Page 78 of How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend
“Sandra Bullock. She’s Sally in this,” I say, exasperated. “Sally and Gary. The detective.”
“Yeah, Sally. Hers can stay, but you aren’t allowed to think about it tonight,” she says. Thatwassort of the point.
“Yeah.” I give her a muffled sigh.
It gets quiet for a little after that, and I manage to let myself be drawn back into the movie. Sally’s at her apothecary stocking, and a crashing noise echoes in the shop. This is where it gets sad.
“You decided where you want to go to college yet?” Kaitlynn asks, pulling me back away before I can get too invested.
It’s so far off topic. But, to answer her question, no, not really. Part of me doesn’t want to think about it. I don’t really want to get away from here like everyone else, I want to stick around. I’m not entirely sure I want to leave Mom all by herself either.
“Not really,” I admit.
“Same,” she huffs.
“But you know what you want to do, right?” I ask. I know the answer, but I thought she was more excited about going off to college.
“Yeah.” She sinks further into the couch. “But who’s going to take care of you if I go off somewhere?”
“Oh my! Don’t even start with that.” I roll my eyes and playfully kick her shin. “I’m not a child—”
“You sort of ar—”
“I won’t be.” I come back quick. “But you know what I mean. I don’t need to be taken care of.”
“I know, but it seems like so much. You know…college.”
Now I get her tone. She’s more worried about college as a whole, not me, and I can sympathize with that. Especially if it’s far away. Maybe she’ll go somewhere close, or maybe an hour or so away. There are a few good places in that radius.
“Yeah, it does.”
“You still thinking nursing?” she asks.
Thinking, yes. Wanting though? I don’t reallywantto, but it seems like my most sensible option. Whowantsto work?
“I’d rather open an apothecary here, but yeah, nursing,” I tell her. I can start that at the local community college too, so I’d get to stay close by. “What about you?”
“Yeah,” Kaitlynn sighs. She’s heard about my newish dream of owning my own shop. She also knows it’s a wild pipe dream at best. “Still thinking veterinarian. Maybe go to UT or State.”
I sigh. University of Texas. An out-of-state school.
“It’s not like we can’t visit each other.”
I think that’s what bums her the most. It’s what scares me about graduating. Going off to different schools and not getting to hang out. Growing distant. We’ve not been apart for more than maybe two weeks for years. I’m going to be so lost without her.
I swear I won’t let it happen.
“Yeah,” she says.
“How about we promise each other right now that we’ll always be friends, no matter what?” I suggest. Her eyes lighten up even in the dark. “I’ll even promise on my amethyst.”
“Are you sure? Are you supposed to do that?” Kaitlynn sits up and asks.
The honest answer to that question isI don’t know. I’m just going to hope right now that it isn’t like bad juju or something. It sure isn’t what the stone was meant for, but that’s the beauty of witchcraft. It’s malleable and easily conformed to need; it is what it’s needed to be.
“Sure,” I say, and grab my necklace in my hand and squeeze it. Kaitlynn grabs my other hand and I start. “Repeat with methree times. No matter how far apart we may be, I will always be your friend.”
“No matter how far apart we may be, I will always be your friend.” She smiles and says it again.
