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“Unfortunately,” she responded, finishing the last dish, and throwing the drying towel across the front of the apron sink. “If they don’t hire another anchor soon, I don’t know what I’ll do. These hours are running me ragged, I’m drained.”

“I’m sorry, Mom.” She had been working so much these last few weeks, I could see it was really starting to take a toll on her. I couldn’t imagine how hard it was for her to raise me and Jake on her own, without Dad. I was almost off to college, but Jake was only eleven. She managed to do it all on her own, the least I could do was help her out. I tried to cook and clean when I could, but I knew this last week I had been slacking. I had been completely wrapped up in my own drama.

“I look forward to sleeping in tomorrow,” she said, picking her glasses up from their place by the sink. “I love you, honey. Get some sleep.”

She gave me a kiss on the forehead before sauntering up to bed. I sat in the kitchen alone, finishing my apple. Could I confide in my mom about everything that had been happening, or would it stress her out more? She always called me her little daydreamer, I’m not sure she would believe me if I told her. Even if I showed her, I think she would still have her doubts. I wish I had the type of relationship with her where I could be honest and she didn’t immediately jump to the conclusion that I was nuts, or making it up. But could I blame her? EvenIhad thought I had made it all up this time.

I finished the apple, throwing the core in the trash, and returned to the bar stool at the counter. I opened the palm of my hand and focused on the fire. Could I create fire and control it, as I had practiced in the meadow? I didn’t want to rely on the magical tether to keep my magic under control.

I focused on the feeling of energy in my core. As I had in the meadow, I imagined it traveling up my arm and to my palm, creating a small flame there. When I opened my eyes, my fingertips were alight with a small sphere of fire, smaller than I had conjured at the meadow, but it was still there. I closed my palm with the thought of releasing all that taught energy, and the flame extinguished. Nik was right, I could control the flames now. All I had to do was practice.

I made my way upstairs and washed all the makeup off in the bathroom sink, tying my hair in a high ponytail. I changed into my loosest pajamas and crawled into bed with Waffles, moving him off my pillow to cuddle against my side.

I had so much fun tonight,a text pinged in from Tess.

Me too, so much to talk about,I replied.

Tell me about it! Thanks for coming, Love you. Goodnight xoxo.

Love you too, Tess. Goodnight.

I plugged my phone into the charger and closed my eyes. I couldn’t wait to practice my magic again, and to try my hand at storm magic. But most of all, I couldn’t wait to see Nikolai again. He had ignoredLacey freaking Peterson, in favor of me. I couldn’t believe it.

It still bothered me that I didn’t know what Fletcher wanted, but I would have to trust that Nik was right…it didn’t have anything to do with us. They would handle it. I could feel how tired my body was from dipping into all of that unused energy today. I turned the light off and fell asleep with the hope that I would hear someone scratching at my window, but it never came.

Ishouldn’thavebeensurprised when Monday’s first period rolled around, and Nik was a no-show. I hadn’t heard from him since Saturday night and I had busied myself catching up on homework and house chores that I’d been neglecting. I spent Sunday night cuddled up on the couch watching movies and eating popcorn with Mom and Jake. When I skulked into third period, Tess could tell by the set of my shoulders, and my obvious frown, that something was wrong.

“No lover boy today?” she asked as I settled into my seat beside her, throwing my bookbag onto the ground between us.

“He isn’t my lover boy,” I huffed, pulling out my notebook.

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. “You didn’t hear from him yesterday?”

“No,” I replied, resting my chin on my hand. “Have you heard from Puck?”

“Puck and I have been texting all weekend,” Tess answered excitedly, her eyes brightening. A stab of jealously hit me in the gut. I was excited for Tess, that she had found somebody she liked, but somewhat envious that I hadn’t heard from Nikolai all weekend. Things had gone well at the club and with my magic practice, why hadn’t I heard from him? Was he busy tending to the “business” he had with Fletcher and his gang of nasty witches?

I was anxious to practice more complicated magic. I had played with my fire magic on Sunday and felt confident that I had a handle on the basics of it. I was eager to find out if I was a Stormshade, but too nervous to test it without Nik or Puck nearby. They were much more experienced than I was, having always known they were witches from early on. Even if they weren’t Stormshades themselves, they knew more about this magic than I did. I needed to keep myself busy, I decided. I would dedicate this week to practicing the magic I already felt comfortable with and helping my mom around the house as much as possible.

“I’m sure he’s just busy with the whole Fletcher thing,” Tess said, seeing the direction my thoughts were taking plastered plainly on my face.

“Yeah, and Puck isn’t? Remember what Fletcher said, whatever it is they’ve gotten themselves into…they’re in it together.”

Tess gave me a sympathetic smile and reached over the desk to grab my hand. “We are not the kind of girls to wait around for a boy,” she started, sympathy in her eyes. “You and I are going to practice some of this tricky magic on our own. Screw them.”

Tess was right. I was definitelynotthe kind of girl to be sulking, all because I hadn’t heard from a boy.

“Deal.” I smiled. “Tomorrow?”

“Perfect! I have a shift at The Daily Drip tonight. Mrs. Madden is back to work, and we are having a little ‘get better’ soiree in her honor. You’re welcome to stop by and support your bestie at work if you want.” She nudged me gently.

“Pass, but thanks for the invite,” I laughed. “I have to catch up on my biology homework or I willdefinitelybe failing that exam on Friday.” Class came to a start, and I tried my hardest to focus on the lecture, letting the rest of the classes before art slip by in a daze.

Tess and I ate lunch with Sloane and her dance friends, Lacey Peterson nowhere to be seen. I wasn’t sure I wanted to face her after I’d embarrassed her on Saturday, and I was thankful she was either absent or making herself scarce.

When we walked down towards the art room, the desk where Ms. Finch normally would be found rifling through her papers was empty. What was going on with her? Was she absent again? Tess was right; she had been acting incredibly strange lately. Tess and I gathered our materials and sat at the table near the door, despite the fact that Nik probably wouldn’t be joining us today. The bell rang and to nobody’s surprise…Nik hadn’t shown. Tess and I started working on our portfolios, and when the second bell finally rang, a substitute teacher filed in.

“Hello, class. I am going to be your substitute teacher for the foreseeable future as Ms. Finch is out on medical leave. My name is Mr. Price.”That voice sounded so familiar. I glanced up from my portfolio to see Fletcher standing at the front of the class wearing pressed black slacks and a collared shirt. He placed his briefcase on the desk and opened it, pulling out a lesson plan.