What. WHAT! Are you-I—huh?

I have no idea who said it, but whoever it is, they’re dumb. Well, not really, but who comes to that conclusion? Sure I was rambling a bit, ok maybe a lot, but it’s not l Ike I was declaring my undying love for ‘her’ or anything… was I? Uhhh…

“What, no. No. No way. Why on earth would I? I don’t know anything about her! Besides, I’m not the type to crush on random people. You guys know that!”

Basing off the blank looks I received, I suppose not. Then Isabel spoke up.

“I’m pretty sure at one point you said she was really attractive. Multiple times actually” I drop my head into my hands. Of course I said that. Mental note, never ramble when emotional again. I’m totally breaking that rule in the near future. But she is. I’m not, but Silver Witch is. Which makes no sense, because she IS me, but yeah. Shut up Rhiann.

“I didn’t realise you liked girls.”

“Neither did I. I don’t know what I like.” Jen reaches over and holds my hand.

“Rhiann, it’s ok to like girls, no one’s going to judge you.” I groan.

First, I’m accused of having a crush on myself (their tone of voice was accusatory!), now my friends are discussing my sexuality. Without my input. In my peripheral, I notice Tara looking very uncomfortable. Understandable, this is weird.

“Tara, you know I don’t have a crush on her, right?”

“Yeah.” I sigh in relief. At least Tara can see reason.

Maybe this is a side-effect of the flower spell? I’m grasping at straws, sure, but it’s a reason right? Anything to make them stop. Or perhaps I should stop digging my own grave. One of these days.

“Anyway, it doesn’t matter, if I were ever to meet her, she wouldn’t be interested in me, I’m mediocre.” Plus it’s ME!

At this comment, I received a bunch of ‘awws’ and ‘oh sweetie’ and ‘you’re beautiful Rhiann!’. Yeah ‘cause that’s going to raise my self-esteem. Which already took a tumble when no-one recognised me. Understandable of course, I look like a completely different person in costume. But seriously, I’ve known these people for years!

I tune everyone out and turn on my laptop. Earlier today, I had saved a bunch of images from news articles that were related to me. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but honestly, they don’t do me justice. In the pictures I look confident, calm and dare I say even sexy. Which is uncomfortable to think about to begin with.

I feel the presence of someone looking over my shoulder. I suppose I’m not helping myself by looking at pictures of her-me. Am I having an identity crisis? A quarter life crisis? Either way I’m a mess. It’s only week 2 and I’m losing it. It is week 2 right?

“You’re looking at pictures of her.”

“Yup.” Popping the p.

“So you do have a crush on her.”

“Nope.” I close my laptop in defeat, if the conversation keeps on this topic, I think I might pull my hair out. I’ll never escape it. “I just like the costume.”

“And the person in it!” Emily Brearley adds.

“Shut up Emily!”

The conversation continued into next break, much to my displeasure. Great, more reassuring statements. I wasn’t already sick of them.

Much to my surprise (and relief) it didn’t last for very long. However, the topic was still Silver Witch. I’m surprised that everyone has managed to stay on the same topic for so long. As well as the lack of crude comments.

This time they were discussing her abilities. I was reading the spell book, listening in and commenting every now and then while my laptop and iPod recorded the conversation. It’s not creepy.

I’d finally decided to look into the apparent exhaustion I experienced after using magic. Which was to look into now that the book obeyed my every command (apparently that was the result of a spell a previous witch had cast on it).

15th of May 1856

I am concerned with the level of exhaustion I have been going through recently. I believe it is due to the energy displacement that occurs when using magic. So I have decided to conduct an experiment.

18th of May 1856

I have discovered the effects of magic usage on the body is not limited to exhaustion. The energy displacement has also caused my weight to decrease significantly, meaning I will have to consume more food to balance out the displacement.

This may cause a number of problems for a lady of my social standing.

Princesse de Broglie

Well. At least I won’t have to worry about weight problems anymore. Which is great because I have noticed every costume is basically skin tight (and kind of skimpy). But now I will constantly be tired. Because I enjoy that. Falling grades here I come.

“Hey Rhiann, what do you think?” Isabel’s question and a nudge to the side pull me out of my internal grumbling.

“Hm?” I send a confused look her way.

“Do you think she has actual magic, or it’s an illusion?”

“So basically whether I think magic exists or not? Yeah.” This comment causes a couple of people to start arguing, something that sounds like it just happened before.

“Seriously, why?”

“You sound like you’ve all been discussing this. So whatever the ‘believers’ said.” I think this struck a nerve, because everyone’s voices rose at least 10 decibels. It’s not like I could tell them I know because I can do magic myself.

This continued to rage on around me, while I stuck my nose back in the book. I should probably start looking for a rejuvenating spell. Or start investing in vitality tea.

After all, I can’t fight crime if I’m already fighting exhaustion