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“Surely this can be defined as masochistic behaviour.” I grumbled to myself as I gracefully fell out of bed and made my way sluggishly across my room to my desk, upon which lay the evil contraption that I my very self had set the night before to get myself up at the ungodly hour of 6:30 on a Sunday morning.

Quit mocking me, you stupid incessant irritating thing.

I pulled on a pair of baggy jeans and my Discworld Jamboree t-shirt, and went down into the kitchen.

“Mornin’ Momma, how was your thingy last night?” I asked, dropping a kiss on her cheek.

“Morning, Lizzy-Bee. It was boring, tiresome, full of snobby women who think they’re better than everyone else. Amanda and I kept getting glares from everyone, it was hilarious.”

Mom co-owned a café with Mona’s mom, and had to go to a convention like thing once a month to meet other café owners. Mona and I think that the meet was made so everyone could scope out the competition and ‘swap’ recipes with one another, just to bitch about each other behind their backs. Like High School all over again. Dangerous territory.

I got myself a bowl of Nesquik cereal, and sat down opposite her, “Meet any new people?”

She chuckled as she twisted her dark brown hair up into a clip, “There’s a new café owner, um...Crumpets. Jane Samson. Jane dragged her son, Zachary, with her, poor thing had nothing to do except play nice to all the snobs.” I grinned, I knew fully well how horrible those meets were when you had no-one to talk to. “He’s in your year, going to start at Greenwoods, so maybe you could befriend him or something.”

“Sounds good, Mona and I might drop by Crumpets sometime, check out the food.” I grinned cheekily.

She laughed, “You just want to scope out the new eye candy, I know you and Mona.” She wasn’t like other café owners, she didn’t mind me going to other cafés. “How is Dex, anyway?”

I stuck out my tongue playfully, “Can we help it? We’re sixteen, we need something to keep us occupied. Ah, ditched. Yesterday. He was bored with me.” I shrugged.

She scowled, “He was obnoxious anyway.”

“I know, I was going to break up with him soon, anyway. It was just the way he done it that vexed me; he didn’t even have the decency to pull me to the side and do it.”

She patted my hand, “Just don’t focus on your dislike for him too much, we don’t want him to catch anything.”

I smiled, “Don’t worry, Mom, I’m in check.” I tapped my head.

She stood up and brushed her trousers down, “Come on, you’re on the till today.”

Jinxie and Moo’s Café was named after Mona and I – our nicknames. It was a bookshop-slash-café with internet access and Wi-fi. Blues and creams were on the walls, with cream sofas and plush armchairs, giving it a relaxed atmosphere and a great place to hang out after school.

Mona danced in about an hour after we’d opened, “Guess what?” She sang.

“You’ve finally stopped becoming a closet smartarse?”

Mona laughed, “Nup, and I’m not, thank you very much. Nuh-uh. I’ve finally stopped working at Braxals, so I can work here! Isn’t it awesome?”

I looked at her in confusion, “But you hate the smell of coffee.”

She rolled her eyes playfully, “Duh. That’s why I’m gunna be doing the books. So totally prefer the smell of old books to icky coffee. I don’t know how you can stand it, Lizzy-Bee, I have to practically plug up my nose half the time.”

I shrugged, “Coffee addict, what can I say? So, when you starting, Apple?” I passed her a slice of chocolate cake to devour.

“Now, soon, in about an hour. New recipe?”

I grinned, “I was bored last week. Idiot dumped me yesterday.”

“Better off without him. What happened?”

I relayed everything to her as I put the dirty plates in the dishwasher and turned it on.

“So that’s why it was raining yesterday, huh? You were irritated with him? I wonder what Nona would do if she found out...” Mona and I were cousins, and so shared the same Grandmother, so she knew of the powers, and also held some power.

What would Nona say? She’d probably say what mom said and tell me to keep myself in check.

“Well, I’d better start, Jinx. Don’t wish me luck!” She poked her tongue out at me cheekily.

“Don’t tempt me, Moo!” I called to her, she laughed as she walked up the stairs to the bookshop.

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