“That’s it?” Poppy asked warily. “Hannah had a spell she performed under the moon.”
“No, that’s it for this particular spell,” the woman answered back. “Just bear in mind that not all spells work the same. Some people’s love is somewhere across space and time, some are much closer. Just keep an open mind and follow your heart. I promise it will not steer ye wrong.”
Poppy examined the vial. It was a small glass vial filled with a shimmering iridescent liquid and a cork stopper poking out the top.
She looked up to thank the woman, but she was gone. Not like walked away gone, like gone gone. It was a little unsettling, but Poppy was anxious to try the spell.
“Hey Poppy, what are you doing out here?” she heard a familiar voice call to her.
She turned around to see Josh. They had been in the same class together since first grade. He was a person who was always just around. Although Poppy hadn’t thought that much about it before, he was very attractive. He was tall with a muscular build, but he was handsome in this boy next door kind of way. His eyes were a deep blue that sparkled against perfectly tousled brown hair. He was friendly and helpful and always had a warm smile on his face. Even though Poppy didn’t know him extremely well, he was naturally comforting. It was just nice to know people like Josh existed.
“I was just on my way back. I came out here to say goodbye to someone,” Poppy said as she made her way over to him.
“How about a dance?” he asked with a soft smile.
“Haven’t you had enough dancing with me?” she asked.
They were both in the community theater’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. Josh was playing the part of Seymore, which always struck Poppy as funny. Seymore was supposed to be this nerdy little guy, and Josh was far from that. But he could sing and that is all that really counted in their little theater. Poppy, of course, was playing the part of Audrey. She loved being in the shows in Mystic Falls, but she had once dreamed of seeing her name in lights somewhere else, but here she was back in this town. A town where everyone knew everyone, but everyone especially knew her because of the orchard.
“Nah, I never get enough dancing with a beautiful woman,” he said as he held his arm out for her.
She threaded her arm through his and allowed him to lead her back to the reception and onto the dance floor. Looking around she took in the night. Hannah and Graham were lost in each other, gone and hopelessly in love. Sam and Jackson were dancing, Jackson whispering something in his ear while Sam laughed. The sun was setting on this September night and the fairy lights twinkled above the dance floor. There was something magical about this moment, besides the magic spell sitting safely in Poppy’s purse.
Josh took her hand and spun her with ease and caught her in his arms. He was quite debonair. As they danced, Poppy looked up and saw the first star in the sky. She couldn’t help but think of that spell in her purse. When she got home, she would put it into motion, and hopefully, soon she would be dancing at her own wedding and starting her own adventure.
CHAPTER 2
Poppy
When Poppy got home that night, she took the vial from her purse. The woman said to add it to her tea and drink before she went to bed. She was exhausted from the day, so she was looking forward to bed for a couple of different reasons. After she showered and washed away the makeup and the hairspray, she put on her comfy pajamas and started to make some tea.
A small creak of the floorboard alerted her to her grandmother's presence. She entered the kitchen in her housecoat and slippers. Gran was a small woman. Poppy had been taller than her since fifth grade. The rest of their family seemed to take their height from her grandfather, but her slightness of stature did nothing to deter from her position as the strong matriarch she was.
"How was the rest of the wedding?"
"It was amazing,” Poppy said with a dreamy smile on her face.
"It was a lovely ceremony," said Gran.
"It really was. I'm so happy for Hannah. She and Graham look so happy. I want that," Poppy said wistfully.
“Don’t worry, darling,” said her gran. She gently patted her hand. “Your time will come.”
Poppy had always been a hopeless romantic with big dreams. She felt like there was more to life than what existed here in Mystic Falls. She wasn't quite sure what she was looking for, but she was hoping the answer was in the potion in her purse on the table.
Poppy got a mug down and poured herself some chamomile tea. "Okay, well, I'm off to bed Gran," she said as she stopped by to kiss her on the cheek.
"Goodnight sweetheart."
Poppy left the room and grabbed her purse that contained the little vial. It was time. Tonight, was the start of a fairytale of her own.
Poppy climbed the stairs to her bedroom. It was the same room she had slept in since she was a little girl. She had gotten away for a few years when she went to college. But after her grandfather died, it was all hands on deck to manage the orchard. Of course, she moved home, but she never thought she would be here this long. She had updated the room as much as she could, changing the wall color and adding some framed photos instead of tacked up posters, but there was only so much she could do. Being almost twenty-eight living at home and working the register at her family's orchard was a little soul-crushing. There had to be more to life than this. More adventure. More romance. Just plain more.
The vial in her hand was the answer.
Poppy sat on her bed and placed the cup of tea on her nightstand. Opening the drawer, she pulled out a notebook and a pen. What was it she was looking for? She wished she knew. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to clear her mind, to hone in on what it was that she wanted. Taking the pen, she wrote the three words that came to her. Contentment. Love. Adventure. These things seem simple, but they had always been just out of her reach.
Holding the vial in her hand, she pulled the little cork out of the glass vial and sniffed it. Nothing. It had no odor. She wasn’t sure what it was, but she was ready for what it could bring. Tipping the vial, she dumped the contents into her cup. The liquid swirled and shimmered in her tea.
Now is the time, she thought. Bottoms up.
She drank the tea in little sips at first because it was still quite hot. As she blew on it, she thought of what it would bring. Hannah told Poppy she had asked for love. She had asked for a man she wouldn't have to take care of. Graham was great for her. He took care of her. He noticed her needs in a way no one ever had, even her family. Hannah was absolutely in love with him. It was a magical thing to witness. Everyone could see the magic. Although no one knew how truly magical it felt, except them.
Poppy wanted love, but more than anything she wanted adventure. She wanted a life that was as big as she was. And while, yes, she was a big person, her body was nothing compared to her personality. She was larger than life. All her life, Poppy had been told she’s too much. She never really knew if they were talking about her body, her loud mouth, or her straight forward attitude, but she tried to just let it go. Her gran always told her not to let people bother her. “Don't be limited by the small minds of people in this small town.” Those words helped Poppy keep her sparkle in those tough times. Poppy was who she was, like it or not. And this was her time. She was going to get out of here and claim the magic for herself.