"Now that's more like it!" The pink chiffon dress evaporated and Kelli was wearing her jeans and knit top. She danced to the music, grinning as the sparkles surrounded her.

Felicity held out her arms and was restored to wearing her own clothes. She joined Kelli in her dance.

Mercy zapped the blue dress, feeling much more comfortable in her regular clothes. She danced with her friends, wondering how this interlude would help her restore the backyard farm animals into their previously obnoxious state.

At least the Orb felt stronger. Now, if she only knew what to do with it. As she danced, she gathered her intent and tried to focus on the three transplants in her backyard. I wish...I wish they were the way they used to be... wish my spell undone.

She peered into the back and saw the long-necked goose and chicken pecking around and spied the donkey tail near her grandmother's begonias.

Felicity and Kelli came up behind her.

"How about Greg? Shouldn't you get him involved?" Felicity asked.

"You mean, tell him? I can't do that. My trainer said the witch's council will probably make you guys forget you ever knew me.

"That can never happen." Kelli crossed her arms across her chest. "The three of us will always be tight. I mean, we are best friends."

Felicity looped an arm around both of them. "That's right, *cause that's the way its always been, Three best friends...forever."

"Yeah, how can we have a circle of three without you?" Kelli touched her forehead to Mercy's.

"I hope we're still friends by tomorrow."

"We will be. Now, I think you should call Greg. See if he can come over and stand in the exact same spot where you were and lay a serious lip-lock on him." She grinned. "I'm sure he'll cooperate."

Maybe she could get Greg to drive over. Maybe he wouldn't think she was crazy if she had a sudden notion to see him. "What about if it works? What happens when Lindy, Becca and Amy turn back into themselves in my backyard and start talking? Half the population of Tannersville already thinks I'm a witch."

Kelli pushed her gla.s.ses up on her nose. "Don't you even worry about them. Felicity and I can take care of those three brainless peeps. You get Greg over here."

Mercy called Greg and asked if he could come over.

"Now?" he asked. "I'm helping my dad clean the garage. How about a little later after I clean up?"

"That would be great," she whispered. "I'll see you later."

She hung up feeling unsure. Could it possibly be as simple as making a wish while kissing her boyfriend?

"You get ready for Greg," Felicity said.

"You're looking a little uh...less than wonderful," Kelli supplied.

Mercy looked down at her clothes that had been through the sprinkler and dried on her. Her hair hung limp and flat from the same sprinkler experience. "I guess I do need some work."

"Can't you just zap yourself?" Kelli asked. "Use that Orb thing."

"I think I'll save it for the big event." Mercy changed her clothes, and ran a brush through her hair. She peered into the mirror and hoped her grandmother was nearby. "Gran, I'm trying to make things right. I hope I have enough magic to make this work."

CHAPTER TWELVE.

A short time later, she saw Greg's car pull into the driveway and park behind Gran's sedan. "He's here!"

Kelli nodded. "Don't worry. We know what to do. Give us two minutes to get in place." She and Felicity slipped out the back door.

Mercy watched out the window as Greg got out of his car. He smoothed his hair down and straightened his shirt. She liked that he was trying to look his best for her. When he knocked on the door, she waited a little to give the girls time to get to the back of the property. Here goes...

She twisted the k.n.o.b and swung the door open. "Hi Greg," she said and stepped out onto the front step. She pulled the door almost closed behind her.

A smile spread across his face. "Hey." He looked a little perplexed that she wasn't inviting him inside. "Do you want to go for a ride?"

She shook her head, smiling shyly.

"Are you thirsty? We can go get a soda."

"That's so sweet, but not just now." She took a deep breath and sighed. "I just wanted to know if you would like to kiss me."

"Sure," he said. "Anytime, anyplace, anywhere."

She placed her hands on his shoulders and stood on her tiptoes. "How about now?"

He put his hands on her waist and leaned toward her.

She closed her eyes and felt his lips touch hers. I wish Lindy, Becca and Amy were just the way they were before the dance. I wish they were back in their human forms. Oooh, I'm so glad I asked Greg to kiss me...

A herd of frenzied b.u.t.terflies danced in her chest...or it might be the Orb doing its thing. Whatever, she was floating in a ginormous pool of happy.

When the kiss ended, she opened her eyes. Greg had a slightly dazed look and she imagined that she did too. "Best kiss ever," she breathed.

"You got that right." He leaned down and gave her another.

She thought that she might enjoy kissing him at length, but now she had to get rid of him to see if the spell worked.

She glanced at her watch. "Oh, it's late. You better get home. See you tomorrow."

He stepped back. "You called me over here just to kiss me?"

"Yes. Does that make me a bad person?"

He shook his head. "No. It makes you the best girlfriend ever." He gave her another short kiss and turned toward his car. "Call me anytime you need a refill. I have an endless supply with your name on them." He winked and loped to his car. He let out a war whop as he climbed in. "Best girlfriend ever!"

Flushed and wrapped in a warm and tingly feeling, she watched him drive away. This feeling was quickly extinguished when she heard a commotion coming from the house. She heaved a sigh and stepped inside.

Kelli was trying to block the back door while a furious Lindy was trying to push her way in.

"Where is she?" Lindy demanded. "I'm going to beat her like a drum. I'm going to tear her in two...I'm going to..."

"Hush!" Felicity said. "You're making a real jacka.s.s of yourself."

Lindy screamed and turned on Felicity.

"Stop!" Mercy said. "Just come inside and calm down."

All of the girls trooped into the house. When they were in the living room, Mercy turned around. The three newly-turned humans looked disheveled and scruffy. "I'm sorry I turned you into animals, but I was very upset after you threw punch on my dress at the dance." She gazed at Lindy, at Becca and at Amy in turn.

Amy ran to throw her arms around Mercy's neck. "Thanks for saving me. I was so scared. I thought for sure the farmer was going to cook me for dinner."

Lindy screamed in outrage. "Don't be an idiot, Amy." She stood with her hands fisted on her hips. "You wouldn't have needed saving if SHE hadn't changed you into a chicken." She grabbed Amy by the arm and pulled her away from Mercy. "And don't think you can be my friend if you ever hug her again."

Kelli and Felicity began speaking at once, contrasting with the voices of Becca, Amy and Lindy. Mercy remained silent.

At that moment, the television came on, blasting through the din with an ear-splitting tone.

"All right you people. Break it up." Darynda sent a little finger wave to Mercy. "I have a decision from the council. Unfortunately, the decision was not in your favor."

"Oh, no!" Desperation gathered in Mercy's stomach. How could she exist without her best friends?

"Who is that creepy woman?" Lindy asked, still holding Amy by the arm. "And what is the council?"

Becca fisted her hands on her hips, mimicking Lindy's stance. "Yeah, who is that creepy woman?"

Darynda straightened her spine and glared at Mercy. "Are these your friends?" she asked, her voice dripping ice.

Mercy swallowed hard. "Well, sort of."

"Fine." She pointed her finger at Lindy, Amy and Becca. "They have forgotten you." The screen went dark.

"Where are we?" Lindy demanded. "And who are you?" She gazed down her nose at Mercy.

"Yeah, Becca echoed. "Who are you?"

Mercy opened her mouth, but no words came out. She wasn't sure what had just happened, but somehow her best friends were still her best friends and the mean girls had forgotten who she was.

Lindy jabbed a finger at Kelli and Felicity in turn. "I know both of you losers...but who is that?" Her finger pointed at Mercy. "And how did I get here?"

There was a moment of silence and then everyone began speaking at once.

Felicity held up both hands. "Stop! Just stop." Everyone gazed at her expectantly. "Lindy, you don't have to be so rude. Kelli and I found you wandering on the road and were going to take you home, but we stopped at the home of this nice stranger because you said you were thirsty."

"On the road?" Lindy looked to Becca for confirmation and got a shrug instead.

"Yes," Felicity continued. "And this nice stranger offered you water, and then you went all crazy and started yelling."

Kelli nodded. "I think we should take you home. You probably just need a good night's sleep."

Mercy held her breath while Lindy appeared to be mulling things over.

"Yes, you losers can take me home," Lindy snarled. "This place gives me the creeps." She moved to the door and turned around. "Where is my car? We were in my car and that's all I remember."

Felicity opened the front door and gave her a little nudge. "Maybe you had car trouble and that's why you were walking."

"Let's go." Kelli jingled her keys enticingly.

Lindy and Becca swept past her and trooped out the door.

Amy followed uncertainly. "Thanks for the water," she called to Mercy and gave a little wave before she turned and ran after Lindy.

Kelli turned to Mercy and made a funny face, rolling her eyes up in her head.

"What happened?" Felicity asked.

"It was the witch's council. Darynda made them forget ever knowing me. She thought Lindy, Becca and Amy were my friends and accidentally zapped them."

Felicity followed Kelli and Mercy closed the door behind them. She collapsed against the door and heaved a deep sigh.

"Don't for a single moment think that I ever do anything by accident."

Mercy turned to see Darynda on the television screen. She wore a smirk on her face and held a rolled up paper in her hand.

"You knew?" Mercy ran to the front of the TV. "Then how come you..."

Darynda made a scoffing noise. "I asked if they were your friends and you claimed them. My orders from the council only specified that I make your friends forget ever having made your acquaintance. So, I did zap them into forgetfulness." She winked. "What a rude bunch of girls. No magick in them at all."

Mercy collapsed in a heap on the floor in front of the screen. "Oh, thank you. You've solved so many of my problems in one zap." She sucked in a deep breath and released it. The monster huge log jam in her chest broke loose and she felt as though she could breathe for the first time in a long time.

"You're welcome. See, Kelli and Felicity aren't your only friends."

Mercy grinned. "Thanks, Darynda. I'll try to be a good friend to you too."

Darynda snorted. "I'll hold you to that." She held out the rolled up paper and it extended toward Mercy. "This is for you."

Mercy took the paper, feeling the tingle radiate from her fingertips as she grasped it. "What is this?" She unrolled the heavy parchment paper and stared at the squiggly lines that danced before her eyes.

"Congratulations. You have pa.s.sed your first field test and reached Level I in witchdom. That is your official certificate of achievement."

The squiggles formed into letters written in a language she didn't understand.

Mercy was wrapped in the Orb's glow and the tingly feeling from the certificate. She thought there were also leftover tingles from Greg's kisses. "Darynda, what about my grandmother? When will she come back?"

Darynda pressed her lips together. "That is up to her. Lavinia is on a very important mission. I know that she won't give up until she has done what she intended to accomplish or until she's..." Darynda stopped abruptly and clamped her lips together.

Mercy leaned forward, still clutching the parchment. "Dead? You can't mean dead."