"Look at this. Five-star reviews." Noah brandished his cell phone. "All saying the same thing. "Legendary, visually stunning, complex, a thrilling adventure. Look."

"That's cool but I'm driving." Beau didn't glance at his brother.

"This is going to be the best movie." Noah stretched his arms, his fingertips nearly brushing the roof. They'd been in the car for fifteen minutes and he hadn't calmed down yet.

"What's the movie called?" Cora had been too busy listening to pay attention to the scenery. Buildings went by in an array of light, sound, and color, neither as interesting as Beau and Noah. She snapped a fairy knot off a strand of her hair, altogether entranced.

"The Dawn of the Fall," Noah said.

"Yeah, I forgot to tell you," said Beau, slowing down at a yellow light.

From what she'd heard of it, it was an apocalyptic sci-fi movie about a boy who finds out he's the prince of an alien race on the eve of their revolution and must choose between fighting for his species or for the humans who raised him.

"Which theater are we going to?" She searched The Dawn of the Fall on her phone. There were lots of rave reviews, but a few negatives calling it a trite, emotional rollercoaster.

"Rosen Street." Beau peeked at Cora in his rearview mirror. He kept his window down despite the chill and she huddled in her corner, not wanting to be rude.

Rosen Street was closer, the parking abysmal. Beau drove with one hand on the wheel, opting for back roads instead of the main—Lupin Avenue. Cora watched a woman push a stroller down the street, wishing for more than apartment complexes when she couldn't think of what to say. A convenience store's lights flashed sickening neon colors. She set her gaze on the homeless man sleeping opened mouthed against a wall.

We probably have the most convenience stores in the world.

"Why? You want to go somewhere else?" asked Beau, slowing again to let a group of teens cross the street.

"Downtown's fine," she said.

He hadn't put on the radio. Noah played a video game on his Nintendo, complaining or shouting his victory at every odd minute that passed.

Cora chose to take full opportunity of having Beau's attention. "I think I've seen the trailer for The Dawn of the Fall. You like sci-fi, huh?"

"Nah, not really. I'm not into that fantasy stuff. That's all Noah."

"Yup," said Noah.

"You don't believe?" she asked, amused.

"Believe what? That aliens exist?" He laughed. "I don't believe because they're not real."

They made a turn. Cora kicked a water bottle that rolled onto her feet. Someone who refused to believe the fantastical wouldn't think twice of her magic.

"Anything is possible," she said. "They might be here, living with us already."

He didn't respond. She guessed he didn't like entertaining nonsensical ideas. She could press on or let it drop. She fixed her attention on Noah instead.

"What about you, Noah. Do you believe in aliens?"

"Uh... it depends."

"Like how?"

"Like if... Oh, come on. I had that," he yelled at his Nintendo. "Like if there's proof," he said to Cora.

"But there's no proof," Beau said, as if they'd had this conversation a million times.

"Area 51. Roswell. Kenneth Arnold. Washington D.C. Jimmy Carter. You want me to count them?" Noah disputed.

"Okay, and none of those were real," said Beau.

Cora understood half of what Noah said, but loved his passion anyway. "Hundreds of UFO sightings," he spieled. "All saying the same thing. Bright lights and flying saucers. How could all those people make up the same thing?"

"Two words. For attention." Beau matched Noah's fanaticism with his own impatience.

Noah huffed. "Man, you—" Cora couldn't see him shake his head, but she bet he did. "You just don't get it," he said.

"I get it," said Beau. "It's—"

"You get it right, Cora?" Noah twisted in his seat to see her.

"Just because there isn't any concrete proof doesn't mean it isn't real." She pursed her lips to keep from smiling. Earning Noah's respect and teasing Beau had its perks.

"Thank you." Noah settled in his seat, contented.

"Look, say whatever you want but it's not real." Like his brother, Beau didn't give in easy.

Cora squirmed to ease the rush of excitement threatening to give her away.

Thank you for this one, all-powerful father. He's perfect.

Her luck had upgraded twofold. It would be easier charming someone who had no suspicions of sorcery. Most people didn't, but some refused to believe even while it sat in front of them or, as in Beau's case, behind them.

"So, it's a lie because you don't believe it?" Noah pressed.

"It's a lie because it's a lie."

"You only believe what you've seen with your own eyes." She twirled the ends of her hair around her finger. They were nearing Rosen Street and weren't moving as fast in the Saturday evening traffic. Local buses and cars all occupied Burnside Street.

"Basically," Beau and Noah said together.

"If the news showed a UFO falling from the sky, he still wouldn't believe it." Noah had abandoned his game, too energized to see the best apocalyptic thriller of the years-end. "It's going to be like a seven-minute walk." His seat rocked as he bounced his leg.

"We have time," Beau assured him. "It doesn't start until seven."

"Don't forget snacks," said Noah.

"You're buying the snacks?"

Noah said nothing, his seat rocking faster.

They parked in a garage on Ashe Street, and shuffled the rest of the way to the theater. Noah ran ahead, leaving Cora and Beau in an awkward silence that worsened with the distance they covered. She scanned the gleaming shop windows they passed, rating possible small talk questions from lame to lamest in her head.

Beau kept to her side, the space between their shoulders no more than a few inches. A few times, they left each other to make way for someone else, but she made sure not to stray too far, hoping he would notice.

Was he thinking of what to say like her?

She decided he wasn't. He was cool and practical, while she was prone to fantasy, imagining her triumph before it'd even happened.

Who are you Beau Campbell?

No sooner had she had the thought when he caught her staring. She made up for it with a smile. "I can pay for my own ticket, you know."

The parking garage charged twenty an hour. He hadn't flinched at the price tag. Stella had shoved an extra twenty into her hand before she left the house, enough for the movie and her own snacks. It was unreasonable to expect him to pay for her and Noah.

"That's cool," he said. "But I wouldn't have minded paying for you."

That's cool?

If she really wanted him to talk, she'd have to think of better things to say. Small talk wouldn't suffice. There was more to a person than sun signs and whether they preferred cats or dogs. Had he really meant he wouldn't mind paying for her ticket? Did he even like her at all? Was she imagining things?

No. No. Not this again. Think positive.

Maybe she could find a manual on deciphering boy talk in one of the shops on Rosen Street.

She set her confusion aside as they turned onto Rosen Street, a pair of large, gold hoop earrings catching her eye from a vendor's table.

Not even the cold could clear Downtown Thorne Point on a Saturday night. Cora had been to the theater with Eva many times and Saturday nights were always jam-packed. The greasy smells of a food cart followed them across the street onto the long line.

"Come on already." Noah danced from foot to foot. "This line isn't moving."

"Hold on a minute. We just got here," said Beau, retrieving his buzzing phone from his pocket.

"I want to get a good seat." On the tips of his toes, Noah didn't even reach Cora's shoulders. He couldn't see over the crowd.

Cora tried not to read Beau's texts. Though it intrigued her, gaining his trust was top priority. As the line trickled along, with nothing to do, her mind wandered.

What's Eva doing?

Eva would want to know every single detail, from what they ate and if they shared, to how close they sat together measured in inches, and how he looked at every moment. While she didn't mind the excitement of a sci-fi flick, Eva lived for the romantic comedy, even though most were unrealistic in Cora's opinion.

The line moved along and soon enough they'd reached the front, much to Noah's appeasement. He happily stuffed his Nintendo in his pocket, finding the commotion of the theater more intriguing. Though they hadn't made it to the concession stand, she could tell he wasn't the kind of kid who liked to share popcorn.

"Two tickets for The Dawn of the Fall, please," Beau said to the ticket seller. When it was time for him to pay, he took a bankcard out of his wallet. Cora, biting her lip, had a sudden wicked idea. As the woman attempted to swipe his card, she snapped her fingers.

"It didn't go through," said the ticket seller, first name Marlowe, according to her nametag. "Let me try again." She tried again and Cora snapped her fingers.

"Still nothing," said Marlowe, her expression one of bafflement.

Beau looked at Cora. Cora looked at a dark smudge on the carpet.

"Let me try one more time."

Cora snapped her fingers. The people behind them grumbled. Noah, with his hand on his forehead, shook his head. Beau rifled through his wallet. He had nothing in there but a single dollar. A pinkness crept to his ears.

Cora placed a hand on his arm. "Try it again," she said to Marlowe.

She did and, as if by magic, it worked. Noah sighed in relief. Beau's shoulders relaxed. He smiled at Cora, as if she'd somehow saved him from embarrassment. Little did he know, she'd done the opposite. The night was young, and she hadn't even gotten started.

After paying, they still had to wait a while before they could go up to their theater. From behind the ticket handler, she watched the patrons of the movie house order large bags of popcorn and other tasty treats. Noah couldn't stay still, eager for a taste of butter and salt, wanting greasy fingertips, and possibly a nibble of something sweet.

"Calm down, Noah," said Beau, though not without a smile. "You'll get yours soon enough."

But Noah's excitement was infectious. Cora's skin buzzed, a sliver of magic lingering in her fingertips. "At least we're inside now, considering how long it took."

"I don't know what happened back there," Beau admitted and scratched his ear. They had returned to their usual shade of brown. The small space filled as more people got their tickets. He placed a hand on Cora's back moving her up so the people behind him could pass. His hand on the small of her back made her breath hitch.

He didn't keep it there long. "Don't worry. I'll get the snacks," Cora said once she could breathe again.

"No," he said. He'd said it so loudly a little girl in front of them jumped.

Cora raised her brows.

"I mean, I want to get it," he said.

"Okay," she agreed.

A few minutes later, the ticket handler waved them forward and told them what theater they'd be going to. As they stood in line to get food, Cora standing beside Beau, she pondered what else she could do to bring him down a smidge.

"Hey, make sure you eat all of it," he said to Noah, who'd wanted a large bag of popcorn and soda all to himself. The popcorn was still warm in his hands as he shoveled a handful into his mouth, happily obliging his brother.

When Beau ordered a medium bag of popcorn, the machine mysteriously went haywire and added too much butter, so his popcorn came out soggy. When he ordered a large Coke, it was so full that when he picked it up the top popped off and it spilled all over him. The woman behind the counter yelled, "Next."

"Oh, man," he said, shaking the soda off his hands.

Cora, nibbling on her chocolate covered raisins to hold back her smile, shook her head along with him. Although she had caused it, she did get some napkins and helped him clean off.

"Don't worry about the popcorn. We can share." She shook her box of candy.

"No offence, but I hate those," he said, but he smiled all the same.

They took the elevator all the way up to their theater. Usually, if the movie was good, there would have been another line to get in, but no one waited outside. When they went into the theater, they found it was almost empty except for two couples in the last two rows.

Beau whistled. "I guess this movie isn't so popular after all."

Noah, still determined, hustled up the steps to grab their assigned seats, as if they didn't have most of the theater almost all to themselves. He led them to the center of the room which put enough space between them and the couples at the back. Where they'd sat in the red cushioned seats gave them a perfect view of the screen, Beau in between her and Noah. "See how early we are," he said. "The previews haven't started yet."

"That's so lame," said Noah, through a mouthful of popcorn.

"Lame indeed." Cora approved.

"I would share with you but they're not that great," Beau said to her, dipping his hand into his popcorn. After, he held out the bag for her to have some anyway.

"I'm okay," she said, and to show this she shoved a handful of chocolate covered raisins into her mouth. While she ate, she peered at the screen, which reminded them to turn off their cell phones. Remembering that hers wasn't, she put it on silent. Beau sank into his seat. His legs were so long he couldn't fully stretch them out.

None of them spoke

Beau leaned towards her, his breath warm on her cheek and minty despite his soggy popcorn and Coke. "I promise I won't say I told you so when this movie sucks."

She grinned, unable to help herself. "I'm the one who'll have to say I told you so and trust me I will. I bet you'll fall in love easily. Like a snap of my fingers."

"That easily, huh?"

"Guys, be quiet." Noah shushed them. The lights dimmed. The previews were about to begin. Beau settled into his seat once more, his popcorn balanced on his lap. Cora glanced behind her as the room went dark. One of the couples in the back row were making out full throttle. As she turned, she put her arm on the armrest just as he did.

"Sorry."

"Sorry."

They said it at the same time. For the rest of the previews, she kept both of her hands in her lap. He offered her popcorn again, shaking what was left of it.

She accepted. "Do you have a napkin?"

"He scooted in his seat, searching for them, and when he couldn't find any said, "I forgot them."

She held out her hands. He poured as much of the popcorn as he could into them. It made her palms slick. By the time the movie started, she'd eaten it all.

Beau offered her the last of it. "It's pretty bad."

She laughed too loudly in the quiet theater and put her buttery hand over her mouth.

"Here," Beau said. He took an old napkin out of his pocket so she could wipe her hands. "You have a little popcorn on your lip. Right here." He gestured at his mouth.

She quickly wiped her mouth. Keeping the napkin balled up in her fist, she kept her gaze on the screen through the first scene of the movie, and the second, and the third. By the fourth scene, she'd grown restless. The movie wasn't bad, but her fingers itched to do another charm.

Be creative. Have fun.

She shifted in her seat, trying to keep an eye on the movie, and at the same time come up with a way to hurt Beau without hurting him too much. As he took another sip of his soda, she snapped her fingers in a rather subtle way, making his drink five degrees colder. He dropped it into the holder and slammed his palm against his forehead.

No one liked brain freeze.

Come on, you can do better than that.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Yeah, I'm okay," he said, still cringing.

He was even cuter when he cringed. She fought the urge to pat his arm. Instead, smiling, she poured a few chocolate covered raisins into her hand and tossed them into her mouth, a fine treat for a sorceress. "Last chance," she said, holding up the box.

He obliged, eating what she'd poured into his hand.

By the time the movie ended, she had managed two more brain freezes. She'd conjured up a mouse that made it up his leg before he screamed and leapt out of his seat. She'd made him rather uncomfortable with a tickle charm in a hard-to-reach place. She'd also made him sneeze so much with a dust charm his nose became runny, and when he leaned back in his chair it made a noise that sounded like he'd had too much over buttered popcorn. That hadn't been her doing, but it was all she could do to contain her wicked side.

Her grandmother had been right. The more harm she caused, the more she enjoyed it.

They left the theater a little after eight. Beau's frown hit her heart harder than she would have thought it would, not hard enough for her to want to stop her wicked streak, but hard enough that she wrapped her arm around his as she would with Eva.

"What did you think about the movie?" he asked, as they rode down the escalators to the first floor.

"Best movie of my life." Noah punched the air.

"I loved it," she said. "I told you it would be good."

"You loved it? Man, it was so unoriginal. Literally, everything that happened in that movie has already been done."

"It wasn't the most original, I admit. But it was fun."

"He doesn't like fun," said Noah. "All he cares about is work."

"Is that true?" Cora tilted her head, curious.

"I like fun. I just don't like wasting my time."

"And you think your time was wasted tonight? Come on, don't lie. You had to enjoy some of it."

"I didn't.

"Not even the part when the aliens sliced through the humans with their weapons. Like this." Noah demonstrated a scene in the movie, a brilliant reenactment in Cora's opinion.

"Not even that." Beau scowled.

"Okay, what about the scene where he had to leave his parents behind." She put her hand on her chest. "Didn't that just break your heart?"

Beau checked his pulse. "Nope, still intact."

They stepped off the third-floor elevator and argued all the way down to the first floor. "Man, you know nothing about good movies." Noah pointed at Beau. "Sometimes I wonder if we're even related."

"Trust me we are. Just look at your ears."

Noah touched his earlobes, offended. "Maybe you were switched at birth with an alien lifeforce," he murmured, thinking no one had heard him.

Cora laughed. Beau caught on, laughing too. When he wasn't looking, she really looked at him. Yeah, his ears were kind of unusual, but she liked them.

Why can't I have both?

Why couldn't she? Unless she made it obvious that she was the one behind his misery, she could have her wickedness and a date with a cute boy too.