A/N: I know you have all been waiting for this, enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The Worst Day Turns Into The Best

Mildred had no time to dwell on the fact Ethel might love her because the next morning Miss Cackle came into the potions classroom, which could only mean she had an announcement.

"We are going to be having another spelling bee with Pentangles," the woman said. A lot of people moaned after the last one.

"Maud Spellbody" you will compete the woman said as the girl high fived Enid.

"And Enid Nightshade," the woman said the girls cheered. Mildred looked at Ethel to see if she was upset and was relieved to see she didn't appear to be, in fact, she looked happy.

The girls spoke about the competition for the rest of the lesson and when they were leaving Felicity asked the question everyone was thinking.

"Do you reckon Zack will come again? she asked swooning lovingly

"Probably not," Ethel said and Mildred realised something. There was no guarantee Zack would come but she felt jealously inside her at the thought he might come and sweep the blonde of her feet again.

The brunette though tried not to think about it and instead tried to focus on the fact Ethel seemed to like her but it was hard as the next day she knew she could lose her.

The next day when the Pentangles lot arrived Mildred felt her heart hurt, a boy was with them, he looked very different as a teenager but Mildred just knew it was Zack before she was told.

"Zack is even more stunning than I remember" Felicity swooped leaning her head on Ethel as she looked at him.

It was true before he was a cute sweet eleven-year-old, now he was a tall teenager with good hair and pretty eyes, most of the girls swoon over him and it made Mildred feel sick.

"This is good, if Ethel likes Zack she will not date Mildred, we don't have to go along with plan B," Enid told Maud as she watched the Pentangles lot talk to the Cackles girls.

Everyone went to hang out in the hall as they had as first years. Mildred saw Ehtel and Felicity walk up to Zack and the three of them laughing together, Ethel, older seemed to have finally found her voice around him and Mildred felt her anger boiling inside her as she watched the blonde flirting.

"Mildred...you just bent a fork," Maud said shocked looking at the fork bent the wrong way from Mildred's anger.

"Stupid Zack, he is not even that cute," Mildred said fuming and hurting.

"I warned you, Ethel, is a user," Enid told her. Mildred watched a bit longer before she threw the bent fork so hard on the floor people turned to look at the noise it made, she left the hall barely able to control her breathing.

"Mildred wait are you not coming to watch the competition," Maud asked her wondering where she was going. Mildred turned around tears streaming down her face before running off.

"I know it hurts her but it is better it happens now," Enid said walking into the hall, knowing her friend was heartbroken.

Mildred ran to her room and lay on her bed sobbing, she had lost Ethel before she even got a chance with her, she hated Zack so much, she felt her heart shatter and cried harder.

Ethel though had noticed, she had been glancing at Mildred, had seen her upset and leave the hall and then her friends return without her. Ethel made some excuses and left, going to her room, her heart hurting at the sound Mildred was making.

"Mildred..." Ethel said. Mildred turned to look at her, glaring at her.

"Date Zack I don't care anymore" Mildred sobbed. Ethel went and perched on the end of the bed next to her.

"I wasn't asking Zack out, I was setting him up with Felicity" Ethel replied quietly.

"What? Why? He is gorgeous and you like him" Mildred replied confused

"He was the first boy I ever met, we have men in my family but no boys my age, I had a crush on him for that reason, but it was merely a crush" Ethel replied. "I didn't know how I would feel seeing him again but I realise...I felt nothing, it was as if I was talking to anyone, I got no butterflies or feelings, I am over the crush" Ethel replied.

"Fliss still likes him so I was introducing them both and they are going to go on a date" Ethel replied but Mildred still didn't get it.

"But maybe you do like him and you blew your chance," Mildred told her

"No I don't, I have fallen in love with someone else," Ethel told her "And it is so much more than anything I ever felt with Zack" Ethel replied. Ethel took a deep breathe preparing herself knowing she had to be truthful here as Mildred was hurting.

"I like you Mildred, and I understand you properly don't feel the same, but I fell for you months ago, my sisters say to always let others know how we feel even if it is not mutual, so there you go now you know," Ethel told Mildred. Mildred looked at Ethel, trying to decide if she was serious, but she didn't know why she would give up the chance with Zack for no reason., plus Ethel looked so sad about the fact she wouldn't feel the same.

I like you too you idiot, I fell hardest when I realise how much you like animals, I love you too, I was scared you didn't like me" Mildred told her. Ethel blushed and started stuttering like she had with Zack all those years ago.

"I...g,...goo..." the girl said, Ethel. Mildred rolled her eyes laughing

"Do you want to be my girlfriend?" Mildred asked knowing they would get nowhere with Ethel stuttering.

"More than anything, my parents will flip but I have decided not to care" Ethel replied. Mildred beamed and hugged her tightly, squealing with delight, she liked her, she was dating her, she couldn't believe it! And in fact, it was all thanks to Zack!