lalarose311

    After finding the necklace at the lake, we started to head back home. While we were walking, me and Eli were talking about life back in L.A. "So, why did your parents decide to move out here?," Eli asked. "Well, Dad said that there's a lot of great opportunities here in Salem, jobs, education, and less traffic. Mom says that there's a lot interesting history here, too. But the history that I know of in Salem is witches and black magic. I tried to convince them to just let me stay in L.A. with my grandparents, but Dad said that this move was for all of us," I said, sighing. "Yeah," Eli said, with a look like he felt bad for asking. "But, if I hadn't moved here, I wouldn't have made awesome friends," I said, smiling a little and I nudged his shoulder. He blushed and giggled. Suddenly, his smile faded, and a look of realization appeared on his face. 

    "Wait! I know who can help us!," Eli said, excitedly. "Really? Who?," I asked. "I know a witch who can help us!," he said, smiling. "What?!,"I thought, nervously. "A witch?! You mean a cranky, old, spell-casting, wart-nosed, 'I'm gonna get you my pretty and your little dog too' witch?!" I said in disbelief. "Well yes and no. She isn't like the witch from the Wizard Of Oz. She is cranky, but that's her personality. She is old. She does cast spells, and she does have warts," Eli said, trying to calm me down. "Well … where does she live?," I asked, still nervous about all this witch stuff.

    "That's the complicated part. She lives all the way on the other side of the woods. She lives in an old, down cabin. It's a two day trip to get there, but it could be longer because … uh …"Eli said, trying to figure out to finish the sentence. "Because of what?," I asked, nervously. "Because of possible ghosts and demons that live in the woods would probably slow us down, but I think we can make it, though," he said, trying to sound reassuring. "This can't be real!," I thought. "But, Eli. What about my parents? What about school? I really want to help you, but I … I don't know how it could work out," I said, sadly. "Yeah, you're right. It's too big of a risk," he said, putting his head down. I looked up at the sky, it was starting to get really dark. "It's getting late," Brute said.

    After walking in silence for awhile, we made it back home. "Thanks for walking me back," I said, smiling a little. "Oh, no problem Grace," Eli said, smiling back. "I'll see you guys tomorrow, good night," I said, starting to walk up the porch steps. "Good night, and Grace," Eli said. I turned around, "thank you for your help today," he said, his cheeks turning a little pink. "No problem," I said, winking at him and walked all the way up the steps. I get inside the house and shut the door behind me and I lean against it for a few minutes. "Hey honey, can I talk to you for a sec," Mom called from the kitchen. I walk in and she sitting at the table. She looked tired and stressed. "Yeah, Mom," I asked as I walked over to her.

    "Your dad has a business trip this week, he left earlier this evening. He said he won't be back until next Monday. It was brought up at short notice and Mr. Donovan said that if he didn't go, he would be in serious hot water," she said, shaking her head and sighed, irritated. "That's unfair," I said, angrily. "That's not all," she said, swallowing hard. I looked at her, concerned. "Your grandma called … grandpa isn't doing well. She said he's been really sick for awhile and she isn't sure what to do," Mom said, her voice getting a little shaky. I began to tear up a little. "I've thought about going back to L.A. and help her around the house and figure out what to do, but I don't know if I should leave you by yourself," she sighed, sniffling a little. "Wait! With Mom and Dad gone for the week, I can help Eli!," I suddenly thought. "Mom, I'm old enough to take care of myself, I'll be fine. Do what you need to do," I said, hugging her tightly. "Are you sure, hon?," she said, the tears from her eyes. "Yes Mom," I said, giving her a small smile. "Well, I'll probably leave before you come home from school, but I'll give you a call when I arrive at the airport," she said. "Okay, Mom," I said, hugging her. 

   I laid in bed and thought about Eli. "Should I tell him now or tomorrow?," I thought. I wasn't really getting much sleep, so I decided to tell him now. I quickly got out of my bed. I put my jacket over my pajamas and slipped my shoes on. I grabbed a flashlight and quietly walked out of my room. I walked past Mom's room, she was snoring loudly. "Maybe I can ask the witch if she can give me a non-snoring spell for Mom and Dad," I thought as I kept on walking. I finally made it down the stairs and out the door. I turned my flashlight on and walked down the porch steps.
The moon was full and shining brightly, the sky was pitch black. I finally reached the barn where Eli stayed. 

    "Eli, I have something to tell you," I said as I gently knocked on the door. I saw him appear in the dark part of the barn. "Grace? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?," he said, yawning as he spoke. It was so cute. "My dad has a business trip all of this week, and my mom is going back to L.A. to help my grandparents. That means I get to help you!!," I said with a big smile. "Really?! That's awesome! But what about school?," he asked. "I have an idea about all that. I know someone who can help me," I said. 

(The Next Morning)

    I woke up way earlier before Mom. I texted Brenda and told me to meet up at the bike trail. She said she didn't mind because she usually goes on a morning jog before school. "No wonder she looks so fit," I thought. I threw my clothes on and brushed my untamed, bed-ridden hair. Once it was brushed out, I went to the bathroom and brushed my teeth really quick. "I hope she doesn't freak out too bad," I thought as I ran my toothbrush through the water. I told Eli last night about Brenda and how she could help us. Brute and Ellie didn't seem to mind. After I cleaned my teeth I quickly ran down the stairs and left Mom a note, saying that I went to go get some exercise. I went out the front door and started to make my way to the trail. 

    When I finally got to the trail, I saw Brenda waiting for me. She smiled and waved at me happily. I smiled and waved back. "Hey how are you?," she said giving me a big hug. I sighed. "Well, things have been pretty crazy, actually ever since I first got here. I have a huge favor to ask you," I said.
"Oh? Is something wrong?," she asked giving me a worried look. "Well, this may sound crazy but, I've been helping this ghost. His name is Eli and he wants me to help find his mother's spirit, but we needed help finding her so we are going to go see a witch that lives on the other side of the woods, and my parents are going to be gone all week, and," I stop to get a big breath of air. "And I need your help with school, I need you to tell the principle that I went with my mom back to L.A. so that me and her can help my grandparents. As soon as this is all over with, I'll do the make-up work," I said.

    "Wait, so your helping the paranormal?," Brenda said, looking surprised. "Well y-yeah b-but I-if you don-" "THAT'S AMAZING! Grace, you are doing is super sweet and nice! That's awesome!," Brenda said, practically screaming. She gave me another tight hug. "So … you don't think it's weird?," I asked, surprised she didn't freak out and ran away. "Heck no!," she said, giving me a big bracey smile. "Well, Eli is actually here with me?," I said, looking to the left of the trail. "Oh my God, I want to meet him!," she squealed. I giggled a little. "Eli, you can come out now!," I called out to the left. Eli appeared between us. He looked nervous, but tried not to be shy. "H-hi Br-Brenda. I-it's nice t-to me-meet you," he said holding out his hand. "He knows my name, this is so cool," Brenda said as she shook his hand. I smiled, I was so happy she was positive about all of this.

    After talking about how we were going to do this, Brenda's face suddenly lit up. "Hey! I just remembered! There's a map to the witch's cabin in the library in the paranormal section. I found it last year while I was in there, but I didn't think much of it," Brenda said. "Good, so now we won't have to worry about getting lost," I said. 

    After talking for a bit, we noticed that it was time to walk to school. Brenda and I said goodbye to Eli and I told him to meet me back at the house after school. We got to the school pretty early, there was a few kids waiting outside. I saw Brittany's minions and they told her to turn around. She turned around and gave me a dirty look. Her face got really red. I gave her an angry look back. "Ugh, she needs to get a life and stop bothering people," I said to Brenda. She nodded her head in agreement. "Well, well, well. If isn't Dorkarella and Goth Freak. Got anything interesting to say?," Brittany said, sarcastically cupping her hand behind her ear. "For your information, where did you find those insults? The 90's? It's time you need to update on your insults or better yet, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Because it'll come back and bite you in right in the ass," I said, loud and clear. Brittany's jaw dropped and her minions looked at each other like they were impressed. They even giggled a little. "Shut up you two!," Brittany growled at them, they immediately stopped and had a deer in the headlights look. "This so isn't over. You better hope you'll be lucky to make it this year," she said, smiling coldly. "Bring it on," I said, glaring at her. The kids around us all went "Oooohhh." "Whatever, come on, ladies," Brittany said, rolling her eyes and walking away, her minions following behind her. Brenda looked at me and we smiled and gave each other a high five.