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I held my tongue from saying what was wishing to be heard to take in her appearance from head to toe.
"Is that why you dressed more business masculine than your usual flirty dresses?" I inquired as I admired her for a moment.
She sighed. "Don't like it?"
"Oh no, I fucking love it," I voiced. "But I don't think you understand my question. Did you dress like this so you can feel more like yourself than what you have to wear as a Coven member?"
Her eyes widened at my question and that was the answer I needed to address what had to be said there and then.
"Aurelia. You've been my bestie for years. Been the most rebellious psychotic diva I could ever ask for," I began, and she rolled her eyes.
"I'm not crazy."
I tilted my head to the side to give her a judgemental stare.
"Alright, I'm missing one or two screws, but c'mon," she whined.
"Aurelia." I took a step forward and reached out to press my large palm against her cheek. The touch made her expression soften, giving me a glimpse of what I knew she’d been hiding from the moment I arrived at the mall.
My best friend is losing herself to a whirlwind of change that doesn't want to see her prosper.
"What have you sacrificed for the sake of pleasing a group of members that despise your true power?"
She stared back at me as my question settled into the air.
With a blink, I was back to Willow - my hand still against her cheek as my compassionate eyes bored into hers.
"When the world tried to adapt me into someone I wasn't, I used the resources of this world to change the tables in my favor. By doing so, I found a stalker with enough loyalty to follow me to the realms of death and a group of men that somehow promote my internal wellness, uncovered a heritage I was hidden from for my own safety, and maintained a best friend who's helped me survive through the craziest things while encouraging me to be true to myself. So let me ask you. Why are you letting everyone in the world dictate your story when you're going to be the one to live it?"
She didn't say anything -or couldn't say anything -as we stood there in silence.
"I'll mind my own business and attempt to not interfere, Aurelia, but if you think I'll quietly stand around and watch my best friend spiral into a black hole that will destroy everything you've stood up for, let me remind you here and now," I quietly declared as my eyes surely darkened, "no matter what obstacles are placed in my way, I won't let anyone fuck with you. Not Ace, not a child assistant, and not even the Coven. Rules are meant to be broken, and if they're going to use you for their personal benefit, they might as well get used to your spectacular fashion sense."
She smiled slightly while blinking back tears.
"Now you're saying some smart foolishness," she muttered.
"I know." I dramatically sighed. "I think it's the whole good sex vibe still running through me that makes all this logic flow with little effort."
"Must be nice." She laughed.
"Don't you have a sexy misfit army behind you? Ask one of them for mind-blowing sex on the sink countertop. I'm sure they would love that."
She laughed lightly, but her eyes didn't seem to project the happiness I was expecting.
"Aurelia?" I questioned with a frown. "Seriously...are things okay?"
"Ya," she assured me with a smile. "Can you promise me one thing?'"
"Hmm? Sure," I replied.
"No matter how powerful we get, how challenging it becomes to meet and be in the same room with one another...that we'll always be best friends?"
"Girl, what shrooms have you been consuming to think otherwise?" I asked in horror. "Is someone bullying you? Do I need to kill a bitch? Or two? How about ten? You know I don't care how many hoes I gotta burn. Let me get Onyx! We'll go give those bitches a piece of our power for messing with our bestie!"
I turned around and was going to storm out of this mall, grab Onyx, and choose fucking violence for this mall date but arms looped around me, pulling me into a tight embrace.
"You know I love you, right?" Aurelia whispered.
