Chapter 1 – Moving On
Sabrina woke up that morning, a beautiful sun piercing through her windows, realizing everything that went down over the last few weeks. She had traveled in time, beaten the Pagans and the coven was saved, for now. She knew Blackwood was still around fomenting a plan to destroy them all, but so far, he was yet to show up. Sabrina Morningstar was performing her duties as Queen of Hell. All was good – well, apart from the slight detail that there were, in fact, two Sabrinas out there. They were in different realms, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. They could both live the life they wanted, without barging on one another, and there was no reason why it should not work. Well, save for the reason that Sabrina had developed somewhat of a close friendship with her Morningstar counterpart. Her friends were busy with their own beaus, and she found in Sabrina Morningstar, an indefectible ally. Secret best friends. She suspected Ambrose knew about their friendship but decided to keep quiet, because he understood his cousin needed this.
As she was getting ready for another day at Baxter High, she could not help from thinking about her conversation with Sabrina Morningstar. It was about Nick, once again. She hadn't seen him in a while, last time she heard of him was through Ambrose who told her that Nick and Prudence sort of got together. She could not help her heart breaking at the thought of Nick moving on with someone else. All that he said about her teaching him how to love, about loving her – it was all a charade. He had never loved her, or at least not in the meaning she gave to the word. If he did, he would not have given up on her so easily, he would not have had told her she was not worth it. Her mind roamed back to the conversation she had with Sabrina Morningstar, in particular word that stung: "If he doesn't respect you, you need to respect yourself." Morningstar hadn't had the time to elaborate further, as Lucifer was expecting her for some ceremony in Hell, but she sorts of understood what she meant. After all, Sabrina Morningstar was a part of her, the strong part, the independent part, the proud part. She had to show pride in adversity. She was a Spellman.
"You weren't worth it." That sentence remained a leitmotiv in her life for months now, ever since he said the words. Even then, she did not take her queue, she fought tooth and nail to save him, to free him for Lucifer's last part that sneakily remained in him. After that, he still told her that maybe a part of him thought what he'd said. Well, screw you, Nicholas Scratch. Why did she have to care so much? They all left her at the end. Harvey had left at the first bump in the road. Sure, she had him murder his own brother – well his shell body really – but he did not hesitate to toss her aside.
Then Nick came, and it was bis repetita. She spared no effort to get him out of Hell, to get Lucifer out of his system, she even was willing to overlook his sex addiction, the fact that he cheated on her with sex demons just to save their relationship. What good did it do? It ended with a heartbreak. She wanted everything too much and at the end, she was the one getting hurt. Her two exes with friends of her, respectively Rosalind and Prudence – yes, Prudence had become a friend, she supposed. Granted she could not control her emotions, she could still gather all her energy and walk her head high, get going with her life.
That is exactly what she did. She returned to Baxter High, took the classes she needed to and intended to hang out with her friends, to no avail. Alas, they were entangled in the limbs of teenage love. She was not. When she felt alone, she would rummage her dark thoughts again, and her mind would inevitably go back to the handsome dark-haired warlock. Love could be toxic. He almost called her a half breed for Hecate's sake, he just didn't muster enough courage so she ended up doing it for him, but it was on the tip of his tongue. Yet, she let it go back in the day, with one small hug from him. As her mind raced with all the reasons why she was better off without Nick, Billy Marlin approached her at her locker: "Hey Sabrina, long time no see. I was thinking the other day, they are having a Rocky Horror Show Night at the Paramount tonight, and I was wondering if you would go with me."
Sabrina furrowed her brow, she never imagined that Billy would ask her out. Did the news that she was back on the market, travel that fast? "Billy, that is… unexpected, to say the least? We've been going at the same school for, like, ever – and you barely ever spoke to me… You can imagine that this comes out as a surprise."
Billy bore his blue ocean eyes into her honey ones before locking his gaze on the floor, all of a sudden interested in his sneakers. "Sabrina, I know. I also know I did not do right by you and Theo back in the day. But as you can acknowledge, things between Theo and I have changed. I've tried to make amends, and I am not the jerk I used to be – at least, I hope I am not. Remember when we worked together on Romeo and Juliet? I enjoyed your company back then, but you were still getting over Kinkle. I hoped that by now, this would be over and you'd be ready to give me a chance. It's just a date. I promise I'll behave," he said flashing her a shy smile.
Sabrina knew she would not develop feelings for Billy, but at the same time, she was feeling alone and one innocent date wouldn't do any harm, plus she loved Rocky Horror and she had to give Billy the benefit of the doubt. It seemed like he matured ever since their early days at Baxter High. Plus, not to spoil anything, he was very easy on the eye. She had never gone for blondes before. Why the heaven not? She thought. Billy was looking at her expectedly, waiting for an answer. "Sure, Billy, I'll go with you. It'll be fun. Shall I meet you there – or…"
"If you don't mind, I'd really like it if I could pick you up from your place? We can go grab a bite before and then hit the Paramount, if that is okay with you?" he said, wanting to make clear that this was an actual date, because he had an interest in her. The reality is that he had developed a little crush for her since back in the days they worked together for that English class. Then she had become a cheerleader, and she was beautiful in that uniform – not only hot, as the other girls, but actually beautiful. There was something about Spellman that he couldn't put his finger on, at least, not yet, that attracted him, curiously.
She smiled and nodded. "That sounds lovely, pick me up at 7?" He agreed, flashed her another mega-watt smile and left for class. Sabrina slightly shook her head, smiling at herself, not quite believing that she was going on a date with Billy Marlin. It is just a date, she thought. She was going to have a good time, and to watch the Rocky Horror Show. Not getting ahead of herself. Casual date with a cute boy.
The day flew by fast, she needed to swing by the Academy before going back to the Mortuary and get ready for the Paramount in order to speak to the High Priest, her Auntie Zee. As she stepped into her office, Nicholas and Prudence were there, in deep conversation with Zelda. "Sorry Aunt Zee, this must be a wrong time. I didn't mean to intrude, I was just swinging by to pick up a couple of books from the library, and I thought I'd say hi. Also, to tell you I'd be out late tonight, don't expect me for dinner or the evening, I'm going out. Prudence, Nicholas."
Prudence's body was pressed against Nicholas' shoulder and he was lazily moving his fingers on her forearm. Sabrina thought they looked cute. It was an odd feeling, she never felt anything but jealousy when she saw them together. Now, she actually thought they were cute – and she was happy for Prudence. She had lost her two sisters, at once, one passing away whilst the other was missing in action, probably off somewhere with Blackwood. She deserved the comfort of a true relationship. Nick, well, was another story. She had told him that they would still be friends, but the reality is that whilst she was happy he and Prudence found each other, she couldn't help resenting him. In a way, he had used her to learn what it was to be in a relationship, be with someone – if we expect the constant lying, from Amalia to the sex demons – and then gave up on her at the first complication. She shrugged it off. Maybe they simply were not meant to be.
"Sabrina, wait." Zelda, Nicholas and Prudence. She looked at them, questioningly. Zelda took on to explain that they feared Blackwood would unleash the Eldrich Towers on the coven and Greendale. Sabrina listened with attention, but she secretly wished she would stay out of this one. She did not have the energy to fight this or put herself on the line, again. They could handle that without her, couldn't they? "For the time being, it is just a supposition, right? Let's worry about this when we get there, shall we? Now, I really must go if you don't mind. Later."
"Sabrina, can I talk to you, alone?" Prudence had insisted at the word alone, as she let go of Nick's embrace and followed Sabrina who was exiting her Aunt's office. The two frenemies hadn't spoken ever since Prudence got together with Nicholas. "All good Prudence?" The taller girl sighed, she knew she'd have to have this discussion with her boyfriend's blonde ex. "Sabrina, listen, we haven't really spoken since… well, Nick and I… you know…"
Sabrina could not remember the last time Prudence had troubles expressing herself, she would usually do it with a strange mixture of both elegance and cruelty. "Got together? You can say it Prudence. It's not a secret, nor is it a big deal. I'm actually happy for you." Prudence was dumbfounded, she certainly didn't expect the girl she saw wallowing in loneliness and sadness for weeks now, to tell her she was happy she basically poached her boyfriend, the boy she loved from her. For a second, Prudence thought this was a plot to mess with her head, she was about to shot back a mocking answer when Sabrina beat her to it.
"Believe me Prudence, I know you think I'm messing with you. But you have been through a lot lately, and I am sorry. Admittedly, part of it was because of me and the mess I created around her. But, you deserve someone who cares about you and will be here whenever you need and for whatever you need. You need that now. If that someone is Nicholas, who am I to stand in your way? We had our shot, but as you mentioned yourself, we were toxic, ultimately. So, no hard feelings here. Just do one thing for me? Make sure you don't fall in anything close to toxic – and know that I am also here for you, in case you feel like it."
"Sabrina, thank you. I mean, I did not expect that and I am so glad that does not create any beef between us. I honestly prefer for us to remain friends – or at least civil towards each other", Prudence said, with her signature smirk. "How's Ambrose, by the way?" She asked the question very casually, but her insides tore at the idea of her ex-boyfriend, the other Spellman. "Well, heartbroken, but he is okay, doing better. We're here for each, fortunately. Cousins through thin and thick. And there is nothing time cannot really heal, right? I'd love for us to discuss more, but I really must get going. Let's try to grab coffee sometime soon?"
Sabrina left without even letting Prudence answer. She thought about all she said to her friend. She did not lie, she was pleased for her. She still felt a pang of hurt at the idea that Nicholas had forgotten about her that easily, then it bothered her less and less. Actually, she realized that her perception had shifted ever since she began discussing the issue with Morningstar. Speaking of her, she needed to contact her.
"This is the one, Sabrina," Sabrina Morningstar squealed. The two Sabrinas had established a mental connection and she was able to summon her to her room at the Mortuary so that she could help her choose an outfit for her date with Billy. Sabrina was wearing a black dress that hugged her curves in the right places, arrived at knee-length and had her back and shoulders slight uncovered, while covering her arms at three-quarter length. Sabrina Morningstar had suggested she matched that with dark red lipstick and red high-heels. Morningstar approached and was about to give her the red headband she was wearing when her Spellman had another idea.
"I think it'll be no headband for tonight," she smiled to her Hell sister. Sabrina Morningstar liked the idea, she helped her get her hair styled, in a slightly disheveled yet controlled way. Sabrina looked fierce, an independent woman ready to take on the world – or at least the Paramount, for now. The two Sabrinas were sitting together, chatting when Sabrina Spellman spilled about her conversation with Prudence, and how her feelings for Nick were slightly changing.
"Sabrina, thanks Lucifer! If you were to ever give him a chance again, or vice versa, you cannot overlook the bad stuff that went between you. Objectively, Nick was horrible to you. He cheated on you, lied to you, gave up on you at the first occasion, did not even say thank you for saving him, for going after him in Hell, for still believing in him after everything. You know, I think that when you roasted him for his drama and narcissism that day, it was me – the part of me that was inside you – that just snapped. I don't mean to influence you, you're the sweet loving one after all, I'm the proud impetuous one, but please take the time to think about it all. But now. Now, Billy Marlin? We're giving him a shot?"
Sabrina Spellman smiled, she couldn't believe it herself. "Yes, I am sure you remember him as conceited, violent – and well he used to be, maybe he still is. But, Sabrina, the way he came to me this morning, he was another Billy. He was sweet, his eyes gleaming with impatience and hope. Not the idiot we trapped in the Mines with the Weird Sisters. I mean, we all saw him change for the better when he made amends with Theo and all. And it is only one date, it's not like it means anything, right?"
"No, I say good for you, secret best friend. You deserve it. You deserve to have one night of carless fun with a boy who seems determined to court you. Plus, Billy Marlin? Totally hot. And who knows? Maybe he turns out to be your unexpected love story, just like Caliban turned out to be mine."
Right, Sabrina Morningstar was with Caliban, perhaps Sabrina Spellman could go for her own former blonde resident bad boy. As 7pm as approaching, the Sabrinas parted ways, not before Morningstar told her Spellman counterpart: "I'll be back tomorrow for all the details, go get him girl!" A few minutes later, she heard the door downstairs open and Ambrose shout to her his signature "Sabrina" with his strong voice.
As she walked one, she could hear Ambrose and Billy doing small talk, they did not know each other. "I am Sabrina's older cousin, have stayed with her the Aunties for a while", Ambrose had said. "Nice to meet you, I am Billy, I go to high school with Sabrina and she is expecting me, we are going to the movies", Billy answered with a soft smile as he mentioned Sabrina.
"I am expecting him, Ambrose, thanks for welcoming Billy", Sabrina shot as she was taking the stairs down. Ambrose was appreciative of how good Sabrina looked, his cousin was turning into a gorgeous woman, she had chosen the perfect dress, those three-quarter sleeves and this apparent back was sexy as hell, and the hair without a headband felt like a liberation. He had never seen her like this before. It seemed like she was doing better. He extended his hand as she was reaching him, and placed a small kiss on her cheek, murmuring at her ear: "You look spectacular, cousin."
Billy was speechless, he was pretty sure his mouth was wide open. He knew Sabrina was a beautiful girl, but tonight, she was… breathtaking. That dress was made for her, black was her color, it makes her silver hair and her skin radiate. Her hair, like this, free of her schoolgirl headband gave her another dimension. She was sexy, hot, beautiful, gorgeous, stunning. He was at loss of words; his vocabulary didn't do Sabrina justice. She flashed him a smile as she approached him. "Good evening, Billy."
"Sabrina, you look spectacular – and that is an understatement. I wish I had a better word, but you look absolutely, splendid" Billy said, shyly extending his hand to hold hers. Then, his brain stopped functioning and his took it to his lips and pecked it quickly. He turned red and blurted. "I am so sorry, Sabrina, I don't know I did what I did. I didn't mean to…"
Sabrina smiled at him, chuckling slightly. "It's fine Billy. Also, you clean up pretty nicely yourself Billy", she said to the handsome tall blond in front of her whose white button shirt and dark blue blazer highlighted his large shoulders. She then kissed him on the cheek and said to him. "I don't apologize for that, and I do know why I did that", she winked. "Why?", he blurted.
"Because I wanted to."
This was going to be a good night.