I’m in my bed, just staring at the ceiling. I have a lot going through my mind, and it’s very confusing. School seems to have gone much better than I expected, which really makes me happy. The touching responses of my classmates in regard to my “death” was a big ego boost. Now I’m going to have to find a way to get my ego back in check. I have to get this head through the doors. Then there’s Debbie’s accident. I kind of don’t know how I feel about it, but I guess I’m glad she’s okay. Last, but very definitely not least, there’s my feelings about the magic.

I can’t have magic. I may have a girl’s body, but this is definitely a boy’s brain. Boy brains can’t do magic. There’s something about the way we think that keeps us powerless as far as the quantum world goes. Maybe it’s because we see the world differently. Maybe it’s chemical. I don’t know.

Anyway, I have a boy-type brain. There are no if, ands or buts about it. Therefore, I cannot do magic.

But I did magic. And only a girl’s brain can do magic, so, logically, I must have…a girl’s brain.

Crap.

I had believed that some part of me was still Gabe, that he wasn’t completely gone. Now I know that it’s true, Gabriel Anthony Randall is truly deceased.

I think I’m just gonna stay here in my loft, today. I really don’t want to be around anyone today. I’m just going to sit here and mourn Gabe.

“No, Emily, you’re not.”

I look up and I see my Grandma. Has she always been able to read my mind? Wow, no wonder I never get away with anything!

She sits down on my bed and hugs me. Whatever it is that she does, she always makes me feel better. Even if I really didn’t want to feel better at all. How’m I gonna develop my “teenage angst”, with her around? I’m being deprived of life experience, here. Yeah, just remember, when I’m old and gray, and I don’t have a bitter, grumpy personality, remember, it’s all Grandmas’ fault.

“So you’re not Gabe anymore. We still love Emily, you know that don’t you?

”Yeah, I know that. I love you, too.”

“Heck, we might even like Emily better, she doesn’t eat as much, so there’s a big savings on the grocery bill, and there’s actually milk in the refrigerator an hour after it comes in the house. That hasn’t happened in a long time!”
I smiled and stuck out my tongue.

“Emily, I’ll admit, I thought the same way that you did. It might be a prettier, less stinky exterior, but inside, it’s still my Grandson Gabe. I was very surprised to see you do magic, even if it was only an instinctive healing spell. This means the spell was much more comprehensive than I thought. Oh, and you did a great job, by the way. I talked to Debbie’s mother, Gwen, and she said Debbie has nothing but a few minor bruises, and she was released from the ER last night.

I also told Gwen about Debbie’s sudden display of talent. She’s quite upset to learn that Debbie had been snooping in her dresser drawers, although she’s very pleased that Debbie has some ability. That love spell has been removed from Tim Davies, and she’s been grounded for the foreseeable future. We are discussing additional punishment, but I have to tell you, I think Gwen should be punished as well. Keeping a spellbook? That was irresponsible, and I mean to talk to her about it at the next coven luncheon.”

“Is a spellbook a bad thing? Don’t you need a Grimoire to record your spells and stuff in?”

“Oh, that’s just for Fairy Tales, Emily. You know that unless you are a female blood descendant from one of the families, magic is impossible. No spells, potions or talismans have any power without the heritage.” She looked a bit embarrassed. “A spellbook is really a cheat book, and naughty student witches use them to help focus their instinctive powers. It’s considered as bad as a crib sheet in a test. And before you ask, yes, I had one, too.”

“You, ah, wouldn’t happen to have saved it somewhere, would you?” I tried to bat my eyelashes and smile very sweetly.

Grandma laughed. “Nice try, young lady. No, my Mom found it and made me burn it. Your Mom didn’t have one, at least not to my knowledge, anyway. If I can help it, you won’t have one, either. They actually don’t help in the long run, you know. It becomes a crutch, and it can promote bad habits.”

Sigh. “Okay, Grandma.” Geez, how am I going to get a dark side if I’m so darn good all the time?

“By the way, as of tonight you have 3 classes a week with Mrs. Andrews. She’s going to be teaching you basic magic techniques.”

“Oh, Witchcraft 101?” I asked, my eyes as big and innocent as I could make them. “When do we get our brooms?”

“How would you like to have explosive diarrhea for the next few days?” she asked, looking sternly at me.

“Ah, well, uhm…No, thank you?”

She laughed. “Basic Magic is actually fun, you’ll see. I know there’s already another student who will be studying with you, so maybe you’ll make a friend, hmm?”

It was starting to sound good, and I couldn’t wait to start the class.

School went well, and I drove to Mrs. Andrews’ house, anxious to start the class. She seemed very nice, and I asked about the other student.

“She’s a very lovely girl, and I hope you two will become great friends. Oh, here she comes now!”

Oh, crap.

Debbie Holloway.