and the scent of patchouli and sandalwood drifted up my nostrils. I couldn't put my finger on why, but it smelled like home. Sighing with happiness and contentment at all the gorgeous items around me, I wandered around the shelves and stands. I was definitely going to make my bedroom have this kind of feel to it. Sauntering over to the book section, a book called How to Hex Your Ex caught my eye and I picked it up.
"You know that's just a joke read, right? Us Wiccans agree not to cause harm." A female voice from behind me made me jump. I turned around to find the short, blonde-haired shop assistant there. She'd moved from behind the counter without me noticing.
"Oh, don't worry. I don't think witchcraft is actually real." I informed her, watching as the smile left her face for a brief moment before it came back. It wasn't the same smile though. The genuine one had been replaced by the 'are you going to actually buy anything' smile.
Fuck. She must actually believe in it.
"Sorry, that was rude of me. Should I say, I've seen no evidence to suggest witchcraft is real, but you know, I keep an open mind about things."
Her genuine smile returned. "That's okay. I'm Donna by the way."
"Stacey."
"It's just I can tell that you have the source within you. The link to the old ways." She handed me a leaflet. "We meet at six pm on a Wednesday after the shop closes. You should come."
I opened my mouth, but she carried on talking.
"Keep that open mind."
I nodded.
"I love this shop." I told her. "Have you worked here long?"
"A year, since I left school. It's my mum's shop."
"Well, I've decided to take inspiration from this store for my bedroom. There are a few things I want, if you can help me get them?"
Donna nodded enthusiastically and she helped me gather the mirror, cushions, and dreamcatcher I'd chosen. Then she showed me a few candles and jewelled candle holders. By the time I'd finished there wasn't much of my birthday money left.
Reaching under the counter, Donna took out a book. Introductory Guide for the Interested was the very vague title.
"This one's on me for how much you've spent in store today." She explained. "Something to have a look at, and then maybe we'll see you on a Wednesday. No pressure though." She rushed out. "We're not a cult. Just people with a natural inclination towards the old ways. We don't turn people into frogs, no matter how tempting that can sometimes be."
I laughed, thinking about Noah.
"Yeah. Very tempting."
I went home and got changed for my date with Jack. My dad said he'd hang up my new mirror while I was out. I didn't want him worrying about me being out on a date, so I told him I was meeting back up with Fiona.
When I got to the pizza place, there wasn't only Jack there, but a whole group of his friends, both boys and girls. The boys just said hello and chatted like I wasn't anyone new, while the girls looked me over with curiosity, no doubt wondering why I'd suddenly become Jack's new interest. One of them asked where my playsuit was from. It sounded like she was genuinely asking, but the girls glanced between themselves when I answered, their looks clearly saying I wasn't good enough. That I shopped on the High Street FFS, so what was Jack doing with me. They could take their judgy stares and stick them up their tight arseholes.
After sharing pizza, one of the guys, Jed, declared his parents were away and it was party time back at his house. Though the majority of my brain was telling me to go home, the other part said to go to the party and see what happened. Jack had been attentive, putting his arm around me, and had whispered that he wanted me to come along.
So I did. I went to the party. I had a couple of vodkas for Dutch courage, and then I slept with Jack Brooks in one of the upstairs bedrooms.
Jack had acted amazingly gentle as he took my virginity. Then he took his own pleasure, discarded the condom, sat back and laughed.
"Well, well, well. So you never gave it up to that loser Granger? Could he not get it up?"
Even though revenge on Noah had been at the back of my mind throughout all of this, I was insulted that having just slept with me,