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Marcel turns to concentrate on me again. “My dear, I am sorry for keeping you, but would you allow us to try and discover what this spell is? I’m sure you would like to know yourself, and I’d be grateful of the practice. I’m not half as experienced as Gabriel in this field, so it would be a first for me to unravel an old spell.”
I would have thought that Gabriel was the less experienced judging from Marcel’s seniority in age. They probably think I’m just dying to find out all about this spell. In truth, the only reason I’m sticking around is because I want the job I just applied for. Speaking of which, maybe I can use Marcel’s sudden interest in me to my benefit.
I’m quiet for a minute and Marcel asks, “Well, will you let us study you Tegan?”
“That depends.” I reply.
“On what?” he asks, smiling widely.
“Am I going to be successful in getting that shop assistant job you’re looking to fill?” I ask, sweet as pie.
Marcel smiles even wider this time and he’s silent while he considers it before saying, “Well I don’t see why not, can you start tomorrow?”
“Of course.” I say with a grin.
“All right then, be here for ten and I’ll show you the ropes.”
“Great,” I answer happily and shake Marcel’s hand, before turning to Gabriel. “See you Gabriel.”
“Bye Tegan,” he replies, and smiles at me with a little more confidence this time. God, he is adorable.
I head home with a swing in my step, happy that I’ve actually found a job, even if the means were somewhat unconventional. I don’t really know what to think of Marcel’s ideas about me having a spell cast on me. But I suppose I can afford to indulge him a little. When I get home I find a message on my voice mail from Nicky telling me she’s coming over with Chinese takeaway. My stomach gurgles at the prospect. I’m slowly getting my appetite back, so I must be making progress.
At six on the dot Nicky walks through my front door with a brown paper bag in one arm and a bottle of rock shandy in the other. Normally she’d bring wine, but I think she’s concerned about me drinking too much. I’m curled up on the couch in a pair of comfy grey cotton bottoms and an old t-shirt. She takes two plates out of the cupboard and dishes up the chicken chow mein, rice and won tons. Yum. When we sit down to eat I decide to tell her my good news.
“Hey, guess what?” I say, eyeing a won ton.
“What?” she asks, while simultaneously shovelling chicken into her mouth.
“I found a job.”
“Already? That’s great Tegan, where is it?”
“You know that occult shop called Indigo on Steward’s street?” I ask her.
“Oh yeah, that’s a cool little place, how’d you manage that?”
“I suppose you could say that the boss took a special liking to me and decided there and then to give me the job. He thinks I have a magical aura or some nonsense so I agreed to let him study me in return for him giving me a job.”
Nicky stops eating for a second. “You sure he’s not a loony?”
“Probably is, but who cares? At least now I know I’m going to be able to pay my rent and not get thrown out on the street.”
“Don’t you think you should go back to college?” she asks, and I can tell she’s trying her hardest not to sound scolding, her voice an unconvincing monotone.
I put down my plate for a moment. “Please don’t make me feel guiltier than I already do. I’m not dropping out, I’m just taking some time off. I can repeat in September.”
“I’m not trying to guilt trip you, I just think you’re too clever to give up on your education. I mean, look at me, I’m probably still going to be working in HMV when I’m fifty.”
“No you won’t. You’ll be a millionaire successful painter by then.” I tell her smiling. Nicky’s big passion in life is her painting, and I don’t lie when I tell her that I know she’s going to be huge someday.
“Yeah, yeah, shut up and eat your dinner,” she says, a small grin on her lips.
The next morning my alarm goes off at eight, I don’t have to be at Indigo until ten, but I want to have a long shower and a leisurely breakfast before heading out. I actually slept last night, but it was only to dream of Matthew. Except this time it wasn’t his suicide scene. I dreamt of our very first night together at that house party. He was playing guitar on a makeshift stage and then afterwards we went to a room upstairs and talked for hours. We just clicked, it’s hard to describe. I was so unbelievably happy that night. I wish I could go back and relive our time together, but I have to stop thinking about things like that, my life is what it is right now.
The first thing I do is grab the black bag of clothes from my bedroom floor that Nicky gave me to search for an outfit. I find a purple tie dye dress, a long navy cardigan and some black tights that will go together. After my shower I brush out my hair and eat a bowl of cereal.
When I get to Indigo the shop door is locked and I have to knock on it several times before I see a tired looking Marcel stumble down the stairs of the mezzanine floor and come to unlock the door for me.
