*Crash*

Davina jumped, sloshing her pond water across the table, including all over the sports magazine Imogen was reading.

Amelia rolled her eyes as the solid castle walls seemed to shake with the force of the slammed door. "Oh Miss Darkwood, do try and leave the door on the hinges this time please."

"Do you think they're off again?" Davina was trying to mop up what she had spilled with her sleeve. In reality she was just making things worse but everyone was too distracted to tell her.

Amelia glanced out the window and saw an angry looking witch stalk past the window. "I think it's a safe bet. How many times is that this year?"

Between them both they calculated that Constance and her girlfriend Delia Darkwood had broken up three times already.

It was only February.

Realising that nothing was going to save her sodden magazine, Imogen tossed it in the bin and asked the question she had wanted to for months.

"So why are they even together?"

Amelia sighed and looked at the P.E Teacher. Imogen had joined the staff in September and the principal was thrilled with the new addition to her school. She was a great teacher and very easy to get along with. She also kept to herself which was why she hadn't gotten involved in the drama that was Constance Hardbroom's love life.

"You have no idea how many times we have asked that question. You may not have always seen the best side of Constance but when she is not involved with Delia she is a much nicer person. Their relationship has been this way for a long time. They fight, they hate each other then weeks, sometimes months later they make up. Once they broke up for half a year, it was wonderful."

Davina interjected. "We all hate Delia, she's arrogant and rude and I do not know what Constance sees in her."

As much as she wanted to dispute the word 'hate' Amelia couldn't lie. She could not stand the obnoxious witch that Constance had aligned herself with for whatever reason.

"In all honestly she could do a lot better. Delia is clever and a powerful witch but as a person she leaves a lot to be desired. I also do not like the way that she treats Constance. Neither does Constance if you ask me but she always gets her at a vulnerable moment and suddenly they're back together. It's not healthy."

"Yes, how many times has she gone off with other women? I've seen her at several events necking with any witch that looks at her. Disgraceful." Davina was nodding so much it was a wonder her head was staying attached to her neck.

Imogen couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had only known her enigmatic colleague for a few months but from she could see, Constance was not a person to be messed with. She was assertive, smart, witty and certainly no doormat, not when it came to school matters anyway. Why was she so different in her private life? It was impossible to resist asking why.

"I wish I knew Imogen. We've tried talking to her but she rarely opens up. I do know that she's been hurt by Delia so many times. I wish she would just break away, start afresh, meet someone new. She deserves happiness. Also, if she was happier I'm sure it would have a positive impact on the school. And it might have a hope of my castle staying standing for a few more years."

The conversation stopped short as one of the parties they had been discussing entered the room. Constance tried to keep her face impassive but the way her jaw was clenched gave away how angry she was. Davina scuttled into the cupboard while Imogen became very busy planning out her P.E classes for the week.

"Are you alright Constance?" Amelia was the only one brave enough to ask.

"Perfectly fine." The potions teacher concentrated on making herself a much needed cup of tea and pretending she was not, yet again, highly embarrassed that the whole school knew her business. Once it was made she took her cup and began to make her way out the door, needing to get away from the sympathetic looks she knew she was receiving both from outside and inside the stationery cupboard. She almost made it.

"She's no good for you my dear. You deserve….." Amelia was talking to thin air, Constance had vanished before she could finish her sentence.

After twenty minutes Imogen excused herself from the staffroom. It was early Friday evening, her lessons for the week ahead were already done and she had a long boring weekend ahead of her. She made her way down the corridor, planning to go to her room when something stopped her. It sounded like sobbing, was it one of the girls?

"Oh, Constance. I'm sorry."

As if her evening hadn't been mortifying enough already, Constance found herself looking up at her newest colleague from her hiding place in the store cupboard. She had taken refuge there knowing if she had gone to her room or the lab that at some point Amelia would have come looking for her. She hadn't banked on Imogen's excellent hearing or realised that she had been crying quite so loudly.

"Excuse me Miss Drill."

At first Imogen went to allow the upset woman brush past her as she obviously wanted to. Except when she saw the tear stained face she just couldn't. Maybe she could help?

"Constance, I know we haven't really gotten off to the best start but I hate to see you upset like this. Would you like to talk? I'm a good listener and I promise whatever you say will just be between us."

"No thank you. If you'll let me past please, I would rather be alone."

Imogen was encouraged by two things. Firstly that the witch hadn't vanished as she normally did. Secondly, she had said please and thank you. Perhaps she didn't really want to pull a Garbo?

"I thought you might like a friend."

The words stopped Constance dead. A friend? When was the last time someone had offered to be her friend? Amelia and Davina tried but she knew she didn't make it easy. Delia, well Delia could fly off the edge of a cliff for all she cared. Miss Drill, Imogen she had seen her at her very worst but she seemed to be genuine in her offer.

Seeing the look of contemplation Imogen pushed a bit further. "We don't have to go to the staffroom. We could go to your room? Or mine? Or the lab? Wherever you're comfortable.

Constance did not want to go to her room. The argument that had started there was weighing heavily on her mind. In fact she didn't want to be in the castle at all right now.

"Or we could go for a drink? Amelia is on supervision tonight and the village pub has a few quiet corners."

A drink and a couple of hours away from the school was exactly what Constance didn't realise she needed until that moment. "Yes, please."

A few minutes later they had picked up their bags and were leaving the castle grounds. The short walk started off in silence, in fact there wasn't a word said until they reached the edge of the village and passed a certain house.

"Oh look, its lime green this month. It was pink last month. Let's make a bet, I think orange next month."

Despite herself Constance felt the edge of her mouth twitch. The owners of this particular dwelling did not seem able to decide which lurid colour suited their home more. It wasn't always colours either.

"Two years ago they covered the outside with teacups. Rather a waste I thought. I don't believe anything will top that."

Both women were smiling as they entered the cosy bar. Imogen went to order and directed Constance to sit down in a corner booth. Despite the small amount of people there it still took her about ten minutes to make her way back with the drinks.

"How do you know all these people? I've lived her for over twenty years and I only recognise a couple."

Imogen shrugged. "I don't really know them as such. I pass people when I'm out running and they always say hello. It's one of the reasons I like it around here. There's a good atmosphere with nice people."

Constance took a sip of her red wine. "Are all the people nice?"

She knew she hadn't exactly been the most welcoming or enthusiastic when it came to the addition of P.E to the curriculum. She couldn't deny that it was having a positive effect on the students and the fact that this woman was being so kind to her made her feel rather guilty about the way she had acted at various points over the past few months.

"Not always but I think people have many different sides. Sometimes the nice side can take a while to come out, but it's in there."

"Hmph, not with everyone." Constance was thinking of one particular person.

"Why don't you tell me about it?"

And after a couple of moments of silence she did. Over two hours and a bottle and a half of wine Constance poured her heart out. Delia worked in in a magical research position and was also involved in the Cauldronite Association, they had been together on and off for about five years. Recently they had been more off than on.

"When we first got together it was different. Or maybe I was, I looked up to her and was excited that she had chosen me. I know that sounds childish for my age but that's the truth. Now, I just feel like there is more of a rivalry than a relationship. There are good things but not many, not anymore. All we seem to do is row. I annoy her and, well you've seen the result of that."

Imogen topped up their glasses from the second bottle she had bought. "Tell me about tonight. What did you row about?"

Taking the glass Constance sighed, "I said I would like to submit my latest paper to the Modern Witches Journal. I've had good feedback on it and I thought it might be well received. She laughed, said it was a very amateur effort and that her work is far superior to mine. But she forgets that I help her with her work, in fact it might as well be mine as I've done so much of it for her. Just once I would like her to encourage me but she never does, it's like she's afraid I'll steal her limelight."

"Well, she certainly doesn't sound very supportive. if you don' t mind me asking, what's kept you together for this long?"

It was a very good question. "Well, when we're getting on things are good. She challenges me, makes me think, exposes me to different magical skills."

That sounded more like a professor than a girlfriend to Imogen. "Okay, well that's something. What else? What about your relationship, besides magic what do you have in common?"

Constance contemplated the question. "Honestly, not a lot. Magic is her priority, she doesn't like the other things that I like."

"And what do you like?"

Imogen was surprised but very happy to hear that she and Constance had a number of things in common. They both liked reading thrillers, visiting museums and both had a real love for musicals.

"Wow, I wouldn't have expected that from you. What's your favourite?"

They compared notes over shows they had seen and films they enjoyed. It was a real pleasure for both to speak to a fellow fanatic. In fact Constance was so happy that she almost forgot her relationship problems. Almost.

"No, she never wanted to come to any shows with me. I go on my own. I told you, if it wasn't anything to do with real magic, it didn't exist to her."

Feeling her heart go out to the woman next to her Imogen gently reached out and patted the black covered arm. "I'm sorry, that can't have been much fun. Constance, please excuse me for saying this but I'm struggling to see what you got from this relationship. This is meant to be your girlfriend and she sounds like the school bully who makes you feel inadequate and that you have to do her homework for her. Am I missing something? Please tell me you had an amazing sex life because I'm failing to see the appeal here."

Constance flushed bright red before taking a larger sip of her drink. It must have gone to her head slightly otherwise there was no way she would have answered the question.

"At the beginning, yes, it was good. That was a long time ago though. That side has fizzled out of the past few months." She blinked back the tears that had started to form again. "Quite possibly because she is getting what she wants from several different sources and not exactly being discreet about it. That's another reason we fought earlier, she said someone's work was better than mine. Someone I know for a fact was in her bed last week."

At that point the tears flowed freely. It was so humiliating to know she wasn't enough for her lover.

"Oh Constance, Amelia was right. You deserve so much better than her. You don't have to put up with this you know that, you can just walk away. Find someone new, someone who deserves you."

She strained to hear the mumbled response. "Say again?"

"I said, it's not that easy. I'll end up alone, on the shelf. A typical spinster witch."

Imogen smiled kindly shook her head. "Quite honestly, if it were me I would rather be alone than put up with what you have but that's just my perspective. To me a partner has to be a friend too and that doesn't sound like Delia. A relationship should challenge you yes, but also fulfil you and I don't think you feel that way. You are a beautiful, intelligent woman and I'm sure that if you make a break from her and put yourself out there you will meet someone else. And you know what? Being alone, well I mean not in a relationship isn't the worst thing.

"Constance I'd like to be your friend, I haven't liked seeing you upset like this but I have enjoyed your company this evening. I'd like to spend more time with you. Being honest I've been at a loss since I came to the school and like you I've been doing a lot of things by myself. I'd love a friend to go to the cinema or see shows with, even to come here again and have a drink. The world doesn't have to end because you're single, in fact it could be a new beginning if you choose to let it."

By the time they left the pub at closing time Constance had made a decision. She was going to, as Imogen had suggested, embrace being single. She was also going to open herself up to something she hadn't had for a very long time.

A friendship.