Chapter 4: Visit from a Friend

It was late into the afternoon when Silvana awoke the next day to her best friend Amelia showering her in gifts.

Silvana had been given a potion to accelerate her healing from her worried father, but she was still weary and weak, so she smiled brightly at the sight of her stunningly beautiful friend clasping the handles of a dozen shopping bags.

Amelia set the bags down on the bed beside Silvana, and Amelia’s long, straight brown hair curtained over her shoulders. She wore a form-fitting scarlet wool dress that fell above her knees, and her wrists were covered in silver and gold bangles.

“Your dad told me everything,” Amelia said quickly, blowing a pink bubble with her gum, then sipping from an iced coffee.

But Silvana knew her father hadn’t told Amelia the truth. Her father would never admit that a werewolf saved his daughter’s life, especially to another prominent witch like Amelia.

“I’m so happy you’re okay, and that your dad got to you in time,” Amelia said, reaching inside the bags and stacking wrapped presents on Silvana’s legs.

Silvana admired Amelia for a moment, appreciating her glossy lips and oversized red sunglasses. Although Amelia was two years older than her, Silvana could always trust in her, and the two had been friends for so long that they were practically sisters.

“It’s crazy that we had a supernatural attack last night,” Silvana muttered, sitting up a bit. Amelia placed a warm latte and a decorated cardboard box with a bow next to Silvana.

“Um, yeah it’s totally nuts, girl!” Amelia said. “It’s been like what, 21 years since we’ve had evil spirits in the town?”

“And they destroyed the entire carnival!” Silvana added.

“Thankfully,” Amelia said, joining Silvana on the edge of the bed, “Nobody was killed.”

Silvana exhaled, recalling the night’s craziness, along with Bruce’s big hands all over her body. “We were all lucky,” she said. “I was lucky.”

Amelia popped another bubble with her gum and said, “Please, Silvana, it’s your birthday, don’t worry yourself with such things. Your father will protect us.”

Silvana shivered and Amelia noticed.

Amelia tapped on the decorated box and told Silvana, “Well listen, Sylvie, if I had been slashed wide open by a demonic entity, I know the one thing I’d want is chocolate, so I got you this from that pricy place downtown. It’s that creamy milk chocolate, your favorite.”

Silvana felt like she couldn’t have asked for a better friend in the world. “You’re the best, Amelia,” Silvana said. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do that.”

Amelia sat back with a hand over her chest. Every movement she made was dramatic, and Silvana loved that about her. Amelia waved a scarlet polished finger and said. “No, no little Sylvie. The chocolates were necessary!”

Amelia dumped more presents onto the bed, covering Silvana with so many gifts she feared their weight might make her wounds hurt, but it seemed like her father’s potion was working to keep the pain away.

“What wasn’t necessary,” Amelia said, “was shopping for your full Fall wardrobe.” Amelia pulled her sunglasses down and winked. “But that doesn’t I mean I didn’t do it anyway.”

She pointed to one big wrapped box in particular and said, “You've got to open this one right now.”

Excitedly, Silvana tore off the paper and opened the white box. She held up a sage wool dress just like Amelia’s. “This is incredible!” Silvana exclaimed. “These cost so much!”

“And there’s much more where that came from,” Amelia grinned. “See, every piece of clothing I’ve got you is warm and still sexy.” She brushed her hand against Silvana’s waist. “You’ve got this amazing figure and then tend to hide it once it gets cold under all those layers.”

Amelia smiled deviously. “With clothes like this,” she said, “we can make sure this is the year we get you a man.”

Silvana blushed deeply and thought of Bruce. She thought about how under the covers, she was still wearing the shirt she’d gave him, and she wondered if she’d ever take it off.

“Oh my god,” Amelia said, ripping off her sunglasses to stare at Silvana’s rosy face. “You met a man!”

Amelia shrieked with joy and started piling presents on top of the other. She said, “Okay, this dress will bring out your eyes, these tights are super snuggly and cute, and this box is lingerie. Sylvie, I’m so excited. Your first boyfriend! When are you seeing him next? What does he look like?”

Then Silvana swallowed her heart. Anything between her and Bruce was forbidden, yet she couldn’t get him out of her mind. But she wanted to talk about him so badly. Silvana searched for words and said, “I snuck out last night and met him at the carnival. We got separated in the attack.”

“Have you called him yet?”

“Uh, no, I haven’t,” Silvana said grimly. “I didn’t get his number.”

Amelia threw her hands up and declared, “Well we have to find him.”

“I don’t know, Amelia. I messed up my spell last night and blew a hole in the kitchen wall. I don’t think Dad would even let me out.”

“Yeah, forget that,” Amelia laughed. “Your happiness is much more important than a dumb hole in the wall, and the real magic you need practice with is falling in love.”

Silvana ducked under her covers and groaned, “Oh, I know you’re right, but I can’t just show up at his house.”

“Wait, you know where he lives?”

“Kind of,” Silvana said, reappearing over the sheets but avoiding eye contact with her friend, “he told me the area he lives in.”

Amelia nodded vigorously. “Then you can one hundred percent show up at his house! You’re just stopping by to check in and see how he’s doing after the attack.”

“You think that would actually work?”

“Um, duh. And nothing will take your mind off those awful stitches than a handsome hunk. He is a hunk, isn’t he?”

“Amelia, he’s so hot it’s unbelievable.”

“Oh, I’m so excited for you! You need to tell me how it goes.”

Silvana beamed and said, “You know I’ll keep my bestie in the loop. But today, do you think we could just spend my birthday watching scary movies and eating chocolate?”

“That sounds fantastic,” Amelia said, reaching for the television remote and lying beside Silvana. “So long as you promise me you will go see this man tonight!”

“Deal,” Silvana said. She shared her blankets with Amelia, and the two sipped on their coffees and finished the box of chocolates while watching Silvana’s favorite scary movies.