Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
I’m not an optimist. I’m a realist.
And realistically my track record with girls is just not great. They all leave me—one way or another. Just thinking about it makes me glare into the mirror.
“Anyway, I’ll report back tonight if there’s any news. Until next time, this is your favorite person in all universes—Kinney Hale.” I end the recording, thankful that I got my outro slogan down even if I’m scowling when I say it. I’ve come a long way since my first video diary at least.
Footsteps sound in the bedroom before Audrey peeks her head in the bathroom. Her carrot-orange hair frames her angular face, and her white sweater almost blends in with her pale skin but it also accentuates the fieriness of her hair.
“There you are,” she says, half out of breath. She frowns. “Why are you hiding in my bathroom?”
“I’m not hiding,” I say, totally blasé-like. I’m innocent, here.
She sees the phone in my fist. “Oh, let’s take a mirror selfie! Those are positively my favorite.” She’s already sliding beside me and smiling into the mirror.
We both give each other bunny ears, and I snap a quick pic and then air drop it to her phone. She’s catches my wrist in excitement. “Vada made the best party punch.”
“How’d she get the liquor?” I wonder.
Aunt Rose and Uncle Connor have their liquor cabinets locked. My family and the Meadows don’t keep alcohol in the house, and Uncle Garrison is like a bloodhound. He can spot teenage debauchery from a mile away since he was once a teenage delinquent.
At least that’s what my dad says.
“Long story.” She hooks her arm through mine. “Shall we talk and walk?”
I smile, her peppy energy always seeping through me in forceful waves. Most of the time I’ll swat that kind of bubbly energy away, but if it’s coming from Audrey, I allow it in. “Let’s,” I agree.
We exit her bathroom and through her bedroom that is newly painted sage green with twinkle fairy lights. It has a fairy princess vibe. Almost every time I’m back in her room it’s a new color. A new aesthetic. She’s trying things out. Which—I get.
The media doesn’t always post articles about me, Audrey, Winona, and Vada since we’re so much younger, but that doesn’t mean we’re not discussed in the comment sections and on fandom sites like Fanaticon. Mom and Dad disapprove of lurking in these forums, and I wouldn’t lurk too long amongst the trolls. I mostly peek and make sure their troll juices don’t rub off on me. There are cool posts though where people aren’t so rude.
I know a lot of them wonder when I’ll “outgrow” my goth phase, and they’ve talked about Audrey and her childhood love of pink too.
Outside voices can be too loud sometimes. That’s what Mom always tells me.
We leave her fairy bedroom and go through the long hallway as she starts explaining the origins of the liquor. “Vada bikes with this guy at the BMX track who goes to Maybelwood. His brother is twenty-one, and he picks him up every day. So she posed the age-old question.”
I tilt my head. “Can you buy me a handle of vodka?” I guess.
Audrey smiles. “Precisely. And she was able to score gin too.”
I want to be as excited as Audrey—mostly since it’s her birthday—but I’ve never tried gin. Neither has Moffy. My big brother was like the guinea pig for everything but alcohol. I think he accidentally had vodka? But it was an accident. That doesn’t count. He didn’t even realize he was drinking liquor.
We descend the winding staircase together. “Does she even know this guy’s name?”
“I think she knows the BMX guy,” Audrey says. “Not his brother’s name though.”
“This doesn’t sound sketchy at all,” I say dryly.
Audrey mulls this over before wincing. She speaks in French, but she’s said this one word enough that I’m sure it means, true.
“We should keep an eye on Vada,” I suggest. “So no pervs come after her.”
“Always,” Audrey nods.
Audrey, Winona, and I have agreed that since Vada doesn’t have private security, we’d have to be her unofficial security squad. I get she’s not famous and in the media, but it doesn’t mean she’s not dealing with creeps. And I guess…normal people don’t have the luxury or privilege of private security, but she’s different.
She’s one of us.
We make it to the first level and slip into the kitchen where Winona swirls a ladle inside a giant bowl of red liquid.
“Welcome, welcome to Potion Making 101,” she says into a wide, silly grin. Her boho crocheted crop top stops just above her belly button. She waggles her fingers like she’s casting a spell over the punch.
“You’re a natural,” I state with a nod.
“Oui,” Audrey agrees.
Winona is always moving, always bouncing around, and if she was magically inclined, I would give her all my potions to stir.