Page 40 of Witch You Would
Why Spellebrities first? I wondered. Maybe Leandro would tell me.
Except he couldn’t, because once again, we were taken to separate greenrooms. Catering had left us a tray of random sandwichesand croquetas and mini fried chicken drumsticks, like this was a Cuban birthday party. There was also a bowl of falafel witha tub of tzatziki next to it; Felicia and Amy went straight for that while Dylan and I hovered over the sandwiches and Quentintried the chicken. I’d barely eaten all day, and now I was starving.
Eventually Quentin blurted out, “That blackout was something, wasn’t it? I can’t believe they didn’t have an automatic backup.”
“Did it mess with anyone else’s spell?” Dylan asked.
“Yes,” Amy replied. “I had to throw out a half-spelled paper component.”
“We had just put some things in the fridge,” I said. “I’m glad the power didn’t stay out, or the potion might not have cooleddown in time.”
“Tanner and I were in the supply room,” Quentin said. He rubbed the back of his neck. “I screamed. It was really dark!”
“Did Tanner say anything?” I asked.
“He said, ‘Oh fudge!’”
Hah. Adorable.
“What about you, Felicia?” Dylan asked.
“My spell is excellent,” Felicia said. “I’m sure the judges will agree.”
So stuck up.
“You’re not worried about getting cut this round?” Quentin asked.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Felicia said. “There’s no chance whatsoever that I’m going to lose.” And then she straight-up turnedaround to eat without looking at us.
“Well, I’m worried,” I said.
Amy swallowed a bite. “What did Leandro set on fire?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “I, um, had a bathroom emergency, and he fixed it by the time I got back.”
“Knowing him, he probably messed up some essential step,” Felicia said, still facing the wall. “I’m surprised he didn’t sethis mustache on fire.”
Amy gave me a sympathetic look, and Dylan went back to the table for another sandwich.
Quentin patted my arm. “It’s not your fault you got stuck with Leandro Presto.”
“I flipped out when I saw him,” Dylan said. “I was so glad I already had my partner.”
Irrational urge to defend him: rising. “He’s not that bad.”
“He was totally checking you out, you know,” Quentin said.
“And he gave you that flower,” Amy added.
I couldn’t tell them about the flirting thing. “He’s just being a goof for the cameras.”
Quentin sighed. “I miss my husband. We haven’t been apart this long since before my top surgery.”
Top... Oh! Right. Trans man.
“I don’t have anyone back home but my mom,” Dylan said. “I miss her cooking, though. These sandwiches are . . .” He picked out some wilted lettuce and curled his lip.
The conversation switched to wondering what the celebrities were eating, how fancy their greenroom was compared to ours, whatother field trips we might be taking, what we would do with the rest of our hotel time if we lost... Felicia sat as farfrom us as she could and occasionally rolled her eyes, like she was annoyed at slumming with us common folk.
