Page 28 of The Neighborhood Witch

Alice slammed the lipstick tube down on the rim of the porcelain basin. The tube slipped from her hand, rolling down into the basin.

“Hugo is not Sam!” Anger washed over her face. “He isn’t a witch like Sam… who was trying to exploit me… Take advantage of me…Use me!”

Alice’s reflection paused on the hurt in Alice’s voice. She enjoyed the playful back-and-forth banter, but even she knew her limits. She uncrossed her arms, rubbing her face before admitting defeat. “I’m sure he won’t be. Just be careful. Hey. It’s only the two of us, and I’m worried about you. No you, no me. You know?”

Alice lowered her head and in a soft tone whispered, “Thank you.”

“Let’s have a look at you,” Alice’s reflection said. “Do one of those twirly things. Let me check out the goods.”

Alice took a few steps back and spun around. Her purple hair twirled in the air. She wore a tight black top that accentuated her silhouette. Billowy, mesh, long sleeves exposed her shoulders and arms and connected the top to her high neck collar. A black leather miniskirt hugged the curves of her hips. Fishnet stockings wrapped around her long legs, leading toward a pair of black Doc Martens. Alice’s reflection struggled to find the right words. She examined her up and down. Her mouth gaped open.

“How do I look?” Alice asked, finishing another twirl.

“I’d sleep with you,” Alice’s reflection commented.

Alice stopped, hands on her hips. A disapproving stare on her face. “That’s not what I asked.”

Alice’s reflection winked. “No. But that’s what youwantedto ask.”

Knocks on the door echoed up the stairs to the bathroom. Response knocks, the sound of wood smacking against the closed door, echoed through the bathroom.

“I know. I know,” Alice shouted to her overprotective guardian on the other side of the door.

Alice’s reflection leaned against the edge of themirror, framing her Cheshire Cat like grin between both of her hands. “It’s looovvver boy.”

Alice scrambled to pick up the makeup tubes, stuffing them into a worn, black canvas pouch, which she then tossed onto a shelf. She opened the bathroom door.

“Stay!” Alice commanded to something out of the reflection’s view.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do tonight,” Alice’s reflection shouted. “Wait! Do everything I would do. Either way, have fun. Enjoy yourself!”

Hugo Dodds paced aroundthe gray, hexagonal, gazebo like porch. The soles of his black Chelsea boots echoed with every step atop the boards. He glanced over toward his house. He paused, reflecting if he was making a mistake.

He paced around to the front of the porch and peered over at Johanna’s house across the street. The yellow house was darkened with the curtains drawn. The sun was setting. People and families marched in an unorganized procession toward the fall festival in the center of town.

A few acknowledged Hugo standing on the porch. He gave a half nod and waved in response. He spun around, hiding himself further on the back of the porch as he awaited Alice’s arrival, and knocked on the black door again.

Knocking came from inside the house with someone speaking in an indecipherable language. He tried to look through the black sheer curtain draped across the door’s window. He couldn’t see any movement inside. Then he heard the noise of metal against metal as the lock unlatched, and the door opened. Hugo gave an audible gasp, his mouth gaping.

Alice stood in the doorway smiling. He struggled to find words. His eyes traced the curves of her body from her black top to the leatherskirt, and finally to her fishnet stockings. Hugo wanted to find the words, needed to find the right words, but her beauty stole them.

He finally offered a simple, “Wow.”

“Hello, Hugo,” she said, brushing her hair behind her ears. “I’ll be right out. Just a moment.” She closed the door behind her.

Hugo stepped back, tugging at his black leather jacket. He brushed his fingers over his short beard, making sure it was properly groomed. Then he ran his fingers through his wavy, long, coifed hair, attempting to put every hair back into place. He waited for her return.

She exited the door, wearing her black tailcoat and signature hat.

“You look great,” his words returned to him.

She blushed. He noticed her eyes trace his wavy hair before locking onto his icy blue eyes. She paused only for a moment before continuing to examine his neatly trimmed beard. His black leather jacket tight around his chest, accenting his slightly muscular build. The light colored jeans that hugged his legs. The black leather boots.

Alice was silent. A sly smile betrayed her closely guarded thoughts. She bit her lip before manifesting, “You too.”

Hugo smiled at the thought that those two words were all she could say at that moment.

“We should get going.” Hugo motioned down the porch steps. “The line for the turkey legs is going to be super long if we don’t hurry.”

---