Devland moved away from the doors leading to the gym and strode down the hallway to stop directly in front of me. I raised my chin as he narrowed his eyes, a tick convulsing in his jaw.

"How did you do it?"

"What?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.

"How'd you manage to get Aiden to become the executor of your mother's estate?"

"Oh, that." I laughed.

"Yes, that. We talked about this already," he said. "I told you that your mother's home was being sold. It is for the best that—"

I raised my hand to stop him. "No, it wasn't for the best, Devland. I told you that you had no right to undermine our deal, remember? You didn't think that I was going to let you sell my home, did you?"

The few students in the hallway stopped and didn't bother to hide the fact that they were staring at us, but I didn't look away from Devland. I couldn't show him any weakness.

"You had no right to try to take my mother's home from me, Devland," I said, clenching my teeth.

"How did you get Aiden to do it?"

"Uh, by telling him I had a problem and asking if he could fix it?" I blinked. "That's what family does."

Devland shifted his weight. "You went there."

I smiled. "Perhaps."

"You're wearing your mother's dress."

"Hmm." I looked down and fingered the material of the skirt. "I am."

"You went to Briarville to stop the sale, talked with Aiden, and brought your mother's dress back with you so I'd know you'd gone."

"Actually, I don't care if you know I went or not," I said. "I'm wearing my mother's dress because I've always loved it. It has nothing to do with you."

"Well, I see that you don't care about what I have to say, but I am still your guardian. Go get your things. It's time to leave. You're grounded."

I laughed again, louder this time. "No, I don't think so."

"Nora—"

"I will come back to the Manor after the dance, Devland," I said. "You can't prove that I went to Briarville, so you have no reason to ground me. Even if you did, speaking with Aiden taught me more than you wanted me to learn, I'm sure. I know I have options now. The only reason I haven't packed my things and moved out is because I made a promise to stay until I turned eighteen, and I don't break promises unless I don't have a choice. Don't make me have no choice, Devland."

Sidestepping, I walked back to the gym doors with my head held high, ignoring the students who watched me go. At least there'd been no screaming, and no one had used magic. I didn't know if any of the students in the hallway weren't a part of the magical community, but it was better that we hadn't had to find out.

As soon as I entered the gym, Calin was at my side, and I remembered that I'd wanted time to come up with a plausible explanation for what had occurred on the dance floor. Too late, I couldn't bail on him twice.

"Are you okay?" he asked, sliding his arm around my waist, and I sighed, thankful I hadn't completely scared him off.

"I just spoke with Devland."

"What? And no fireworks?"

"Not tonight." I shook my head and looked around. "Have you seen Maible? I want to leave."

"No, but you stay here," Calin said, removing his arm. "I'll go find her."

I nodded and looked around, finding an empty seat at a table close to the door. As everyone danced and spoke in high volumes to be heard over the music, I sat down. For once, it would be nice to be a part of the happy crowd. I'd have one last chance for that until high school was over, and I hoped that prom would outweigh the negative memories I was accumulating.

"Are you happy now?"

I groaned and turned to look up as Duvessa approached from behind me. As she made her way to stand in front of me, I followed her with my eyes, but didn't move to stand up and face her. Again, I didn't want to give someone who didn't scare me the satisfaction of seeing me put my guard up to face them.

"I'm absolutely blissful. You?" I asked, blinking innocently.

"What do you think?"

I shrugged. "How should I know? You must have some scary thoughts going through that mind in order to be able to do what you did pulling those pranks. I don't want to think about what goes on in there."

"Ha ha." She rolled her eyes. "You're not funny."

"Then don't talk to me."

"Don't worry, I won't," she said.

"Uh, but you just did."

"I'm leaving, Nora," she said. "Thanks to you and your mother, I'm moving schools. My parents just called to say that they'll send me to a boarding school. You know, where there is no magic. Now, because of you, I am leaving all my friends and everything I know."

"Wow." I sucked in a deep breath, feeling a twinge of sadness for her, but it left as soon as it came. I looked up again and met her gaze. "Don't you think that is for the best? Now you can start over. Maybe you can meet new people and make real friends. Without magic, you won't have the need to force friendships. I, for one, think that's the best thing for you."

"You little—"

I stood and met her gaze. "What?"

"I—"

"That's what I thought," I said, then sighed. "Look, I'm sorry that everything happened the way it did, but I hope you see the reasons why someday. Who knows? Maybe this will be great, and you'll find a better life than staying here would have given you. Life doesn't revolve around being able to practice the Craft."

"How would you know?"

I smiled. "Not everyone wants to be able to do spells. I hope you learn that."

Duvessa opened her mouth to speak but shut it before sound emerged. She met my gaze one more time and then huffed, turning and stomping away. The door to the gym slammed behind her and I sighed.

I was serious when I'd told her I hoped she was able to figure out life didn't revolve around magic.

Perhaps, without it, she would be able to cultivate the best future.

"You want to leave?" Maible said, coming up to surprise me on my left.

I looked behind her to Calin, nodding. "Yeah. It's been a crappy night so far, so I want to go. I'm tired."

"But the dance has barely started! We still have three hours! Don't tell me we spent all that time getting ready for what? An hour and a half?"

"Well, could you get a ride from someone else?"

"I—I don't know."

"Hey, why don't I drive Nora home and come back for you?" Calin suggested, coming to stand beside me. "You weren't hanging out with us anyway."

"You know what?" I asked, catching sight of Devland standing beside the doors. "Why don't we dance again?" I asked Calin, then turned to Maible. "What if we stay for another hour or two, and then we all leave together? Does that sound fair?"

Maible opened her mouth but then nodded. "Yes."

"Fine." I turned to Calin. "You ready for round two?"

Calin took my hand, showing no signs of hesitation, and Maible ran back to find her committee friends. At the edge of the dance floor, I reached down and took off my shoes, holding them in my hands as Calin took me in his arms to sway to another slow tune. All the while we danced, I repeated to myself to stay grounded, not to lose myself to Calin, and by no means let my feet leave the dance floor.

*****

It was nearly the end of the dance by the time that we called it a night.

After finding Maible again, we rushed from the school to the parking lot to beat the other students who thought leaving twenty minutes early would help avoid traffic, barely making it out as the first vehicle in a long line. Maible chatted the whole way to her house about how successful the dance had turned out and then asked if we'd heard about Duvessa leaving school for good.

Of course, I played dumb and let her cheerfully tell us what she'd overheard.

Once we parked in front of her house and Maible went inside, Calin and I sat in the car quietly, neither of us moving to get out. I knew that I had to drive myself home and he had to get his own car, but I didn't know what to say. The energy that had overtaken us during the last part of the dance dwindled, leaving tension heavy in the air. Instead of bringing up the topic I truly wanted to discuss, I tried to clear up any confusion about what had happened even though he hadn't asked, and I knew my mother would chastise me if she were here.

"So, about earlier," I said, hesitating.

Calin looked to me with a small smile. "What part? You seemed to have a few, including talking to Duvessa."

"I didn't think you saw that."

He raised his eyebrow and I sighed. "Of course, I did."

"She was telling me she was leaving school. I told her I thought it was a good idea. Maybe she'd find some real friends and be happy."

"That was big of you."

I shrugged.

"So, what were you trying to say? Was it about Devland or the fact that we were dancing on air?"

"Uh, the latter, I guess." I looked down and started playing with the fabric of my skirt, finally bunching it in my fist.

Calin reached over and covered my hand with his own. "It's okay, Nora. You'll tell me when you want."

"I want to tell you now," I said and looked up to find him already watching me. "I, uh, just don't know if I should."

Calin let go of my hand and leaned back in his seat, looking out the windshield. "Well, like I said. You don't have to."

I sighed. "My mom told me never to talk about it, Calin. It's not that I don't want to. I just don't know if I should."

"What I said stands."

Right. Judging from the fact that he didn't look at me when he said that, I wasn't believing it, though I thought it was sweet that he was obviously trying to respect the confliction I seemed to have.

With a sigh, I said, "You know how I told you that I can recite spells in my head easily?"

"Yeah."

"That's not true," I said, and he looked at me, his brow furrowing. I continued before I thought of a reason not to. "I don't need to recite spells. In fact, most of the time, they don't work, or it screws things up."

Pressure built in my chest, twisting into knots like a balloon animal. I sucked in a breath. Twirling my fingers, I looked down to my lap so I could pretend I was alone. It was too late to back out, so I continued my admission as fast as I could speak the words.

"I visualize things, Calin. I imagine something happening and then it does. Usually, I'll speak a word or two so people around me think I am saying a spell, but... I don't use them unless it's for something that isn't tangible. If it's something I can see or imagine being, I can just... do it."

"Like manipulating the elements."

"Yes, but it doesn't have to be an element." I sighed. "I know, most things are made up of them, but I don't have to connect with an element to be able to do this. My mom called it visualization and told me never to tell anyone I could do it because nobody is supposed to be able to do it."

"So, when you stripped the Larkin family of their power?"

"It was a combination of visualizing the connection Duvessa has with her family—I already sensed her magic—and a spell."

"And when I found you by the track and thought you hurt your ankle?"

"Visualization." I shrugged, looking up to find Calin watching me, though I couldn't tell if the look on his face meant he thought I was insane or incredible. I guessed I would have to embrace one to be the other.

"You can heal things?"

I nodded. "Apparently."

"The reason I couldn't come into your room?"

I winced. "I visualized a barrier and forgot to allow you in."

Calin laughed. "That's... awesome, Nora."

I turned to face him, only realizing too late that he had leaned over the console so that he could be closer to me. Our faces were an inch apart and I sucked in a breath. Holding his gaze, I didn't say a word. Finally, Calin exhaled and leaned back.

"You—you can't tell anyone," I said quietly.

"I would never."

"Okay."

Calin's brow furrowed. "That's it?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"Honestly? I don't know. I was thinking an admission like that would follow with some sort of warning."

"Like?"

"I don't know," Calin said, laughing. "Something like warning me you can visualize me into nothingness if I told anyone."

The knot in my chest unfolded, and I laughed. "Seriously? If we aren't supposed to be able to make something from nothing, how do you imagine I can make something into nothing?"

"I thought you were super witch?"

"Oh, just up." I slapped his arm and sat back, laughing.

Any remaining tension seeped from my body. Even though my mother wouldn't approve of me sharing our secrets, I was satisfied I'd found the right confidante. Calin would say anything to anyone, I was sure.

"Thank you," I said when my laughter subsided. "You have no idea how much I've wanted to talk about that."

"Well, don't tell Devland."

I laughed again, but quickly sobered. "You think?"

"Unfortunately, thinking isn't required to know that one," Calin said. He licked his lips and looked outside through the windows. "Do you, uh... Do you want me to follow you back to the Manor?"

"No." I shook my head and reached for the handle of my door. "Actually, I should just head there and get some sleep. It's been a busy weekend and we have another week of school before finals start."

"What are you going to do for the break?"

"I don't know."

"Well..."

I looked back at Calin, but he shook his head.

"I'll call you tomorrow?" he asked as we both got out of the vehicle, meeting in front of the hood.

"Sure." I nodded, wondering about what he hadn't said.

Calin stepped closer and gave me an awkward hug, though after a few moments in his embrace, it felt comfortable. Neither of us said anything afterward. He kissed the top of my head and then let me go, smiling one last time before taking his keys out and getting into his car. I watched him for a moment and then sighed, going back to my car.

Pulling a U-turn, I started down the street in the opposite direction, chastising myself the whole way back to the Manor about not having said what I wanted about us. Still, I felt good about what I had shared. It was a weight that was gone. It amazed me that I'd moved here wanting to bide time before I could go back to Briarville and then found someone I trusted above Nancy to divulge what my mother warned never to tell.

If I couldn't have her, Calin had proven to be the best runner up.

Eventually, we'd figure out the rest.