had planned to do this myself, but my friends convinced me how impossible that was. We were going to do this together.

“Aye love, I’ll be your lookout,” Simon said. He looked almost eager to participate. “I’ll make sure you remain unseen. If someone attempts to enter the Cauldron and Noose while you’re inside, I’ll create a diversion.”

“A diversion?” I asked. “Like what?” Oh hey, don’t go in that shop. There’s a burglar inside. Oh yeah, that would work.

“I’m a werewolf,” Simon said, eyes glinting. “I’ll think of something.”

“O-k-a-y,” Emma said. “How long do we wait for you to shift back?”

“You don’t,” Simon said. “If things go badly, then you leave as soon as Yuki gets back to the car. You don’t look for me, and you don’t wait for me.”

“But what about you?” I asked. I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of leaving friends behind. “We can’t just leave you there.”

“Yes, kitten, you can,” Simon said, shrugging one shoulder. “I have friends in Boston. I can lead interested parties away from the occult shop, shift back, and take the train into Beantown. I’ll stay with a guy I know in Southie and call Cal when I’m settled. I can take the train home on Saturday.”

Emma ducked her head, face flushing, and swallowed loudly. “But what about your clothes?” she asked. Emma lifted her head up and looked over Simon’s shoulder, not quite meeting his gaze. “You can’t take the train naked.”

“I beg to differ,” Simon said. “I don’t think anyone would mind.”

“Simon!” I said.

“Don’t worry,” Simon said. “I’ll carry my clothes in my mouth. It’s awkward, but I’ve done it before.”

“Okay, now that we’ve settled that issue,” Cal said, rolling his eyes. “How are we going to keep your faces off the most wanted list. I’m guessing there are cameras on some of the buildings in town.”

“That’s the best part,” I said. “It’s Halloween weekend in Salem. We’re going in costume. We can wear masks and blend right in.”

“The perfect crime,” Emma said.

“The perfect time,” I agreed.