We'd ordered lots of things to share: nachos, ribs, chicken wings, pizzas, wedges, along with some large pitchers of beer and a few cocktails. I was usually quite partial to a whisky sour, but on this occasion had decided beer went better with the food.
"So I know you're through, but how did it go?" Stu asked me. "You reckon there's a real chance I might lose my favourite waitress and bartender?"
Yep, I worked there, and ate there in my downtime. I told you I loved the place.
I shrugged my shoulders. "We got through to the next round, but after that who knows? Could be sent packing and then that's the end of that."
Stu tilted his head looking at me. To say he was only about five years older than I was, he acted like my dad.
"'Keep a positive mind. Negativity attracts negativity'." I mimicked in his voice. "I'll meditate on manifesting my success later." I rolled my eyes at him.
"You can scoff. I manifested my entire business and I'm loaded. Both in money and down my pants, so mock me. I'll stand throwing dollar bills at you."
"We're British."
He shrugged. "One pound coins would hurt, and then you'd sue me for a workplace injury."
I laughed.
"So when will I see you on the television and be able to tell all my friends I know you?"
"There are the live auditions after this. If we get through that it's then the judges' choices for who goes through to the live finals. So don't be advertising my job anywhere just yet."
"One day you'll make it, Stace. Whether it's now or later. You've an amazing voice and it'll happen for you. I'm sure."
"If it's meant to be right?" I said. He nodded, gave me a squeeze and went back to work.
I sat looking around at the rest of the band. As well as Donna, there was Dani, Kiki, Estelle, Shonna, and Meryl. We ranged in age from twenty-three (me) to twenty-eight (Meryl and Estelle) and in the main got along really well.
"So, Donna. What's your plan to ensnare Bill then?" Dani shouted across the table, her brown curls falling in her face.
"I'll bewitch him." Donna replied.
"You can't use your powers." Estelle said bossily.
"I'm not going to use my powers; I'm going to use my innate charm."
"You mean, you're gonna flash your tits?" Dani laughed.
"You betcha." Donna giggled.
This was why I adored them. The banter and the closeness formed by a bond of women who'd come together with a love of witchcraft.
Speaking of which, I'd make sure to put a hex on Noah that meant all my coven sisters found him repellent. You weren’t allowed to use magic for your own personal gain, so I'd make the spell to protect my fellow witch sisters from him sucking their blood.
Simple.
Britain's Best New Band was run by the same team as those that ran the X-Factor and a thought came to me to make me smile.
Maybe we'd picked the wrong show.
Because Noah had the ex-factor and would have the hex-factor.
I sniggered into my beer.
That was not how this was meant to play out, but it sure was punny.
Two years ago – Rock Hard Bistro
"I'll have a glass of champagne please and the blackened salmon. What would you like Aunty?" The customer said in a cut-glass accent.
I took both orders. It was a rare quietish night due to the fact it had been raining solid for three days and people were no doubt choosing to stay in and order takeaways.
After I'd delivered their drinks to the table, the younger one, who I'd noted was uber-stylish with her sleek bobbed hair and gorgeous green silk wrap-dress, clutched her head.
"Are you okay?" I panicked. The last thing I needed tonight was drama. I just wanted to do my shift and get home.
"She's fine. She has visions." The older lady said, as if she was stating the younger woman had epilepsy. It was a good job I was a witch and knew other things walked the earth than humans or I’d have been sending for men in white coats. "Ebony? Ebony. Are you seeing something?"
Ebony had been looking like she'd already had several glasses of champagne, but as I watched she came around. Then she grabbed my wrist, making me jump.
"You have to enter a competition. Britain's Best New Band. In 2020. It's your destiny."
I stared at her for a long moment. She knew I was musical? Or was this a hoax as you could take a guess that a person working in a rock bistro liked music.
"You need to listen to her." The other woman said. "My niece doesn't come to London very often these days. She lives near the beach in a place called Withernsea, so you're unlikely to get her advice again. Enter the competition."
"O- okay." I answered.
And that was that. The two women continued with their evening like nothing strange had happened at all, and I knew that it was time for my band to practice to enter their first serious competition.
Because my destiny was there.
Whatever that was.
Of course, I suspected part of that destiny would be tied up with Noah Granger. Finally, it was time to get my revenge or to put the past firmly in the past.
And now here we were, through to the next round.
I was meant to be here. I just didn't know why yet.
Noah
We were through to the first round of auditions with the judges. It was everything I'd hoped for and more. We'd spent years gigging and being talent-spotted, only for something to not work out at the last minute. The Para-not-normals had endured many highs and lows over the last few years, but now I hoped we could finally catch the break we deserved.
I wasn't being egotistical. We were that good.
If you'd told me about destiny a few years ago, I'd have thought you were a crazy person. But that was before I learned about the paranormals living amongst us. Deep inside, I knew this band was meant to be, and I had three friends who meant the world to me. Were my brothers in every way but biological.
I'd lost touch with Mya this year and hadn't heard from her through the mind link. She was the sort of woman who liked a new muse and she'd moved on, no doubt to sire another protégé. The last thing that she'd said to me was that I was reaching my potential, she could see that now, and it was time for her to find someone else who needed her help.
"The Para-not-Normals," the crew member shouted to us as we sat in the seating area with hundreds of other people.
"Do you think their clipboards actually have anything written on them, or just make them feel important?" Zak mused.
"Nick one and have a look." Rex suggested.
"No one will be pinching anything. We need to keep professional. Now let's go and show the judges and audience what we're made of." I said sternly.
"What bit your arse?" Zak huffed.
"No one in a long, long time. That's probably his problem." Rex guffawed.
We followed the clipboard guy up some steps and backstage where Zak's eyes immediately landed on the blonde haired, blow-job lipped co-presenter Harley Davies.
"Oh my. I need her on my dick." He mused. Clipboard guy gave him a dirty look.