Page 6 of Curses and Cauldrons

Her rapid change in demeanor leaves me frowning in confusion.

“What? What are you thinking?” I step away from the kitchen and the scheming look in Ava’s eyes. She snaps her fingers together and then slaps the counter.

“You need to wearthe dress.”

Piper’s head pokes around the corner. “Did I hear something aboutthe dress?”

Piper’s wearing a pretty emerald-green floor-length gown. It’s perfectly nice and appropriate, but it blends in. Her fiery hair is twisted up into a simple bun, and her make-up is as plain as her dress. There’s no doubt she’ll be fading into the background at every party we attend. She prefers it that way.

“I didn’t say anything aboutthe dress.” I pour myself a glass of wine, even though I don’t need to drink anymore. Now that they brought it up, I picture myself wearing the red gown hidden in my closet. Just as quickly, I dismiss the idea.

I bought it on a complete whim when the three of us were out shopping a few months back. It was on sale and had been marked down to the point where I couldn’t say no. It’s the kind of dress that I’ve tried on dozens of times since, but only in theprivacy of my bedroom. It’s too sexy and daring. Everything I’m not. I’ll feel like a fraud in that dress.

“I can’t pull it off.” I slink out of the kitchen and head back into the living room. Stellan has the TV on, but his head is tipped back, and he’s sleeping. The moment the man sits down, he falls asleep.

“Excuse me. I saw you in the dress. Hell yeah, you can pull it off. You need to go change right now.” Ava pours herself another shot and jerks her head toward my bedroom. When I don’t immediately move, she gives me a sad face. “I just got cheated on. If you wear the dress, it'll make me feel better.”

I glare at her. “One time. You get to use that once. Are you sure this is what you want to waste it on?”

Ava's eyes widen, and she makes a wounded sound. “That’s not fair.” Then she stops to think, her gaze fixed on a point somewhere across the room. “Shit, that’s so much power. Oh, to hell with it. Yes, go change. And stop thinking about your mother. It’s time for Josephine Delvaux to unleash her awesomeness onto the world.”

A brief thrill races through me. It’s silly. It’s just a dress, but it feels like a rebellion. I’m sure it will end in catastrophe because I’m not wearing what my mother picked out. Suddenly, all I want is to get out of this awful tulle nightmare. For once, I just want to be myself.

“Okay,” I whisper. “I’ll be right back.”

“Damn straight. This is your year, Jo. You’re going to embrace your true self and throw off the shackles of a shitty family and learn to value who you are.”

“Ava.” Piper scolds, but I wave her off. She’s not wrong about any of that.

I hurry down the hallway to my bedroom, already unzipping the dress. As soon as I’m in the room, I yank off the fuchsia housewife monstrosity and leave it in a crumpled pile on thefloor. I kick it aside, an illicit thrill at the action making me smile like that one small gesture is a rebellion against my mother.

The gown in question is at the back of my closet. I’ve hidden it there like a shameful secret. Or because I’m afraid someone will randomly open my closet door, see the dress, and wonder why I have it. The color is a deep ruby red. The form-fitting fabric clings to my body, flaring slightly at the knees. With heels on, the hem just barely brushes the ground. The neckline plunges, with a matching vee in the back. There’s no such thing as wearing a bra with this dress, and I’m suddenly grateful for my less than ample chest.

The smart thing would be to wear my mother’s dress, or at the very least one with sleeves, so as much of my skin as possible is covered. But I’m feeling reckless tonight.

“Get your ass moving, Delvaux,” Stellan shouts, obviously awake again. “We’re making a stop at the Briar Hollows Bridge before we go to the first party.”

“What? Why? It’s freezing out.” I look at myself in the mirror. I’m still a little pale from earlier, but there’s a new flush to my cheeks. Probably thanks to all the alcohol.

“Because we could all use some good luck,” Stellan responds.

“The bridge isn’t for good luck, it’s for making wishes,” Ava says loud enough for me to hear down the hallway. She’s annoyed. We might make wishes, but do they ever come true?

“You can wish for luck,” Stellan argues.

I settle my hair over one shoulder. I left it down at Piper and Ava’s insistence. Even though my mother instructed me to wear it up. If she thinks wearing my hair down makes me look like a “Jezebel,” then this dress will really push her over the edge.

Before she was too many drinks in, Ava sat me down and curled my hair until it fell in soft waves halfway down my back. Stellan unhelpfully said it looked fine either way. I’d be insulted if I didn’t know him. He’s practically a brother.

My steps are slow as I head back into the kitchen. All three of my friends stop and stare.

“I’m changing.” I spin around, ready to head back to my bedroom and pick up that ugly pink dress from my floor to put it back on.

“Oh no, you’re not.” Ava snatches a wooden spoon from a holder on my kitchen counter and hooks it through my arm. She yanks me back into the kitchen, managing not to touch me.

Stellan whistles, and Piper smiles like we’ve pulled off some sort of heist. We haven’t even left my apartment.

“You look incredible.” Ava grins at me and plunks a shot glass down in front of me. “Take this and then we’re going to throw a quarter into Briar Hollows River.”

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