Mitzie entered the school building, walking straight ahead. It was as if the hall was completely empty to her, but in reality, students were either rushing or hanging out beside their own lockers. As people saw Mitzie, either they stared at her, avoided her or talked about her. There were others who even called her names. She didn’t give a damn. It didn’t hurt at all, and she didn’t care.
You see, people react that way to Miitzie because she’s a witch. Yeah, no kidding! Oh, but I’m dead serious. You know, they don’t only exist in movies and horror tales. But she wasn’t the kind of witch with the long wart filled nose and broomstick with cauldron to match. She looked like any other modern student, although she was often seen in black, and no other color. Oh, and she wasn’t the only one. There was also Toni and Emily, who were patiently waiting for her by her locker. Mitzie had the strongest character of them all. She didn’t care of what other people thought about them. What mattered to her was that the three of them were happy with what they were doing, and other people should mind their own business. Emily, who they affectionately called Em, was the one who balances things between the three of them. She’s often open to the consequences of their actions, and so she keeps the whole scene orderly or as peaceful as possible. In other words, she’s the one who makes sure that they don’t get into trouble that much. Toni, on the other hand, was the weakest of the three. She was often paranoid, and badly affected with the name-calling the 3 of them were receiving.
‘Hey guys!’ Mitzie greeted them, as she unlocked her locker. ‘So, what’s our agenda for this afternoon?’ she asked, getting some of her books and slamming the locker door shut. ‘Well, nothing new really.’ Emily said, as they walked toward their homeroom class. That was where they all met too, during the first day of classes. ‘Ooh… the same old routine eh? Practicing and learning new spells huh?’ Mitzie said, and Em nodded in agreement. ‘Umm… guys, can we hurry up please? I don’t want to run into you know who again.’ Toni half-whispered, her eyes cast down to the floor. Mitzie sighed, ‘Honestly Toni, with all the spells you’re learning, don’t you think you can handle them all by yourself?’ she said, exasperated.
‘Handle who Mitzie?’ a voice said, coming from behind them. There stood Shane Filan, a strapping young lad with hazel green eyes and brown hair. As handsome as he was, he had a reputation for being a complete jerk. He loved picking on other people along with his other friends. But all of them most loved picking on Mitzie, Em and Toni.
‘Oh, get lost will you!’ Mitzie said, not even turning around to look at Shane. ‘Ooooh… I’m so scared! Mark! Nicky! Save me!’ he kidded, over-exaggerating. Mark Feehily and Nicky Byrne laughed, and when Shane joined them, they sounded like a bunch of hyenas. ‘Watch out Shane! She might turn you into a toad and put you in a jar!’ Mark said, chuckling at his own joke. ‘Yeah, watch out coz she just might do that!’ Nicky added, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief.
Em noticed that Mitzie was suddenly seething. She was puzzled, because Mitzie never got angry when other people made fun of them. She looked over at boys. They were currently picking on Toni, who looked like she was about to burst into tears at any moment. Mitzie was about to mutter a spell when Em suddenly stopped her. ‘Not here Mitzie! Not in school! You know we’ll get thrown out if we cause any trouble again!’ Em reminded her. A few months back, they caused so much hysteria in the cafeteria that they were almost expelled. Mitzie fiercely said, ‘Will you leave her alone?! Can’t you see she’s not even doing anything to you lot!’ This caused the lads to torment the three of them more, until they got into their own classrooms.
‘Guys, I’ve had enough of them.’ Toni said one afternoon. They were all sitting around a tree in Mitzie’s backyard, their backs resting on it. ‘Of who?’ Mitzie asked, turning off her discman. ‘You know, those jerks at school.’ Toni replied, glancing blankly at her book. ‘Oh, you mean Shane, Nicky and Mark?’ Emily asked. ‘Well, who else would it be? Curly, Larry and Moe?’ Mitzie retorted. ‘Ha ha… very funny.’ Em said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
‘Guys, seriously, I want to take revenge. Even if we don’t have to hurt them physically, since I know Em will greatly disapprove of it, and that’s way too harsh anyway.’ Toni said, turning around to look at Emily for approval. ‘Well, that’s okay with me, but I hate it when they hurt you physically by pulling your hair.’ Mitizie muttered. ‘Yeah, but what can we do that wouldn’t cause physical harm?’ Emily asked.
They all grew quiet, deep in their own thoughts. After what seemed like an eternity, Em suddenly spoke. ‘Do you remember what Mr. O’Connor said today?’ she asked. ‘Duh! It’s only you who ever listens to Mr. O’Connor. He’s the most boring English teacher in the whole world! We all love English class, but he makes it such a pain!’ Toni complained. ‘Yeah, he’s like some old dinosaur who can barely move!’ Mitzie added. ‘Well, yeah… anyway, he said that love is the most wonderful thing when experienced, and most cruel when not returned…’ Em trailed off. Mitzie’s eyes lit up with excitement. ‘Em! You’re a screaming genius! Girl, I love ya!’ Mitzie said as she excitedly scanned her spell book. ‘Oh! This is perfect!’ Toni exclaimed. ‘And just in time… coz if what I read was right, we’re gonna have an English project!’ she added. Mitzie and Em looked at her as if she’d gone insane. ‘Umm… so what’s that got to do with Em’s idea?’ Mitzie asked. ‘Guys, I read Mr. O’Connor’s mind… and it’s going to be a “by pair” project!’ It’s poem analysis I think!’ Toni added. ‘Well then Tones, we’ll be leaving the pairing up to you, since you’re good in reading people’s thoughts, not to mention changing them!’ Mitzie said, as she continued to search for the spell. ‘Yeah, but I really wonder why I can’t get into those three jerks’ thoughts.’ She said out loud. ‘Aha! Here it is!’ Em pointed out. ‘Ladies… let’s get to work!’ Mitzie said, rolling up her sleeves.
‘Remember girls, it doesn’t happen all of a sudden. The book says that…’ ‘We have to spend some time with them before the spell works. We know already!’ Mitzie and Toni exclaimed, cutting Em in mid-sentence. Em just grinned and shook her head as they entered their English class. All eyes were on them as usual, along with hushed whispers and sneering. ‘Ooh… looks lads, if it aren’t the wicked witches of the west.’ A voice called out, followed with laughter. Sure enough, it was Shane, with Mark and Nicky. Mitzie rolled her eyes. Emily just shook her head while Toni kept her head down. They took their seats, waiting for Mr. O’Connor to arrive. After a few minutes the door swung open, and in came a very flustered looking Mr. O’Connor.
‘Good morning class.’ He greeted, frantically going through a sheaf of papers. The class greeted him back as he took his position in front of the room. Sighing heavily, he turned his attention toward them.
‘Class, I was supposed to give you a project today, but for some odd reason I couldn’t find the paper that I wrote your names in. So anyway, I’ll just pair you now, since we’re catching an early deadline before your exams that are coming in two weeks.’ Mr. O’Connor said. All the students groaned at the thought of a project. Mitzie and Em glanced at Toni, who smiled at them and gave them a thumbs-up sign.
Mr. O’Connor was already assigning partners quickly when Toni closed her eyes and mumbled her spell softly.
‘Mitzie, your partner is Shane. Both of you are assigned to page 64 of the poetry book we have. Toni and Mark, page 65. Emily and Nicky, you work on page 66…’ and Mr. O’Connor continued to drone on with pairing the other students. Shane was about to pen his mouth to protest when Mr. O’Connor said, “If you have any problems with the pairings for your project, approach the dean, and tell him of your complaints against me.’ Shane immediately closed his mouth. The dean was one of the meanest persons you would ever meet on the campus. And he had no intention at all to have business with the dean whatsoever.
‘That was you who actually talked right? It wasn’t Mr. O’Connor right? It was your words, not his!’ Emily asked excitedly as the three of them walked to their usual lunch spot. It was under the huge oak tree, a few feet away from the school’s façade. ‘When?’ Toni asked innocently, biting on a shiny red apple. ‘You know, back at the old dinosaur’s class, when Shane was about to protest!’ Mitzie said, lowering her voice. Toni smiled, pleased at her work. ‘Yep!’ she said. ‘So, do you like your partners?’ she asked. Mitzie rolled her eyes. ‘Toni, only Shane’s own mother could ever learn to love a creep like him!’ she said, making Em laugh. ‘Well, well, well. Someone’s definitely happy with her partner.’ Mitzie joked, making Emily blush. ‘Well, Nicky doesn’t really do anything bad to me but playfully tease me, so I really don’t have anything against him. Shane is just the most cruel of them all!’ Em said. ‘You said it! He’s worse than the devil himself!’ Toni agreed, as they all sat down under the tree.
‘And one of the devil’s worshippers appear…’ Mitzie said dryly. Toni and Em looked up, to see Nicky jogging toward them. ‘Hey Em… mind if we start working on the project later?’ he asked casually, as if he wasn’t one of the people who were tormenting them. The three girls looked at each other, sensing that the spell was beginning to work. ‘Yeah, sure…’ Emily answered, somewhat startled. ‘See you later at the library then.’ He said as he started jogging off, still looking at them. The three girls laughed when Nicky suddenly rammed himself into a tree. Blushing, Nicky just laughed at himself and walked away.
Three days have already passed, and the spell was beginning to work smoothly. Emily and Nicky seemed to spend almost every spare second that they had, working on their project. Well, Mitzie and Toni couldn’t exactly call it “working on the project”, since they both saw Emily and Nicky going out from a movie house, and then having dinner at the local pizza place, with no English material with them at all. Working eh?
Toni and Mark were already starting on the project as well, and as time went by they figured that each of them weren’t as bad as they seemed before. They even found out that they had some common interests, and working on the project seemed to be pleasant really. It wasn’t much of a pain doing the project, because they were already enjoying each other’s company.
On the other hand, Mitzie and Shane still can’t get along. They were always bickering, and they ended up agreeing to split the project in half. ‘Really, I don’t know how Shane and I will be able to finish this project.’ Mitzie complained as she, Toni and Em walked on their way home. ‘Honestly Mitzie, Em and I have looked at every spell book, and we have no idea why the spell isn’t working on Shane.’ Toni said, kicking a pebble on the sidewalk. ‘Maybe he’s not human, and he doesn’t have a heart, that’s why the spell won’t work on him. Well, I’m just so annoyed that I can’t get back at him for what he’s doing to us.’ Mitzie said. Em looked at her, touching her arm and saying, ‘Just look at it this way. Maybe it has to take a very, very long time before the spell works.’ ‘Em, tell me something… what’s going on with you and Nicky?’ Mitzie asked, changing the subject. Emily blushed, looking at her feet. ‘Umm… uh… he, uh… well, last night, while we were doing the project, he told me that he umm… likes me.’ Em said, almost whispering. ‘And?’ Toni probed, grinning. ‘I, umm… told him that I kinda like him as well.’ Em replied. ‘Em! We’re supposed to be getting back at them! Not falling for them!’ Mitzie shouted. ‘I know! Don’t worry, I was just leading him on.’ Em said in a very cool manner. ‘Phew! I thought the plan backfired… and besides, he only thinks he likes you coz we cast a spell on him… as ugly and bad as it sounds.’ Mitzie said, still looking quite relieved. Em smiled. ‘Don’t worry Mitz. I’ve got everything absolutely under control.’ Em said, as they continued walking.
‘Hey Mitzie!’ Toni said, twirling the telephone cord around her index finger. ‘Hey Tones…’ she said, sounding quite listless. ‘Umm… are you doing anything?’ ‘Nope, why?’ ‘Mitz, you’ve got to help me. Well, Mark asked me to go meet him at the park to do the project and to do some advanced studying for our exams.’ ‘Well, that’s great.’ Mitzie said, sighing. ‘Not exactly… you see, mum doesn’t want me to go unless one of you girls are there.' 'Oh yeah… well, umm… why?’ ‘Ma thinks I’m just sneaking off for a date!’ Toni complained. ‘Okay, I’ll go over to your house as soon as I can. I’ve got nothing to do anyway.’ ‘See ya then.’ Toni said, and Mitzie dropped the phone.
‘So, how are you and your dream guy doing?’ Mitzie joked, as she and Toni walked toward the park. ‘Pretty well I guess. There’s some improvement I’d have to say.’ Toni said softly. The crunching of the fallen dried leaves as they walked on it was the only sound that could be heard, along with the gay chirping of birds. For some odd reason, the park was almost deserted. ‘Mitzie, I’ve got something to tell you…’ Toni said, breaking the silence. ‘What is it?’ Mitzie asked. ‘Well, I know this wasn’t supposed to happen but, I think I’m starting to like Mark, more than I’m supposed to.’ She confessed softly. Mitzie smiled, even if she was quite disappointed at the outcome. ‘Well, I understand. You’ve been a hopeless romantic anyway since the day I met you.’ ‘Phew! I thought you’d make quite a fuss about it.’ Toni said. ‘Well, I should’ve seen it coming anyway. I mean, do you really believe that Em hasn’t fallen for Nicky?’ Mitzie asked, chuckling softly. ‘Well, no! I simply can’t buy her “I’ve got everything under control” act.’ ‘Ooh… there’s dream boy over there.’ Mitzie said, pointing at Mark who was sitting alone on a bench. Upon seeing them, Mark walked over. ‘Hey Mitzie.’ He said, nodding his head. Mitzie smiled, and looked at Toni. ‘Hi Toni. Oh, I got this for you.’ Mark said shyly, handing her a white rose. ‘Aww… thanks.’ She said, smiling at him. Mitzie rolled her eyes. ‘Hey guys! Sorry I’m late.’ someone said. Mitzie turned around, coming face to face with Shane. ‘What are you doing here?’ Mitzie blurted out. ‘Well, Miss Breen, this is a free country, and this park is open for public, so I have every right to be here as you do.’ Shane retorted. ‘Smart ass.’ Mitzie muttered, and Shane threw her a withering look. ‘Oh gosh, Mitzie! I’m so sorry… I totally forgot to tell you that Shane will be here as well.’ Toni said. Mitzie looked at her as if she could kill her. ‘Toni dear, has anyone ever told you that you were never good at lying?’ she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Toni stuck her tongue out at her. ‘Umm… you guys, I hope you don’t mind, I just want to talk to Toni for a sec… in private.’ Mark said. ‘Erm… sure. Whatever.’ said Shane, looking begrudgingly at Mitizie. Mitzie just nodded, and they both stood there, watching Mark and Toni walk away.
‘So, what brings you here?’ Shane asked Mitzie. She looked at him weirdly, as if he said something totally inappropriate. ‘Why do you ask?’ she inquired. ‘Well, just so that I could find a reason for you to leave, since it looks like you’ve got nothing important to do here.’ Shane said, in such a manner as if he had a bad taste in his mouth. ‘Yeah, well, I might as well leave since I do have much better things to do than to stand here, hanging around you.’ Mitzie said, in a tone as equally as icy as Shane’s. She turned and started walking away, but she felt as if a force was pulling her to stop and turn around. And as she did, she saw Shane staring at her. ‘Why are you doing this Shane? What did I ever do to you to make you treat me this way?’ Mitzie asked, a soft, desperate tone in her voice. A cold breeze blew in the air, and she brushed away her shiny black hair from her dark brown eyes. ‘Ha! Don’t you play dumb with me Mitzie. As if you don’t know who I really am!’ Shane scoffed. She looked quizzically at him, as if he were from a different planet. He had no idea what Shane was telling her. ‘I know what’s going on in your head Mitzie. You should know what I am by now.’ Mitzie heard Shane say, but to her shock, Shane’s lips didn’t even move an inch, and his voice came directly from inside her head. ‘No… it can’t be.’ She thought. ‘Oh yes, but it’s true Mitzie.’ Shane suddenly said. He took a few steps toward her, and in a low voice, said, ‘Don’t you ever wonder why Toni can’t get into my thoughts? As well as Mark’s and Nicky’s?’ he asked. ‘You mean, they’re…’ ‘Oh no. It’s just me. I’ve just put some sort of barrier on them. I’m the only warlock, and no one knows… but you that is.’ He whispered, looking in her eyes. Mitzie suddenly saw an expression in them that she had never before seen in Shane. It was a mixture of pleading and begging. ‘So, why are you doing this to us when you’re of our kind? You should even be protecting us.’ Mitizie said, suddenly intrigued. ‘I… I was afraid. I knew society never accepted us, and never will, so I chose to turn against you instead so that they wouldn’t notice that I was one of you.’ Shane said softly, embarrassed. ‘And Mitzie… there’s one more thing.’ Shane whispered. Mitzie knew that she was still supposed to be angry with Shane, but she couldn’t help it. Not only did she fully understand what Shane felt, she somehow found him attractive. He had some sort of magnet that drew her to him. ‘I’ve, umm… had a crush on you ever since I first saw you.’ He confessed, blushing as he finished. ‘You had a crush on me so you kept torturing me like that?’ she asked, baffled. ‘Well, yeah… because I was really getting to like you too much already, and I was afraid that if I did something about what I was feeling, like asked you out or something, people might start disliking me as well if I went out with you.’ Shane said, blushing. He was more embarrassed now than ever, since he seemed such a coward. But Mitzie understood him, he knew that she did. ‘Why are you telling me all of this now?’ she asked. Shane looked shyly at her, shrugging his shoulders. ‘I dunno… I just had to let you know I guess.’ He said, smiling at her. Mitzie smiled back. Well, at least she finally knew that the spell was working, and revenge would soon be hers. Only one problem though… how was she to stop herself from falling for Shane, when just looking at him right now gave her heart such a weird feeling.
The project was finally finished and passed, and to celebrate, Mitzie, Toni and Em, along with Shane, Mark and Nicky, decided to go out and celebrate on a group date.
Em and Toni were goners, for they really ended up falling for Nicky and Mark, respectively. As for Mitzie, as hard as she tried not to, she fell for Shane in the end. ‘Girls, this is really unfair. It seems like we never win. Our plans backfired on us… and it’s bad because we already like them, and they only like us because it’s only a spell that we cast on them!’ Mitzie complained to Toni and Em. They were in the powder room fixing themselves. The meal ended a few minutes ago, and everything was splendid.
‘You’re totally right. It’s so annoying…’ Toni agreed. Em remained silent, a small smile on her face. She let the two others complain on and on when she spoke. ‘Girls… will you shut up already!’ This caused Mitzie and Toni to look at her in the middle of their whining. ‘They really are in love with us, you just have to take my word for it.’ Em said, a contented smile on her face. ‘Em, it’s impossible! We all did the spell together! You know that!’ Toni objected. ‘Yeah, I know. But you guys weren’t there anymore when I immediately undid the spell.’ Em explained. ‘Em, I can not believe you!’ Mitzie exclaimed, grinning broadly. ‘I know Mitzie. I know.’ Em said, as they all headed out of the powder room. They looked over to see the three lads smiling at them, totally bewitched at the sight of them. Well, they were bewitched not by magic, nor spell, but by the power of love.
But wait! Why don't you send Toni some feedback?