Page 77 of The Holy Academy of Witches

“Eurgh! Bugger off Marcus, I almost threw up perfectly good Château Lafite then.”

“Are you ready, Adeline?” He bellowed drunkenly down the phone. Dorcas turned the phone so she was filming me instead.

Gemma held a wedge of lime aloft in triumph as Lillian poured a trail of salt up Dorcas’ forearm.

“Yep!” I held the shot above my head and glanced at Sage who looked positively baffled.

“Ready…” Dorcas shouted, “One… Two… Three… Four… GO!!”

I downed the tequila in one go, Bleurgh. Ran towards Dorcas, who held her arm out for me, and licked up the salt. Lillian and Gemma cheered and passed me the lime, which I sank my teeth into and sucked. Spitting it out onto the grass, I shuddered as I began to spin.

“One… Two… Three…” Dorcas counted each spin aloud. The world tilted and swam as I continued to spin, “Seven… Eight… Nine… TEN!”

I immediately stopped spinning and ran in the direction the lake should be in. The sky was on an angle which made it more difficult but I could just about make out the dark glistening water as I staggered forwards. I slipped and my hands shot out to catch my fall, red sparks flying from my finger tips as I collided with the damp earth. Dammit, where had gravity gone?!

I pushed myself back up and the girls cheered. I ran down the slope towards the water’s edge and just as I plunged into the freezing cold lake I heard an eruption of cheers from the boy’s through the phone.

I resurfaced, my clothes clinging to me and the world no longer spinning and twisting. As I emerged from the lake, the girls were laughing and jumping up and down like idiots, even Sage looked exhilarated but confused. A wolf whistle came through the phone before Cillian elbowed Marcus out of the way. There was some shoving back and forth and then Cillian had the phone back in his possession. I laughed as I rung out my hair.

“Who won?” I asked, taking the phone from Dorcas.

“Me, of course.” Cillian laughed, his hair impossibly dark and dripping down his forehead and cheeks.

“Ugh! You obviously cheated!”

“Pshh, don’t be a sore loser Adeline.” Lucas walked past in the background and Cillian grabbed him, shaking his wet hair all over him. There were several swear words and much laughter.

I laughed along as I performed a drying spell over my clothes, leaving my hair hanging heavily down my back. I nestled back into my beanbag to a strange look from Sage. “What?” I asked, picking up my whiskey.

“What on earth just happened?”

“Is that Sage?!” Cillian half yelled into the phone.

“Yes it is!” I turned the phone till Sage and her flushed cheeks came into view. “Sage, it’s your lover!”

“Shh! Ha ha, she’s drunk Cillian.” Sage said with a panic-edged laugh, giving me a death glare.

“Oh, I know. She’s an absolute liability when she’s had a drink.”

“Hey! I’m a delight.” I protested, turning the phone back to myself. Cillian had sat down in some kind of camping chair and reclined back comfortably. Behind him, Nick was kicking a football to someone off camera. Terribly, which spoke volumes about how much they’d all had to drink.

“If you say so,” Cillian replied. “How come Sage is with you?”

“We’re best friends Cillian, why would we not be together?” I said with a sly grin.

He rolled his eyes, running a hand through his wet hair. Sage was burning a hole into the side of my head which only made me laugh more. “I asked her to join and she said yes… dimples.”

“Right… listen, I’ve got a gig in a couple of weeks. You’re coming right?”

“Yup, I’ll be there. Text me the place and time… I might even bring a plus one.” I laughed, tilting the phone towards Dorcas and Lillian who were currently trying to cast a spell at each other to turn the others hair blue.

A load of yelling came through the phone and Cillian turned in his seat to look behind him, giving me a view of… Teddy. I sat up in my seat suddenly, spilling the rest of my drink into my lap. “Shit!” I exclaimed.

Cillian turned back, “what?” He asked with concern.

“No… nothing, nothing.” I watched the screen as Cillian turned back to watch Teddy and Nick fight over the ball. He was so close, I stroked the screen, which earned me another strange look from Sage.

Nick grabbed the ball and attempted to run away from Teddy but he was too fast, he leapt on his back, dragging Nick to the ground. Gods he was hot.

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