Circle Quartet: 25

Chapter 25

Those two boys dash towards me while reading to shoot their guns. And I realize that they’re holding a big water gun. Things are going to be wet, I suppose. I use my swiftness ability to dodge their attacks as their shoot the water towards me. Then, Jeff stops them both by using the spell. Both of them are stuck on the ground.

“It’s not fair!” shouts Raymond, a small boy with curly hair like a fried noodle.

“Oh yes, it is, Ray. You guys are the one who are not being fair,” smirks Jeff.

“No, we are not! Let us go!” shouts Heath, Raymond’s big brother who looks much smaller than him.

“Hey, no one bullying my sister but me,” says Jeff proudly, jerking his thumb to his chest. I kick his butt hard that he falls on the ground.

Both Raymond and Heath laugh their heart out as they can move again. I approach them and we slap high-five with each other.

“Mission accomplished! Well done, boys!” I ruffle their heads and turn to Jeff who is still lying on the ground.

I planned all these actions 3 days before coming here. Uncle Anders called me that time and I managed to talk with Heath and Raymond. They like to play trick as they are developing their casting abilities.

Jeff stands up and brushes the dirt on his trousers. “That hurts, you know. I should have known that it was all set up.”

“Aww, come on, Jeff. Like you said, I’m the only one who can bully my brother,” I wink. Raymond and Heath giggle.

“Oh, you’re here,” Aunt Ramona appears with a big smile. “No wonder I heard the giggling and laughing,” then she glares at Raymond and Heath with a death glare, “and shouting too,”

Both Raymond and Heath quickly throw down their water guns and chuckles innocently.

“Hello Aunt Ramona,” I hug her and she kisses my cheeks and Jeff’s. “It’s been a while. How are you?” I ask.

“I’m great and gorgeous as always,” she smiles. “You look quite taller, Alice. And Jeff, as hunky as ever,” she pats Jeff arms.

“Oh yes, Aunt Ramona. I always stay hunky forever,” he raises his eyebrows. I roll my eyes.

“Come on in you two. Ray, Heath, enough with your tricks,” Aunt Ramona ushers us inside the house, or should I say, mansion. “Andy dear, Alice and Jeff are here!”

Uncle Anders, or we called him Uncle Andy, rushes down from the stairs. He is holding a feather duster and smiles widely as he sees us.

“Oh, my Cinderella, it’s good to see you here!” he hugs me and kisses my cheeks. “And you two, Mowgli!” he hugs Jeff tight and pats on Jeff’s back.

He called me Cinderella when I was small because I am his favourite niece. I used to wear gowns when I was four and five with a crown on my head. Jeff, on the other hand, was naughty and liked to run here and there like a monkey. That’s why Uncle Andy called him Mowgli.

“Wow, look likes you’re cleaning, Uncle Andy,” I say.

“Well, your mother is coming so I need to do a little clean up. You know how much she hates messiness and dusty places,” he chuckles. “And it’s better to do it yourself than using magic.”

He’s right. Mom is a very hygienic person. She hates dust and mess, especially her siblings’ house. She’ll nag from day to night just because there’s a dust on the book shelf! And everyone is afraid if she nags because she’ll throw her arms here and there and at the same time she’ll cast a spell. One might turns into a dustbunny!

“Thank God Mom is not here yet. Let us help you cleaning the house,” Jeff offers.

“Oh, you don’t have to, Jeff. You’re our guest,” says Uncle Andy. “And by the way, we’re going to have a ball tonight.”

“A ball? But…but…I don’t have gown to wear, Uncle Andy. You didn’t tell me earlier.” I don’t expect there will be a ball tonight.

“Don’t worry about that, Alice,” Jeff pats my shoulder. “Everything has been settled. I will make you a special gown with my special magic.”

“You knew it all along?” I glare at Jeff.

“I just wanted to surprise you,” he shrugs.

“Now, now, there’s no time to argue. You can go to any room that you like. I’ll ask Deena, Andrew and Harold to take your bags,” says Uncle Andy.

I cheer, take my bags and rush to the highest floor which is the seventh floor. I love to have room on the highest because I can see beautiful surrounding better. Jeff too chooses the top floor and his room is next to mine.

My room is quite spacious and very neat. I open the windows and see trees and plants towered everywhere, and birds happily chirp as they soar into the sky. I love this place. It reminds me of my own home, Sewra.

2 hours later, Mom and Dad and my brothers arrive safely. They too, come here by a flying car but it doesn’t land like we did. Dad is a professional flying car driver, even though he sometimes smashed into trees.

I run and hug Mom tight and she’s happy to see me. She comments on my quite-tanned face and my new haircut – I asked Abbie to cut my hair before coming here. She knows about what happened during the test in the Dummy Forest (I think everyone already knew) and she can’t wait for my graduation day next two years because she already planned the wedding ceremony.

“Wow, you look great, Alice!” praises Ace and we hug each other.

“And you too, Ace. You look tougher than before. Have you been working out lately?” I ask.

“Yup. Always compete with Sable every day. Sometimes we even fight by using magic but no one gets hurt,” he chuckles.

“I heard somebody said my name,” Sable approaches and I hug him tight. “Nice to see you again, Alice. I really, really miss you!” He bursts into tears. Sable is still a cry baby, I guess.

“Can you please stop being like a cry baby?” I smile. He’s getting taller, even taller than Jeff. “If your girlfriend knew this, she’ll definitely laugh at you.”

Sable stops crying. “You knew?” asks Sable in surprise.

I look at Ace and we laugh. While I was in Academy, Ace always sends e-mail and he told me everything that happened in the mansion including Sable’s having a girlfriend. Her name is Fiona Mahogany and she’s a witch who can bake cakes and cookies. Fiona’s father is Dad’s best friend since elementary school and they’ll be glad to match Sable with Fiona.

Uncle Yale and his family arrive in the evening as we’re having our tea time under some shady trees. Raina and squeal in joy when we get to see each other. Three of us – Raina, Deena and I, sit closer and start gossiping. Raina tells me about Tavis new stupid jokes and shows me the bangles that Tavis gave her for their anniversary (they always celebrated their engagement anniversary every year).

While waiting for the ball to start, I switch on my laptop. It’s been a while since I haven’t opened my e-mail. There are blizzards of e-mails, flooding my inbox. Most of them are from my friends from the high school, asking me how I am doing and how they really missed me. Abbie also send some e-mails, asking me whenever I have kissed Stefan yet. She always asks exaggerating questions. I reply her e-mail, telling her that I won’t kiss Stefan until the day we get married.

Someone knocks on the door as I reply Abbie’s e-mail. I know that is Jeff because he’s supposed to turn my casual attire into a gown.

“Come in,” I say without getting down from the bed.

Jeff slowly pokes his head to my room and smiles as he sees me. “Are you ready, little buddy?” he enters the room.

I jump off the bed. “I’m ready!” I throw my arms to the air.

“Now, the magic word,” a wand appears from his hand. “Close your eyes!”

I smile and close my eyes. I can sense Jeff walks around me. Then he stops.

“Bibidi-bobidi-boo!” he casts a spell from the Disney Cinderella.

As I open my eyes, my t-shirt and jeans turn into a light blue glittering gown just like Cinderella with a crown on my head except for the glass slippers. Jeff, who is now wearing a tuxedo, offers his right arm to me. I slip my hand to his arm and we go downstairs.

Everyone look at me in awe. I rarely wear a gown; only for a special occasion like this. I step down the stairs slowly. Grandma Zelda is also here. I walk to her and bow. She hugs me and praises my gown. I tell her that Jeff made this.

I dance with Ace and then with Sable. We’re having fun together. I even dance with Dad and Uncle Andy! Jeff approaches me slowly and asks me for a dance. I nod and we dance before the party end.

Suddenly we hear a scream. It’s Amanda. And she’s screaming in fright.