The next day I woke up with a headache. I felt as if I had a hangover. I felt drained. I opened my eyes but the daylight was too bright and it was hurting my eyes. I slowly sat up on my bed. I felt very uneasy. I guess I was not used to doing magic, even such a simple dancing spell. To be fair, we did get interrupted before I could get my energy back from the room. Or Jake.

Suddenly I remembered what was going on and reached for the cupboard. I needed to check the flowers were still there. Maybe if they weren't there, I could pretend nothing was happening. I opened the drawer. In the daylight, they didn’t seem threatening too much. Just messengers. Maybe I should just ignore them the way you don't open junk mail but throw it right into the trash.

On top, there was the newest one from the night before. Once I looked at them closer, they were whispering to me, telling me off, reminding me of who they wanted me to be. I touched them and their energy tickled my fingertips. They reminded me of the innocence of childhood. I knew it was a lie, everything they ever said was a lie. I closed the drawer, determined more than ever to carry it all out till the end. It was probably my best chance to do everything I always wanted.

My phone buzzed. I started to look for it only to realise it was still in the back pocket of my jeans that were lying unceremoniously over my chair. The incoming message was from Saira.

“We need to talk. I need ALL the details ;) Coffee later?”

I checked what was the time - nearly lunch - and texted back.

“OK. 2 @ Costa?”

A little Saira nonsense would do me good today. She agreed. I had a positive feeling the day could only get better.

Once I got dressed, I went downstairs. I was hungry. Lee-Ann was just in the middle of preparing a lunch.

"Are you all right? You look a little bit like a zombie. I take it the date didn't go according to the plan?" She asked looking a bit concerned.

That was certainly one way to put it.

"You could say so," I sat down at the kitchen table.

"Are you going to eat with us?" Lee-Ann asked with a slightly concerned look. She was already putting a plate in front of me, so there was no point in saying no.

"Thanks a lot."

"You look like you can do with a little comfort food." She smiled warmly.

"I am just going to call the kids. Do you have any plans for today?" She continued.

"I will go out for the coffee with Saira, but can be back by six, if you want me." I knew she wanted even before I offered. Lee-Ann smiled. For once I decided to be the good au-pair girl and called the kids. I didn't bother to actually call them, but getting them downstairs to sit down for a lunch was not exactly hard. I don't think it counted as a magic in any way.

Lee-Ann was radiant, she liked to have family meals together whenever she could. Due to the commuting especially a few years ago she missed way too many. The lunch was simple but nice, they were really a nice family if one helped them a bit.

"They are always so nice with you. You are definitively a good influence," she said as we were taking the plates from the table.

I smiled. Lee-Ann had no idea.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" She continued. I realised she was probably expecting the worst. I felt a bit guilty to worry her, she didn't deserve that.

"Nothing, really. I just think we don't really work well together," I dismissed her worries. There was no way I could have explained what I had got into.

"Don't worry about Mike," she added. "You will find someone nice. He simply doesn't deserve you."

"Thanks." I was tempted to hug her. I loved how Lee-Ann sided with me, no matter what the truth was. According to her, there were no doubts that Mike was the bad person here. I smiled. It was easy to believe it. The truth is often overrated and much less comforting.

I looked at the clock on the wall. It was time to let them have some quality family time without me around. I was getting late for the coffee.