“If there is a witch the candle will explode and burn them with the witches mark for all to see,” Stratus said dramatically.

Everyone giggled but Quinn.

Stratus pulled out a matchbox and struck a match. Then she carefully lit the wick of the candle. The simple white candle started melting quickly and black wax dripped down the sides, then the flame went out.

“You totally blew it out.” Michelle accused.

“No, I didn’t you did.” Avery shot back.

“Did not.”

“Well someone did,” Cassidy said.

Stratus looked at Quinn and Quinn looked at her. Her blue eyes glowed just before the candle exploded.

The fire came alive and grabbed hold of Stratus, wrapping its hand around her throat. Burning a mark into her skin.

Quinn stood over her and smirked. Her arm glowing an intense blue as the flame changed colors to match.

‘Stratus…’ a voice called out of nowhere.

                                                                   ***

Stratus shot forward in bed just as her alarm clock went off. She gasped for air finding it hard to breathe.

“Hey, hey, hey, shh, it’s okay. It was just a nightmare.” Her mom quickly walked over to her bed.

Stratus took in big gulps of air, flinging her covers off of her. Her mom moved to turn the alarm off. Stratus wiped the sweat from her forehead.

“The same?” Her mom asked.

Stratus nodded, still trying to get a hold of herself.

“Maybe I should enroll you in counseling.” Her mom frowned.

“No, I’m okay, it’s okay.” Stratus let out a shaky breath.

“Stratus you’ve been having the same nightmare for two years now. That’s not healthy.”

“No, it’s not the same. It’s different now. This one was different. This time the fire was blue.”

“Okay… I don’t see how that helps your side of the argument here.”

“It’s changing because I am slowly dealing with it. My way. I don’t need counseling.”

“Fine, by the way, Quinn is here to pick you up today. I asked her to come, I have to take Laken to the dentist. Wish me luck.” her mom patted her leg before getting up and walking out.

Stratus sighed and got out of bed. She did a full body shake to shake off the last bits of her nightmare before walking over to her closet.

A light knock on the door frame drew her attention. Quinn was standing there with her signature smirk on her face.

“Hey.” She said casually.

“Hey.” Normally the smirk wouldn’t bother her, but with her nightmare still fresh, she found herself being cautious.

“If you hurry we can go get breakfast together,” Quinn suggested.

“Why are you here so early?”

“I was up anyways. I had to go to the police station and try and convince them to give me my backpack back, for school.”

“How did that go?” Stratus turned back to her closet.

“Well I got my bag, but they kept most of the stuff in it. Just to be jackasses. So, I might be copying and borrowing your stuff for a while.” She walked into the room.

“As if you don’t already do that.” Stratus rolled her eyes picking out a shirt to wear.

“When you put it that way.” Quinn chuckled sitting on the bed.

Stratus pulled out some pants to wear before turning to face Quinn. She caught Quinn checking her out, eyeing her butt. Quinn quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks going red. Stratus felt her own cheeks warm up, she didn’t know how to react to that so she ignored it.

“Um, I got to change.” Stratus indicated to her outfit.

“Right, sorry.” Quinn got up from the bed and walked out.

Quinn made her way downstairs Where Mr. Belview shoved a piece of toast in his mouth before grabbing his briefcase and running out the door, waving bye to her on the way out. She inspected the house, it wasn’t like it was her first time there but she just liked to be nosey.

“Stratus likes Quinn, Stratus likes Quinn.” Laken teased Stratus from the doorway.

“Leave me alone, pest, and what makes you think I like Quinn?” she crossed her arms.

“She has on Black lipstick.” He smirked.

Stratus felt her face get hot.

“Tell mom and I’ll murder you in your sleep, or better yet, I’ll murder your Xbox.” She glared at him.

He ran off in a giggling fit. She slammed the door.

Quinn ran her hands along the things sitting on the entry table, eyeing a notice about a past due light bill. Then she went into the dining area which was all open and connected to the living room. She opened the drawers to the dining room cabinet her eyes falling on a locked pistol. She picked it up and inspected the lock, it was very simple, and the key was right next to it. She rolled her eyes before putting it back.

When she heard someone coming downstairs she casually hopped up on the counter and sat there, as is she hadn’t been doing anything. Stratus had on a long sleeve sweater shirt and a scarf, boots to match.

“We still got time to kill, wanna go get some breakfast?” Quinn asked.

It was then that Stratus noticed what Quinn was wearing. Quinn’s long hair was braided back into a French braid and draped over her shoulder. not like how she usually wears it simply leaving it down. Her lips were jet Black and her eye shadow smoky with the perfect cat eye liner. Her black pants were tight and ripped up with purple striped patches. She wore her usual chucks with purple striped socks. Her crop top was mesh at the top and black at the bottom, it had one long sleeve on her right arm the other arm had no sleeve. She also wore her leather jacket.

She was stunning, to say the least.

“What?” Quinn asked when Stratus had been staring too long.

“I just noticed what you are wearing.” She admitted.

“Yeah? You like?”

“You look hot.” She said before she realized what she said was weird now and might be taken as more than friendly, “I mean, you look great. Like uh, you know, out there.”

“Relax you don’t have to be weird around me.” Quinn chuckled hopping down from the counter.

“Right.” she forced a nervous laugh.

When Stratus walked outside she didn’t see Quinn’s hatchback, instead, she saw a black convertible Porsche. Her jaw dropped to the floor. Quinn laughed.

“I thought you might like it. I’ve had this poor baby collecting dust for a while. I can’t really use it with everyone, no room, but this morning I drove to the warehouse and switched out cars. Thought I’d give her a stretch. We are going to drive in style.” She hopped into the driver’s side.

“Oh my god! Since when did you have this!” She went into fangirl mode.

“It was my dad’s, I got it when he died. So she’s not brand new but she is still young.”

“Quinn! How many other badass things do you have that I don’t know about?” she sat in the passenger seat.

“Two more cars, a boat, jet skies, and a few other things. The hatchback was actually my grandma’s. Buckle up.”

They went and got a bite to eat at the local diner before heading to school. When they pulled up to the school Joan Jett's Bad reputation was blaring. Everyone turned and watched the sweet Porsche parked into a reserved spot. The spot was always empty not even the staff knew who it belonged to, only the principal. He could recall the day Quinn requested to reserve that spot, she even paid extra for it. He was always puzzled that she never used it, well now he knew why she wanted it back then.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Nevaeh said as Stratus and Quinn stepped out of the car looking like models out of a magazine.

Quinn pressed the keypad and the soft top went back into place on its own. Then a small beep let out, indicating that the car was locked. Then the two linked arms and walked inside.

“Well, that’s one way to make an entrance.” Izzy’s eyes went wide.

“Since when did she have that car?” Harley said in amazement.

“Look at me, I’m Quinn, I’m rich, I have a Porsche.” Nevaeh mocked.

The other two snickered.

The three girls quickly walked inside to meet the dynamic duo.

Quinn and Stratus had stopped at the door and waited for the girls, together all five walked in. People whispered towards them, calling the Witches of Regal High suspected killers. One boy tried to get a picture of them. His flash was on. Stratus narrowed her eyes at him before marching over to him, snatching his phone away, and deleting the picture.

“Try tucking in your second stomach before attempting photography. If you weren’t resting your arms on your man boobs it might have come out better.” She snarked dropping his phone to the ground.

Many laughed around them, saying that she had just served up her morning burn.

“That never gets old.” Quinn laughed as Stratus rejoined the group.

“Rude, you don’t just take pictures of people without asking,” Izzy commented.

“Maybe we should charge, 10 bucks a picture, 15 for an autograph.” Quinn laughed.

“I’d bet I’d have enough money for college then,” Nevaeh smirked.

“And then some,” Harley added.

They walked to their usual table and sat down, Quinn reclaiming her seat at the head of the table. She plopped her bag down and pulled out a book.

“Hey.” Status said to the other girls.

“Hey to you too,” Harley said.

“Your hair…” Izzy looked to Quinn.

“You like? I thought I’d mix it up a bit.”

“We can actually see your ears now.” Nevaeh snorted in amusement.

A boy whistled at the group as he and his buddy walked by. Quinn winked at him, obviously liking the attention.

“I guess you're famous now, you were all over the news last night. The police raided your house?” Harley asked.

“I was there when it happened,” Stratus said.

“Holy cow, so they like really think you did it?” Izzy leaned into the conversation.

“Well I didn’t so they are going to be disappointed.” Quinn turned the page in her book.

“Shouldn’t you be taking this more seriously?” Neveah asked.

“Meh, why stress about it when there is nothing I can do?” Quinn didn’t look up from her book.

“When you put it that way.” Izzy shrugged.

“Hey uh, about my um, you know. Stash, did the cops get it?” Harley asked.

“Nope, come over after school if you want.”

“Stash? Wait are we talking about---”

“Yes.” Neveah cut Stratus off before she could finish.

“Seriously.” Stratus frowned.

“Don’t knock it till you try it,” Quinn smirked at her.

“How’s studying for the S.A.T. coming along?” Neveah changed the subject.

“Oh my god! I totally spaced! It’s on Sunday and today is Thursday, not to mention the party! Ugh!”

“I can come by after school if you want.”

“Please be a lifesaver,” Stratus begged.

“I’ll driver her, we can make it a thing like last time.” Izzy smiled.

“You want in?” Stratus asked Quinn.

“Nah, I think Harley and I have a thing of our own.” Quinn winked at Harley.

“Definitely.” Harley agreed.

“You better not make out again.” Stratus hissed.

“You never know.” Quinn teased, shutting her book.

“You really are an asshole you know that.” Stratus snapped at her.

“Relax, I was just teasing.” Quinn grabbed her by the chin and pulled her close so that their lips almost touched.

“Stop it.” Stratus got flustered.

“Why? I know you like it.” She teased.

“Get off it.” Stratus pushed her away.

“Fine be that way.” Quinn sighed, getting up and walking off just as the bell rang.

“What was that?” Neveah asked.

“Nothing.” Stratus lied grabbing her stuff and quickly leaving.

“Okay.” Harley awkwardly grabbed her stuff before walking off as well.

Izzy and Neveah quickly followed after.