Wish (22 page)

      Work? Nana worked in a flower shop. What was that all
about?

“Focus, Sydney,” she ordered. Glad to see my powerful witch
status wasn’t going to intimidate Nana.

I closed my eyes, then opened one and looked at her. “Can I
make Cody and Stevie remember they were hugging each other?”

      Keith laughed but Nana’s glare was answer enough. “I
get to keep the smart phone right? I thought about it, and I think I’ll keep
it. You promised.”

      She pinched my arm, so I concentrated and made the wish
and then opened my eyes. Cody and Stevie dropped hands and stepped away from
each other in horror and confusion. Keith walked over to them to chat and keep
them calm.

“I have to go and see Mike,” Jenny yelled at the policeman.
He waved her off and she jumped into her car and sparked the ignition.

      A burly police officer strutted up to me as Jenny’s car
pulled away. He stared at me with suspicion.

      “You’re Sydney Grant?” he asked. One of his chins
waggled around as he talked.

      “Yes.”

Nana shoved my back.

“Sir,” I added for her benefit.

      “You heard Mike Cameron is safely home?”

      My eyes moved around, taking in the scene around us. I
shrugged innocently.

      “Seems he can’t remember anything about where he’s
been.”

      I blinked.

      “Why exactly were you running from the police, young
lady? We only wanted to question you.” He tapped his pencil up and down on the
pad of paper he held in his beefy hand.

      “Um. I just had some urgent family business to take
care of, sir. Nothing personal.”

      He glared at me for a moment, and then looked up at
Nana. He stood up straighter and nodded. “Ma’am.”

      “Just a misunderstanding, Officer,” she peered at his
nametag. “Jones.” She waved her hands around a little and Jones appeared to
relax. His smile at Nana opened wider.

      I managed to suppress my own grin. Seems Nana was back
to using her powers, too.

      A young female officer stepped up beside Nana’s new
friend. “Okay. Things are wrapping up here. Jones. You can stay and take a
statement, find out what’s been going on. Since the Cameron kid showed up at
home, the rest of us can get out of here.” She waved her hand towards the
forest. “Obviously this has nothing to do with his disappearance.”

      “Nothing going on here,” Jones told her. “Just some
family business.”

      Nana and I nodded in agreement.

      He left us and climbed into his squad car. 

      “Maybe I’ll get a Blackberry, too,” I said as we
watched the cop leave. “I heard they’re much better for texting.” Nana scowled
at me as Mom returned to my side.

“Nana and I will take Cody and Stevie home. Keep them calm
until we can administer a proper spell.” She waggled a finger at me. “This is
the one and only time you are allowed to use magic on your brother, young
lady.”

      I smiled. “Okay, Mom.” I agreed.

      It was going to be nice to have her back. Even witches
need rules. And Mom.

      Keith snuck up and put his hand on my back.

      “I’ll drive Sydney home,” he said to my mom.

She stared at Keith, and then nodded. “You look after my
little girl,” she told him.

He
nodded seriously. “With everything I’ve got Mrs. Grant.”

My insides
swooped. Inappropriately.

We
watched Nana and Mom herd Stevie and Cody into the car; both of them still kind
of slow and stunned.

“Shame
they won’t remember any of this,” I said.

“I
will,” Keith said.

I
blushed. “I know. Me too.”

“Sydney?”

“Yeah?”

“Would
it be okay? Um. If I sketched you sometime?”

“Sure.”
I awkwardly shifted back and forth on my feet, remembering Keith leaning in to
kiss me back at the Institute. How much I’d wanted him to kiss me. And then the
coldness of his lips.

It
hadn’t been Keith, I remembered, but the SHIELDERS. I lifted my finger to chew
on my nail, then smiled and put it down.

“Awesome,”
he said and smiled his lazy Keith smile. “Let’s go.” He waited for me to start
walking towards his car.

I
nodded and he went to the passenger door and opened it for me. I wished I could
feel what it would be like if he’d kissed me on his own.

Keith
bent down. I held my breath and his lips opened slightly and pressed down on
mine. They were warm, and soft. It was the most delicious thing I’d ever
experienced.

He
stood and leaned on the door, watching me with his half grin, waiting for me to
climb in. I smiled to myself.

“Much
better,” I said with a grin.

Stevie
was going to be so mad I’d broken our pact. From now on I would have to be
careful what I wished for.

THE
END.

KINDREDS- Former Electors
who are destined to be together. Gave up their dormant powers for re-birth.
Reborn again and again, always surround themselves with witches. (Stevie and
Cody)

 Do not usually possess powers, but understand and occupy the
human and the witch world.

Sentry
- A mortal guard, who possess dormant
powers and must eventually choose to protect the witch or to betray her for
powers.

SHIELDERS- A group of rogue Sentries who steal powers from
their witches and share them amongst each other.