How do you tell your best friend of eight years that you're finally back and you just want to move on and pretend those missing years never happened? I'm open to any suggestion, really. The worse part of it all too was that I just got up and left so suddenly. It's not like I wanted to– on the contrary. I wanted to stay with him. Damian was my rock for years and leaving him was like leaving a special part of you that you know you may never get back. I'll never forgive my parents for shipping me off like that. They had no right! They took every sense of normalcy I had away from me like I was undeserving, and maybe in some way I was, but I was only nine! How do you do that to a child?

Ding! The chairs around me fell and so did the other furniture, some landing back in their previous positions while the others toppling over. Even with eight years of training I still was no good at this magic shit. And then it hit me– how am I even going to tell him about what I am? Another thing to spring on him too? Did I do something in the past life to be fucked over like this? Deep breaths, Connor, deep breaths. Something as simple as my emotions I can't even control anymore. I was really stuck with this curse.

Sighing, I got off of my bed and hopped in the shower. It was only four in the morning but I liked the quiet only the early hours could bring. It was like I was in my own quiet haven, away from the problems that seem to flock to me these recent years. Enough of that though. What I really need to do is try and maintain a normal image. This is going to be my last year in a human environment and most importantly, with Damian. My last year to reassure him that I didn't forget him and rip it all away from him when I leave again. Ugh. I can't have anything I want, can I? Don't answer that, I'm already depressed.

What would I say to him though? "Hey, D, sorry I jumped out of your life and jumped back in it one year before we graduate and move away but I'm back now– at least for a year?" I wouldn't even be my friend if I heard that. Damian could understand that though, right? He's always been the more sensitive of us two– but that could also mean he took it the worst too. I may not be outright crying about it but it really messed me up and in ways that I can't explain. It's not just losing my best friend, it's losing everything I thought was normal and stepping into a world of the unknown with not one light in this dark cave. It was like travelling over the River Styx with no guide into the underworld; forsaken and alone to wander aimlessly and hope you don't end up lost like the other trapped souls bound to suffer their faith for eternity. It's like the water was reacting to my emotions too as it suddenly grew colder and forced me out of the shower.

I looked at the time: 4:48. I spent almost an hour in the shower; that's going to rack up quite the bill and even though I hate my parents right now, I can't seem to enjoy that one petty act of revenge. We don't live lavish so that was definitely going to set us a week back.

Thankfully school starts at six so that gives me more than enough time to beat the early morning traffic but before I do, it's now custom that I perform a protection spell over myself and my home. The Council has this mad theory that something dark is heading our way and snatching up magical creatures. Even though I'm not there, they give us ways to keep up to date. I should be starting Senior Year One since I've been training for the past eight years and completed my requirements. This year I should've been in Darodia preparing for the entrance but I opted out. I got the choice and I'll never pass on Damian. Not willingly at least.

Sitting cross-legged in front of my front door, I placed five white crystals in the form of a semi-circle, the door acting as the cut off. There were three lit candles placed in the middle: two side to side while one stood in the back. I scratched my head as I tried to remember the simple protection spell. I know it begins with "protegas me..." I sat like that before it finally clicked. My Charms teacher would be so ashamed.

"protegas me, in tempore opus protegas me, et plumbum"

The crystals started glowing as the candle lit flames blew upwards in a furious haze. I held my hands out, them directly on the fire but not hurting in any way. My eyes rolled back and it was like an out of body experience– well it was. My soul floated above my body and I looked down below as a white barrier shot up from the middle of the roof and spread over the house like a protective bubble. My soul started lowering and lowering and that's when I saw it: the dark mark on the middle of my forehead. As I was about to look at it, I was forcefully slammed back into my physical body. I quickly shot up and ran to the bathroom mirror.

Peering into the mirror, everything seemed the same. My dark tan skin was clear as usual, asides from the dark spot under my right eye. My amber eyes searched my face for any abnormalities but found nothing. I didn't know whether I should he happy or freaked out. I know what I saw. Or what I thought I saw? It doesn't help that my mind is buzzing with crazy ideas and none of them were good.

••°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

"Oh.My.God. I-is that you, Connor?" An extremely smooth voice called out. I stood there frozen, looking around for the person. I was in the middle of the parking lot, my foot on the pedal staring out into the school campus like a stalker. I could've sworn– "It is you!" Someone ran up to me before I got a chance to see their face.

"Hi?" I asked confused, but reluctantly patting the person on their back. "Who are you?" My voice somewhat shy. I hated not knowing what situation I was in and that's basically all the time nowadays. They pulled back from off of me and it was like a wave of nostalgia hit me right then and there. I couldn't remember her name exactly but I could tell I knew her. A wave of memories flooded over me and I could see her in them clearly, like a hidden memory being unlocked. Suddenly, I could see her standing beside Damian staring at him while laughing, another one showing her and me laying down side to side in the grass staring at the night sky and one of us arguing– only this time Damian and her were taking sides. The memories flashed in front of me but unfortunately I couldn't hear a word. "Velma? Velma Pattinson?"

"Yes! I'm so glad you remembered me. I know things ended badly when you left and even though it was like a lifetime ago, you just stuck to my brain like gum but I wouldn't want it any other way." She gushed, her toned arm still hung around my arm. Her nearly violet eyes flickered up at me as if she was taking in something she doesn't believe exists all the while forcing her black bangs out of her face. "I never thought I'd see you again, much less while we're Seniors. You do know we're graduating this year, right?" She chuckled.

"I'm aware," I playfully rolled my eyes. I don't know what came over me but I instantly became comfortable around her. "I'm not going to be here next year so I just wanted to catch up with, uh," For some reason it felt weird admitting out loud. I've said it to others before but that was because we didn't share a history and they couldn't judge me. She could though.

She didn't answer but instead winked and somehow I knew. "Here I was thinking you came back for me. I feel the love!" She wept.

"Nah, you're not that special."

"You wound me, Connor, you wound me." The bell rang and was heard throughout the campus. "That's our cue. What's your first session?" She asked.

"Uh," I looked at the piece of paper in my hoodie and scanned it. "Social Studies."

"Ok, same. Let's go!" Velma laughed before linking her hand through mine. "I'm so glad you're here" And that was what I heard before she dragged me across the parking lot.