Rush Hush

 Charlie felt faint when she knew of Tiffany's presence. Yes, she did have a certain aura about her, and Charlie imagined Luna had tainted it. Of course, the girl wouldn't speak a word. The silence prevailed and yet it willed Charlie to follow.

If only she could see the raven-haired girl's eyes, things would have been different. Charlie wasn't sure though. As it was, Charlie could barely keep up as she went down the hall and suddenly, a secret passage opened. Charlie was mesmerized. Off they went between the rooms, a secret passage way. Still, no response from Tiffany even if Charlie kept asking where they were going. It was all too much. Charlie wished she'd eaten more. She felt quite dizzy. "WAIT!" Charlie hadn't meant to speak so loudly, but it felt like she was stepping into another world. Tiffany's world. Tiffany looked back and smirked. "I thought you were stronger than this," she said, even lipped with her arms crossed. Her watchful eye was there before Charlie could collapse. She kissed her hard as if to bring her back to reality. Charlie felt weak. It was so unlike her. She thought of the countless hours she spent with Ollie getting his magic show together. Now this. Charlie closed her eyes. She could see Tiffany's dark eyes so vividly as if she possessed her. Charlie took a deep breath. "Yes, you should breathe," Tiffany said. Charlie didn't think it was an order. Tiffany took her hand as they raced down the thin corridor. Before Charlie knew it, they were edging up some thin stairs in the dark. Charlie couldn't tell where they were going. It was so confining. Charlie felt chlostrophobic. Finally, they found the attic together. It was such a sweet haven with plush bedding and books, so many shelves of books. It was like Tiffany lived in a library. It smelled of sweet patchouli. Charlie wasn't sure what to make of Tiffany's secret lair. As much as she thought the room was so inviting with pixie lights and the joy of many bobbles, she felt it was confining too. "You'll stay with me," she told her. The waif of a girl was in layers. She looked to be perhaps a whimsical fairy in shades of gray. Charlie couldn't help but chuckle. "I don't think so." She told her she needed her own room to sleep. Some people did need their solitude. Tiffany took both of her hands and clasped her fingers between hers. "But I just found you." "Well, I need my space too." "You're a minimalist." "Perhaps." Charlie nodded. She was always traveling light. "Then all the more for you to be here," Tiffany said ever so amusingly. Charlie cracked a smile. They were still holding hands. "Just take me to my room, will you?" Charlie stood her ground. Tiffany sighed as if she'd let Charlie win this once. She grabbed Charlie's wrist. "Your room is next to mine." Of course, they had to go through a door which was the closet to Charlie's room.

Just a girl after my heart🖤

 

Charlie wasn't even aware there was an Open House, but it looked as if it was about over when she got there. She'd had to stay late at the old theater to practice with the new doves for the show. They kept flying all over the place, finally, she and Ollie got them all back in the cage.

Of course, Luna looked out of sorts, "Couldn't you have gotten here on time?" She pulled Charlie in and brought a plate of food to her so she could at least sit and eat in the parlor. "Sorry, I didn't know," she crunched on a taco stuffed with fish and avocado. It was good to have real food. Usually, she was on the run lately. "It's fine. It's gonna be all right." She made over Charlie like she was her own child. After all, she was a friend of her mother's. They went way back. "You know, I want you here," Her smile was as genuine as her charisma. "Now I've got all the paperwork in. It's a real shoo-in, I even wrote an essay for you." Charlie's eyes lightened. "An essay?" She was growing restless. "Don't give me bad karma." She grimaced thinking the worst. "No bad karma is going to happen to you, honey," Luna reached down and pinched Charlie's cheeks as she was finishing up her taco. "Not so close," Charlie pulled away and looked up at Luna. She knew she her and mother used to practice more than white witch spells in the kitchen. "Oh, don't be like that." There went Mumzie with her thick country accent sporting those cowboy boots of hers, in that prairie dress outfit of hers. Charlie found her a little silly, but she was charming and she did want to find a nice place for Charlie. "Just cut to the chase, will you?" Charlie was growing perturbed, but she went to look for a couple of more tacos. It was the first meal for her for the day. "All right, already," Luna followed her to the kitchen where the chef and his help were taking care of the clean up, they looked up at Charlie as if she might be an intruder. Charlie was introduced then, but they didn't seem to notice. They looked give out and ready to get to the basement where they lived. Charlie had seen the place before, but she'd only talked to Luna. "You know who," Luna pointed to the ceiling, "Is up there." "What are you talking about?" Charlie winced. "She saw you last time, she wants to meet you," Luna looked at her as if it was meant to be. Charlie practically snickered. "The ghost?" "Don't say that, her name is Tiffany," Luna shushed her. Charlie sighed. "Well, she wouldn't come out of her room last time." Charlie had done a cleansing spell of the house with Luna a couple of weeks ago so there wouldn't be any bad vibes during Open House, but Charlie suspected there were. "Tiffany's a recluse." Charlie squinted. She pulled her sling bag tighter. "Just give her a chance," Luna said. "If I actually see her, I'll believe it." When Charlie turned around, she saw the raven-haired girl.

Our Boy Brad

 "Tell me, are you really allergic to coconut?" Brad practically winked at Jeanette as he poured her a glass of buttery chardonnay at the rooftop lounge where jazz softly played in the background.

"Um, no," Jeanette stared back at him, even lipped, but they clinked the wine glasses and drank. "So you are a pretty little liar?" He laughed a bit impish. "Do you really know Logan James?" Jeanette tilted her head as if maybe they both were. "OK, I was his caddy for a while, seriously, the man has no reason to be on the golf course, but you know, it's his connection place," Brad shrugged. "I think I liked you better when I thought you were a distant relative," Jeanette teased. She cut into her grilled fish. "Want to try my steak?" He held up a small chunk on his fork. "Must I?" She winced. "I dare you," he teased and she took the bait. "Wow, you do shock me sometimes. Are you sure you aren't with some secret organization, to keep America hygienic?" "Maybe," she went back to her fish and rice, took another sip of wine and asked him about his major. "Undeclared." "Undeclared?" Her face tensed, "I should have known." His smile was so playful. He was fair and practically a redhead. The freckles were there, but had to see. Still, he looked quite devious and Jeanette found it infectious, against her better judgment. "You're the type who can do anything he puts his mind to." Jeanette pointed her fork at him. "I've had a lot of jobs," he told her. "I have to." Jeanette was serious as if she might be light years ahead of him. "Just don't tell me you feel like an outsider, there, at the sorority," Brad said he noticed the first person she went to was the chef's wife. "The chef's wife?" Jeanette chuckled. "She didn't even like me." "That's because they kicked her out," he said as he made his way to his onion rings next to his tossed salad dripping in ranch dressing. He ate his food before it got cold. Jeanette mixed the rice with her fish. "But why..why did they kick Margot out?" Jeanette wanted to know as Brad was pouring her another glass of wine. "Um, I can't say who started it, but somebody took to the chef and you just don't do that at OSG." Jeanette nodded as she comfortably sat back to enjoy the city skyline glistening from the rooftop. Still, she couldn't decide if Margot thought Jeanette looked down on her or if was she trying to tell her to leave.