Crushing on the Wrong Joshua (9 page)

“Remember, he only likes you because of the spell,” Amber told herself, “It's just the affects of the spell.”

The music ended and Amber opened her eyes.

“You play really well,” she told him.

“So what did you think of the song?” Joshua asked.

“It was really good. With the write lyrics it could come to together and be epic,” she smiled.

“Do you sing?” he asked her.

“No. Not really. I suck at it,” Amber said, blushing.

“Every girl says that,” he chuckled, “Come on, let's hear it. What should I play?”

“No, I don't sing,” she said again.

“Come on, I won't laugh, but I bet you're not as horrible as you think,” Joshua said.

“I bet I'm twice as horrible as I think,” Amber said.

“Come on, it's just for fun. It's not like I'm dragging you on stage in front of a million people,” Joshua said.

“Fair enough,” Amber sighed.

“So what should I play?” he asked.

“I don't know. I don't think I know any songs by heart,” Amber said.

“Do you listen to the radio?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Amber nodded.

“Then I know what to play,” Joshua said.

His fingers moved across the strings of his guitar and music cut through the air replicating one of the more popular songs on the radio. It was a love song and a corny one in Amber's opinion, but since she was trying to be a good sport she sang along.

“You're not bad at all,” Joshua said when the song was through, “What should we sing next?”

“I think I've done all the singing I should for the day,” Amber laughed.

“Okay, so twenty questions it is,” he laughed, “You go first.”

“Do you believe in magic?” Amber asked.

“Why did I ask him that? He's going to think I'm crazy.”

“Magic?” Joshua asked, arching a brow, “Like a magician's sleight of hand or like the wand waving sort?”

“Sorta neither. Like real spells and stuff,” Amber said.

“Anything's possible, but I think that's improbable. If spells worked, I mean life would be easy. We could just craft up a spell for anything we wanted,” Joshua said.

“I don't think it would be that easy,” Amber said, “I think that there would be all sorts of complications that no one warned you about. You're turn.”

“If magic were real, what spell would you do first?” Joshua asked.

“Something to make my dad cool,” Amber said, not wanting to admit that she had done her first spell and magic was something that was very real.

“That's nice of you, but don't you think that would have complications? If he was cool, he wouldn't be the person you knew anymore,” he said.

“I told you magic's complicated. That's why no one uses it,” Amber laughed, “My turn, would be the second thing you'd do?”

“Not the first?” he asked.

“No, the first would most likely be on a whim, just so you could find out if it worked. The second thing would be more thought out,” Amber explained.

“I don't know,” Joshua said, “Maybe make my next phone indestructible.”

“That's a good one,” Amber laughed.

“What's the second thing you would do?” Joshua asked.

“Learn how to reverse spells,” Amber said.

“Smart,” Joshua laughed, “I've got to get going. I have to finish an art project and my parents always want me home for dinner.”

“Okay, thanks for playing for me today,” Amber smiled.

“Thanks for singing with me today,” Joshua said, “And I do believe magic is real. It just has a different definition for me.”

“And what's that?” Amber asked.

“You'll just have to hang out with me again to find out,” he laughed.

“Later,” Amber waved as she watched him pull out of the driveway.

Chapter Nine

Monday

Despite spending most of Sunday afternoon searching the web for more information about the spell book Amber was no closer to reversing the spell. Her search yielded plenty of spells (both loves spells and otherwise) and plenty of warnings about love spells. What it did not produce was a way to reverse said spell. She had asked around on a few forums and everyone had told her that she just had to let the spell run its course and try not to get too attached to him until then.

“There's no way. The spells already out there! U should have been more careful!”

“Haha! Silly little girl! U shouldn't play with things you don't no about!”

“OMG! Do u really like him now? Talk about karma! It's going to suck for u when it finally wears off. LMAO!”

They were all right. She should never have done the spell, but Amber wasn't giving up on reversing it. Karma was already biting her behind anyway. She did like Joshua Kirk. He could make her laugh and he could play guitar. Joshua Kirk made her feel good in her own skin, but that would end when the spell finally lived out its life.

Joshua wasn't on the bus and Amber wondered if he would be at school. His dad might have needed him to help again or the spell died over night. Why had he been riding the bus to school anyway? He had a car. Okay, it could have been his parents' car.

“Hey,” Tamara said, when the pair met at their lockers.

“Hey,” Amber said.

“You never called me this weekend. How did it go?” she asked.

“It went great. Too great, Tamara,” Amber sighed.

“What's that supposed to mean? You're not still caught up on that spell stuff are you?” Tamara asked.

“It's real,” Amber sighed.

“Just forget about it okay. You did the spell, but since magic isn't real nothing happened,” Tamara said.

“Then how do you explain him suddenly noticing me?” Amber asked, “After I screwed up the spell?”

“Coincidence. He most likely noticed you before, but you just didn't notice him,” Tamara sighed, “I'll see you in drama.”

“Later,” Amber sighed.

Amber had a Joshua Kirk free morning. She saw Joshua Nelson three times, but the glamour had worn off.

“I can't worry about his dimples right now,” she told herself, “I have bigger fish to fry. He's just a minnow anyway.”

“I'm worried about him,” Amber told Tamara at lunch.

“Why? People miss school all the time. Maybe he skipped or something,” Tamara said.

“Or maybe the spell went wrong again and it's fried his brain. He could be out there walking around like some lovesick zombie,” Amber sighed.

“No, just no, girl,” Tamara shook her head, “What would he be yelling 'AMBER! AMBER!' instead of 'BRAINS! FEED ME BRAIN!'?”

“I'm being serious, Tamara,” Amber sighed.

“So am I,” Tamara said, drinking the last of her chocolate milk, “Do you want to go shopping this weekend?”

“Can't I'm busy,” Amber said.

“Doing what?” Tamara asked.

“Doing what I'll be doing forever or at least until the spell ends on its own,” Amber sighed and stormed off.

'The Secret Book of Spells for Ladies in Love' was still not at the library that evening when Amber checked.

Tuesday

“What's wrong, kiddo?” her dad asked on his way out the door.

“Nothing,” Amber said, pushing her cereal around the bowl.

“We'll talk about it later, okay?” he said before disappearing.

“I need toothpicks to hold my eyelids up,” Amber groaned.

She had stayed up late again continuing her search online. All she had to show for it was a lack of sleep and the bags under her eyes. After she finished breakfast she tried to use foundation to hide the tell-tale signs of her sleepless night and failed.

“Screw it,” she shrugged looking at the clock. She was running late and it was raining, “I don't have any more time to mess with this.”

Amber quickly washed the makeup off and grabbed her backpack and umbrella. She held tightly to the latter as she walked to the bus stop. The wind caught her umbrella and carried it across the street. She chased after it until it became caught in tree branches too high for her to reach.

“Damn it!” she swore and pushed her wet hair out of her face.

“Taking advantage of the free shower?” a voice called from behind her.

“What the…?” Amber turned around to see Joshua's car, “Not funny.”

“Since you don't appreciate my humor, maybe I won't offer you a ride to school after all. Maybe you'll appreciate Larry's humor,” he laughed.

“Shut up,” Amber laughed.

“Don't just stand in the rain! Get in!” Joshua said.

Amber slipped off her backpack and slid into the passenger seat.

“Thanks,” she said, slamming the door shut and locking out the rain.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Now that she was still Amber could feel the goosebumps that had formed on her body, making her shiver.

“Let's swing by your place so you can change,” Joshua said.

“Thanks,” Amber frowned, “I must look like a total loser.”

“No, you don't,” Joshua smiled, “You look like a person who was caught in the rain. It happens to everyone, but wet hair is beautiful on you.”

“Thanks, I think,” Amber laughed.

“That's the love spell talking,” she thought to herself as she sprinted back inside.

Amber's morning classes were canceled. The school board was hosting an assembly on the school's new adaptation of the zero tolerance policy. She and Tamara were whispering back and forth, as were most of their classmates.

“Has he asked you to the dance yet?” Tamara whispered.

“No,” Amber shook her head, “Do you have a date yet?”

“No, but I'm thinking of asking Doug,” Tamara said.

“Doug from the basketball team?” Amber asked, “I thought you didn't like jocks?”

“No, I don't like Joshua Nelson or Alexander-the-Not-So-Great. I never said I didn't like jocks,” Tamara giggled.

“Girls!” Mr. O'Bannon warned from the row behind them.

“Sorry,” they both muttered.

For a few minutes they were quiet, but soon their attention strayed again.

“You're going to ask him?” Amber asked, “Isn't that a little backwards?”

“No, it's not,” Tamara shook her head, “I've seen something I want and I'm going to go for it. That's pretty straightforward, not backwards.”

“I don't think I could ever ask a guy to the dance,” Amber said.

“You should ask Joshua to go with you,” Tamara whispered.

“I can't and you know wh…” Amber began.

“BE QUIET!” Mr. O'Bannon hissed leaning between them.

“Ahh!” Amber startled and nearly fell backwards.

“Both of you out of here! If you can't listen quietly you can wait in the hall!” Mr. O'Bannon said.

“Gladly,” Tamara said and stood up.

Amber cringed. She would never talk to a teacher that way. Sheepishly she followed Tamara into the hall. Being sent to the hall during assembly was supposed to be a punishment, but it was an escape.

“Don't worry about it, Amber,” Tamara said, “We get to talk now, without O'Bannon butting his nose into our business.

“Yeah, I guess so,” Amber said, sitting down against the wall.

“So are you going to ask him?” Tamara asked.

“I told you I can'..” Amber's words were cut short again by an approaching figure.

“Hey Amber and Amber's BFF,” Joshua grinned.

“Her name's Tamara,” Amber smiled.

“That's cool,” Joshua said, sitting down next to Amber, “What did you guys do to get kicked out?”

“Talking,” Amber shrugged.

“Let me guess, O'Bannon sent you out?” he asked.

“Yep, that would be the one,” Tamara said, “Well, I have someone to go talk to, so I'll be leaving you kids alone. Later.”

“Later.”

Amber stared at the wall studying an indention in one of the stones. Unsure of what to say now that they were alone she waited for Joshua to say something. The bell rang signaling it was five minutes until lunch. Amber waited to hear the stampede of footfalls fleeing the auditorium, but they didn't come.

“Looks like they're going to make us eat late,” Joshua said.

“The school board always does that stuff. Put us on a schedule. Break the schedule. Then wonder why nothing turns out their way,” Amber laughed.

“I don't think they've thought it out that far,” Joshua said, “They most likely want to get it over with as much as we do.”

“I've never been in trouble for violence. Our school has maybe one or two fights a year. I think we could have all lived without a morning long assembly on the new policies,” Amber said.

“Well, we got out of it anyway,” he laughed.

“What did you do to get sent out here?” Amber asked.

“Nothing. I simply walked out,” Joshua said.

“They didn't stop you?” Amber asked.

“Nah, they know they're fighting a losing battle,” Joshua shrugged.

“Maybe,” Amber laughed.

Joshua brushed a loose lock of hair away from Amber's face and gently tucked it behind her ear. She smiled at him and her cheeks flushed. He leaned in closer to her, making Amber's heart race. She knew she should turn away or stop him. Joshua Kirk was under the influence of a love spell. It wasn't right, but Amber didn't stop him.

Her tongue flicked over her lips and she moved into meet him. She had kissed a boy once before at summer camp during a secret game of spin the bottle, but it hadn't felt like this. Amber's eyelids drifted closed and she rested her hand on Joshua's shoulder.

BANG! BANG!

The auditorium doors swung open and crashed into the walls as the students who had been forced to endure the ending of the assembly were released. Amber jerked away from Joshua, blushing. As they stood she glanced at him. He was smiling.

“What?” Amber asked, trying to suppress the laughter that threatened to bubble over her lips.

Joshua shook his head and together they walked to the cafeteria. The line was already long and Amber couldn't find Tamara anywhere.

“I think I'm going to wait at the normal table,” Amber said over the noise.