Page 11 of Spellbound & Speechless
I press my hands against the brick wall and gaze at the stars. At least I can see those out here. “I guess I did, but I was focusing on the wrong things.”
“What did you learn?” Laurel asks.
I furrow my brow, unsure what she’s asking.
“From your old job, I mean. Did you learn anything about the fashion industry, or designing, oranything?”
“I learned… well, I learned a lot. It was tough, but I got to study under some of the most respected designers in the country.” Whether or not they deserve the respect is another story.
“Then you were focusing on the right things, even if it didn’t work out in the end.” Her eyes narrow. “They can’t take those things from you now. Don’t let them, and don’t trick yourself into thinking they can.”
“Right.” We go quiet for a moment. “Why do you still hate me? I know as children we bickered, but?—”
“I don’t hate you!” She frowns. “Ineverhated you. I… well, I looked up to you, and I always felt like you were looking down on me—if you looked at me at all.”
“I guess I was distracted.” I kick a pebble.
“I get it now. You had dreams, ambitions.”
“So did you.” I look up. “What happened to college, Laur? To the Olympics?”
“You can’t be serious!” She laughs and shakes her head. “That was never going to happen. It was a silly dream.”
“Itcouldhave! Dreams come true every day. You don’t know until you try.”
She looks off into the distance. When she sniffles, I worry she’ll cry instead of answering. “Honestly… I don’t know what to say,” she murmurs. “No one has asked me about this. I think they’re afraid I’ll break. But the truth is, I lost my love for it.”
“Ah. After mom died?”
“Before that. It’s just that I was doing itforMom.” She looks at me from the corner of her eye. “And for you. To prove I can be successful… like you.”
I scoff. “Well, congratulations. We’re both living the same dreamless life now.”
“No, no. Don’t be like that. We’re both deciding what our future looks like.” She puts out her cigarette and tosses it in a can. “And me, personally? I’m loving the freedom.”
“When will I learn to love it?”
She wrinkles her nose. “Hard to say. You don’t have the same free spirit.”
“Touché.” I laugh softly. “Can we consider this… a truce? Start over?”
“We can sure try.” She frowns. “I’m sorry for being such a brat.”
I roll my eyes. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”
If I offended Laurel, it doesn’t show. She steps closer and touches my shoulder, shaking me. “Bring back the Aspen I look up to, all right?”
“Who is that?” I smile sadly. “I don’t know anymore.”
“You can makeanyonelike you—without your magic.” She nods at the door. “Use that charm in there, and you’ll be golden.”
I nod, considering her words. I’m not above taking advice from my little sister. Anyone can see that Laurel has grown far past where she was the last time I saw her. In my mind, she’s still a teenager…
But here she is, smoking a cigarette and helping me get back on track.
“I’ll try.”
I don’t wantto disappoint Laurel, but making people like me isn’t the problem. I’m bad at being a server. Interning was easier than this. Sure, I had a few coffee orders to memorize, but that was nothing compared to keeping track of tables and orders.
