The Beginning

2

I woke up with a scream. For many reasons:

One: There was a guy with black hair standing next to the window, arms folded.

Two: There was a girl with black hair with really tiny blonde highlights standing in front of the door next to a girl with red hair wearing a dress made out of….crocodile skin? Must be Harper, and a guy with brown hair.

Three: Max wasn't anywhere to be found.

Max ran inside, pushing the girls and boy out of the way, saying out of breath, "What's going on? I heard you scream, Bonny," He turned to the others, "What did you guys do?"

I answered, "Nothing happened, Max. I just woke up to see-"

"Harper's dress? That was my same reaction when I saw it too!" Max laughed as Harper was about to claw his face.

"NO!" I paused, causing Harper to stop in her tracks, smiling at me, "Well-yes that was one of the reasons-," Her jaw dropped, "But I think the more accurate reason is that there are people glaring at me." I hid under the covers.

Max sat on the bed and hugged me, "Don't worry! It's just Justin, Alex, Harper, and Mason!" I sat up. The four waved hi.

Justin looked at his watch, "Well, Bonny, if you're working here you need to get ready. Do you have some clothes?"

"Yes, sir." Justin left.

Harper squealed, "Awesome, another guest! Then I can show you my creations." She tapped her fingernails together and walked away, adding a mischievous laugh to it. I shuddered.

Alex glanced at me with questioning eyes, asking, "Max, you know this girl? Because I haven't seen her at school before."

"She stumbled into the sub station last night, banging her head hard on the table. Mom told me to get her a bag of frozen fruit for her. They talked. I left. Mom said that Bonny can live here. She took her to the guest bedroom. Mom left. I came. We talked. We laughed. We told each other that we're wizards. We watched movies. We talked again. We laughed some more. At three in the morning, I left. The end."

Alex struggled to say something. Mason was trying to pat her back, but that didn't work. Finally, she screamed, "You're a wizard? !"

I got out of bed, sauntered to the closet, and opened it, grabbing my backpack. I dropped it on the bed and pulled my eight most important spell books, magic objects, travel guide of the multi-universe, and Stripes.

Mason snarled, "A stuffed tiger? What does a stuffed tiger have to do with magic?"

Not making any comment, I went back to the closet, grabbed my left boot, and pulled out my wand. I threw my boot back inside.

I spoke, "I can change the type of animal, wand or no wand. See?" I placed the wand on the bed, stepped back, pointed my finger at Stripes and added, "What kind of animal do you want me turn it into?"

No one answered.

"Okay," I continued, "We'll keep him a tiger, then. Now, here's the fun part," I cleared my mind, focusing all my energy on Stripes and hexed him, my eyes glowing gold, reciting,

"Trasformarsi!"

(Transform!)

The magic, emitting from my hand, flew into Stripes. Directly, Stripes started to shake, grow, and look realistic. His cute little paws metamorphosed into enormous killing ones; his body, growing to a size bigger than a man; his head, bigger than two men's, showing off his razor sharp teeth. Stripes transformed from a stuffed animal, to a real, menacing, warrior tiger. He roared.

"How's it going, Stripey?" I hugged him, "I haven't transformed you in a while!" I rubbed his back as he purred.

Alex and Max was admiring Stripes, rubbing him, while Mason was growling, trying to remain calm and not to go werewolf on Stripes.

"That's," Mason howled, "Nice. But can you transform him back?"

I pouted, "For five more minutes?"

"Fine."

Stripes licked my face as I scratched behind his ear. Max exclaimed, "He's huge!"

"Yeah, isn't Stripes bigger than regular tigers?" Alex asked, staring at the massive body.

I transformed Stripes back to a stuffed animal. I didn't want to, but I heard some cracking and I DID NOT want a bed to collapse, "Yep."

"How? Did he take steroids or something?"

"No. I'm from planet Heart, so all animals are 50 to 100 percent larger. So when I need to travel"-I waved Stripes in the air-"All I have to do is transform him into a stuffed animal."

As soon as I was finished, a fat guy burst into the room, screaming, "I heard Italian! Who's speaking Italian?" I quickly grabbed Stripes and hid behind Max, terrified at the psycho dude. Max wrapped his hand around my shoulder, making me feel the same impression that I felt when he stared into my eyes. Everything began to swirl into one; I blacked out.

Once I came to, I looked all over the place. Everything was pitch black, like I was in another dimension. Then, Max materialized on the other side-if there was a side-and approached me.

I scoffed, "What are you doing?"

"HUH?" Max scratched his head, "Doing what?"

"Putting spells on me! First, you look into my eyes, and now you're transporting us to different dimensions!"

"When I looked into your eyes, yes. But I didn't do this!" He threw his hands in the air.

"Then who did?"

"I DID." A booming voice, coming from everywhere, laughed evilly. After, a ring of red-yes, red-fire circled around us, and was closing in. Max yelled, "Getting burned isn't nice, turn this fire into ice!" Nothing happened. He kept repeating the second part of the spell, walking toward me. I noticed the fire closing in on us faster. Gusts of wind began to stir.

I hugged myself, trying to block the strength of the wind, "Max….!"

Max hardly heard me from the wind and the laugh that was still going; but he saw me, falling to my knees. I felt like someone was taking the life out of me, turning my body into dust. I opened my eyes warily. Max was now sprinting to me, saying the spell now and then. It seemed like miles for him to reach me. Finally, he…power slid?...his way to me, and embraced me. The winds got even stronger, the fire closing in on us even faster; our bodies getting weaker to protect ourselves.

As we closed our eyes tightly, I heard Max whisper softly, "Help…help us." I thought and thought, more and more about what I could do so we won't die….

Then I got it. I squirmed my way out of Max's embraced and screamed, "Cong-wait!" I dragged Max up to his feet.

"I don't wanna die. I don't wanna die. I don't wanna die. I don't wanna die. I don't wanna die. I don't wan-"

"Max, we're not going to die. I just need your help so we can live." He nodded, "You're Hispanic, right?"

"Right."

"Is that all?"

"My dad's Italian, so I'm both. Why'd you ask?"

"Since you're half Italian, our magic is greater when it's combined."

"O…kay. You want me to do a spell with you."

"Right. But I need a spell that freezes time..."

"I know! Gialsjay timesday. But you have to have one leg up."

"Good enough. Just say 'gialsjay voltegiorno'. Ready?"

He gulped, "Ready."

We joined hands. Immediately, I began to glow my magic color, red, as Max was glowing blue. Our magic merged together, changing the color to a ghostly grayish white, which was weird, since blue and red made purple, not a ghostly grayish white. Blue and red sparked here and there, communicating with each other. I gazed at Max, signaling him it was time to say the spell. His eyes were shut, but with our bond, he knew it was time.

The combined magic grew stronger, more effective. We opened our eyes; mine glowing red and Max's glowing blue. We said under our breaths, "Gialsjay voltegiorno!"

The ghostly grayish white circled around us like the ring of fire and got larger, spreading out. After the magic passed the fire, the fire froze. The wind stopped, but the laugh didn't. Max and I released hands and exchanged glances.

The voice came back, "YOU WILL NEVER GET RID OF ME! HAHAHAHA- HACK HACK COUGH COUGH COUGH!" He started to cough. Out of nowhere, a freakishly old man with a long beard, cloak and hat fazed into the room. I'm all like, 'WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME!', while Max said, "Professor Crumbs?"

"Yes, Max, it is me." Crumbs bellowed.

I took a step forward, "How'd you get stuck here? Do you know how to get out?"

"I know how to get out, but I didn't get stuck here. I sent you both here."

"Why?" Max asked.

Crumbs didn't answer. Instead, he turned to me, "Bonny Phantom, I presume?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Do you remember that letter you received yesterday?" I nodded, "I sent that letter."

Max looked at me, "What letter?"

Professor Crumbs continued, "Bonny, I asked you-"

"Told me, sir." I corrected.

"Yes, told you, that you have to help Max pass thirty tests before you both turn eighteen. Well, there's been a slight change in that."

"What?"

"Since you are part wizard, you have to pass the tests as well. You and Max will take and pass the tests together."

My jaw dropped. More work for me, then.

Max shook me by my arms, "What is going on?"

"I'm from planet Heart. Before I got to your place, I received a letter saying that if I want peace with both of our planets; I have to help you pass tests, since you are the next family wizard." Max twitched, "At home, my real home, I'm the great granddaughter of the famous and most powerful warrior in the world of Heart. Once I turn eighteen, I have to be the next warrior for the wars we have and the one we might have with Earth, where we have to battle each other." I pointed to him and myself.

He turned to Professor Crumbs, "We have to go against each other?"

"Yes," Crumbs retorted, "Regular humans can not battle with Heartians because they're far advanced than they are. So wizards and magical creatures have to battle them for humans."

I felt something in my head, 'But I don't want to battle you,' Max said mentally. He had formed a mental bond, meaning we can communicate with our minds.

'Me either,' I returned, 'That's why we need to start as soon as possible.'

Professor Crumbs informed me, "Bonny, since you'll be on Earth for a few years, you will have to go to school with Max so the government won't come back for us like they did the first time. Is that okay?"

"Yeah. Max?" I tugged on his green t-shirt, even though I was three to four inches shorter than him.

"It'll be one thing that I will actually look forward to, so yeah!" His stomach growled, "Professor, if you could?"

"No problem," He transported us back to Waverly Sub Station. The last thing I heard from Crumbs was, "See you soon, children!"

We fazed into the kitchen, where the same fat guy who was yelling earlier was making a turkey on rye. He twisted over to the sink, and we backed out quietly. As we did, I saw Theresa taking an order for a couple or students or whatever.

I skipped over, "Hello, Mrs. Russo!"

"Hi, Bonny!" She gave me a half hug, "Did you meet everyone yet?"

"Not everyone."

"That's okay," Theresa came to a whisper, "Did you and Max start yet?"

"No, ma'am. He just found out…..after Professor Crumbs told him." Theresa finished the order, walked behind the register, and placed the order on the rack. I followed.

She turned back to me, astonished, "You know Crumbs?"

"Yeah. I met him after," I paused, "It's a long story!"

"Well you can tell it later," She threw something black at me. It was an apron, "After you get dressed, put this on and start working!"

I began up the stairs, "See you in fifteen!" I ran to my room, took a shower, brushed my teeth, and opened my bag. I ripped out a Lucky Charms t-shirt, light blue jeans, and my white tank top. The tee went off the shoulder, so the tank top had a part in it. My hair was already wavy, so I pulled the scrunchie off, shaking it down, still having that one lock in my face.

Lastly, I tied the apron properly around my waist. I looked in the mirror one last time and said to myself, "Let's work."

I ran down to Theresa and announced, "Bonny Phantom reporting for working ma'am!" I saluted.

"Alright," Theresa began, "I am going to assign you to first, third, fifth, and night shifts. First and night shifts are with Max, Jerry and Alex third, and me and Jerry for fifth, which is right now. The other shifts, six and seven, are me and Alex for sixth, and Harper and Justin for seventh. Each shift is an hour and a half. Everyday, the station opens at ten, and closes at ten; twelve hours a day, six days a week. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Now, the jobs. There are three jobs in a shift: the waitress, register, and chef. If there's only two working in a shift, whoever is the waiter or waitress, has to be the register guy too. That's all, but when you're on night shift, you and Max have to clean up for the night, then it's over."

"Is that all, ma'am?"

"Nope; you are dismissed."

"Yes ma'am." I went behind the cash register and began to take cash and give change. It was fun, talking to the costumers while cashing everything. From time to time I would need help, and Jerry would come and help me. I haven't met him yet; but so far, it won't be so complicated.

I was finally done with my shift. Now all I had to do was wait three hours for the night shift with Max. Max. I wonder what's he like at school….but it's July so it doesn't matter for now. Speaking of Max, he skateboarded into the station, wheeling his way over to the register.

He skidded to a stop in front of me. I asked, "Welcome to Waverly Sub Station. May I take your order?"

He rubbed his chin, "Hmm…..I'll get a turkey on wheat with American, mustard, and lettuce."

"Sorry, but I'm off shift," I untied my apron and passed it to him, "But you could certainly make it yourself!" I sat down at a booth, grabbed a magazine, and began to read it, muttering, "I'm not stoppin' ya."

"Okay…." He sat on the opposite side of me, "Will this stop you?" He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and slammed it on the table. I moved the magazine down so only my eyes were visible; eyeing him with my 'seriously?' look, then read the paper.

"'Meet me at the beach next week on Friday at 7:30.'," I looked at him, "What's this all about?" I smiled.

He smirked, "I'm sorry for being so weird at first, looking into your eyes and a-"

"-Yeah you never told me the reason why. I felt weird."

Max looked at me, "Yeah I did. I said your eyes are cool."

"You lied." I kept a straight face, turning my head sideways at him.

He sighed, "We-"

"Plus when you wrapped your arm around me, I felt the same thing." He put his finger up, trying to say something, but I stood up, "AND when you were hugging me to stay alive! You did a spell, and I want to know which one!" I put my hand on my hip as Max stood up and walked up to me close.

I could feel his breath, "You'll just have to figure that out on Friday." He took a step away. I grabbed his collar and pulled him back forcefully.

I hissed, "You're telling me now." He laughed nervously and kissed my cheek. The sensation came back, more powerful than ever, making me let go of his shirt and touch my cheek. He sprinted upstairs. I screamed, "You're not getting away from this!" I followed.

Max jumped and ran on the couch, jumped off, and ran into the hallway. I copied him, feeling sorry for the bright orange couch from being stepped on. Max ran into my room, but when he saw Stripes, he ran out, knowing that if I was there, I could transform Stripes to eat him. He ran into his room. I bolted inside, seeing his freakishly messy room.

"Your in here somewhere," I looked around and stomped my foot. This was getting nowhere. I pulled out my wand and whispered barely audible, "Clean."

All of Max's junk fazed into their proper places, and Max was hiding on the floor. He opened his eyes and saw me, "Shoot." He scrambled up as I threw my wand somewhere. He stood up and I tackled him, throwing both of us on his bed. He moved. I pinned him, "Man, you're strong!"

I dipped my head down to his, "I want that spell," he stopped moving, frightened, "And I tend to get it." He lifted his head, making the sensation grow and pull me towards him. He flipped us over and pinned me.

I struggled trying to get him off of me. He smirked, "You're not going to get that spell; you're going to have it even worse." He whispered into my ear, "Do you have it even worse?" I nodded, trying to fight my way out of his spell, "Good." I felt the spell getting closer to my heart, everything getting hotter and hotter.

"Max!"

Max and I turned. Harper stood in the doorway, tapping her foot. Max got off me and walked over to her, "Yeah?"

"That was very inappropriate, Max. Go sit in the living room." Max raised his shoulders, but Harper glared at him, making him huff and leave. She walked to me, "What were you thinking?"

I sat up, "We weren't doing anything! Max put a spell on me when I first got here and I wanted to know what it was, but he wouldn't tell me! Then he did, he did, all of these flirty things to, to, make the spell activate!" I was hyperventilating. Harper held me close. I calmed down.

"It's okay. It's okay," Harper looked at me, "Max has a weird way of doing things, that's all. Look, I have to go to work. How about you guys….talk it out? Instead of physical contact?" I nodded, "Good girl. See you!" She walked off. I heard her say "Sicko" and I laughed. I sighed. Talking to him? Even though that would be the best solution, it would be hard. One, because he was so, weird, a cute weird. And two, if this stupid spell keeps on getting stronger every time it's activated, me and Max could end up doing worse than pinning each other. I got up and walked into the living room, where Max sat on the couch, watching the hallway as if expecting me.

He looked at me, "Sorry."

I sat next to him, on the opposite side of the couch, as far away as possible, "It's ok."

"I'll tell you the spell; just promise not to kill me?"

I sighed, "I promise." We waited, "Well?"

"I put a l-"

Everything blacked out.