I sat outside the principal's office, fiddling with my bracelet nervously. My stomach was doing flips and I felt queasy.

They had called my mom and to say that she was upset was an understatement. She was angry.

Angry that I had summoned a demon. Angry at Miss Needle.

I could hear the muffled voices inside of the office.

I slowly lifted my head and stared at the door. There was a shouting match between my mom and Miss Needle and I gripped the hem of my skirt tightly.

The door opened and Mom stepped out. She looked at me and I stared back at her, visibly tensing up.

She sighed and walked over to me. She sat down next to me. "Be glad you're not getting suspended," she said with a small chuckle.

I looked at the floor. While I was glad that I wasn't getting suspended, I had been worried that Miss Needle was going to get fired.

Mom looked at me and rubbed my back.

"Well... while the good news is that you aren't getting suspended, but the bad news is that Miss Needle is getting fired."

I snapped my head up, my eyes widening. "What?! That's not-!"

"I deserve it."

I looked at Miss Needle who was standing by the door, a solemn look on her face.

"I had almost put you in danger," she said, "and on your first day, no less."

"It was an accident!" I said. A part of me was sure that it had been an accident.

"And yet it still happened," Principal Asha Le Torneau sighed as she walked out of the office, "it is my quick thinking that I haven't told the Council."

I shuddered at the thought of the Council finding out. I don't know what they would do to Miss Needle. And I didn't wanna find out.

"Who is gonna teach us sigil spells?" I asked, fiddling with my bracelet.

"I've called someone in," Principal Asha sighed and she looked at Miss Needle, "thank you for your time, Alicia. But I believe it is time for you to go."

Miss Needle nodded before she gave me a gentle smile and she walked away. I looked down, gripping my arm.

Mom placed a hand on my shoulder and I looked at her.

"It's not your fault, okay?" She said, "I need to talk to Principal Asha so go to your friends. I'm sure they're worried."

I nodded and I walked down the hallway. I knew it wasn't my fault but I couldn't shake off the feeling that it was my responsibility to make it up to Miss Needle.

If I had the time.

I walked into the kitchen and grunted in surprise when Marley and Charlotte hugged me.

"Thank goodness," Natalia sighed, relieved, "I thought they would suspend you."

I had thought that too but I was more relieved than surprised that they hadn't.

I sighed as I sat down. Gloria furrowed her eyebrows, "you okay?"

"Miss Needle got fired," I said. "What!?" Diana, Serenity and Tasha exclaimed. I gave a small wince.

"But... but she was only teaching you how to summon demons," Serenity protested, fidgeting.

"Demon summoning is bad enough. But it's not something to just get fired over," Harriet piped up with a frown.

"Try telling that to the principal and my mom," I sighed, rubbing my head, "she wasn't happy after finding out what Miss Needle did. But let's put that aside. I wanna make it up to her."

"Good idea," Joanna nodded, "but what exactly do you wanna do?"

"I don't know yet," I replied, wrapping my arms around myself. I looked at the clock. It was 7:03 PM.

"We've got time, right?" Iris asked, looking at Harriet.

"Yeah," she nodded. I looked at the window and rubbed my neck. I exhaled softly before I got up.

"You sure you're okay?" Gloria asked. I nodded before I walked out of the room. Orion jumped down from the bed and padded after me.

We walked down the hallway.

I slowed to a stop and sighed as I leaned against the wall before I slid down and buried my face into my arms.

Orion flattened his ears and he placed his paw on my arm. "It's not your fault," he said.

I lift my head up and look at him. I didn't want to cry even when people told me that. I knew they were right though. But it didn't stop me from feeling guilty.

I pulled Orion into my arms and held him close. He nuzzled my neck and licked my cheek. I giggled softly and rubbed his head.

I sighed softly and looked at the ceiling. My mom was a prodigy of magic and witchcraft. I could never measure up to her level.

Not without proper training.

I remembered when I was still eight years old and it was after I had summoned Orion. He was a kitten back then.

"I did it! I did it!" I squealed happily and I hugged Orion who mewled with happiness at the attention.

Mom chuckled as she knelt down next to me. "It may take a while for you to understand him as you grow, Paigey. But I'm sure you two will get along just fine."

I smiled happily and she rubbed my head. She got up and the two- well, three of us-, walked out of the summoning chamber and I saw Dad standing by the door, frowning.

"Dad?" I said. "Paigey, go upstairs," he said.

I picked Orion up and hurried up the stairs to my room.

I didn't close my door and even then, I doubt that he would want it closed anyway. I looked at Orion and set him down. I didn't know what they were talking about but it didn't sound good.

I sighed and stood up and walked out onto the campus. I walked over to the statue and stared at the plaque.

It read: 'Brenda Youngblood. The strongest and bravest witch of all.'

I frowned. That didn't really tell me anything about her.

I looked around before I walked off the campus grounds and I started walking around. I had a feeling it was safe to walk around. I walked down the street before I found myself in the main square. I tilted my head slightly as I looked around.

I couldn't remember the last time I came here. It was strange. I sighed as I walked over to a bench and sat down. I put my face in my hands as I started thinking. Well... reminiscing would be the right word.

"Momma?" I asked, playing with Orion, "how come men can't do magic?" Mom looked at me, "well... it's complicated, baby. For centuries, women were always known to have magic. I don't really know why; it was just the way of things."

"Oh," I said and I looked over at Daddy who was in the kitchen. I was sad that Daddy couldn't use magic like Momma and I. I got up and walked over to him. He looked at me and smiled softly, "hey, baby. Whatcha got there?"

I showed him a drawing of me and him doing magic together. He smiled softly as he picked me up and hugged me. I hugged him back.

I opened my eyes and I looked at the clouds. I knew my parents didn't always see eye to eye but I also knew that they really cared and loved me. But I couldn't help but wonder what was really going on between them. I stared at the clouds before I sighed softly and got up. I stuffed my hands into my pockets and walked over to a cafe.

I walked inside and walked over to the counter. Some people looked at me but didn't really say anything. The waiter looked at me and blinked in surprise. He had peachy skin and dark brown eyes and hair.

"Um... welcome to Whole Latte Love Cafe," he said, "can I take your order?" I looked at the menu for a moment before I looked back at him.

"Can I have a strawberry cake slice and espresso?" I asked. I took out some money and placed it on the counter. He blinked a few times before he readied my order and gave me the plate and cup. I thank him and walk over to an empty table.

Sitting down, I sipped my espresso and leaned back against the table, looking out the window. I hummed softly.

The door opened and the bell rang but I didn't see who came in.

"Is the seat across from you taken?"

I looked up at a nineteen year old girl who was holding a cup or coffee. She had pale ivory skin, light hazel brown hair and bright blue eyes.

"You can sit," I said. She nodded and sat across from me. I looked back out the window again. I squinted my eyes a little.

"I'm Elizabeth Drabek," she said, making me look back at her, "but you can call me Eliza."

"Paige Youngblood," I said with a chuckle. She smiled and said with a fancy tone, "pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Youngblood."

"Charmed, I'm sure," I replied in the same tone and we both laughed. She sipped her coffee.

"Gotta say, Paige, you're already one of my favorite witches," she said. "You've only known me for a minute," I said, taking a bite out of my cake, "and you're a witch too."

"True... but almost all of the other witches are snappy and rude," she said, "but you? I like you. You're a good person."

I stared at her before I smiled softly, "thank you, Eliza."

"Anytime," she replied.