I woke up the next morning wondering where I was and how I got there. I remembered everything up to when Hayden came over and let me cry all over him. I climbed out of bed and went down to the kitchen. I could smell pancakes and bacon cooking. When I walked into the kitchen I was surprised to find Luke sitting at the island reading the newspaper and mom flipping pancakes like this was an everyday thing. Mom must have heard me walking down the steps because she turned and looked at me.

“Honey take a seat we need to talk.” I sat down at the island and mom set a plate piled with food down in front of me. I dug in the moment she gave me a fork, mom makes the best pancakes and I never let them go to waste. Light and fluffy covered in butter and syrup, the bacon is crisp and juicy. I was so focused on my food I didn’t notice when Luke put a pamphlet the size of a small book in front of me.

“Lilly your mother and I would like to talk to you about something.” They talked as I finished my breakfast. When I was done I couldn’t help but stare at them. I had no idea what to say; I looked at my mother.

“Mom, can I please call Hayden?”

“Yes honey, go right ahead.” I didn’t need to be told twice. I ran up to my room and grabbed my phone. I texted Hayden to come as fast as he could. I didn’t wait for him to answer I knew that he would drop whatever he was doing and come right over. I grabbed a change of clothes and ran to the bathroom for a shower. By the time I got out of the shower and dressed I could hear Hayden riding down the street on his motorcycle.

Hayden is different than any boy I have ever met. He doesn’t wear the most popular clothes, he isn’t a jock or a geek, and it’s not that he doesn’t have the money or anything like that. He just likes to be different. He says we shouldn’t conform to the way people think we should be, I think he just likes to shock people. Hayden loves his motorcycle, he bought it on his own on his sixteenth birthday a few months ago. He works hard at his job in town as a mechanic and he does well in school, He’s my best and only friend. We grew up together, we met for the first time in first grade. Some kids were pushing me around and he stood up for me. We’ve been best friends ever since and right now he’s the only person I want to see. When he pulled in I was waiting at the back door for him with two glasses of fresh lemonade. When he walked through the door I handed him the glass. He looked me over and smiled.

“Well you look better today,” he said then took a sip of his drink. I looked him over, today he wore light blue jeans and his usual worn out black motorcycle boots. He had on a red t-shirt that read I speak fluent movie quotes and dark black sunglasses. I smiled at him, he has such a strange style. He pushed his sunglasses up so they were sitting on his head and winked at me. “What’s with the smile?”

“What’s with the t-shirt?”

“What’s wrong with it?” he asked. I giggled at him.

“Nothing.” my smile died, I looked up and him “there is something we need to talk about.”

“What’s the news?”

“Let’s go outside and talk.” he nodded and held the door open for me. I grabbed the book, pamphlet thing and we walked out to my tree. We took a seat on the ground leaning our backs against the tree trunk. I took a deep breath and told Hayden about what my father and about his parents. I told him about my being a blood born witch and that on my sixteenth birthday things would change. I picked up the pamphlet, book thing and handed it to him. He flipped through it looking at all the photos and skimming the articles. When it hit him what the pamphlet was about his mouth dropped open.

“Is this for real?”

“I guess. Moms never lied to me before. We tell each other everything…So this has to be true.”

“So, what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. Mom and Luke want me to think about going to this school in the fall. They said it would help me, learn to use my powers, make friends with people who are like me. Discover who I am. Mom and Luke met at this school and fell in love. So they want me to go.”

“But it’s in Ireland. How would that work?”

“I guess I would live in a dorm and come home on the holidays. Gosh, how did this even happen I was a normal girl yesterday and then all of a sudden long lost dad shows up and poof I’m a witch.” Hayden sunk down so he was laying on the ground. He put his head in my lap and closed his eyes. I ran my fingers through his shaggy brown hair.

“My best and only friend is a witch,” he said it matter of fact. Letting me know how real this was. I knew he would take it better than I did. I felt confused and angry that this was happening to me. I looked up at the sky. There wasn’t a cloud in sight, a light wind ruffled my hair. It was strange everything was changing and my life was turning upside down and yet the beautiful blue sky stayed the same.

“What am I going to do?” I asked not expecting an answer. We sat like that for what seemed like forever, I think at one point we even fell asleep. I feel so comfortable with Hayden. He lifts my spirit and knows just how to make me feel like my whole world isn’t ending. If I go to Ireland, to this school will be leaving everything I care about, everything I love behind. My mother, Hayden, a Father I’m just meeting. We would talk everyday and I would try to come home for the holidays. But going would give me the chance to figure out who I am now and who I’m supposed to be. I have always had trouble getting along with anyone other than my mother and Hayden. So it would be nice to be around people who are like me. It’s going to be hard to leave them, but I know in my heart it’s the right thing to do. Going to this far away school will be the best thing for me. Tears started running down my cheeks for a second time this week. I don’t think I have ever cried this much before. Not even when I broke my arm. I closed my eyes and let them fall. I was startled when Hayden reached up and used his thumb to brush away the tears.

“You’ve decided to go haven’t you,” he said it softly, I could tell it wasn’t a question. He already knew the answer, but I told him in a soft whisper.

“Yes,” he rested his hand agent my cheek.

“I’m going to miss you.” his voice was thick making my tears come faster.

“I’m going to miss you more,” I whispered. He sat up to pull me into his chest and hold me close to him.

“When do you have to leave?”

“I don’t know… Will have to talk to mom and Luke.” We continued to sit under the tree for a while before heading back into the house. Mom and Luke were sitting at the island in the kitchen snacking on cookies and talking things over. I stood across from them with Hayden standing behind me, his hands on my shoulders. “Mom, Luke, we need to talk.” Hayden squeezed my shoulders letting me know that he was with me no matter what. “I have decided to go, but I have a few questions first.”