Talking About It

Once everyone had arrived and introduced themselves to the new girl, and food and drink orders had been placed, the conversation began to flow. Maisie was, of course, most interested to hear from Craig, but it was another voice that was dominating.

"So, are you coming to our party on Saturday, Emily?" Kelly asked.

"I am, and I'm looking forward to it" Maisie replied politely. She was actually dreading a long night surrounded by drunk and horny teenagers, trying to act as a stealth chaperone.

"That's cool. I think we should make a pact that we all have to get laid that evening" Kelly suggested "You don't have a boyfriend back home do you, Emily? I mean, kind of a dick move for you to leave him to come here for a whole semester if you did"

"I don't" Maisie smiled patiently "But I'm not really looking to get laid on Saturday"

"I'm not either" Tammy added "I just want to have fun and celebrate my birthday"

"Oh, come on Tammy, you'll be eighteen, time to finally pop that cherry!" Kelly teased "I don't know what you're saving yourself for. Marriage? If you want to have fun at your party that's the best way to do it. And you're so cute you could have your pick of the guys! Mixed race is the hottest, after all"

"Kelly!" Jessie interjected in protest.

"What? Are you seriously trying to suggest that was racist? Tammy is mixed race, that's a fact, and I didn't use any derogatory language" Kelly defended herself "Also, it was a compliment. I'd love to be mixed rather than boring old white. Anyway, let's talk about something else since I seem to have embarrassed Tammy. Are you a virgin, Emily?"

"No" Maisie responded quickly"Next question"

"Okay. Whereabouts in England are you from?"

"Lincoln, you probably won't have heard of it"

"Oh but I have, that's where the curse is from!" Kelly widened her eyes and made a spooky gesture with her hands "Have you heard of our family curse, Em?"

"Family curse?" Craig gave Jess a puzzled look.

"I'm pretty sure that's an old wives tale" Maisie attempted to shut the conversation down.

"Yeah, it's bullshit" Haley agreed.

"I don't know, I heard my Mom and yours talking years ago when they didn't think I was in earshot, Hales" Kelly revealed between sips of her drink "Apparently that's why Grandma Carly is so fucked up."

"Nah, she just had an asshole ex who wouldn't leave her alone, it was nothing to do with curses" Haley disagreed.

"Can we not talk about this here please, there's an adult male present" Tammy gestured nervously over at Craig.

Maisie now felt fully vindicated in her decision to tell her kids about the curse. Holly, Mel and Kylie had each attempted to keep it a secret, and it seemed the result was their daughters all half knew about it. That was far more dangerous. Of the three cousins present, only Tammy seemed to be taking it seriously.

"Wait, what? So you're saying you're all cursed?" Craig asked again.

"That's right, you can claim one of us and turn us into your personal sex ****" Kelly laughed "I mean, presumably you'd chooses Jess, but then she's already fucking you. You could have someone else as a bonus. How about Emily?"

"Shut up, Kelly!" Tammy panicked.

"It's okay Tammy, she's just being an idiot and showing off because there's someone new here. The curse isn't real" Haley consoled her cousin.

"Well, we can prove that easily enough one way or another can't we?" Kelly suggested "It's your 18th birthday today, Haley. Let's find a nice cute waiter to claim you!"

"Fine, if it shuts you up" Haley folded her arms and rolled her eyes.

"Kelly, stop this you fucking twat!" Jessie demanded.

"Yeah, this seems like a really bad idea" Maisie attempted to back up her daughter more diplomatically before things got out of hand.

"Why? I thought it was an old wives tale? How about that one over there, Hales? He looks like your type and I clocked him checking you out earlier" Kelly raised her hand and clicked her fingers, causing a handsome young waiter to come rushing over.

"Kelly, stop it!" Tammy pleaded.

"It's fine" Haley insisted "Let her make a fool of herself, nothing is going to happen to me."

But Maisie knew differently. She really didn't want to blow her cover, but if this didn't stop soon she was going to have to intervene.

"What do you think of my cousin here? Cute isn't she?" Kelly gestured towards Haley.

"She sure is" the waiter smiled eagerly.

"Well, how would you like to know a really cool secret about her? You'll be glad I told you first"

"Okay, sure"

"Well....."

Maisie was on the verge of literally jumping across the table to cover Kelly's mouth with her hand but..

"...we're having a party on Saturday and she's going to be there. You should come. I'll leave you the address on a napkin before we leave. Bring some of your buddies if you like"

"Sure thing!" the waiter smiled "I'll see you guys there"

"You're such an idiot" Haley rolled her eyes as the waiter went back to his work, apparently oblivious to how close she had just come to a life ruining disaster.

"What? I just did you a solid, he's cute!" Kelly shrugged "I need to make sure I approve of him first before I let him claim my cousin though"

"Don't joke about the curse like that, it's not funny!" Tammy complained.

"Fine, let's talk about something else, since none of you people can have a sense of humour about some bullshit fairy tale" Kelly sighed.

Maisie was also quietly sighing, but with relief. That had been way too close a call. She hadn't realised just what a perilous position Jessie's cousins were currently in. She knew now she was going to have to stay as Emily at least until she could find a way to save them for themselves. In particular, the upcoming party seemed a potential minefield for the curse to be triggered for one or all three of them, with so many boys there and so much **** involved. She was going to have her work cut out keeping them safe.

As for the other issue, she hadn't really noticed anything off about Craig, though he hadn't been given much of a chance to get a word in edgewise with Kelly around. He did seem rattled to find out that the curse backstory he had been given didn't check out, and the knowledge he now had could be dangerous, for Jessie as well as the others.

Maisie figured she should spend the next couple of days sticking close to Jessie, and trying to get her to open up about the true nature of her relationship with her master. Then would come the party, and Maisie currently didn't have a clue how she was supposed to approach that.