The next day I was fine, physically (aside from a couple of nasty bruises I wrote off as bumping into a doorframe... many times), but I gave myself the rest of the week to recover mentally; before even thinking of attempting magic again. I didn't want to relive that experience so soon. Which meant it was holidays.

I lazed for the first two days (mostly watching YouTube and reading fan-fiction), before being shipped off to Chinese camp for three days. That sucked. I also accidentally teleported back home. I lazed again for about... give me a sec... seven days (more Youtube and fan-fiction) before attending a two-day program on aviation at USQ (I met and talked to my friend, Anna's older brother Matthew. It was awkward). Saturday, went out with my family, and Sunday performed at the Peaks to Points festival at the Oxley Common before going out again.

So my holidays were productive.

(Who am I kidding?)

Now it’s back to school, work, and friends (I love my sister, but I still get lonely). Also, back to magic. After being a couch potato for about two weeks, I decided to get back into magic. By now I figured out through half-hearted attempts to get back into it, that the book appears wherever and whenever I want it, I can even change its appearance, too.

So the first day back, I read the book whenever I had the chance. Which was during lunch breaks. But it enough, though I couldn't focus on my classes much because I was too excited. I was very tempted to create a double of myself and sit somewhere and read all day. However my guilt got the best of me, I couldn't leave Tara at school, that wasn't fair! Damn my being a good sister!

At least I was back to normal. Getting excited by magic seemed more like me, rather than a zombie. I all but ignored my friends during lunch, flipping through pages like a woman possessed.

"Hey, what's that book about?"

"..."

"Rhiann... Hello?" Tara elbowed me to get me to pay attention.

"Hey! What?" Tara gestured over to Susi, who was looking at me expectantly, her short brown hair framing her face. "Ohh, its, uh, a book I found at Jojo's house."

"What's it about?" Her voice had gone low and slow, as if she were speaking to a child. I feel my face go red in embarrassment.

"I um, don't know? I can't read it. I uh, like the pictures..." Great excuse Rhiann, everyone will believe that.

She had come over to peer over my shoulder at the book. "What language is it? Looks latin-ish." Oh my god, Susi, I love you, but right now, I want to get back to this potion that lets you change gender for 24 hours.

"Yeah, Latin." I promptly stick my nose back in the book. The potion I was reading about seemed incredibly simple except the brewing portion, I don't have a cauldron. Like any normal person. Plus, I don't know how to quickly/easily start a fire. Well, that got more complicated.

I wonder what I would look like as a male. Probably still an average, curly brown-haired, green-eyed nerd. I should stop thinking about that before I scar myself for life. Though it would be a good prank idea. Yeah, I should stop now.

Too soon, the bell goes, signalling the end of lunch and the beginning of another distracted period. Sorry Ms Yip.

-+= 70 minutes later =+-

Lunch once more, and I was determined to try a spell this time. Earlier, I had spotted a spell that produced a calming odour. The chapter I had found it in was mostly in French, with some mentions of the French Revolution. Disturbingly, the page the spell was on had a large splatter of blood on it. And I think I know why.

During an attack on my town, I employed this spell to stop the fighting briefly and give us the upper hand. I have discovered that the strength of the spell depends on the energy of the wielder, and the resistance of the affected. Tests have also told me that the affected each smell a different flower, which is most calming to themselves.

My friends weren't fighting, but I really wanted to try it on someone. Who better than my friends? Ok, that seems a little maniacal. Still, I knew Tara was starting to freak out about her engineering assignment, so this should be helpful! I think. There may or may not have been side-effects mentioned.

I waited until no one was paying me any attention before flipping to the page and murmuring the spell. I had it just about memorised, but better safe than sorry!

please don't go wrong, please don't go wrong...

"parfum de fleur apaisant."

I started to panic a little when all that happened was Isabel glancing at me for murmuring. I let out a huff of annoyance. What did I do wrong? Did I not pronounce it correctly, or am I not capable of simple magic? Now I need that calming spell. "parfum de fleur apaisant!" I add an accent this time. The effect is almost immediate.

A silver-pink mist descends on my friends, barely noticeable, at the same time my friend's faces go slack, with glassy eyes. Ahh, this has the potential to be bad. It should be fine though...

Maybe I should ask them what flower they're smelling, that information could be useful later on (I have reasons OK!) I flip to a blank page in the book and grab a pen.

"Ok guys, what can you smell right now?" I point to Jen.

"Gardenia."

"Sarah?"

"Iris."

"Emma?"

"Calla Lily." This goes on until the end of the break. I somehow dispel the mist by waving my hand and wishing it to disappear.

I leave for fourth period with a giant grin on my face, leaving my very confused friends behind.