8 Nosey Neightbour

Present day...

"Lexi! Lex! Wake up. We're going to be late," Alex fretted in my ear.

I groaned and rolled over before snapping my eyes open, as a feeling of dread shot through me. I instantly looked at the clock: 8 O'clock? Fuck!

"Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" I shrieked.

Scampering from the warmth of the bed and clawing on some clothes from the closet. I rushed to the bathroom to change.

"Not my problem you came home drunk," Alex retorted with folded arms.

Coming out from the bathroom with a toothbrush in my mouth, I tried to protest, "I was not drunk!"

I wouldn't admit it, I did feel a little rough… the drinking games were fun but felt exhausted.

He changed the topic, "The phone rang this morning, which is why I woke up. Mum will finish earlier today. She'll be back this afternoon."

"Okay, grab me some breakfast bars, would you? Oh, and lunch, it's in the fridge!" I said, finally exiting the bathroom to my room while he walked down the stairs.

I huffed as I noticed the bags under my eyes and covered them with makeup.

"Lexi!" shouted Alex.

I glanced at my clock. 'Damn it. Half 8! Go!'

I ran downstairs, where Alex was standing with the front door open, both our bags in his hands and my keys already in the outside lock—Atta boy.

"Sooty?"

"Fed," he reported.

I took a deep breath and got into the car with him. Alex and I made it before the final bell and as usual, Lathen was rocking up late.

He noticed Alex and I getting out of the car and smirked, "Late Langton?"

"Shut up." I retorted catching up to him.

"Let's get this day over with… Friday yay!" Lathen spoke a little too cheery after a night out.

I winced at his happy mood and covered my ear. He laughed and clasped my shoulder in a half hug before moving me to the steps.

I rolled my eyes at him and picked up the pace.

 __________________

Saying the day lagged was an understatement.

'Note to self: No more drinking on a school night.'

I grimaced and strolled over to the loud cafeteria to grab food; it bustled with students as expected. I caught sight of Quinn perched on one of the blue plastic chairs at a small round table, digging into her sandwich. I relaxed next to her.

"Afternoon," I greeted.

Quinn lifted her head quickly in a greeting, "Heard you had fun last night…"

I groaned loudly and leaned into the table.

We were shortly joined by two defeated-looking friends, Lathen and Seri, and a relaxed Devan.

"That bad, huh?" Quinn quizzed the trio. My eyebrows knit together in concern.

"Dodge ball. Devan was on the opposite team." Lathen laboured over his breath, clearly defeated.

He rested next to me, resting his head on folded arms. I pat his shoulder with sympathy.

"She was pissed, as in, argument with the husband pissed," Seri added, sitting opposite me.

Devan casually nodded in agreement, taking a seat next to Quinn as she turned to me, "Oh gods, I think we need carbs next week!"

A chuckle escaped my lips at her remark.

"So heard you three met a newbie?" Devan asked without a sweat.

"Yeah, a new family moved into the old Mants house," I informed, "My mum will no doubt be introducing herself..."

 _______________

I pulled up behind Mum's car and sighed for the umpteenth time today. I needed coffee. I felt a sharp pain on my forehead and hissed rubbing the centre of my brows.

"What was that for?!"

Alex leaned away from the unnecessary flick to my forehead.

"Just, checking you're still alive."

I groaned again, getting out of the car, "Just you wait."

As I got out I felt eyes on me, I glanced down the road. Sure enough, I met two blue eyes. Leo was stood out the front of the old house, with, I assume, his family.

"Wow, Mum didn't waste any time, huh?" Alex laughed lightly as he walked past me and into the house.

Mum was talking with the new family, but she wasn't the only one chatting. Mrs Crowley was an elderly lady, lovely at heart but nosier than my mother, and (bless her) did not know when to stop talking.

'Oh no, poor neighbours,' I thought.

Leo raised his hand and gave a small wave. I smiled and waved back before entering home, sweet home.

 ______________

I took a sip from the mug, and the front door opened and closed quickly; Mum finally graced us with her presence. Coming into the living room, she leaned over my shoulder on the sofa.

"They have cute sons about your age," she avowed.

She did this often. Like a teenager, she always knew the gossip or tried to get me on a date.

"Hm, I know. I met them already" I said, then regretted the words that flew out of my unfiltered mouth.

In the blink of an eye, she joined me on the other side of the sofa, "You have?!"

"When?" she quizzed shifting closer.

"The bar last night…"

"Tell me everything!"

I groaned and threw the blanket over my face.

She simply laughed and stood from the sofa, "I have invited them over for dinner on Tuesday," she declared.

I peaked out from the covers and mumbled out a, "Okay."

"I bet you already know they're witches?"

I nodded yes slowly and her shoulder slumped.

"Damn it! I thought I was the first…"

I giggled at her.

"Well, I will call Nixon," she sighed, pulling out her phone to ring him.

Quinn's father, Nixon, was our prominent coven leader. Any new witches, he was one of the first ones to know. Often, they are invited to join us permanently or for circles or celebrations.

"Hello, Nixon. Is this a good time?" she greeted him on the phone.

After a short pause, she explained the situation, not that I was eavesdropping.

"So, would you like me to invite them to the next circle, or shall I leave you to it?" she clarified.

"Okay, speak soon! Bye."

She hung up and wandered back into the living room.

"How did you find that out with Mrs Crowley present?" I quizzed.

"I was a little rude, I will admit," she confessed, "My senses picked up on it when I scanned them," she squeaked.

I laughed at her silliness.

Using your powers to 'scan' over someone was considered rude. Your magic touches them to investigate them like an animal does when scenting something. Doing this can allow a witch to feel what you are feeling, your strength, and even your heritage. Humans cannot tell when we do this, but Witches. We know. That's why I nearly shouted at Leo at Jack's Hideout.

"So, they are coming over on Tuesday?" I said, looking for confirmation.

"Yes, their children will start school Monday, too. Delayed paperwork, but one of them will be in the same year as you. Make friends!" she replied, wandering off to the kitchen again to make dinner.

"I'll try," I murmured, returning to the paused episode.

 __________

After sorting my homework, I left the house for the back garden and tended to the herbs and vegetables. Ensuring the clippers were sharp, I got to work.

Such a variety in this witch's garden. Lemon balm, Rosemary, Chamomile, Sage… You name it. Each one had its meaning and use in spells. Some for love, calming, and protection; these were taught to me from a young age by my dad.

Stretching I could feel and hear the pop's in my spine. De-weeding the small garden was a large task. I wiped my forehead, leaning back tomove onto a different task. I harvested most of the herbs, sat on the grass, and tied them into bundles with garden string.

Mew?

Looking left, I noticed a black cat; it was relatively larger than average with blue eyes. It looked exotic for a black cat. My eyebrows scrunching together, I watched it peruse the garden it found itself in. Sooty was going to have a paddy.

"Hello, kitty-cat," I coaxed.

It looked at me, and unbothered, it went back to exploring.

There were not many cats around this neighbourhood, and they were usually not black. It was well-kept, making me think it had an owner. I left it to its own devices, not wanting it to stay.

'It could be the new neighbour's cat,' I mused.

The cat strolled off back to wherever it came from. I had a feeling I would see it again.

I hung the completed bundles along the kitchen wall with more aged ones. Once they had dried out, then we could use them. I wandered into my room, picked up the book of shadows, and returned down the stairs.

Stopping at the door under the stairs, I waved my hand right and recited, "Chamborium."

Opening the door, I was greeted by a pumpkin smell coming from the incense burner. This was the room we worked in.

It was a dark, small, square room, still with space despite the large mahogany table in the centre. Candles were aimlessly around the room, all lit, their wicks never fading, and the wax never melting. Opposite the wall with the door was an extravagant bookcase filled with books, potions, herbs, empty jars… It was a half-hazardous room—an organised mess. The walls were limestone, said to be the best at absorbing energy.

The wall left of the bookcase was a hearth. A wood fire still wanting to be lit and a cauldron hanging above the wood. A lower table with a white cloth covering the wood was on the wall to the right of the bookcase. Five distinct areas marked earth, water, air, fire and energy. These changed with the sabbat. There were still loads of white and pink candles from Imbolc, the second sabbat of the year.

Grabbing my book of shadows from the bookcase, I began to write an entry as I did not have time yesterday. It was halfway filled with information. I was hoping to find many new things from Grandma's book.

My grandmother and I are persons of logic, and chemistry is our passion. I smiled, reminiscing a memory, standing around a cauldron, and setting things a flame with her magic, making me laugh and giggle.

After finishing, I immersed myself in her writing. Pulling the book open, I started at the very beginning. My hands brushed over her handwriting; her name was scrawled on the front page. I took a deep breath and blinked away the unshed tears. I missed her.

The first few pages were filled with basics—the eight sabbats, new spells, moon phases, etc. I was looking for diary-like entries but found a new section: 'Herbology' it read.

It was filled with recipes and information on herbs and flowers and when to use them. Many were experimental, and notes, changes, successes, and failures were scribbled on paper. One of the spells caught my eye, 'Banishing vampires'. I noted it in my book; you could never have enough protection and banishing spells.

The door opened, and my ears were greeted by a humming tune, Mum. She glanced over at me with a smile as she grabbed some herbs from the bookcase.

"Lamb hot pot tonight," she informed me and came over to look over my shoulder.

"Ahh," she realised, "Found anything interesting?" she asked, resting her hand on my shoulder in a half hug.

"Not much, only this 'Banishing Vampires Spell'," I answered, tapping it.

"Oh," She gasped, "I've been trying to remember this one for years!" she exclaimed.

She tapped, 'Cakes and Ale: Saturn-day night fever!' Followed by a recipe for a sponge cake and a chant.

"Your grandma made the best cake!" she professed.

I stretched back, not knowing how long I'd been in the room. Taking her selected herbs, she left the room, and I decided to join her and help cook.

 _____________

Unknown

"Is it done?" A lady adorned in black turned slightly to the left, watching him out of the corner of her eye.

"Yes. Everything is in motion," he affirmed.

That was enough for her to hear. She turned from the mirrored reflection and into the shadows. She disappeared from view and left the earth entirely.