Kayden didn't know what to expect when she stepped beyond the curtain. The first thing she noticed was the current in the air, an almost palpable buzz of magic that made her skin tingle. No wonder they had to hide it behind that spell, she thought.

But besides the feeling of magic in the air, the room was a mass of contradictions, a mix of the fantastical and the mundane. There was a collection of jeweled necklaces hanging from a row of old nails hammered into the wall. Across the room was a wall of clear plastic bins—almost like the ones you'd see in the bulk section of a grocery store—holding common potion ingredients like dried mint leaves and strange yellow powders. There was even a locked glass cabinet displaying what looked like plain old rocks.

"What do you think?" Helio asked, gazing at the room smugly.

"I don't know what to think," Kayden said, her eyes falling onto a stack of brochures set upon an old wooden desk. They were marked with the Apple logo. She pointed. "What are those for?"

Helio's eyes lit up. "Apple integration is finally happening!" he said, picking up a brochure and rifling through it. "All new Apple computers, iPads, and what-not are now POC compatible. Which means I can finally get an Apple Watch!"

Kayden wanted to roll her eyes. Of all the things in the store, it was strange that this was what Helio was most excited about.

I guess everything else in here seems mundane to him, she thought, stepping further into the back room. She couldn't imagine magic ever seeming dull.

Helio plopped the brochure down and hurried to catch up with her. "Any idea what you want to get Blaze?"

"I don't know," Kayden said, eyes trailing over the odds and ends. She was happy there was no one else in the backroom to ogle at her ignorance. She didn't understand what half of the handwritten signs said, since some of them were in Latin and others were written in such cramped handwriting she couldn't distinguish the letters. And she wasn't about to ask Helio to translate everything in the shop.

Her eyes fell on another glass cabinet, this one holding rows of beautiful embossed spell books. "Maybe I can get him a spell book?" she said. "So he can stop stealing his father's."

Helio chuckled. "You can't afford one of those."

Kayden scowled and was about to say Try me when she saw the price on the first volume was $1299. "Twelve hundred and ninety nine dollars?" she breathed. "For a book? Who can afford that?"

"Spell books are an investment. Like laptops," Helio said. "At least the good ones." He gestured at the next bookshelf. These books were not protected by glass, and they didn't look nearly as grandiose. These were skinny little volumes shoved together, like cheap paperback novels you'd find at a garage sale.

"You could get him one of those. Newer editions. Massed produced and a whole lot cheaper."

As much as Kayden liked the idea of getting Blaze a spell book, she didn't know how she felt about getting him one from this used shelf. After all, it was a shitty spell book that had gotten them into a huge mess in the first place.

But she was coming up blank on any other ideas, so she started rifling through the shelf.

"Help me find something on illusion-making," she said, and Helio grudgingly joined in.

Eventually, Kayden found her gift: a used copy of a book called Embellishments. Normally she wouldn't have chosen a book with such a froofy title, but she had recognized the author: Joseph Beckett. She and Blaze had met the illusionist over the summer, and she knew Blaze admired his work. The book had been published in 1999, so it was a bit old, but it was the best thing she could find. So she paid the $10, shoved it into the inner pocket of her jacket, and she and Helio made their way out of the magic shop, through the plant shop, and back onto the street.

The air was chilly, and she was happy when they finally made it back into the dark coziness of the Black Cat.

Her eyes swept across the room, looking for Blaze. When she finally found him, he was already staring at her with a frown. He excused himself from a conversation he was having with one of his friends and made his way over.

"Hey," he said. "Where were you guys? I couldn't find you for a while."

"Just took a little walk," Helio said, patting his shoulder and heading towards the bar.

Blaze looked to Kayden, still concerned.

She kissed him on the cheek. "Don't worry about it. I'll tell you later."

Blaze didn't look relieved. He just slipped his hands into his pockets. "I just didn't know where you went. Thought you... went home or something."

"No!" Kayden said, shaking her head. "Not at all. Now... let's grab a drink? Witch's Brew?"

Blaze nodded, and together they walked to the bar.

* * *

The next hour felt a little weird to Kayden. She couldn't shake the feeling despite the glass of Witch's Brew that she had downed in under five minutes, and it was only thanks to the bartender's reminder that she wasn't floating on the ceiling.

Eventually, everyone had a slice of cake, and then people started heading home. Helio and Jake disappeared in their transport runes, and the others wandered out one at a time, until only the bartender, Blaze, and Kayden remained.

"What time is your train?" Blaze asked, not fully looking her in the eyes.

"Um... there's one every hour. But I figured I would stay a little longer and hang out with you one on one?"

Blaze slid his hands into his pockets. "I have to get some work done today."

Kayden knew she was being blown off and it stung. But it was Blaze's birthday. He could do whatever he wanted. So she took a deep breath and tried not to feel too offended.

"Okay," she said. "But can I at least give you your gift first?"

She reached into her jacket, pulled out the book, and passed it over.

Blaze's face crinkled as he read the title. "Embellishments. By Joseph Beckett. Where did you get this from?"

"Some magical store nearby. That's where Helio and I went earlier."

"Oh."

Kayden frowned. "You don't like it."

"Well, I kind of already own this one..."

Kayden felt like an idiot. "Damn it."

Blaze still wasn't making eye contact, and Kayden could feel her skin crawling.

"You really hate my gift."

"No," Blaze said, shaking his head and putting the book on the bar counter.

"Then why are you acting this way?"

Blaze sighed, and for a moment he was silent. Finally he said, "I'm just a little upset you left halfway through my birthday."

Kayden blinked. "I only did it because I wanted to get you a gift."

"I know you had good intentions. But it's more like...I don't know. It was weird. Like one second you were here with me, and the next you were gone with Helio. And you two don't even get along half the time. It was like... it felt like you preferred spending time with him versus me, on my own birthday. That you wanted to just be somewhere else. And it felt shitty."

Kayden grabbed Blaze's hand. "I promise you, that wasn't it. I was just feeling self conscious about the gift I got you, and I wanted to get you something better."

"I don't care about gifts," Blaze said, looking her straight in the eye. "I care about being able to spend time with you."

Kayden reached up and hugged him. "I'm so sorry," she said. "I really, really am. Leaving was a stupid idea. I should have stayed here and spent more time with you. I hope I didn't ruin your birthday."

Blaze returned the squeeze. "You didn't. Just...put a little road bump in it."

Kayden let go of the hug. "Maybe I can smooth it over with my original gift?"

Blaze shook his head. "I told you I don't care about gifts—"

"I know," Kayden said, interrupting him as she went back to the gift table and found the present she had initially bought. "I just have a feeling now that you'll like this one better."

She passed him the present, and Blaze tore off the wrapping and stared at the plastic container.

"It's a phone," Kayden explained. "One of those cheap ones with prepaid minutes but... I figured you could use it to talk to me... since we're long distance and all."

Blaze put the phone on the counter, placed his hand on Kayden's shoulder, and leaned in for a tender kiss. Kayden's lips tingled from the magic of their touch for a few seconds after he had turned away.

"I love it," Blaze said. "This is amazing. Thank you."

"This is the last time I listen to Helio for present advice."

"This should be the last time you listen to Helio for any sort of advice."

Kayden laughed. "So, do you still want me to head home? I guess we could try out the phone when I'm back in New Jersey."

"Why don't we try it out later. Right now, do you want to grab dinner?"

Kayden smiled. "That sounds wonderful." And she slipped her hand in his and together they went out into the night.

- - -

Guys! I finally posted this! I'm so sorry for the delay. I've been working hard on my new book Devil in the Details, so this got pushed to the side! Hope you like the little wrap up to this short story (which was somewhat based on a true story!)

That said--what else would you like to see with these characters? Do you have any fun ideas of what you'd like me to write next? I really love these characters but currently don't think I can write a full sequel, so short stories are the next best thing! Leave your suggestions below and I may use them in the future :)

Hope all is well! Thanks for being so supportive and loving this book and these characters as much as I do!

<3Bdicocco