Sixteen year old Diana Lynch sighed unhappily. What was the point of her having her pretty new dress? She and Mart had broken up, again, and right before the big dance at school. Sure there were some other boys who had asked her out but she didn’t want to go with them. That lunkhead Lester Mundy, the nerd Ty Scott, and the jerk Tad Webster had all asked her out. Even Dan had given her a pity date request, despite the fact he was Mart’s best friend and Trixie had been hoping he’d ask her.

A deep voice interrupted her thoughts. “If you’re going to have another pity party, at least eat something and feed the cat too.”

Salem, the solid black, family cat leapt up onto her bed and stared at her pointedly.

“Oh, Salem,” Diana sighed. “I’m not hungry.”

“Well, I am, so feed me. Giving me comfort food will give you comfort too.” She could hear the hope and smile in his voice.

She reached out and ran her hand over his short, soft black fur. “I’m glad I have you, Salem,” she said. “Trixie and Honey just don’t understand, although Trixie is mad at Mart for being a butthead.”

“Teenage boys are morons. You know, I think there’s some cake left from yesterday, in the kitchen.” He rubbed his head against her arm.

“But why is he so stupid? I mean, really, he said he just wanted some space and then this morning I hear that he asked Jane Morgan to the dance! How can he be wanting space when he’s now going with her?”

“I think we should be going to the kitchen,” Salem replied.

“Sure, she’s got money but not as much as us. And her hair is always kind of greasy looking and she has bad skin. And she’s mean.”

“You know what will make you feel better?” Salem asked. “Some of that chocolate cake.” He licked his chops. “Great comfort food.”

“I don’t want comfort, Salem,” Diana pouted. “I kind of want revenge.”

“Revenge?” Salem’s ears pricked up. “Well, then, baby, you’ve come to the right place!”

“Salem,” Diana said in a warning voice, “don’t start plotting. Every time you think about trying to take over the world, the Witches’ Council shows up in our closet and the Aunties get in trouble.”

The six hundred year old former dictator sighed. His punishment for trying to take over the world was to be trapped in a cat’s body until he had learned his lesson. After five hundred some-odd years like this, that didn’t seem like it was going to happen.

Diana Lynch had discovered on her sixteenth birthday that she was a witch. And so were her aunts who had raised her, ever since her parents and siblings had died in a car crash when she was six. Her father had had a strained relationship with his spinster sisters, and Diana had never met them until she moved into their big house on Glen Road.

As a child, she had thought all people received messages through the toaster, had cats who seemed to understand exactly what she was saying, and occasionally heard thunder and saw lightning in the closet. People came and went at odd hours, but as she got older, the strange happenings seemed less often.

Until she turned sixteen. When she woke up floating above her bed and screamed. Her aunts then revealed her birthright. They were witches, and so was she. So was her father, but her mother had been mortal, as far as they knew. Having been adopted, Carol Mitchell Lynch knew nothing about where she came from, but had always had a high level of intuition.

Then they told Diana that it wasn’t a car crash that killed her parents; they had been in the Other Realm, shopping, during a freak alchemy accident that blew up two buildings.

Her father hadn’t wanted her raised as a witch, and had wanted a spell to bind her powers down. Even at six years old, Diana was displaying an extraordinary amount of talent and raw power. But the will named his sisters as the guardians of any children, should something happen Celia and himself. Celia had no siblings, nor anyone who could take care of them. The rest of his family lived in the Other Realm, and he was adamant about Diana not being raised there.

So Hilda and Zelda had left the Other Realm to come live in this one and take care of Diana. Diana had known Trixie Belden through kindergarten and now that they lived on Glen Road, they had become good friends. They were joined by the delicate Honey Wheeler when they were about thirteen, and the three were now inseparable.

After discovering she was a witch, Hilda and Zelda had stressed the importance of no one finding out—not even Trixie and Honey! Diana had tried, really she had, but Trixie’s nose for a mystery had outed her when Trixie and Honey had walked into her bedroom as Salem was talking out loud to her about the Quizmaster’s test.

They had reacted at first with uncertainty and fascination, then acceptance. Trixie had always felt like Salem was truly listening in on their conversations.

“I wasn’t plotting anything other than how to get a piece of that delicious chocolate cake downstairs,” Salem was feigning indignant at the moment.

Diana sighed. “Oh, all right. Let’s go get some cake.”

“My kinda witch,” Salem smiled. “And while we commiserate over cake, we’ll talk strategy.”

“Strategy for what?” Diana asked absently as they headed down the stairs.

“Your revenge, of course.” Salem led the way to the kitchen, where he gracefully leapt up to the counter.

“Hang on, we have a message,” Diana wiggled her fingers and the message came out of the toaster and landed in her hand. “Dear Salem, In accordance with the Council’s decree…hmmm, I think we have a bug, Salem. It’s a reminder that under no circumstances are you to plot, scheme or plan any sort of revenge or use magic.”

“They’re such spoilsports. I bet I know the bug too. There was a cricket hanging around your room last night.”

“Why didn’t you catch him?” Diana took the cover off the cake. “That thing kept me up half the night.”

Salem looked aghast at the notion. “I do not catch my food!”

Diana snorted. “Hey, why is there so little cake left? There was way more last night!”

Salem was suddenly very busy studying the refrigerator.

“You suckered Aunt Hilda too, didn’t you?” she asked with a sigh. “There’s a black fur here and it doesn’t belong to any of us.”

“You have black hair,” he pointed out.

“None that are three inches long. Salem, how much of this cake had you had?”

“Just a tiny sliver of a morsel that Hilda gave me.”

Diana served herself the last piece with a ‘hmmph’. “I doubt Aunt Hilda ate all of this herself.”

“Have you seen her eat chocolate cake?” Salem demanded, sidling up to Diana, his big yellow eyes focused on the piece of cake.

“Maybe I should ask Aunt Hilda what to do about Mart,” she mused. “Aunt Zelda would turn to potions, being the science geek that she is, but I bet Hilda has some good ideas.”

“Just don’t let her try the wart curse,” Salem said, sliding one paw onto the plate. Diana stared out the big window.

“No, I don’t want to curse him. I just want him to know he’s missing. Aunt Hilda has ahd plenty of bad experiences with men; surely she’ll have some ideas.”

“She’d probably want to go the jealousy route and use Man Dough.”

“Man Dough?” Diana looked up, intrigued, then frowned at Salem. “What are you doing?”

Salem blinked innocently as he snatched a large bite of cake and mumbled an answer. Diana shook her head and slid the plate away from the cat. “Tell me about Man Dough.”

But Salem’s mouth was crammed full of cake. When he finally managed to swallow, he said “Cake for Dough.”

Diana glared at him.

“That’s my offer, missy.” He sat on his haunches and they stared at each other.

Diana sighed after a moment and pushed the plate towards him. “All right, tell me about Man Dough.”

Salem’s eyes widened with glee and he pounced on the plate.

Diana had to wait while he gobbled the cake, moaning and grunting in happiness. She set out a bowl of milk for him as well.

Finally, he laid over rolled on his back for a tummy rub. Shaking her head, Diana reached over and rubbed it.

“All right, my furry little pig, tell me about Man Dough.”

Salem opened one eyes and yawned. “You bake the perfect man. He only lasts until midnight, but you add in all the traits you desired, roll him out, glaze and bake him until he’s ready.”

Diana leaned forward. “It doesn’t sound too hard.”

“It’s what Hilda would do,” Salem said sagely. “But Zelda doesn’t approve of the spell because it backfired on her once, a couple hundred years ago. If you get it wrong, you end with the worst date of your life.”

Diana wasn’t listening. “Which spell book?” she asked.

She was allowed to look in the spell books and practice under the guidance of either Aunt, or Harrison, the butler/Quizmaster. It had been an unpleasant surprise to find out the dour faced, often grumpy butler she had grown up with was actually a witch too, and her mentor and Quizmaster. He was to help perfect her skills so she could get her witch’s license when she turned seventeen.

But she hadn’t been practicing much, lately, despite his constant nagging.

“Should I tell Harrison?” she asked.

Salem was a half asleep, his tummy full of cake and milk. “I wouldn’t. Old codger will just try to discourage you.

That was likely. He was always going on about responsibility and consequences of rash or badly done magic. If she was going to do some magic though, she needed supervision.

“And it’s not in a spell book. It comes pre-made.” Salem added.

“Aunt Hilda it is,” she decided.

***

It didn’t take much to convince Aunt Hilda, a bubbly lady with a round, pretty face and short, curly light blonde hair, to help her. She was the younger sister and prone to trouble in her search for fun.

Diana also called Honey and Trixie to come over. The trio gathered around the kitchen island eagerly. Trixie & Honey loved watching her work magic, and Trixie was all for making her brother jealous. He had hurt her best friend, and she was more than willing to help in the payback.

The dance was that night, so there was no time to waste.

“I love this spell. Nothing makes a guy jealous more than seeing the girl he passed over with an attractive man,” Hilda said gleefully as she pulled out the box labeled “Man Dough” and a box full of crystal vials containing different liquids. She rubbed her hands together.

“So he’s definitely got to be gorgeous,” Diana agreed. “Maybe dark hair and eyes.”

“And he needs to be smart,” Trixie added. “You know Mart and his stupid big words. This guy has to be able to outsmart Mart.”

“And funny,” Honey said. “Mart thinks he’s funny but this guy should actually be funny.”

“And a good dancer,” Diana smiled.

“And poetic. Well read.” Honey added.

“And romantic. Gentlemanly.” Trixie said.

“This is going to be awesome!” Hilda was giddy as she measured ingredients and mixed them in a bowl with some white powder that looked like cornstarch. “We’re going to create the perfect man for you, Diana. Everyone girl at the dance will be wanting him.”

“But Aunt Hilda, the point is to make Mart jealous and so that he wants me,” Diana reminded her.

“Of course, of course,” Hilda said absently. “Shape him like a man please. And don’t worry, every girl will want to be you, and that boy’s peanut brain will explode with envy. He’ll be crawling back to you before the night is over.”

Diana, Trixie and Honey exchanged big smiles. They watched in fascination as Hilda brushed the glaze from the bowl over the man shaped dough on the baking tray.

An hour later, Hilda opened the oven. The small, man shaped dough had been baking and through the window of the oven, they could see it had turned a nice golden brown.

A stream of golden sparkles came out of the oven when they opened it and there, in front of their eyes, was her perfect man.

Tall and lean, with black hair that didn’t sit neatly but stuck up rakishly. His eyes were of the brightest blue, and twinkled with mystery and mischief. Then he flashed them a wicked grin and they all sighed happily.

“What’s his name?” Honey asked dreamily, staring at the fresh baked hunk who flashed them a perfect smile of sparkling white teeth.

They all exchanged glances.

“Braden,” Diana decided. “Braden Newton.”

“Hi Braden,” they chimed together.

***

Diana floated into the dance on the arm of Braden. Her strapless, lavender dress hugged her upper body, while the filmy, layered skirt of purples swirled around her calves. Her ebony hair was swept up and her makeup minimal, as usual.

She could immediately sense people looking at them. Who was the hunk? They were all wondering, she knew. The other girls would writhe in jealousy! Braden was a thousand times more handsome than any boy at school—including Mart Belden, she thought smugly.

Dan raised one eyebrow when he saw them. Trixie was on his arm, looking pretty in her blue dress, and she beamed at Diana. Honey was escorted by Nick Roberts, and looked lovely as always in dark green.

She led Braden over and introduced him. Di suddenly felt nervous. She always felt as if Dan could see through her, and he didn’t miss much. Keeping her witch secret from him wasn’t easy.

“Hey, man, how’s it going?” They shook hands. “I’m Dan.”

“Nice to meet you,” Braden replied. He shook hands with Nick Roberts as well.

“Why don’t we go dance?” Di suggested. She loved to dance and he was supposed to be an excellent dancer.

“As you wish, my princess,” Braden replied with adoration in his voice. Diana giggled and they walked out to the dance floor.

Dan turned to Trixie. “As you wish? What is he, Westley from the Princess Bride?”

Trixie laughed.

“Where’d she dig him up, anyway?” he persisted.

Trixie shrugged. “Di does know more people than just us,” she pointed out. “Besides, why are you concerned about it?”

“Something’s not right about him,” Dan answered, his dark eyes narrowing.

“Why don’t you dance with me and stop thinking about Di’s date?” she asked.

Dan grinned. “You got it.”

As they headed onto the dance floor as well, Trixie saw her brother. Jane Morgan was at his side, cooing in his ear but his eyes were locked on Diana, his mouth hanging open.

“Serves him right,” Dan muttered, seeing where Trixie’s gaze was. “I still don’t know why he suddenly broke up with Di.”

“Because he’s stupid,” Trixie answered.

Dan suddenly pulled her close, and Trixie’s breath caught in her throat.

“Let them sort their issues out, hmm?” he said. “Tonight is for us.”

Trixie beamed at him, her brother forgotten.

***

Diana sighed happily as Braden kept his arms securely around her. They had been dancing all night and she was thoroughly enjoying herself. Braden had proved himself to be an elegant dancer, smart enough to hold conversations with her friends, and funny, but somehow big words didn’t sounds silly coming out him. He was charming and sweet and called her his Princess.

She had seen Mart a couple of times, usually glaring at them, but she didn’t care. Let him glare, she thought. Let him see his mistake.

They had just joined Dan and Trixie for punch when Mart and Jane walked up. Diana felt a shot of annoyance. He didn’t get to ruin her wonderful night!

“Dan, Trix. Diana.” Mart said stiffly.

There were polite greetings but Mart’s eyes were locked on Braden.

“Who’s your friend, Diana?” Mart asked.

“This is Braden, an old friend.” She smiled up at him and he slipped one arm around her with a smile.

Jane Morgan, looking her usual stuck-up self in a yellow and white dress, wore an expression of having just eaten something sour. It was clear from the daggers she was shooting Mart that she didn’t want to be over here with his friends.

“Do you go to school around here, Braden?” Mart asked, glaring.

“No, I’m done with high school,” Braden answered pleasantly. “But who can say no to the most exquisite Diana? I certainly couldn’t let her attend this party by herself, when her mere presence brightens my night. It’s is my utmost honor to be her consort tonight.”

Diana felt herself blush as he took her hand.

“Consort?” Mart squeaked.

Trixie and Honey were looking rather swoon-ish but Dan studied the other boy closely. He was a little taller than Dan, with rumpled dark hair and bright, mischievous blue eyes. His suit fit perfectly, and he had Diana eating out of the palm of his hand. Every girl in the room was eyeing him like a piece of meat.

“What kind of blind cretin could ever say no to her?” Braden asked smoothly.

“How long are you in town?” Mart demanded.

“As long as she wants me,” Braden kissed Diana’s hand.

“So you’re leaving after the dance, then?” Mart couldn’t help but ask.

“Yes,” Braden said sadly. “But I wish I didn’t have to.”

“And where do you live?” Mart demanded.

But Jane had had enough. Stepping forward, she grabbed Mart by the shoulder and spun him around. “Why are you giving this guy the third degree?” she demanded. “I’m your date tonight, not her!”

Mart sputtered a bit, but he seemed to have forgotten what he was going to say, and stood sheepishly looking at Jane.

“I mean, really, Mart, you’re here with me!”

Something caught Di’s attention, and she looked down at Jane’s purse. Something in there was moving, and there was a tiny puff of dark dust.

Was Jane using magic? She thought. Her archenemy was a witch too? Every witch had a distinct signature when working magic. And that was definitely something magickal coming out of her purse.

Had Jane bewitched Mart? Was that the reason behind the sudden breakup and his interest in Jane, when he had never looked twice at her before?

Mart suddenly seemed very confused. “What? I’m here with you?”

Jane put her hand on him, her face an expression of panic. “Mart, you asked me to the dance last week!”

“I did?” Mart asked.

“Last week?” Diana demanded. They had still been dating last week!

Dan was studying his best friend.

“Mart, you feeling all right, buddy?”

“You’re acting stranger than usual,” Trixie added.

Mart smiled and turning adoring eyes on Jane. “Of course, I’m excellent. How could I not be when in the presence of such a ravishingly stunning creature?”

Trixie gagged audibly and Jane shot her a dark look.

Diana felt her anger stirring and her fingers startled to tingle. Oh, no. She had to calm down before she blasted Jane and revealed her secret.

“My bewitching beauty, Jane,” Mart crooned.

Bewitching is right, Diana thought, I had no idea there was another witch around here! her ears started burning. Any second now, steam would literally come pouring out of her ears, she was so mad.

“Let’s have a moment,” Dan grabbed Mart by the shoulder and dragged him away from Jane.

“I must go soothe my beauteous Diana,” Braden hurried after her.

Jane crossed her arms and uttered something that sounded suspiciously to Trixie like a rhyme.

Trixie’s eyes widened. It was a rhyme, it was a spell! That explained the pop of dark green sparks she had seen in Jane’s purse earlier. Jane was a witch too! Did Diana know?

“I’d better go get Mart,” Jane started after Dan and Mart but Trixie blocked her way.

“You’re up to something,” Trixie’s eyes narrowed.

***

Diana hurried outside, shaking her hands. She had to calm down, she thought desperately. Whenever she lost control of her emotions, spells went wrong, and some just happened on their own.

“Diana? Are you alright?”

She turned to see Braden had followed her. Too bad he wasn’t real and wouldn’t last, she thought sadly. He had been charming, funny, intelligent, and he was so gorgeous. He didn’t wolf his food down, or try to impress people with big words, and he was dressed so impeccably.

Come to think of it, why was she so upset about losing Mart to Jane?

“Because she isn’t a worthy adversary,” Braden said, “and it makes you feel insecure.”

“Can you read my thoughts?” she gasped.

“I’m made to understand you and fulfill your every desire,” he drew her close.

Diana felt a surge in her heart. Those blue eyes promised so much. Mysterious, mischievous, enticing. She could drown in them.

“He’s not worthy of your affections,” Braden murmured.

“It certainly feels that way,” she smiled up at him. “Compared to you, he seems so…Neanderthal.”

Braden lowered his lips to hers for a sweet kiss.

And Diana felt nothing. Surprised, she pulled back and looked at him. He was gorgeous. Sexy. Alluring. And yet his kiss did nothing.

“But he’s my Neanderthal,” she sighed.

“I believe your adversary is a witch as well,” Braden said. “I can sense any witch in the room and there are two for certain.”

“I already figured that out,” Diana mused. “And she seems to have a better control than I do.”

“Is she older?” he asked.

“By several months.”

“So she’s closer to getting her license. More practice.”

“Well, I’m not going to worry about that. Right now, I want my Neanderthal back and out of her slimy clutches.” The light bulb went on. “Slimy clutches. Braden, that’s it!”

“What’s it?”

Even puzzled he was incredibly sexy, Diana thought.

“Slimy clutches. She wants to use magic to steal my boyfriend, then I’ll use magic to get him back!”

***

“Dude, snap out of it,” Dan waved his hands in front of Mart’s face. “Why on earth did you dump Di and hook up with that troll?”

“What troll? Do you mean Jane? Are you insulting my Jane?” Mart was suddenly indignant.

“Well, I’m certainly not calling Di a troll.”

Mart grabbed Dan by his jacket lapels. “I oughta—”

Dan smacked his hands away. “Come to your senses. You are acting like seriously, you’re under a spell or something.”

“The spell of my beloved Jane. Her glistening locks of hair—”

“Oil,” Dan interrupted.

“The limpid depths of dark that are her ocular orbs—”

“Beady rat eyes.”

“Her glowing skin like fresh cream—”

“Are you high?” Dan demanded. “Now I know you’re under a spell.”

“The spell of—”

“Sorry buddy, but I’m tired of this.” Dan pulled back and clocked his best friend in the jaw.

Mart, caught unawares, fell backwards to the ground. Around them, people noticed and started circling them.

Dan knelt and leaned over his friend. “Mart? Buddy?”

What did you hit me for?” Mart demanded, rubbing his head.

“Because you’re being an idiot. Who’s your girlfriend?”

“What?”

“Who’s your girlfriend?”

“What’s going on here?” Principal Stratton had arrived.

“Nothing, sir. Mart here just stumbled, you know how clumsy he is.” Dan helped his friend to his feet.

“I was told there was a fight.”

“Have you ever seen us fight?” Dan laughed.

A couple more minutes and the principal walked away, as did the students who had been gathered around.

“What’s this about my girlfriend?” Mart asked. “You know I’m with Jane!”

“I saw you!” Jane ran over. “Daniel Mangan, you hit my boyfriend!”

Only Trixie saw the purple sparks around Jane’s feet, and suddenly she face-planted across the floor. Her purse fell open and a bright green, glowing charm fell out.

“Jane!” Mart scrambled to her side but Trixie knelt and snatched the amulet. Trixie tossed it to the approaching Diana, who muttered something and squeezed her hand. Purple sparks shot out and then green, and then she was clutching just a normal locket.

Mart shook his head suddenly, and looked alarmed as he realized he was holding Jane Morgan in his arms.

“What the—”

“Mart? Mart, take me home. I don’t want to be here anymore!” Jane wailed.

“Take you—why would I take you home?” Mart asked, confused. “Why are you hanging on me? Di, I can’t explain this. Where are we and how did we get here?”

Diana squealed, shoved Jane to the floor from Mart’s hold and threw her arms around Mart.

***

Diana and Mart kissed one more time before she let herself into the house. After Mart was released from her spell, she had turned to Jane and whispered, “I know you’re a witch! And I’m going to get you!”

Jane had paled and run from the decorated gymnasium. Trixie winked at her as Dan studied them both. Mart stammered repeatedly, unsure of what had happened and how much trouble he was in. A few kisses and dances and Di seemed ready to forgive him.

Harrison was waiting for her, his pruney face looking more pruney than ever. His arms were crossed over his chest.

“You look happy,” he observed.

Diana beamed. “I am! Mart and I are back together!”

“Joy,” he replied dryly. “And your magic man?”

“Dough Man,” she corrected him. Then she gasped. “I forgot all about him!”

Harrison’s face pruned up some more. “This is the sort of irresponsible behavior that will prevent you from getting your license. You cannot just leave your magickal messes lying about when you get distracted!”

Diana sighed. “It wasn’t intentional, Harrison. I just got distracted.”

“As usual.”

“Look, I’ll just zap myself back to the gym and find him, okay?”

“It’s pointless. He’s nothing but a lump of dough by now, seeing as it’s after midnight.”

“Lesson learned,” she grumbled. “I admit, I shouldn’t have gotten distracted. I was just so happy about Mart! And did you know there’s another witch around?”

Harrison looked startled. “What?”

“Jane Morgan. She used this,” Diana dug in her purse and produced the locket, “to bespell Mart into dumping me.”

“Interesting,” Harrison took it. “I’ll investigate this, you get to bed.”

She rolled her eyes. First, she had to tell Aunt Hilda all about her exciting night!

***
Author's Notes

- A big thank you first and foremost to Ryl, my challenge/editing partner who is always a joy to work with and always on the same wavelength with me. Here's to many more challenges to create in the coming years, my friend!
- A big thank you to the fabulous MaryN, who helped me work out some of the graphic.
- A big thank you to Ronda, for her fast edit.
- Submitted for Ryl and Mal's 5th Halloween Challenge
- Hey,Diana didn't get tormented this year!
- If you didn't know, this was inspired by the tv show, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and this story is based on the episode "Dream Date".
- Sabrina, Salem, the Quizmaster and references from the show belong to ABC Studios (as far as I know) and are borrowed lovingly albiet without permission, and no profit is made from this.
- No, Braden will not be returning.
- Yes, I sense potential for a new universe.
- Word Count, 4469