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The witches, the potion, Ashley.

She hadn’t seen or heard from her in a week.

At first, she just sat there, letting the emotions wash over her, building one on top of the other. With a few clicks of her laptop, she switched her music from lo-fi to the other song in herhistory. It only took a few bars of the banjo before feet pounded on the stairs.

Uther burst through the attic door. “We’re back to the Taylor phase? Honey, this is the same as the original version.”

“But it’s not.” The screen blurred, but she held her tears from tipping over. “She’s older now, and I’m older, and we’ve been through so much, but the feelings are still there.”

“I thought you didn’t like country.”

“She’s pop now. See? We’ve both changed so much. Taylor is just out there making music and reclaiming her songs.”

“Esther, you’re being unnecessarily philosophical again.” He closed the door and took her hand. “Do we need to go make cookies?”

Her lower lip wobbled as she sang along to the part about crying on a staircase, begging her love to please not go.

“Oh my god. Are you changing the pronouns to fit you personally? We need something faster than cookies. This is an ice cream and wine kind of situation.”

The door slammed into the wall, making both Esther and Uther jump.

“It’s done!” August stood before them, a dramatic fist raised above his head.

“August, this isn’t the best time.” Uther gestured at Esther with his head as though she was blind and wouldn’t notice.

“Are we back to Taylor again?” He crinkled his nose at the screen. “I’m going to be honest. I didn’t really see you as a Taylor fan.”

“Where do you think I got the name for this chair?” Esther angrily gestured at the arm of Trouble, who squeaked with the movement.

“Never mind. It’s ready.” He lifted his hand, letting a chain dangle from his fist with a familiar silver bulb hanging at the end. “I put a dose in here for you. Figured two birds, one stone.”

He dropped the necklace into Esther’s hand and stood back with his hands on his hips and an expectant look on his face.

Esther waited for further explanation. “What is this?”

“The cure, obviously,” mumbled Uther.

“An excuse to go get your girl back,” said August.

Esther threw the necklace on the desk like it had burned her. She didn’t want anything to do with that day. Digging through her bag, she pulled out her earbuds and phone to queue up more Taylor. Without her classwork to carry her mind away, she was exposed, drowning in the floodgates of feelings. She hated feelings.

August looked between Esther and the necklace on the desk. “What are you scared of, Esther?”

She glared at him. They really hadn’t figured it out. “I give terrible advice and ruin lives with my bad decisions.”

Both boys looked skeptical.

“When have you ever given bad advice?” August’s question was more challenge than anything else, but Esther was ready.

“Aside from the obvious and most pressing one?” She gestured at the silver necklace.

“Sure, we’ll round back to that.” August leaned against a bookshelf, crossing his arms in front of him.

“Well, you both remember the beach house, right?” she asked.

August nodded. “I remember having a lot of fun with my friends for a week and saving money on housing to do it.”

“Uther?” Esther snapped her attention to her best friend.