“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy Birthday to Jessica!” The mage took a swig. “Happy birthday to me.”

Sitting alone, solemn in her home, the redhead enjoyed the summer night air as it rushed through her window and brushed her long, sweeping hair. Scooting on the stool, facing out the window into the night sky, she could see a blanket of royal blue embroidered with gleaming balls of light.

“Seventeen and drinking. What I wouldn’t give to be one of those stars. What I wouldn’t give to be Brian or Adriana and fly up to the clouds, reach out and touch those stars. What I wouldn’t give to be Matthew and be one of those stars or be Sarah and live with someone like that. I can’t think of anything for Eric.”

Just as she ended her tirade, the girl heard a thump on her door. Putting down her bottle, she shuffled over, not out inebriation, but just an unwillingness to care. Without hesitation, the mage yanked open the door to see her friend standing outside, looking down on her. She hated being the second shortest in their group, the runt in the litter, even if she was only inches shorter than the rogue.

“What do you want Adriana?” In the moonlight, she could see her friend’s trademark sarcastic face, eyebrows raised, eyes half open, a half smile.

“Well I wanted to wish you happy a birthday before you blacked out.”

“Ha ha, very funny.” The mage broke eye contact, unable to bear the smug face any longer. “I just started before you rudely interrupted me.”

“I didn’t really come here to chastise you; if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to have a drink myself.”

Taking a step back, Jessica ushered the girl in, closing the door and making her way over to the counter. “You’re in luck, I’ve had several drinks prepared for such an occasion. Honestly, I don’t mind sharing, just ask for whatever.”

Adriana pointed to a red, thick glass bottle on the second row of a shelf that seemed to rise way too high for a girl as short as Jessica, at least without a step ladder which she seemed bereft of. Uncorking the bottle, pouring it in the glass, and putting it aside, the two toasted, “To the queen.”

After a clink the two took their shots, Adriana regretting her choice. It was only a month since she investigated the sewer, yet this drink brought the memory hurtling back. “Oof, maybe the drunk life isn’t for me. Didn’t need to know what the sewer tasted like, I already got a long whiff last month.”

“Hey I just got a bunch of drinks, some might be good, some are going to horrible. It’s luck of the draw, and I guess for a rogue, you’re not that lucky.”

“You’re thinking of thieves. They need the luck to steal stuff, I just scout.”

“Ya need the luck to not get caught if you’re in danger. Speaking of, why’d you hesitate to toast? I doubt you’d break the glass with your ‘meaty’ arms.”

Adriana gazed at her glass, then the bottle. She didn’t want to drink the sewer water again, but it might be better than admitting her reason for hesitating. “Well” she took a breath, “I guess it’s instinctual. I don’t trust the queen, I think she’s the reason behind the kidnapping.”

“Why would she have her own daughter kidnapped?”

“Matthew thinks it’s to bring back faith in the whole prodigy thing. People were not happy with the queen, so she had her daughter kidnapped and had us bring her back. Now everyone thinks we’re heroes.”

“Seems like a simple plan, but I guess it worked. Where does Jade and the seven sins fit into all that? Have you guys told the others? And what are we going to do about it?”

Adriana began tapping the table with her index finger, recalling her many theories and plans. “In order: I don’t know, I’ve told Eric and Brian but I don’t think Matthew has told Sarah, and I’m not sure.”

“Okay, so one out of three. Not good. Sarah said Jade killed her team for getting too close to the tower. I don’t know why, but that sounds too extreme. Maybe it’s the alcohol talking, but I think something darker is going on.”

“Everyone has been uneasy. I had a funny feeling a week or so before I convinced Matt to explore the sewers with me. Found a bunch of killer plants and the panel Lucy talked about, but there was only dirt in front of it. I didn’t tell Matthew this, but I went back alone -terrible idea, I know, but I had to check that there was no other loose panel- and I found nothing.”

“Ugh, creepy.” Jessica rubbed her forehead, playing with her bangs. “Why don’t we talk about something else. How’s Eric doing? And that slime of his?”

“Eh, fine. Eric called the slime blue, and he’s been studying it here and there. He thinks he might find something, and if he doesn’t, it’ll still make a nice pet. I’ve actually enjoyed it, it knows how to play fetch” the rogue giggled to herself.

“Huh, never thought a smile would sound cute.” The mage took another shot, blowing off some steam as she tilted backwards. “You know, I’ve always wondered how you do it.”

“How I do what?” The tension easing up, the rogue followed suit and sat upright instead of leaning over the counter.

“You and Sarah can, well, get guys. You’d think some guy would want me, but no. I tried the good-looking ones, the hot ones, and the attractive ones, and nothing.”

“Are we really talking about this? And Jess, good-looking, hot, and attractive are all the same thing. Generally speaking.”

“Uh, not for me. But anyways, I lowered my standard to the average-looking ones, the okay ones, and the sort of attractive ones.”

“Again, all the same thing. Maybe you should try to-“

“Let me finish.” The rogue was losing patience with her friend, but Jessica pressed on, seemingly unaware. “Finally I lowered my standards to the ugly ones, the desperate ones, and the unattractive ones.”

“I have a hard time believing that.”

“Well I did! And you know what?” Adriana shook her head, wondering if it was time to leave the girl to sulk. “Not a single one wanted to date me. Am I that ugly?”

“Physically no, but when you get crazy like this, I can’t help but feel sorry for the idiot that sticks around.”

“So you’re saying I should be goody-two-shoes Sarah?”

“Well,” the rogue sighed, “not being a witch would be a start. I know that’s a foreign concept, but if you gave it a try, you might find it helps.”

Adriana bared herself for the yelling or screaming to ensue, but Jessica simply sat up, closed her eyes and waved her hand nonchalantly.

“Yeah yeah, I guess I should.” The mage leaned close, signaling the rogue to do the same. With a one hand embrace, she whispered into Adriana’s ear, “Thanks for coming over for my birthday. I know I’m a pain in the butt, so I really appreciate it.”

“Take it easy birthday girl. I’m going to go and take this bottle, see if Eric likes it. Maybe Blue might like it, I don’t know.” When the mage finally released her friend from the hug, Adriana took the red bottle and left, making sure to close the window on her way out. “You should probably keep your windows closed, in case you do something a little crazy while drunk. Just saying.”

Sitting on her wooden stool, alone again, the mage took another swig. And another. And another, but now the bottle was empty. Getting down from the stool felt like jumping off a building to Jessica, her legs threatening to collapse. ‘C’mon Jess, don’t be a lightweight, stand up’ her thoughts beat on her until her temporary vision distortion had corrected itself and she had control over her legs again, if just barely.

‘What’s Adri know anyways? It’s just one night of drinking, just to celebrate my birthday. It’s not like I’ll be hitting the bottle every day.’ Stumbling over to the couch, the redhead plopped herself down on her back, stretched herself out, and let her thoughts drift. ‘I’m too tired to do anything insane anyways. Not that I’ve done anything, but I still get tired. She probably thinks I’m lazy, or dumb, or weird. Well okay, everyone thinks -no, everyone knows I’m weird, but she probably…eh hell with it.’ The mage nodded off in a haze of chaotic thoughts.