“You…know? B-but who…how…”

Crap. Who else knew?

Debbie smiled. “Relax, Emily. No one told me anything. I figured it out from the clues.”

I stared at here, totally stunned. “Clues?”

“Oh come on, Gabe-‘scuse me, Emily-You’ve told me yourself that you don’t have any relatives except your immediate family. Suddenly, Gabe is killed in an accident far from here, and a girl named Emily, claiming to be his cousin shows up. There are other clues-Gabe was such a guy. You do too many things wrong to have been a girl all along, even if you were a tomboy. You are very obviously uncomfortable in your clothes. Taken all together, I worked it out that my former boyfriend is now my best girl friend.

I wondered, how did it happen? Not voluntarily, of course. Gabe was all man, and happy about it. After our lesson on magical safety, I know that major spells need to be cleaned up, or they leave free magic to build up.” She had tears in her eyes. “I was going around town, using Mom’s old spellbook to cast some major spells. I’m not stupid, Emily. I know that I did this, somehow. I’ve ruined your life, and it’s all my fault!

Then what did you do? You saved me when I tripped over those stupid heels, even though I had screwed up your life. I didn’t know how to tell you I knew, but I swear, I would never do that to you intentionally. Despite what you might think, I actually liked you a lot; I was just so power crazy and greedy!

I am so sorry, Emily! I don’t know how you can stand to be anywhere near me, but I hope someday you can forgive me.” She said, her face wet with tears.

“I was very angry with you at first, but it was an accident,” I said.” I’m going to have a hard time dealing with being a girl-like you said, I never wanted this, and now I have all this weirdness going on. I get all these weird feelings, like being interested in a boy(shiver!). I never thought that would happen, even after my change, and I still don’t know what I’m going to do about it.

I do forgive you though. You did something inconsiderate and stupid, but we’ve all made mistakes. Okay, so yours was somewhat more…intense than most. What happened was still an accident. You didn’t want this, I don’t want this, but we have to deal with it now.

If you’re really feeling guilty, there is something you can do for me,” I said as I looked at her. “Help me! I need a friend. I need someone my age to help me get through this! I need someone I can talk to about all of this, and…I need you.

Despite everything, I…I love you.” I whispered the last part, looking straight into her eyes.

She looked at me with amazement. “Oh, God!” She gave me a hug, sobbing. “I can’t believe it! Thank you, Emily! Of course I’ll help you, whatever I can do! I will always be your friend, forever!”

“Well, let’s just stick with the foreseeable future, okay? Besides, there’s an issue I need to deal with, and I don’t think you’re going to like it very much.”

“Oookay, what’s the problem, and why won’t I like it?”

“Umm, well…Tim Davies kind of asked me out, and I want to go, but I don’t want to hurt you, and I don’t know what to do!”

She giggled. “Emily, once the love spell was broken, Tim and I discovered we have nothing in common. I was just after the status, hon. Besides,” she said, striking a sexy pose. “I have plenty of boys to choose from…and I’ve learned I want to find the one who really loves me. I was just so shallow, and I hate people like that!

Now, what kind of a date is it?” She smiled.

I laughed, partly with relief, and partly with fear. I was going on a date-with a boy!

I sent Tim a text to let him know my decision.

Arr, matey, t’would be my pleasure to accompany thee on such an expedition. Pray, contact me at -------- to arrange the details of our liaison. ‘Til then, mate! Arr!

Corny, I know, but it’s fun. I couldn’t believe the butterflies I was getting, just waiting for his call. Fortunately, I didn’t have long to wait.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Emily?”

“ Yes, hello, Tim. Thanks for calling so quickly.”

“No problem, I’ve kinda been hoping you’d text me.”

“I guess I was kinda nervous. No one’s ever asked me out before.”

“Really? I would have guessed a pretty girl like you would have guys just waiting to go out with you.”

“I guess you could say that I’m sort of a late bloomer.”

“Well, I was thinking about going out Friday night, around seven?”

“That would be great, Tim. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Cool! All right, I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?

“Yeah, I can’t wait! Bye, Tim.”

“Okay, bye!”

Grandma came out of the kitchen. “Did I hear you setting up a date? Are you really ready for that?”

“Grandma, I’m not sure. If you‘d asked me before today, I’d have told you that it’d be a cold day in Hades before I let a boy date me. Something about this guy, though. He makes me all ‘tingly’ inside, and I feel gooey and happy. He’s such a nice guy, and I just…I want to see where this goes, okay?”

She came over and kissed my forehead. “More than okay, sweetheart.”

I blushed, I guess, and Grandma gently chuckled. “So how did it go with Debbie? Did you decide to tell her?”

“Oh yeah, Grandma, you wouldn’t believe it! She already knew!”

She suddenly stopped and looked at me. “What?”

“Nobody told her, Grandma. She figured out, and from what she told me, it really wasn’t that hard.”

“That’s a little frightening, Emily. What if…”

“Grandma, I don’t think most people could have done it. Part of the way she figured it out was because we used to date, and I told her some things about the family that was not all that important then. She also figured out that she made it happen with that spellbook, and she was very apologetic. I really think we can trust her.”

“I hope you’re right, sweetheart. That’s one more person who could accidentally let your secret out, one more bit of risk. That said, I think telling her was right, even if she hadn’t known already. I also think you needed someone you could talk to, someone you could trust. Debbie could be that lifelong friend and sister, and that’s something to be treasured.”

“So, I did it right?” I asked.

“Only time will tell, Love. I certainly hope so. Now come on, let’s get dinner ready. Oh, I have some good news for you, baby. Your Dad will be home tomorrow, and he’s really looking forward to meeting his daughter!”

“As much as he’s gone on those business trips, he barely even knew his son.” Okay, so I was a little bitter.

“Now, honey, you’ve got to understand, your dad has to work like that.” She said, angrily. “He allows us to live as well as we do! Your mom and he have done everything they could to support us, and it’s a lot harder than you seem to understand, young lady.”

I’d known I was wrong when I said it. “I’m sorry, Grandma, really I am. I just miss him so much, sometimes.”

She gave me a supportive hug. “I know, baby, I do. It’s hard for him, too, believe me. Not only does he miss you, but he and your mom miss each other terribly.”

I really felt a bit like a spoiled brat, whining like that. I really hope he liked his new daughter, and he didn’t need to deal with a whiny bitch. I resolved to be a little more upbeat, and give him a proper welcome tomorrow. I just had to figure out what that was.