"I wish you would go and annoy the old woman in the magic shop instead of me" an exasperated Nicola snapped.
"As you wish" Gemma surprisingly replied before walking off in the direction of the shop without further comment.
A confused Nicola was just grateful the conversation had ended so quickly and didn't really have time to consider why. She just needed to find her absent friend.
--
"Oh dear James, it doesn't look like you are in a position to wish yourself out of this one" Meredith briefly examined the small, James shaped statuette her former customer had rematerialised as before placing it back on the shelf "but don't worry, I'm sure your friend will be back soon"
Ar that moment the bell above the door chimed to indicate a new customer, but to the dissapointment of the small, inanimate, naked young man facing it, another of his work colleagues and not Nicola entered. James was surprised to see Gemma here, it really didn't seem to be her type of place. Perhaps she was more superstitious than she let on.
"Can I help you Madam?" Meredith pounced eagerly on her customer.
"I very much doubt it" Gemma sneered "unless you sell anything that isn't useless, overpriced tat"
Meredith seemed genuinely taken aback by such rudeness, but persisted anyway.
"You'd be surprised how useful some of our products are, my dear. You just need to open your mind"
"You mean empty it" Gemma sniggered picking up a small, black glass cat "I mean seriously who in their right mind would pay £750 for this? I should call trading stadards on you with the prices you charge"
"If the product is too expensive for you, perhaps you should put it down?" Meredith's tone became a little darker. James couldn't understand why Gemma was doing this but he wished he could warn her not to.
"Fine" Gemma let go of the object which smashed into pieces on the floor in front of her "happy now?"
"Indeed I am. You are now in my debt, you uttee fool" it was Meredith who was sneering now "and you will not leave the shop until you have repaid it"
"Fine by me, then we can hang out together all day!" Gemma winked at the sorceress as she went and sat herself down on the shop counter "I'd better make myself comfortable"
"Get off there now, you disrespectful little brat!" Meredith demanded.
"And what if I don't?" Gemna picked up a nearby ornament and examined it with an exagerated expression of distaste "will you turn me into a frog?"
"I might do" Meredith folded her arms in contemplation "For starters, that is. Or I might think of something else equally satisfying to do with you. You'll find out soon enough"
"Oh no, please don't!" Gemma made an expression of mock fear "Help! Help! Some mad old bat is going to put a magic spell on me!"
"Fine, have it your way" Meredith rolled up her sleeves as if she meant business "I think I am going to enjoy our time together a lot more than you will"