I hummed to Fleetwood Mac as I tended to the plants in the greenhouse. It was about two weeks after the Valentine's Day. I'd admit I was beginning to forget about all the things that had happened. Beginning to think it was just a dream. My mind and heart returned to their normal peaceful state.

At one point I abandoned the watering can and started to twirl among the plants. I don't remember how long I was dancing, but when the song finished, I realized Cordelia was standing in the doorway. She was leaning against the door frame, with her eyes tenderly set on me. Her smile was contagious, as always.

"Hey, it ain't nice to be spyin' on someone like that." I scrunched my nose up.

"Sorry," she chuckled at my teasing. "You just looked so happy dancing to Stevie I couldn't possibly interrupt."

"Ya say that, but I know ya love watchin' me dance."

My cocky remark made her shake her head. "Perhaps I do."

The brown eyes twinkled playfully, and I wiggled my brows in response. Before the Seven Wonders, when she'd found me twirling by myself in the greenhouse for the first time, I'd almost turned into a ball of fire from blushing too hard. I wasn't used to having people around back then, let alone having someone watch me dance. It wasn't just that. It was Cordelia, who was the most awesome person I've ever gotten to know. It was the fact that she paid attention to me, to my passion. She'd made me believe every step of mine had meaning in the world. I was overwhelmed and flattered by the way she would look at me. The feeling may have faded away, but I still could feel it.

The song changed and I was pulled out of my recollection. The intro of Everywhere started playing. I squealed, taking Cordelia's hands instantaneously.

Can you hear me calling out your name?

You know that I'm falling, and I don't know what to say

I'll speak a little louder, or I'll even shout

You know that I'm proud and I can't get the words out

Christine's sweet and strong voice vibrated in my ears, making my hips sway to the rhythm of the drums. I sang along, my cheeks hurt from grinning too much. The song sounded better when Cordelia was listening to me. It was her thing, to bring perfection out of every song, or anything for that matter. A magical thing only she was capable of.

She didn't see herself much of a dancer, but I made her dance with me anyway. I knew she secretly loved it when I grabbed her hands and made her spin.

Oh I…I wanna be with you everywhere

Oh I…I wanna be with you everywhere

I kept my eyes on her, and I swear it was the happiest moment of my life.

As the song begun to fade out, I pulled our bodies closer and buried my face in the base of her neck. I continued humming quietly in her ear until the end of the song. Her arms around my waist made me feel safe, so protected. Her embrace was like an egg shell. Every time, I would be reborn in her arms. That feeling, I thought, was worth all the ordeals I'd ever gone through.

The music player was playing another song, and I pulled my body gently from hers. Out of habit, I tucked a strand of her silky blonde hair behind her ear, before cupping her cheek. Typically, she would give me a teasing smirk or a head shake, but something was different with her that time, different with the air she carried around. Her mouth was slightly agape without any hint of glee, her eyes kept boring into mine. I'd seen the expression, on the night of Valentine's Day. I still didn't know what to make of it.

I let out a nervous chuckle, for there was no better way I could think of to break the unfamiliar awkwardness in the atmosphere. "Oh, hey, um," I struggled to keep my demeanor normal. "Look at this. It's the plant ya wanted me ta resurrect, yeah? I tried a new incantation this time. I think it grew back bigger than its normal size. Whatdaya think?"

As I spoke with the plant in my hands, I felt the excitement wash over the odd tension in the room. At least that's how I felt, but when I examined Cordelia's face, there remained a hint of hesitation.

"Misty?"

"Yeah?"

Cordelia didn't reply quickly. Her eyes were fixed on my face, as if determined to burn a hole there. She looked scared, like she wasn't sure whether or not she should keep staring at me. I could see a war going on inside her.

"What is it, Miss. Cordelia?" I took her hands, a gesture of offering comfort. "Ya know ya can tell me anythin'."

A small smile, a really tiny smile momentarily appeared on her lips before quickly replaced by a grimace. More seconds ticked by in silence, and she finally whispered: "What is this? What are we doing?"

"I don't follow." It was an honest question. I never meant it to escape this situation or disregard her feelings.

"You don't follow," she repeated me, her eyes suddenly glued to the floor.

Nothing more was added to it, and I was left with an intense sense of guilt. Only I didn't know what my crime was.

ooOooOoo

Cordelia had left me in the greenhouse after telling me to forget it, but that was all I could think about. More haunting was the expression on her face; it seemed like a mixture of dejection and acceptance. I'd never seen her like that before.

Sitting at the kitchen table by myself, I stared at the bottom of my mug cup as though the answer was written there.

What is this? – What is what?

What are we doing? – Weren't we dancing? Wasn't that what we were doing?

As clueless as I ever was, it was clear those weren't the answers Cordelia wanted. Her eyes'd said something else. "She wanted to know if you two were dating." The voice of Nan interrupted my train of thoughts.

"But, I thought there wasn't any-"

"Oh, she likes you that way. She likes you plenty. Like, her thoughts especially get louder at night. Lots of fantasies going on in her head with you in her arms." She looked at me as she sat next to me in the kitchen. "People aren't as innocent as you think they are. Cordelia isn't an exception."

I had nothing to say in response. She was right; I always assumed, or maybe some part of me hoped, that the way people saw things was no different than mine. But the world always, and brutally, proved me wrong. When we were at the mall, for instance, I didn't know why others looked at the guy with a man bun with such reverie. And now that I knew Cordelia saw me the same way the girls saw the guy, I was knocked down by how lonely I was in this world. I was a black sheep too naive for the world full of white sheep with tainted thoughts.

"I just don't know what to do," my thoughts spilled out of my mouth.

Madison walked into the kitchen and asked: "What are you two virgins talking about?"

"I'm not a virgin! You just say that because Luke finds me hotter than you."

"Whatever," Hollywood scowled at Nan, before shifting her attention to me. "What do you just not know, swampy? How to please your little girlfriend in bed? because I can get you some lingerie you can fit in, or if you need toys-"

"They haven't even kissed yet, Madison. Miss. Cordelia still thinks they are just friends," Nan cut Hollywood off.

This was exactly the reason why I'd been trying my best to avoid Madison. I knew she'd be asking all sorts of inappropriate questions as though my life was a gossip magazine. Nobody, even Madison herself, thought she was being kind and generous when 'helping me out'. Everything existed to satisfy her boredom, her thirst for someone else's misery and struggles. My relationship with Cordelia was a game for her to complete.

"Hold the fuck on." Sure enough, Madison showed great enthusiasm. Her face almost looked offended. "Are you telling me you haven't done anything at all? I mean, I always knew you were a prude, so I didn't expect you to screw her senseless against the wall on the first date. But not even a kiss? Come on."

"I take things as slowly as I want. Miss. Cordelia would understand," I mumbled with my brows knotted together. It sounded like an excuse, and I hated it. There was no reason I should justify anything to her or anyone.

"Yeah, right. If she waited for you to be in the mood, she would need more than one lifetime. Do you wanna stay a virgin until you are 90?"

"I didn't say that."

"And what does that even mean she still thinks you two are friends? How bad do you have to fuck up to make her think it was nothing but a friendly dinner?" Her voice increased its volume as she spoke. I could see she was so confused that she was almost panicky. "You gave her flowers, in the tight dress, didn't you? Didn't you tell her it was a date? Or did I dream about everything? Or…or hallucinate it, because I don't remember taking any drugs that day!"

I let out a heavy sigh, fighting the urge to bang my head against the kitchen table. This nonsense was surely getting out of hand. At this point, it wouldn't have surprised me if she'd faked an accident and set the entire wardrobes of me and Cordelia on fire, just so we would have to be naked.

"Listen, I know I've been really pushy lately, but I know Cordelia," Madison asserted with suddenly serious demeanor. "She might be an altruistic woman by nature, but she wouldn't have blinded herself if it wasn't for you. Think about that." Putting out her cigarette, she looked me straight in the eye. "I meant what I said before. She deserves better than that."

With that, Madison walked out of the room, leaving me with Nan. Even after she was long gone, I continued to glare in the direction, thinking somehow I could make her stumble on something by using mind control or something.

I'd never imagined the day I would say this; but Madison had a point. My life would've ended in the coffin if Cordelia hadn't found me (although neither of us would've had to suffer if Madison hadn't buried me alive). She gave me a place to call home, taught me who I was and what I could do, and even saved me from hell. I remember the classroom, the laugh of the heartless children, and the feeling of the scalpel buried deep in the frog's belly, over and over again. I followed her voice and the light, even after getting out of the hell. Every day, every minute, she led me through.

Madison was right, Cordelia deserved better than this. But the idea of her desiring me when she deserved the whole universe was overwhelming to say the least.

ooOooOoo

I knew my thoughts were loud because Nan was glaring at me at the dinner table. But how could I stop thinking? Can a person control another person not to think by using Concilium? That would be nice for both me and Nan.

Even after the entire coven had gone to sleep, my mind was racing. I went on the balcony to feel the fresh air of the night. The winter breeze swirled around my body. Resting my head against the wall, I watched the stars in the sky.

There was a shooting star, leaving its trail across the dark canvas. How funny life can be, I thought. In my childhood, I made all sorts of wishes on the starts. Having a pet, becoming a singer, befriending fairies, living in a castle…those were my childhood wishes.

All I wanted now was to make Cordelia happy.

"Misty," the voice of my dearest person pulled me back to earth. Her brown eyes smiled tenderly at me. "I'm going to bed. I wanted to say goodnight."

"Oh, I actually should, too," I mumbled as I stood up.

Cordelia shut the glass door behind me. The cold air radiated from my skin and clothes, and she formed a little concerned smile. "You must be really cold. What were you doing out there?"

"Thinkin'."

"And your hair is damp," she stated with knotted eyebrows. Her hand reached for my moist curls, but she hesitated to actually touch me.

"I showered."

"Misty, you'll catch a cold if you go outside while your hair is still wet." She sounded just like when she chided kids. With her small frown, she retreated to the bathroom, only to come back with a hair dryer in her hand. "Come here." She sat on the bed and patted the spot in front of her.

While the hair dryer was screaming in my ears, I watched Cordelia's reflection in the mirror of the vanity. She had her hair down, and wearing her glasses. Ascending to the Supremacy had promised her radiant health, but apparently her poor vision could only be fixed by Lasik surgery. The glasses were one of the many insecurities she had; they made her look extra nerdy, according to her. She had no idea how adorable they looked on her.

"I had a neighbor who had a dog when I was a child," Cordelia spoke behind me after turning off the machine. Her hands played with my golden curls that still contained some moisture. "I think he was a Cocker Spaniel. Quite old but had such nice, shiny golden hair. Fiona hated it when I'd come home with dog hair all over my clothes." A few quite laugh escaped her lips. "Your hair reminds me of him."

I didn't know what to make of the story. Perhaps she intended to cheer me up.

"I love ya," I said to her reflection under my breath. Her eyes met mine through the mirror. Turning around, I found the same pair of brown eyes, and I repeated myself. "I love you."

The phrase wasn't foreign to either of us, but there was a hint of something new. It might be because, I thought, the words no longer had the innocence we'd shared since the beginning of our friendship.

My hand rose to cup her cheek, just like I'd done hundreds times before. Only this time, for the first time, I didn't let go. My lips gently touched Cordelia's, and I felt her hands on my shoulders, clinging to me as if for her dear life.

With her in my arms, I felt her tremble like a fragile bird that she was.