Page 7 of The 13th Daughter (The Witches of New Salem #1)

I took the ice and very gingerly placed it on the spot with the worst of the pain. "Thank you, Mrs. Marrow, but I can't."

"Why not?" she asked.

I sighed. I really didn't want to get into this right now, especially with half the town listening, but it looked like I was going to have to.

"I just don't believe in it," I told her. "I do my duty and keep the Coven a secret from outsiders who come to town and I try to respect everyone else's beliefs. It would be nice if you would extend me the same courtesy of respecting mine."

She looked taken aback by the gentle rebuke, but I couldn't bring myself to care.

My entire arm throbbed from my fingertips up to my shoulder.

I just wanted to go home. Date be damned.

Ethan had seriously pissed me off. Between the note and him taking Kay home and his pushy behavior a second ago, I was so ready to leave his ass sitting there.

Billy's question stopped me. "Can I ask you something?"

I nodded uneasily. I had no desire to talk about the Coven anymore today.

"Well, I was wondering what to do about Kay's birthday."

"Oh." This I could totally get behind.

"I'm not sure what to get her. I thought about a necklace or something. I saw her eyeing a piece over at Markham's Fine Jewelry. It looked old and antiquish, but..." He stopped when I laughed.

"CJ's the one that likes old jewelry," Jeff told him. My eyes snapped to him. How did he know that? I didn't think he'd ever paid any attention to stuff like that.

He winked. "I asked MJ what to get you for your birthday."

I found myself smiling up into his cornflower blue eyes. They were alight with laughter. Could this day get any weirder? Jeff being considerate and taking the time to find out what I liked? And just when did his eyes get to be so beautiful? Welcome to Weirdville.

Ethan glared at him. I saw it out of the corner of my eye.

Good. It served him right after leaving me a stupid note and taking Kay home when he was supposed to be meeting me for a date.

Not that this was turning out to be a date, I corrected myself.

A date was two people grabbing a bite to eat together, not a group hanging out and talking.

"MJ?" Ethan asked us. He look he gave Jeff should have made the floor open up and swallow the boy whole.

"Makayla Joyce and Cassie Jayne," Billy explained. "MJ and CJ. So, what should I get her?"

I frowned. Why had Billy just told Ethan Kay's full name?

That was a major no-no. It was one thing for me to do it, but quite another for someone who believed in the craft to do it.

They believed there was great power in one's name and knowing it could give someone else power over them. It just wasn't done.

Billy grinned at my frown and winked. I shrugged. If they were blabbing names, who was I to care anyway?

"Honestly, I'd do something special instead of getting her a gift. Set yourself apart from the rest of her bedpost notches. Maybe take her to Boone? Some place nice, like Blowing Rock? They have some killer restaurants up there."

Billy's smile lit up his face. "That's perfect, CJ. I'll have to do it the weekend before Halloween, though. Kay's already planning y'all's birthday party."

"You celebrate your birthdays together?" Ethan's asked, confused.

"Every year," Billy confirmed. "They were born on the same day."

"Really?" Ethan frowned. "When is your birthday?"

"Halloween," I told him.

His eyes widened and his breath came out on a hiss. "Who's older, you or her?"

"Don't know," I shrugged. "We were born in the same hour, same minute. No one knows who came first." Ethan's face went a little white.

"The chicken or the egg?" Jeff quirked an eyebrow.

I laughed. "Real mature."

"I live but to please." He smiled at me and I noticed for the first time what a nice smile he had.

He was very cute, adorable really with those killer blue eyes.

Why hadn't I noticed before? Because he was a jerk before, I snorted to myself.

Ethan's interest seemed to have brought out a new side to him.

Shame I still only thought of him as a friend.

No, my stomach only knotted up in nervous anticipation when Ethan looked at me.

Ethan's frown turned into a glare again. "Come on, Cassie, let's grab a table. We're supposed to be on a date, remember?"

"Are we now?" I asked. "Could have fooled me."

Jeff chuckled. I kicked him.

"People don't leave notes on lockers while they take another girl home if they're on a date."

His eyes widened. Understanding dawned in his sleepy gray eyes.

"You know, I'm really not in the mood anymore." I stood up and Ethan mimicked the movement. "I'm going to the bathroom. Then I'm going home."

Ethan frowned and started to say something, but I turned away. I went through the back and made my way to the bathrooms, but stopped before rounding the corner. I heard my name.

"Why hasn't Rebecca forced CJ to come to the meetings?" Ms. Anderson whispered.

"Roger won't allow it," Ms. Johnson replied. "She can't with Roger being so stubborn about it."

"But did you see that, Joanne? Think of what we could do with her in the Coven? What we might have already been able to do? I haven't seen that much talent since Emily."

"That may be the case," Mrs. Johnson sighed, "but we shouldn't let ourselves get attached in case she's..."

"Yes, yes, I know," Mrs. Anderson cut in. "But just think..."

What the hell were they talking about? Did it have something to do with that shadow thing I saw earlier? My stomach cramped. I stepped around the corner and both women let out a little gasp. "CJ, dear, we didn't see you there."

I eyed them and waited. Neither seemed willing to say anything. "Are you going to explain that to me?" I asked after another long minute of silence passed.

"Explain what, dear?" Mrs. Johnson smiled at me.

"In case I'm what?" I asked, agitated.

"In case you never decide to join the Coven," Mrs. Johnson told me.

She was lying. I could feel it in my gut.

"Now, Alice and I have to get going, honey. If you change your mind, you're always welcome at the meetings."

They stepped around me and went through the double doors leading back out to main floor. I stared after them, frustrated to no end. What was going on? Had this entire town gone crazy?

They'll be pestering you soon to start coming to the meetings, my dad's words whispered through my mind.

I frowned. People were pestering me more than usual.

Why were they suddenly so interested? The looks on their faces earlier came to mind.

They eyed me like I was some kind of revelation or something.

All I'd done was come up with a stupid poem.

And what had Mrs. Anderson meant about Emily? Did she think I had some kind of talent too? I just said some words. It wasn't like I'd done anything. Or had I? Had my words made that shadow appear? I was so confused. I sighed, frustrated. This was getting me nowhere and my arm was killing me.

I took a deep breath and went back out. I didn't really need to go to the bathroom. I'd just wanted a minute or two by myself. Ethan was waiting right outside the double doors, my bookbag in one hand. He took my good hand and pulled me outside. He did not look at all happy.

Well damn. Could this day get much worse?