Witchcraft on His Lips

t w e l v e

"something's up with you." jeno said, narrowing his eyes at mark across the table. donghyuck decided they didn't have to meet up today which mark was pretty sure was just a result of him still being pissy about mark winning the challenge taeyong set up.

"there is?" mark asked, playing the oblivious card.

"yes!" jeno insisted, "you've got this weird new vibe about you." he waved his hand around dramatically.

"how is that a bad thing?" mark asked because really he was liking this new, more attractive version of himself.

"maybe he has a crush on someone," chenle suggested. mark and jeno both gave him a look and he rolled his eyes, "oh come on, every movie and book ever proves that love is the reason people change. they start acting different and they have a certain glow to them. maybe his lover boy glow is the weird vibe." he said matter of factly with a cute little grin.

"that can't be it mark looks as pale as ever."

"gee thanks jeno."

"just telling it how it is," jeno shrugged, "i mean not only that but have you noticed those creeps stopped staring holes into your skull?"

"why yes jeno, i have noticed." mark grinned sarcastically.

"i'm just sayin'," jeno raised his hands like a white flag. he picked up his cafeteria pizza and glanced back for a moment to look at the witch's table, "as weird as they are i'll give the stalker boy credit though, he does have some gorgeously tan skin." mark felt a strange ache in his chest. he also thought it funny that he knew for a fact that donghyuck gave himself that tan artificially by charming his ceiling for at least twenty minutes a day to let the sunlight stream in. that was a secret jaemin shared with him one day when he was staring just a little too long at donghyuck in the kitchen. of all the witches jaemin was his favorite because he was polite to mark and that was all he could ask for. he didn't need them to like him but treating him with a little bit of decency would be nice.

mark threw a glance in donghyuck's direction, "yeah." he muttered, suddenly upset. if donghyuck knew mark was staring he simply ignored him, like he always did. mark didn't want it to bother him but it did.

♰

that day after school mark decided to take himself shopping because like donghyuck said, he was starting to feel awkward in his clothes. he hated that donghyuck was right about literally everything. though, he wouldn't dare give donghyuck all the credit, mark was partially shopping because he wanted to fit in better with the coven. he didn't want to be the only one wearing red and blue windbreakers, looking like any other high schooler while everyone else looked like the next edward scissor hands. in a good way of course. after sending a text to hanbin and jiwon to let him know he wasn't going to be home for a little while, he drove from school to the nearest mall. it was decent in size and had a few stores that mark had seen some pieces in at one point that were admittedly very cool.

he had never gone for the leather jackets and black ripped jeans, but today he was really eager to put them on. he didn't usually like shopping and supposed it was his weird new persona that made this feel fun. he decided he would let himself try on whatever he wanted, go with what he instantly gravitated towards. he'd also awkwardly asked jaemin for some tips so if all else failed he had some pictures from pinterest as inspiration.

the store mark decided to visit was one that looked kind of like a cave. it was so dark as he walked in he was positive he was going to trip and fall on his face. the thought that donghyuck would love to have a video of that crossed his mind. mark shook it out of his head and kept walking. the level of darkness was an exaggeration of course but mark took note of how much he kind of enjoyed it, reminding him of the psychic room at the shop. the first thing that caught his eye was a leather jacket, classic and sleek. he went over and ran his hand along the shoulder, it felt expensive and mark was pretty sure looking at the price was going to make him pass out. he walked away from it, telling himself that was an accessory and that he needed to be getting black pants or darker tee shirts.

he picked out a decent number, just guessing on his sizes, and took them back to the fitting rooms. they were small and all the light was focused on the mirrors across from the door.

"let me know if you need anything man." the worker called out, tapping the door once before walking away. mark's answer died on his tongue before he could get it out. he tugged off his pants and shirt, shivering a little. he shoved his feet through the legs of the jeans, struggling a little because this store only sold the skinniest jeans ever made. he got them on though and was able to button them up. in the mirror he watched himself walk around a little, getting used to the slightly suffocating feeling. his legs did kind of look more built than normal in them. next mark moved to the shirts, trying one after the other, enjoying the way all of them looked. he was putting a ripped pair of jeans on when there was a knock on the door.

"hey, i thought this would look great on you especially with those clothes you picked. you should give it a try." the leather jacket from the front appeared over the top of the door. mark's fingers curled around the hanger and he thanked the worker. he turned to the mirror and sighed at the reflection, he figured this was a sign.

he ended up buying everything he tried on with intentions of getting rid of his old clothes as soon as he got home. he also spent all his money, leaving him about five dollars left in his account and he made a mental note to take more shifts this coming week to compensate. struggling a little with his two stuffed bags, mark somehow made it to his car, shoving the clothes into the trunk. he sat for a moment, enjoying the content feeling that had overcome him.

as he turned on the car he noticed the rotting red car across from him was on and the man inside appeared to be staring right at him. he had very dark sunglasses on though so mark couldn't have been for sure. just to be safe mark felt it would be best if he locked the doors and got home as fast as he could. there was something uneasy about the way the man was just sitting there unmoving. he put on the radio and started to drive away, trying to relax his tense shoulders. he made it to the mall exit where the main road started and stopped, waiting at the stop sign for his turn to go. out of habit, he checked the rearview mirror only to see the same red car rolling around a corner to wait in line behind him.

mark gulped and focused back on the road. he made the right turn to get onto the highway, once again followed by the old car. it's nothing he told himself, it's just a man who has a resting bitch face who happens to be going the same way i am. it's not his fault he's scary. mark tried to push the man out of his mind and started singing along with the lyrics of the music that was flowing out of his speakers to distract himself. the car stayed pretty close to him the whole ride, and even though mark was in the designated 'slow' lane he felt like he needed to change lanes and speed up just to loose the guy. he moved to the middle lane and mark knew he was being followed when the red car, who had tons of space now, moved over with him for no reason at all.

mark started to panic, gripping the steering wheel tighter and more frequently looking back at his predator. he considered calling one of the witches or his parents. he didn't want to, but he decided calling jaemin was the best of all his options at the moment. just to be safe. as he was moving to grab his phone, the car swerved out of the middle lane and sped past him on the left. mark breathed a long sigh of relief and got home as fast as he could without getting ticketed.