Page 81 of Shadow Witch

“That’s what I thought. You had no point.”

Paige curled her fingers into fists as she stomped closer to Drucinda. “I had a point. The point is, it has to be hard to be you being so serious all the time. You’re so smug but it’s all just a cover, isn’t it?”

“A cover for what?” Drucinda crinkled her eyebrows.

“I don’t know,” Paige said, avoiding the woman’s gaze as she trudged along in the humid heat.

“I think you do. You obviously had something in mind when you said that.”

Paige tugged a corner of her lips back and shrugged. “Like…acceptance?”

“Acceptance? By who?”

“People in general. It’s okay, I mean, I get it. I didn’t have any friends before the library. Neither did Dewey.”

Drucinda clicked her tongue. “Cry me a river. I don’t have friends either.”

“Exactly–“ Paige began when Drucinda cut her off.

“I have admirers. People who long to be as glorious as I am. If you think my seriousness is a cover for a deep longing for acceptance, you’re stupider than I assumed. I am not longing for anything other than the glory I am due.”

Paige stared at her. “I never can tell if you’re being serious or just…covering for a deep longing–“

Drucinda stopped and spun to face her. “I have no such longing. I’m certain you do, but I do not.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You just said it,” Drucinda answered as she continued after her grandmother. “You long to be accepted because you’re a friendless loser.”

“I am not. I have lots of friends now. I just needed to find my people.”

Drucinda rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Let’s not talk.”

Paige pressed her lips together as she wiped at her brow, walking silently next to Drucinda. “You’re my friend.”

“Shut up, please.” Drucinda flicked her ponytail, her features taut.

“I’m just saying. Even if you don’t need friends. I feel we’re friends.”

“Fine, whatever. We’re friends, yes.”

“You were friends with my mom. And then when she disappeared, maybe you got upset and stopped having friends because it was too hard to lose people.”

Drucinda heaved a long sigh as she pushed past a large leaf. “Yes, that’s it. You’ve got it. I’m a delicate flower who secretly longs for a gaggle of friends. And we could go purse shopping and shoe shopping and giggle over boys.”

“That’s not…I didn’t say that. I get that you’re not that kind of girl. Neither am I. But it’s still nice to have a close group of people who you can rely on. People who will stand up for you no matter what.”

Drucinda’s shoulders slumped. “All right, Paige. Yes. Devon is my friend. You are my friend. Let’s not gush about it, shall we?”

Paige offered her a warm smile as she stopped.

“What’s the matter? Are you fading from the heat?”

“No, but…I thought we could hug it out.”

“Touch me and I will be short one friend because you will be dead.” Drucinda wagged a finger at her.

Paige held her hands up in the air. “Okay, no hugs. That’s cool.”

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