CHAPTER THREE
WITCH UNIVERSITY – SCHOOL YARD – NIGHT
Night has fallen. Marnie and Aneesa come out from the front door and meet up with Luke, who is waiting on a bench.
Marnie: Hey.
Luke: Hi.
Marnie: Where are the others?
Luke: (shrugs) Beats me.
Suddenly, a sharp ray of light emits from the sky and lands in front of them. A moment later, it puts out and reveals PJ, Sarox, Max and Marlene. Sarox is holding a lamp in his hand.
Sarox: Hey, there! Sorry it took so long, we had to find the lamp.
Sarox holds out the lamp, rubs it and Gene appears.
Gene: Whooo! Hi, I'm Gene. The genie of Sarox, Marlene, Max and PJ.
Aneesa: (excited) Hi… I'm-I'm-I'm Aneesa…
They can all tell that Aneesa and Gene have a connection.
Luke: Okay, let's get going.
PJ: Wait, I brought "this".
He opens his hands and conjures up a long blue broom.
Marnie: Wow!
PJ: It's from my dad, from before. I thought you'd want to fly on a beautiful night like this.
Marnie: (hesitant) We couldn't, could we?
PJ: We will be off campus, right?
Sarox: (enthusiastically) Yeah! And besides, we can wait till we leave the school grounds.
Marnie: (assured) True.
PJ: Come on. Let's get goin'.
With that, they head to the end of the school's grounds.
When they finally come out of the school grounds, PJ hands Marnie his broom and she uses her magic to make it float then sits on it and grab onto its head.
Marnie: Anyone wanna come? Luke?
Luke: Oh no, thanks. I-I have problem with heights.
Marnie: Suit yourself. Anyone?
Aneesa and Gene can't seem to get their eyes off of each other. Max raises his hand in response to Marnie's question. Marnie holds out her hand and Max grabs it and Marnie pulls him on to the broom and they fly off the ground without saying anything else. PJ takes out his magic staff and looks amusingly at his friends.
PJ: Anyone wanna come?
Marlene: Um, what exactly are you talking about?
PJ points at the flying Marnie and Max, who can barely be seen in the dark yet starry sky. Sarox and Marlene share looks, then turn excitedly to him.
Sarox: I'm in.
Marlene: Yeah, me too. Let's do it!
He turns to Aneesa and Gene, but they don't seem to notice other people around them. They turn to Luke, but he is still reluctant.
Luke: (shakes his head) No, thanks.
PJ sighs at his turn-down.
PJ: Okay. Here goes nothing.
He flips his staff in the air. One moment later, blue sparks appear from its tip and surround him, and Sarox, and Marlene. The magic sparks lift them into the air, allowing them to move freely. Then, Sarox, PJ and Marlene fly off to the sky at Max and Marnie'sdirection.
They catch up to Marnie and Max and together and fly excitedly to the towers of Witch University and make a turn and then down toward the gigantic oak trees. Sarox grab Marlene's hand, Marlene looks at him for a minute before they fly down to the oak trees.
PJ: So where are we going?
Marnie: I was thinking ice-cream, I know this really good place.
Sarox: Well, then we'd better go back and get Luke and the others.
Max: Yeah, 'cause otherwise we'll just leave them behind.
Marnie: All right, then let's head back!
They turn course and fly back to their remaining friends. When they finally reach them, they land on their feet. Marlene is excited from the trip.
Marlene: Oh, my God! It was so cool! I've flown on Gummi Ships before, but this totally beats it.
Marnie: Now who's up for ice-cream?
Sarox, Marlene, Max and PJ raise their hands, and then Luke slowly raises his. But Gene and Aneesa continue to ignore them. Max approaches and waves in between their eyes, breaking their trance.
Max: 'Scuse me, we're going to get some ice-cream. Are you two coming?
Gene: Oh, well… um…
Max: (Dismisses) Never mind, I believe you'd want to be left alone.
He turns to the others.
Max: Come on, guys! Let's go!
Sarox: Wait, what about them?
Max: Just go. They don't want us to be their nuisance.
Max pushes them away. With them gone, Gene and Aneesa continue to look into each other's eyes.
