It was Mackenzie that said it. Nicole looked down, surprised to see here fingers still on the spine of the book as though they were magnetized. She made a decision, much faster than normal. In an almost mind-bending leap of confidence Nicole decided to leave but take the book with her. So what if other people were in the aisle? Let them think what they want. Her fingers gripped the spine, pulled it out, and placed it in the crook of her other arm so fast she looked like a pick pocket. Elated with her courage, she made to leave the aisle, but didn't make it a step.

She heard several swishes and suddenly found one of the girls beside her, the one with the newspaper bag swinging loosely from her heavily bundled shoulder.

"What book is that you're taking?" The girl asked, looking a little exasperated but slightly hopeful. Nicole pulled it out in plane view, terrified of what the girl might want with her. Would she try to save her or something?

The title of the book flashed brightly in the warm lighting. Wicca, A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham gleamed out. The pentacle on the cover was equally as visible, of which Nicole was acutely aware. She held her breath.

"Man." The girl said, her shoulders falling, causing the paper bag to slip a few precarious inches. I've been waiting for that one for months."

Nicole wasn't quite sure what to say to that, but was saved by the Chinese looking girl.

"No way, that�s the book I came looking for." She said when she saw the title. Then the curly haired girl strode towards them, and after peering over Nicole�s shoulder, looking down at the slip of paper she was carrying, and back at the books title again said, "This is too weird, I'm looking for that book too!"

At that moment the sky seemed to have finally become tired of carrying its heavy load, and dumped it. Snow was suddenly flying everywhere in the now heavy wind. Drifts immediately began to pile up. They all were looking out the window, and the curly haired girl voiced the thought that had also stricken Nicole.

"I am never going to be able to drive home in this."

Rhyan, however, was much more interested in the book than the blizzard. �That�s amazing that we�re all here looking for the same book!� The others shifted their attention from the storm to her, all equally excited enough to forget the storm. �Wicca is in my family so I�ve gbeen practising for a long time. Have you guys been practicing Wicca for a while? Or are you just starting?

The Chinese looking girl piped up right away. �Well I�m just starting. I read about Wicca in this other book full of religions and it just clicked,� she beamed.

�I�ve been practicing since last fall,� volunteered the curly haired girl. �Not a lot, but I do have an altar and stuff.�

Their eyes all shifted to Nicole, who said, �I�m just starting too.� In a voice strangely low for such a small shy girl.

The group had immediate chemistry, and they could all taste it.

�This is great!� Exclaimed the Chinese girl. �We could form, like, a group or something! Isn�t it weird how we were all here at the same time? Maybe it was like fate or something.�

�Things like that can happen,� said the curly haired girl. �At least I believe they can.�

�Totally.� Said Rhyan, feeling elated. �My name�s Rhyan, by the way. Rhyan Ellens.� She spoke animatedly, her red gloves flying through the air. The Grans had said someday she would find others. This was amazing.

�Mackenzie Pantoufle.� Said the Chinese girl. �My last name is French,� she added with a smile. �It means slipper.�

�I�m Antonia Weston.� Said the curly haired girl. �My names English.� She added with a grin.

Nicole hesitated for a moment. �I�m Nicole Steiner,� she said quickly and quietly.

�Oh I think I know you!� Said Mackenzie. �Do you go to Teddy?� She said, referring to one of the two local high schools, Theodore Roosevelt High.

�Yeah.� Nicole answered. �I�m a junior,� she added as an afterthought.

�Me too, but I�m a sophomore,� Mackenzie responded. She looked much older than her age.

�Greenwood. Senior.� Said Antonia raising her hand, and referring to Greenwood High.

�Ditto.� Said Rhyan.

�Really? You know, now that you say that I think I�ve seen you before.� �Same here. At least I think anyway.�

�Ok.� Said Mackenzie, interrupting and gaining her motherly tone of voice. �What are we going to do about the book before this library gets buried in snow?� She said, glancing out the window at the raging storm.

�I say let, Nicole is it?� Nicole nodded, and Antonia continued. �I say let Nicole keep it. She got it first.� There were general nods of agreement. �But when you�re done you have to lend it to the rest of us.� She said with a smile. Nicole nodded again, the corners of her mouth turning up.

�We should give each other our phone numbers��

��And emails.�

�Ok, and emails.� Said Rhyan. Again nods of agreement, followed by a hurried search for pens and paper.