“Are you sure you’re ok?” I asked, cocking my head to Lauren. She nodded nervously as we moved the opposite direction from the others. “Those guys were jerks.” I said, trying to change the subject… poorly… she nodded. Today had remained fairly cold, and the walk to Lauren’s dorm was quiet. I got the feeling I did something wrong… “lauren I-“ I stopped myself. “... I didn’t mean to make you feel small… I just… didn’t like hearing em’ talk about you like that I guess…” I muttered scratching the back of my neck. 

“No it’s not like that.” Lauren said quickly, turning to me. “I didn’t know you thought I was worried about that! I’ve just been so worried about this… we have so much to worry about during this exam it’s almost… worse than before…” we reached her building and stopped. 

“I know… it’s a lot…” I smiled. “But what’s there to worry about? We’re all together and we’re all in it together.” I said trying to act calm and brave… I was terrified about leaving New York and traveling across the world to find this tree… but none of my friends were gonna know that… her most of all. Lauren giggled… there was an awkward silence then Lauren gestured to the building. 

“You uh… wanna come up?” Her face reddened slowly. My stomach dropped. But of course I did. I smiled and nodded. I opened the door and we walked in and up to her room. Lauren fiddled with the keys, and pressed the door open. Sadie, her roommate wasn’t there. I moved over and sat on her bed. Lauren had moved into the bathroom. I remained awkwardly sitting by myself, before I noticed some action figures sitting by her bedside table. How have I never noticed them before, I began poking at one, moving its arms, and laughing to myself. She was such a nerd… I smiled, setting it down, right before she walked out, smiling. 

“Someones happier now” I laughed, lauren smiled, and nodded making her way to me. 

“I just really needed to calm down…” she shrugged. She sat down on the bed next to me. “... we didn’t really get a chance to talk… those guys in the robes… who do you think they were?”

“I have no idea… could be people after the tree…” I muttered, Lauren nodded slowly

“I’m sorry I put you on the spot that night…” Lauren said, her eyes wide as she hung her head.

“What!? No! Stop it, I’m glad I was here to help that night… I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if something happened to you and I was on campus…” there was a long silence… and I felt every excruciating second… why couldn’t I think of anything to say!? I was racking my brain trying to think of something when I felt her head press against my shoulder, my heart stopped. I glanced down slowly… she seemed happy… I sighed… I would do anything to make this girl happy. I couldn’t explain it but I would die if it meant making her feel happy. I pressed my head against hers.

“I’m scared…” she said quietly

“I know…” I rubbed her back with my right hand. There was another small bit of silence before Lauren began to move again, I lifted my head off hers, and she looked up at me, slowly kissing me on the lips. I rose my eyebrows, but then they softened, as the kiss went on for longer… seconds melted into minutes, until Lauren finally swung a leg over my lap, and sat on me, straddling me, still lip locked. She put a hand to my cheek, and her kissing became more and more intense. My hands found their way holding her at the waist. The kiss continued for a few minutes, before Lauren reached down, and held the bottom of my shirt, tugging it upward. I rose a brow, backed out of the kiss, and put my hand on hers, lowering my shirt. I… I don’t know why… I felt nervous… I guess? Self conscious maybe… she was pure and I was… a mut-

“Hellooo?” Lauren said, waving a hand in front of my face. “You with me big guy?” I nodded. “Is… everything ok?”

“Yeah… yeah I’m fine…” I said quietly. A smile grew across Lauren’s face. 

“Is THE Harry Simmons, afraid of a girl?” She teased, poking my chest. I shooed her hands away, not breaking eye contact from the floor. “Harry…” she said, turning serious now. “What’s up?”

“I don’t…” I sighed… “I don’t know… I’ve never done… this before… and ya know…” I scratched the back of my head, avoiding eye contact… I could feel my whole face heating up… do I tell her what the issue is? Do I tell her I’m worried about her family? My family… do I tell her I’m embarrassed she's making out with a mutt like me… is it too soon to talk about any of this with her? I- suddenly I felt her hand press against my bare chest, and looked down, she had put a hand up my shirt, and was smiling at me. 

“See it’s not so bad.” She smiled. “We can do it this way if it makes you more comfortable…” I could feel, my face heat up again, and my eyes water, I shook my emotions away, and hid myself by wrapping her in a tight hug, pressing my face into her chest. “H-Harry!” She squeaked, her hands coming to her side like she didn’t know what to do with them. “Harry I-“ she stopped talking, breathed slowly, and wrapped her arms around my head, holding me tight. I choked back my tears, and sorrow, and collected myself… I felt a single tear escape, and fall to my lap. Breathing heavily, I passed the emotions, pushing them down, and returning to Lauren. 

“I’m… uh… sorry…” I said awkwardly. Lauren cocked her head… my god she was gorgeous… from head to toe she was perfect… 

“What are you sorry for dummy?” She laughed, flicking my forehead. I smiled softly, as she leaned back in to kiss me slowly. I closed my eyes and returned the kiss. This kiss lasted about the same amount of time, before her hands wandered up my shirt again… this time mine began moving about her body, one eventually finding itself, under her shorts, and to her rear. The kissing became more passionate, and more intense, when suddenly both of our phones simultaneously rang out. Lauren groaned, and sat up, handing me my phone from her bedside table, and getting on her own. “What is it now.” She muttered angrily, panting, and cooling off. 

“Luke…” I breathed. She nodded, it must’ve been a text to our group chat. “First Light park… now.” I muttered.

“My god could he give us a little more information?” Lauren complained, we both chuckled. 

“Wonder what that’s about…” I said quietly. I began to set my phone down, and turn my attention back to Lauren, when another text came through. 

“Sabrina this time…” Lauren said. 

“Guys for real… listen to him this time and pack bags were leaving.” I read out. 

“This time??” Luke texted back. Lauren sighed, visible sexual frustration was painted on our faces I’m sure. 

“Wait leaving?” Lauren muttered. “We’re not allowed to leave until tomorrow morning I thought.”

“I don’t even have things to put in a bag, much less the bag itself.” I muttered. 

“That’s weird… isn’t that like cheating?” Lauren muttered, a smile grew across my face. 

“Son of a bitch…” I laughed.

“What?”

“What did the headmaster say at the ceremony?”

“That we can’t leave until tomorrow morning.”

“No no, specifically.” I clarified.

“Teams can leave at ‘first light’ or something like that.” 

“Exactly… I can’t believe I didn’t see it.” Harry practically threw me off of him, and began pacing about my dorm. 

“Hello? Harry… care to fill me in?”

“Why aren’t you packing??” He asked loudly. 

“Wh- I don’t even know why we’re going dummy!” I laughed. 

“Listen… the Headmaster said ‘leave at first light’ meaning first light park! Where the first magi exams were ever held! So get packing or we might get behind the other teams!”

“Wait… how do you know this? Maybe he just literally meant… tomorrow morning.”

“No… no… these are the magi exams… they wouldn't say ‘first light’ and not specify ‘first light, tomorrow’... this is too big for that… it leaves too much room for error.” I began muttering to myself, putting my hand to my chin, it took me a little before I noticed Lauren staring and smiling at me. “What?” I said, stopping. 

“Nothing… you're hot when you think…” she whispered, smirking.

“Lauren!” I yelled, blushing. She laughed, and moved toward me. She put a hand on my chest, and moved it down my body slowly. 

“We could stay here yaknow… finish where we left off?” I didn’t think it possible but my face felt hotter… my god I would love nothing more than to stay here alone with her… and be with her… I gave a soft smile, then an upset look. “I know… we need to go.” Lauren groaned, and tossed herself backward toward her closet, collecting some things. “I bet Luke’s behind all this Lauren muttered, grumpily throwing clothes into a bag. I laughed nodding. 

“I don’t see how it wouldn’t be.” I did feel an odd tension between us now… like I almost broke down and now things were awkward. I kicked myself for getting emotional. It never works… it never helps… I rubbed my face hard. 

“You ok babe?” Lauren asked, we both froze, my eyes widened and my heart skipped a beat. Babe? We weren’t even technically dating yet… was this early for that? On time? I had no frame of reference… we hadn’t said I love you ye- “I’m so sorry…” Lauren muttered, letting out a deep sigh. 

“No, no! It’s ok!!” I said, I tried to change the topic. “I’m ok.” I smiled, she nodded, still not facing me. She continued packing and when she finished, she turned and nodded. 

“Ok… let’s go” she smiled, I nodded and opened the door.