Chapter 13

Home, Sweet Home

The gang had been home now for almost a week. They felt at home once more. It was home, sweet home. The girls were making their weekly cookies at Heather's apartment place while the guys seemed to be eating them as fast as the girls were making them. Heather slapped Clay's hand as he tried to sneak another, "Uh uh, no more," she told him sternly, trying not to smile.

That night they shared the results of the girl's hard work. As they ate the cookies they watched another movie. They were a little wary at first, but they decided that it was safe at home. Although, Heather had the feeling they wouldn't be going to the movie theater for a while. They were watching Troy, mostly so that Paige and Heather could goggle at Orlando Bloom. He was so hot!

In the darkened living room, as Heather snuggled up against Clay's side and he put his arm around her shoulders, she played everything in her head. She glanced up at Clay to see if he was too. He looked down at her and smiled, no indication of if he was. "You okay?" he asked her.

Heather just smiled and nodded. "I'm perfect." She didn't want to ruin the night with thoughts of Joe and complaints about her stomach wound.

The next morning, as Heather got ready for work, she thought about her spell of amnesia. She could not remember anything that had happened between the times she had begun to yell at Joe, to their sudden appearance in her living room.

From what Clay and the others had told her, she gathered that she had somehow used fire to kill Joe and then she had fainted. Clay took her through the Phantom's lair to the mirror room, where they went underground, and waited for the others. Paige had just finished healing her when they had begun to disappear back to their own time. Paige and herself were the last to go, and Christine had said goodbye. She wished dearly she could have said goodbye to Christine.

Heather changed the bandaging on her stomach. The first couple of days they had been back, she had to call in sick at work because of the pain. Clay, of all people had dropped in to make her breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday. Her and her friends could find no feasible reason as to why she had been able to use fire to kill Joe. They were a little worried, not sure what it meant. Fire. The word itself said chills up and down her spine. Fire was demonic power. One that only Upper Level demons could master. So how in the world had she been able to use it? It made no sense.

Heather sighed and shook her head to clear it. There was no use in wondering, it was done and over with. It would probably never happen again anyway.

Picking up her car keys, Heather opened the door and stepped into the hall, just as Alyssa was. "Hey!" they greeted each other, heading down the hall. "No Paige?" asked Alyssa.

Heather shook her head, "No, she said something about a dentist appointment, remember?"

Alyssa shrugged, "Guess not."

They walked down the four flights of stairs that it took to get to the ground floor. Heather nodded and smiled to the manager as Alyssa waved to a cute boy that smiled to her. Then they walked out into the parking lot.

"You know, the disadvantage to being on the top floor is the walk up and down." Alyssa said.

Heather nodded in agreement, "Yeah, I know." As Alyssa climbed into her car, Heather opened her door, "I've been thinking," she started, Alyssa stopped what she was doing to look at her friend, "We should buy a house together. Just the three of us. Then we'd have all our witchy stuff in one place instead of dividing it up. And we won't have to put up with those weirdo's that live on the floor beneath us."

Alyssa laughed, "I know what you mean. That would be cool. Maybe we should ask Paige?"

Heather shrugged, "Maybe." She got into her car and rolled the window down, "Are you still coming over for movie and pizza tonight?" she wanted to know.

"Yeah! Wouldn't miss it!"

"See ya then!" Heather started up her car and they left, Heather going right, Alyssa turning left.

Once Heather pulled up at the pet store where she worked, she sighed. She had forgotten that she was supposed to open up shop today. The manager was going to be an hour late. Heather glanced at her watch, "Crap! I only have fifteen minutes! Eek!" she squeaked, jumping out of her car and running to the front door.

Birds, dogs, cats and other animals alike greeted her when she walked in. she rushed around, tiding up the register, feeding the animals and fish. She didn't touch the reptiles or spiders. Those were Mike's job. Thankfully, he would be there in about ten minutes. Heather scooped out a couple of dead fish and flushed them down the toilet of the employee's bathroom.

Meanwhile, Alyssa was just pulling into the parking lot of the local theater where she worked, mostly on weekends. It wasn't always fun, but it definitely had high points. Like getting free tickets for movies. Entering, she nodded to Daren and Amy, two of her coworkers. They waved back.

"So, how was Phantom of the Opera?" they asked, grinning. Alyssa tensed. "Is it as good as everyone says? I want to know before I see it." Amy said.

Alyssa relaxed a little. "Oh, it was great! The music is beautiful, and the dancing and singing is awesome. I loved the dancing!" she gushed. Of course, I would know about the dancing part! She thought to herself, hiding a smile behind her hand as she pretended to cough. "It's sad at the end though. My friend cried during it."

"Well, then maybe we should go see it together," Daren suggested as he elbowed Alyssa in the side. His eyes twinkled. Amy and Alyssa sighed and rolled their eyes in unison.

"No, Daren." Alyssa said.