I knocked on Hermes door and straighten my back up. I know this is going to be worse then last week. I can just feel it. Hermes mom trying to act nice? I should be happy her trying to fake like me tonight but she's only doing it so she can keep her witchy claws on him. She may be beautiful but I know she can be deadly.

The door opened and the wicked witch answered. She gave him a stiff smile, ''Jaycee, glad you could make it.''

I gave her a forced smile back, ''You're welcome.''

Her right eye twitched while she chuckled, stepping aside to let me in. I came in and Hermes joined next to me. His mom closed the door, ''So Jaycee, tell me about yourself.''

''I'm a Russo.'' I said and Hermes pinched my arm. I growled at him and rub where he pinch me. ''Well, I like reading. I like listen to different countries music like Russian, Turkish, Hungarian, and Spanish, anything different. I'm Italian Polish and Scottish. Um, nothing else. I have a pretty boring life you'll be surprised.''

''Did I hear someone say she likes books?" Hermes dad asked as he came in.

''Oh no.'' Hermes said, chuckling. ''My dad loves book, his office is filled with them.''

''What do you like to read?" he asked.

''Classic, paranormal, young adult, adult like Dan Brown. Anything but Nora Roberts or authors like her. I love a good historical novel, anything in ancient Rome or Greece.'' I said.

Hermes dad pushed his glasses up his nose, closer to his eyes, ''Hermes, you never said she was smarter than you.''

''Haha.'' Hermes sarcastically said.

''Got a book warm as a girlfriend.'' he said. ''You're mother use to dress like her.''

''Well, I did rock my leggings back in the day,'' she said as she walked into the dinning room when I looked down at my black leggings with crosses on them. Thought maybe she'll find me less evil that I didn't burn in the sight of it.

I took my beanie off when Hermes grabbed my arm and dragged me into the dinning room where I so don't want to be. His brother and sister joined us downstairs and their money handed us filled plate.

Now I know how Hermes is so skinny. His mom a health freak because she gave me a plate of salad filled with different types of veggies, nuts, berries, and something I think fish. So I left my mom at home where she could be making a steak for me? I'm a wolf, not a rabbit.  

I forces a smile and thanked you.

I smelled Hermes damn cat and he moved his body against my foot. We heard him hiss and I almost kicked the feline. Sage jumped on Hermes lap and onto the TV. Hermes sister feed him a piece of fish meat and no one stopped her.

And it was like the cat expected everyone to share with him. When he got to me, I raised an eyebrow and shook my head. He raised his right claw and hissed at me before jumping off and leaving the room. I was no slave to a bloody feline.

''So Jaycee, you were Hermes friend in school when he was younger. Did you know your relationship would be like?" his dad asked.

''Oh, uh, no actually. I didn't get why Hermes was special to me. My family doesn't tell us what we our until they feel like we're old enough to understand and keep the secret. It was only after you guys left my dad told me. I didn't have any friends before Hermes though because I was a bit of tomboy and the girls never liked me.'' I told him. ''I was alone after he left. I wasn't even a wolf yet and it was heart breaking.''

I ate some of the salad and the seasoning in the salad was a little spicy. It actually made it good. ''Oh, well we're back.'' his dad smiled and I smiled back.

''Yeah. I didn't expect Hermes to look like this. I thought he would still be my adorable little nerdy friend.'' I said, waving at Hermes.

''Well Hermes had his ex fix his sight.'' Hermes dad said. ''Hermes wasn't a fan of glasses.''

''I like glasses.'' I said. ''Gets boring seeing 'hot' guys around school.''

''I'm boring?" Hermes chuckled.

''Well it gets boring to see guys who think they're hot.'' I said as I ruffled his blonde hair, making his dad chuckle. ''I got a whole family who think they're hotshots. Would be nice it Hermes took after you, Troy. I actually like the whole the whole sweater and glasses going on.''

''She's a charmer, Hermes.'' his dad said. ''You're family is pretty well known. They always have Kings High football team win because of them. Actually, all the sport they're in the school wins. What makes Nash so famous. Do you play a sport?"

''Oh no, I hate sports.'' I said. ''I didn't inherit that from them. My family calls me the family weirdo. I take that with pride though.''

I coughed a little when something felt weird in my throat. Hermes gave me a weird look and I shook my head, giving him a smile. I took a sip of my drink since my mouth was feeling a little hot. That's weird since I can handle spicy food normally.

''So you like being different?" Troy asked. ''That's good, nothing good with everyone walking around like mindless zombies.''

I picked up my glass since my tongue was hot again, but I held it up, ''I'm with ya on that.'' I said before chugging the water down. My mouth was still burning though and I could actually feel running. I ran my hand across my nose and took Hermes water, chugging it.

''Jaycee?" Hermes questioned, putting his hand on my shoulders. ''What's the matter?"

I chugged the last bit and took some deep breaths, ''I'm fine, I'm fine. In walked here so a little thirsty.'' I said and look at the filter of water on the table. My mouth was now throbbing and I tried not to snatch the filter, but I gasped and sat, snatching the filter. I took the lid off and started chugging it down.

''Mom, what's in this?" Hermes asked and I saw him in the corner of my eyes take my plate. I could feel the water slid down my mouth and my blouse was getting soak. ''Is--is there something in this?'' he asked as he brought the plate up to his nose.

''Don't be crazy, I didn't--''

''The Heat spell in this.'' he said quickly as he set the plate down. He got up from the chair and took the jug away from me. I groaned, reaching for it but he set it down and said a few words in Latin before pressing his mouth against my burning one. I squeezed my eyes shut when the pain worsen but after a few second, it was going away. As if something was extinguishing my mouth from the heat.

''Maria?'' Troy questioned, his tone was cold.

''I didn't do it.'' she said, but she didn't sound very defensive about it. ''Girl can't handle spicy food it seems.''

Hermes pulled away and face his mom, ''Mom, I thought you said you'll give it a chance.''

''It was a harmless joke.'' she sad, chuckling and shrugged as if she told a little joke and everyone should be laughing.

''Harmless?'' Hermes said coldly. ''Look a her, she's red from the heat. If she had been human, that spell could ave put her in the hospital.''

''She handled it though, what a strong trooper.'' she said. ''Lucky for that wolf blood of hers.''

''Mom! This isn't a joke.'' he said.

''Maria, you said you'll try.'' Troy said.

She pressed her lips together angrily and got up from the table, ''Take a joke.'' she said as she walked into the kitchen.

*

Hermes brushed my hair back and cupped my face in his hands, ''I'm sorry about her, she shouldn't have done that.'' he said. ''I thought she actually decided to give you a chance.''

''Why can't she just get over it?'' I asked.

''Because she's hard headed like a rock.'' he said, kissing my forehead. ''My dad likes you, that's good. Though I think that's weird a little.''

''I should get her back.'' I said. ''Teach me a spell.''

He laughed, ''You want revenge? Pulling a prank on my mom is not going to work on building both of ya'll relationship.''

I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck, ''I'm in a relationship with you, not her.''

''I thought she was really going to try.'' he said. ''I told her I'm not a little kid anymore, she tried sending me away again.''

''What?" I asked. ''No, she can't do that--''

''Relax.'' he said. ''I'm not going anywhere. But I said if she won't accept you, I choose you over her. She can't tell me what to do.'' he said as he hugged me. I laid my head against the crock of his neck. I felt horrible though, I knew I couldn't let Hermes choose between his family and I.

*

The Next Day.

I knocked on Hermes house door and shifted the weight of my left foot into the right. The door opened soon and Hermes mom answered. She was taken back when she looked down at my hands.

I was holding a basket of white beautiful roses with baby breath flowers. I cleared my throat and pulled my big girl panties up. I held up the basket, ''I got you these, Mrs Robinson.'' I said. Her mouth dropped and she looked like she was trying to say something. ''Please, just take them. You don't have to say anything.''

''Jaycee?'' Hermes questioned as he walked around his mom next to my side. My dad was in his car since we had to pick Hermes up to go suck the evil out of Lucinda, but I wanted to do this before that.

''I know it's just flowers, but the lady said white roses meaning are innocence, purity, and second chances. I want you to take them and give each other second chances.'' I said. ''So, here you go. You seem like you love flowers.''

She closed her mouth and reached out, but didn't take it so quickly. ''I only ever wanted what was right for my son, Jaycee.'' she said. ''We're both very different.''

''How many relationship were once forbidden though?'' I asked and she looked confused. ''Once there a a time where Christian and Jewish people could be together. Different races. Same sex relationship. All of them were frowned on, but we all grew to move on from it since those people loved each other.''

She sighed, looking like she wanted to continue argue with me. She closed her mouth then and cleared her throat, ''Okay, fine.'' she said. ''I'm sorry. . .very sorry. And I do love flowers.'' she said. ''And strong females--who I see is willing to do anything. Dinner tomorrow--no tricks.''

I smiled, nodding, ''I'll love that.''

''Anything you would like?'' she asked.

''I'll eat anything,'' I said.

*

''You are smart.'' Hermes since when we walked into the old Compton Manor garden. ''Better then what I could have thought.''

''I'm just that awesome.'' I said, chuckling. ''I told you I could make everyone like me if I tried. I couldn't let you be angry at her. I knew us fighting for you wouldn't be the mature thing.''

Hermes turned to look at my father, ''How'd you get along with your wife parents?"

''Oh, that's a complicated story.'' he said. ''Her father--well he wasn't a great father. When her parents split, she didn't see her father until he had passed. I got her mother to like me a little while after we had started dating. I suggested she should move in with us, but Abigail and I figure she suspected what my family was. She lives with Jaycee Uncle Tyler with his family and they visit allot. So yes, I do have a good relationship with her mom. So are we just suppose to wait here until he gets her here?"

''Yeah.'' Hermes said. ''It should be soon.''

''Then what?" he asked. ''We say the spell and it goes away?"

''Well you're going to have to touch her. Like grab her arm and both of you will say the spell. Both of your powers should quickly draw the dark out.''

''Sounds simple enough.'' my dad shrugged. ''I've done much harder shit then having to deal with a bratty teenager.''

''Really?'' Hermes asked. ''Like?''

''Eh, none of your business Blondie.'' he said and Hermes rolled his eyes at being called Blondie.