It was finally Friday afternoon. Hannah was mentally exhausted from juggling more tasks than ever before. While having to continue to do her usual school work, she also had to finalize a presentation project that she gave in science class that day. On top of that, Hannah spent as much available free time learning more about magic from Spencer. If there wasn't enough free time during waking hours, Spencer would freeze the twilight hours, pull her soul out, and let her body rest while he taught her all he could.

Spencer first tried teaching Hannah the correct way to spread tarot cards and know each card, including their meanings, by heart without having to refer to her guidebook. When he initially saw the example layouts in her book, he called them useless. He insisted that they were created by "fitches" and "fizards" and had Hannah throw the whole book away. Spencer was proud of himself for creating new words for fake witches and wizards. He was confident that he was catching on to some of the modern trends, like word blending.

Hannah complained about the difficulty memorizing all the tarot cards so much that Spencer gave in. He turned her focus on learning about rune stones instead. He admitted that runes were more practical than tarot cards because they were more straightforward in their message.

Spencer, Hannah, Jennifer, and Tina were all chatting about their weekend plans in the school parking lot. Hannah looked at the time on her phone, realizing she had to get going to pick up Isaac. She said goodbye to her friends and made sure to wish Tina luck on her upcoming date with Eddie. Spencer and Hannah climbed into her car and sped off the school grounds as fast as she possibly could, without running anyone over.

Spencer pulled out a stack of index cards from his new backpack and straightened them out with his fingers. Then he turned one over and positioned it so Hannah could glance over at it without taking her eyes off the road. It was a hand-drawn picture of a rune symbol. "Okay, what's this symbol?"

"Spencer! Listen, I want you to know that I am truly grateful that you're teaching me all this stuff to help mold me into a stronger witch, but my mind can't take anymore. It's Friday. Can we take a little break and enjoy the weekend?" Hannah pleaded.

Spencer looked down at the card for a moment quietly. Then without responding with words, or even thoughts, he shrugged and returned the index cards to his backpack. Then he looked out his window at the world zooming by, and thoughtfully asked, "What do teenagers do these days on the weekend anyway? The last time I was here, all the kids would go to the local malt shop or bowling alley."

"Not much really. Usually, we'd go to the movies or just hang out at someone's house," Hannah thought for a moment as she drove. "You know, I can't remember the last time I went bowling. Would you like to go bowling this weekend?" Hannah asked, slightly intrigued by the idea of doing something new.

"Sure. But don't expect me to go easy on you."

"Well, don't make fun of me when you see me still using the bumpers."

"What are bumpers?" Spencer asked, confused, making Hannah chuckle with a snort.

"Weren't they around back in 1952?" Hannah asked, perplexed. "They block the gutters for kids and people who suck at bowling."

"Really? I can't wait to see that. Perhaps we could see if your family would all like to go too. I'd like to talk to them officially," Spencer suggested.

"Okay? Sure," Hannah didn't know how to feel about his request. "I guess my parents do know you, or so they think. So to them, it won't seem odd, I suppose." Then Hannah remembered something that had been on her mind all week. "Speaking of which, how are you able to put information in their mind like that or get them to do things like you did when you got them to go shopping last Sunday?"

"I used magic," Spencer said simply.

"Well, duh, I know that!" Hannah responded, rolling her eyes at Spencer's vague response. "What I meant was, is it magic that I could eventually learn to do?"

"I'm sorry to say, Hannah, but no," Spencer answered honestly. "That type of magic isn't available to you or any Earthling really. It was a gift given to me by the high council. Even though everyone on Aeon can do magic, the high council gives extra special abilities to those who travel between dimensions. That way, we can easily blend in with the world we're in."

Hannah pouted, really wishing to have heard a different answer. "That sucks."

She turned into Isaac's school and spotted him sitting on one of the benches with his friends by the pickup area. She honked her horn to grab his attention as she approached the front of the line. He waved goodbye to his friends and darted into Hannah's back seat.

"Hey, bud! How was school?" Hannah asked, glancing back at Isaac in her rearview mirror.

Isaac clicked his seat-belt and responded, "Fine," and immediately turned his attention to Spencer. "Hey, Spencer! If your grandma doesn't mind, do you want to come over tonight and play video games with me?"

Isaac had bonded with Spencer over the week during the rides to and from school. They would talk about games, cars, movies, and comic books. Spencer would read Isaac's Game Informer magazines or watch whatever was on the television in the living room as he waited for Hannah to finish her homework during the week.

"Actually, Hannah and I were just thinking it'd be fun to go bowling with you and your family."

"Bowling?" Isaac responded, wrinkling his nose at the suggestion. "Hannah, don't you suck at bowling?"

"It'd still be fun to go, dweeb," Hannah responded insulted by her brother's comment. "Although, we can't go bowling tonight because my parents already have plans. Remember they're celebrating Dad getting picked for the promotion?"

"Oh, your father got it?" Spencer asked, pretending to sound shocked even though he heard her father make the announcement the night before at dinner.

"He did!" Hannah said, playing along, so Isaac would be none-the-wiser.

"Well, that's awesome!" Spencer smiled, then thought, "So Isaac, do you think your parents would mind me hanging out at your house while they're not home?"

"I already texted my mom earlier asking before I asked you. She said it would be fine. She said Hannah could drive you home when they get back," Isaac smiled, feeling excited to spend time with an older kid who wasn't his sister.

"Well then, I'll just call Madam Nova to let her know I won't be home right away," Spencer said and pulled out a fake flip-phone from his backpack. He had copied it from a movie that he watched on Hannah's iPad. Hannah had tried to explain that flip-phones were old fashioned and everyone used smartphones. Spencer insisted the flip-phone would suffice. To Hannah's surprise, everyone at school and even Isaac thought Spencer was even cooler because of it.

*****

It was ten o'clock, and Hannah's parents were still out celebrating. Isaac and Robbie had passed out on the sectional couch while they were watching a movie. Spencer and Hannah each took one of the boys and brought them up to their beds.

Shortly after Hannah and Spencer came back downstairs, she saw car lights shine through her living room windows. Hannah scurried over and bent the blinds to see if it was her parents.

"Dang it!" Hannah grunted angrily and moved to grab her phone from the couch. She instantly selected Tina's number and called it. There was no answer, and her voice mailbox was full.

Spencer looked out the window to see what was getting Hannah so upset. He saw Peggy-Sue and several of her friends pile out of three different cars and head towards Eddie's front door.

"I can't believe she's crashing in on Tina and Eddie's date! Just so she can throw one of her parties," Hannah said, pacing aggressively back and forth, trying to think of a solution. "Oh, I know! You could use your magic and make them all go home," she suggested feeling hopeful.

"I could, but where would the fun be in that? I would actually like to see a real high school house party. After watching all those high school movies, they look like my kind of scene," Spencer admitted.

Spencer ignored Hannah's dirty looks and went to pick up one of the fashion magazines Hannah's mom kept on the coffee table. He looked at several pictures before deciding on an outfit he liked. Within an instant, he snapped his fingers, and his look changed before Hannah could even blink. He walked over to Hannah with the magazine, held it out to her, and said, "Would you like to pick an outfit I could change you into for the party?"

"Really?" Hannah smiled at the offer, even though she was still feeling annoyed that Spencer wanted to go to a house party. She hated house parties but knew she should go for Tina and Eddie's sake. Hannah accepted the magazine from Spencer and skimmed through the pages. She saw a pair of purposely ripped jeans with black ankle boots she liked on one page and a solid black flared-sleeve shirt on another. "I'll take this top with these jeans and boots, please."

Spencer snapped his fingers again, and before she knew it even happened, her whole look changed. Spencer also changed her hairstyle. Before it was in a relaxed pony-tail, now it was hanging down her back and shoulders and had big loose curls. A look she could only ever get from a salon. She admired herself in the mirror by the front door and saw that her makeup was redone too. She complemented Spencer on his styling abilities and joked that if he ever lost interest in teaching magic, he should consider a career in cosmetology.

"I may just do that," he responded with a wink and a smile as he opened the door to lead the way.

"What about my brothers? What if they wake up? Or my parents come home and see that we've left them alone?" Hannah asked a thousand questions at once trying to possibly delay the inevitable.

Spencer just shook his head and smiled. "You ask so many questions. I made sure to make it so your brothers are safe and protected and won't wake up. And don't worry about your parents. I've got that covered," Spencer said trying to reassure Hannah.

Spencer approached Eddie's front door looking relaxed and confident. At the same time, Hannah stood further back, feeling like a fish out of water. Spencer knocked and waited only a moment before Peggy-Sue answered.

"Spencer! You came!" she cheered. Hannah watched as Peggy-Sue clasped her arms around Spencer's neck and pulled him into a hug before ushering him into Eddie's house. Peggy-Sue then returned her attention outwards to look at Hannah. "Wow, girl! You look snatched!"

"Thanks," Hannah mumbled.

"Well, don't just stand there! Get your butt in here." Peggy-Sue stepped down and yanked Hannah inside before she could resist. Peggy-Sue shut the door and guided Hannah into the house.

Hannah had been inside Eddie's house many times before, but she had never seen so many people there. Hannah scanned the bodies in the living room and instantly spotted Tina sitting on Eddie's lap, in his dad's recliner. Eddie was whispering something into Tina's ear and Tina kept giggling. Neither had noticed as she approached them.

Hannah hated to interrupt them, but still tapped Tina on the arm. Tina looked up and instantly squealed as if a mouse had just crawled up her leg. "Hannah!"

Tina leapt out of Eddie's lap and instantly hugged her friend. While hugging, Hannah whispered into Tina's ear, "Are you okay? Should I try to get Peggy-Sue and everyone to leave?"

Tina leaned back just enough to look at Hannah's face. Hannah saw Tina was beaming. Tina leaned back into Hannah and whispered back in her ear, "It's actually perfect that Peggy-Sue decided to throw a party here. Eddie's been holding onto me all night since they got here. I love that he's so protective of me."

Tina moved back to sitting on Eddie's lap, which he happily responded by wrapping his arms around her waist.

Moments later, Peggy-Sue came around handing out plastic cups filled with beer. Hannah never really drank before, except at weddings or special occasions when her parents would let her have a little bit of their drink. Holding her cup, she looked down at the frothy foam on top. With the tip of her pinky, Hannah dipped into the cold liquid and brought the taste to her lips.

It wasn't as bad as she remembered it to be when she had tried her dad's beer during the last Superbowl party. She drank a full sip from the cup and found a spot on Eddie's stone fireplace to sit, as all the other available cushioned seats were taken.

Spencer came into the room and sat down next to Hannah. He grabbed her beer and took a few sips. "This is almost as tasty as the cheapest beer back on Aeon."

Peggy-Sue came over with two more beers in her hand. She took a seat on the other side of Spencer as she gave one to him. "I didn't forget about you, cutie."

"I didn't think you did," Spencer responded smoothly to Peggy-Sue as he handed Hannah back her cup.

"I want to learn more about you, Spencer," Peggy-Sue said flirtatiously as she inched her body closer to Spencer's.

"I am happy to teach," Spencer said flirtatiously in response, which made Hannah roll her eyes.

Peggy-Sue giggled at Spencer's remark then gasped, "I know!" she shouted to catch everyone's attention, "How about we play Truth or Dare?"

Hannah tensed up as everyone cheered and agreed to the idea. She knew the party was a bad idea before, but now she was sure it was about to get worse.

______________________________________________________________________________

Author Note:

Thank you for reading this chapter. I hope you continue reading further. I would be ever so grateful for feedback/comments on anything that stood out to you.

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Happy Reading!