~*Chapter Eight*~
The dress rehearsal finished, the lights turning off systematically. The guys jumped down from the stage, hot and sticky in their sweat pants and heavy jackets. Leesa looked up from her book as Howie made his way toward her.
"You like, yeah?" he asked.
"What, you or the show?
"Take a wild, unrestrained guess…"
"Well, I dunno, I’ll get back to you."
"Wow, stop it!"
"Stop what?"
"Your enthusiasm is overwhelming. Stop it!" he teased.
"Meanie!" she murmured as their lips came together.
AJ snuck up behind Howie. Once he was close enough, he yelled "GET A ROOM!"
Howie nearly jumped out of his skin, and Leesa just looked at AJ, laughing. She was happy that he seemed to have accepted her relationship with Howie, finally.
AJ smiled at the happy look on Leesa’s face. His camouflage seemed to have worked. All he wanted was for her to be happy.
"Hey, watcha reading?" Howie glanced down at the book Leesa was holding.
"Nothing," she replied quickly, placing the book behind her back.
"Well, if it’s nothing, why won’t you show us?" AJ asked, grinning evilly.
Leesa looked up at AJ. "Xander, you better not be thinking what I think you are thinking?"
"Yes…" he trailed off as he looked at Howie. Then, simultaneously they attacked Leesa, AJ finally wrestling the book away from her.
"Witch - a personal journey. Mind explaining?" AJ asked.
"It’s Fiona’s book. She sent me a copy, it only just got published and she’s really proud of it. It’s a good book. You guys should read it," Leesa explained, attempting to grab the book away from him. Like a typical grade school bully, AJ tossed the book to Howie, who began to leaf through it.
"Bitchcraft … Having Your Wicca’d Way … Bed, Knobs and Broomsticks: Magick Sex?" he laughed. Leesa snatched the book from him, angry.
"Look, I like the book, ok? I don’t pay you out about the books you read," she said, her face burning.
Howie smiled apologetically. "I’m sorry, I didn’t realise this was such a sore spot with you."
"Well it is. And now you know. So stop it, ok?" Leesa finished angrily as she walked off.
AJ and Howie just looked at each other.
"Women’s troubles…" was all AJ would say. Howie looked incredulously at AJ, before the both of them burst into laughter.
Leesa heard and turned around, her green eyes flashing angrily . She stared intensely at the both of them, whose laughter diminished suddenly as they saw her staring at them. AJ looked away guiltily, and Howie looked down at the ground.
Leesa turned back around and continued to walk away, her anger seemingly increasing with every step she took.
Leesa walked through the open door to the car which stood waiting for her. At least five seconds passed before the door slammed shut. The loud noise echoed throughout the hall, and AJ and Howie jumped at the sudden noise, though neither would admit their fright to the other.
"That wind must be blowing today!" Howie stated.
"There is no wind…" was all AJ would say, turning his head slowly to look at the door that closed so suddenly.
Leesa sat in the car, her heart racing. So what if she read Fiona’s book? It was interesting… not to mention enlightening. It made sense to her, and those two had no right to laugh at her. Fiona had put in a heap of effort into her book, and the least Leesa could do was to read it. She was so angry, her fists clenched unconsciously as she tried to contain her anger. The window separating the driver from Leesa began to shake.
‘Not again!’ Leesa thought. She immediately tried to calm herself down. As she did, the window stopped shaking.
Leesa hated it when this happened. She had tried for so long to keep this under wraps, and it was all coming undone now. She needed to talk to Fiona, and quickly.
"… and I can’t stop it. I’ve always known that I was a Witch, cos Mom was. But they wouldn’t understand. I mean Xander used to be scared of Witches when he was little. He still thinks that Witches act evil and have big warts on their noses. And if the press got told about it, who knows what would happen. And if I told Howie, he’d dump me for sure, he’s so wrapped up in his religion. And my anger got in the way, and… I think they know," she finished, pausing for breath.
Fiona’s voice crackled through the phone line.
"Leesa, you’ve got to tell them. It’s not fair on them, especially Howie. I don’t think that you’ll have a problem with Alex, but if Howie is as religious as you say he is, then try and break it to him gently. But you know what, Lees? If he does break up with you, then you’ll know it was never meant to be," she told Leesa reassuringly.
"You always know what to say, doncha!" Leesa laughed, feeling better.
"That’s my job, sweetie. Listen, I gotta go, Sean wants me. But hey, Midnite’s just been released down here. You’re stiff competition for the new BSB song… you go girl!"
"Thanks, Fi. Love ya!"
"Love ya too. Blessed be."
"Blessed be."
Leesa replaced the receiver, her heart pounding. She knew that she had to tell every one, but the guys would make it out like she worshipped the devil or something. Her head said one thing - what’s the big deal? Her heart said another - how can I tell them without causing a big mess? She was so confused, she lay back on her bed, exhausted.
After lying there awhile, Leesa got up and lit the candles she kept around the room. Turning the lights off, Leesa sat down in the middle of the floor, and cast Circle. She needed guidance, and this was the only way it would come to her.
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