~Chapter IV~

~2 years later~

Today, I'm 12. And so is Shyann. Kairin, on the other hand, already HAD her birthday. During these past years, I improved my powers; however, I'm still in training. We, Shyann, Kairin, and I started walking to school.

"So…Anything happened between you and Jake?"

I blushed.

"No…I've only been able to talk with him in advisory…That's about it…Other times, girls are always over him and his friends are usually with him…Trust me, nothing's ever going to happen between us." I said, sadly.

Kairin's blood boiled.

'I gave him my blessing and this is what happens?! Maybe he's not ready to say it, yet…'

We started walking our separate ways. Blinded by my sorrow, I didn't sense the guy walking before me. Both of us, not watching, we bumped into each other and dropped our books. We both kneeled down. When we tried to pick up our books, our hands touched. I looked into his eyes, as he did me. He had the same sapphire eyes as I did. He was an aqua hedgehog, I noted.

"Oh, uh, I'm sorry."

He picked up my books and handed them to me.

"I'm a new student."

He picked up his books and looked at his schedule. I looked at it too.

"You have the same schedule as me…"

"Cool. Are you gonna show me around?"

"Sure! I'd be happy to…"

During our classes, I showed him the basics and everything. He seemed to know what he was doing, seeing as he caught on fast. There were a lot of things I didn't understand, but he sat there and explained it to me. He was a really great teacher. He's funny…sweet…and really cute…Girls, as well, swarm over him. Although, he only seemed interested in getting to me. I mean, I like Troy, but my heart will always belong to Jake…

Jake seemed to be watching our every movements…His eyes seemed…jealous…Even at lunch, he would stare at us…It was very unnerving to have him staring at us like that…Like we were a couple…I felt so heartbroken to see him looking at me like…like…I betrayed him! I'm so stressed! I can't sleep! Not while Jake thinks I'm with Troy! I'm crying…again…I should stop, or someone could get seriously hurt. *sigh* I'm just going to have to handle this like a young lady…Today, at school, Jake walked up to me.

"Hey Tulip…"

"Um…hi Jake…"

"So…I see you have been hanging out with…Troy…a lot…"

"Um…Yeah…he's really nice and is a new student. So, he needs someone to show him around…"

"Oh…Okay…Well, I-"

"Jake!"

A yellow cat (A/N: is she a hedgehog or cat?) ran up to us and glomped him.

"Oh, I missed you!"

She tried to place kisses on his cheek but he kept pulling away.

"Honey, stop it!"

She stopped her antics.

"But-"

"No buts! I don't like you!"

She gave me a dirty look.

"You took him from me, didn't you?!"

"No, I-"

She slapped me so hard that I fell to the ground.

"You little tramp!"

"Honey, st-"

Honey waved her hand and forced Jake into a wall, knocking him unconscious. A bunch of girls came along and helped beat me up. I couldn't use my powers because I wasn't concentrating. Suddenly, all the girls were forced back. I looked up weakly and saw Troy standing before me.

"T-Troy…"

He knelt down and smiled at me.

"Are you okay?"

"I…I think so…How did you do that? Without even touching them?"

He chuckled.

"I thought you may have already known…Like you, my power is magic…"

I gasped. There was actually another student in this school that has the same power as me? That's brilliant!

"Why didn't you tell me?"

He shrugged.

"I thought you knew…"

He noticed that I was barely conscious.

"C'mon, let's take you to the nurse's office…"

"But what about Jake?"

He looked at Jake.

"I'll come back for him as soon as get you to the nurse."

I fainted right there in his arms…

I woke up to see 1 pair of sapphire eyes staring down at me. Troy smiled.

"Good, you're awake. The nurse said you have to skip P.E for about a week. About 6 of your ribs are broken and your arm is sprained.

My mouth shaped an "O".

"What of Honey and her friends?"

Troy sighed.

"They're getting it earful from the principal. Oh, you also have a busted lip, but no one can see it."

As if he sensed them coming, Troy said,

"Your sisters, Kairin and Shyann, are coming…"

Kairin busted through the door and looked around. As soon as she spotted me, she ran up to me and squeezed me.

"Tulip, you're okay! Just wait until I get my hands on those-"

"Kairin!" Shyann shouted.

"Language…"

"Kairin…it's okay, I'm fine…Anyways, where's Jake?"

"He went to class." Troy muttered.

"Oh…"

"Anyways, I'll carry you to class."

Troy picked me carried me to our magic class. When we walked in, everyone looked at us, including Jake! He watched us with narrowed eyes.

"Ah, Troy and Tulip. How nice of you to join us. Now, would you please-"

Mr. Stewart's phone rang. His eyes bulged out.

"Oh my…Thank you…"

He hung.

"Tulip…Um, please sit down…I am SO very sorry about Honey…"

Troy set me down gently, careful not to bruise me.

"Okay class, for the next 4 months we'll be training to use our powers as defense. We are going to defeat Midnight, once and for all."

~ 3 months later~

Troy and I have been studying together. Right now, we're in my room, at my desk, studying on how to use our magic.

"So…how do you turn inanimate objects to life?"

"Um…Mirata-animata." (A/N: I got this off of Wizards Of Waverly place just so you know. I was watching it at the time.)

"Good, you're a really good witch…"

I blushed.

"Thanks…"

"So…" He said, putting his book away.

"Now what?" I asked.

"Well, I want to tell you…that we'll be able to defeat Midnight if we work together."

His face grew closer to mine.

"I think so too…"

My face grew closer too. I wasn't in the right mind, so I had NO idea what I was doing. We were about to kiss, when Kairin barged in. We broke apart, but it was too late since she saw what we were doing.

"Hi Kairin…What are you doing here?" I asked, nervously.

"Well, it was quiet up here and I came to check on you." Kairin said, eyeing Troy, suspiciously.

"I better go."

Troy grabbed his bag and walked out of the door. As soon as she was sure Troy was gone, she turned to me.

"Tulip, please be careful around him. He looks very suspicious…"

"Okay…"

Kairin walked out.

'I think I love him…As much As I love…Jake…'

~End Of Chapter~