Chapter 2: Caramel Drops

Why is this happening to me? Star thought as she held the letter of acceptance in her hands. How is this happening? I won't go. I just won't go. I can't!

But Alex and Elicia didn't seem to share in her decision. Once they'd gotten over the initial shock, they couldn't have been more excited for her. Alex kept going on about his little sister; the witch. Keira didn't really understand what was going on, but because of the excitement buzzing around the small apartment, she had to share in it, as well. "Magic, magic! Aunt Star is magic!" She giggled, skipping around the living room.

"Isn't this great, Star? Aren't you excited?" Elicia asked. Star slammed the letter down on the little table next to the couch.

"No."

Star lay in her bed some hours later, unable to sleep. She looked at her alarm clock. 2:30 am. What a crazy day, and now she couldn't even sleep it away. She thought about all the crazy things that had happened to her over the past 24 hours. The fight, the confession, the make up, the letter...everything in her life was spinning circles around her head once again. Somehow she got the feeling life would never remain normal for very long. She honestly believed she'd never be normal again.

Ever since the day she lost her parents and brother nothing was ever normal. She'd been tossed around and moved so much she didn't feel like there was anywhere for her anymore, and now her only remaining family wanted to spirit her off to some school somewhere...God, if Alex hadn't been briefed by the British military as to the existence of the "magical folk," she would've thought the letter some terrible prank pulled by someone who hated her. I mean, who'd believe an owl flying through an open window, dropping a fat pile of parchment in your lap, and taking off again? As her old friends in America would have said to this sort of situation; WTF?! No chance in hell could this actually be happening.

But Star wouldn't go, not when, for the first time in 2 years, she had something to live and love for. Tsu. If she'd gotten that letter even a year before, she'd've jumped all over it. But now? No. Not now. Tatsuya was too important to her for Star to up and leave for the better part of a year.

The more Star thought about what the magical world was like, the more ludicrous this all seemed to her. But as hard as she tried to hate it, the idea of real magic perked her curiosity. The child inside her begged to take the opportunity, but her heart couldn't bear it. She couldn't bring herself to be all alone again.

Star's eyes filled with tears. She was stuck. She wanted so badly to go, but she fear the loneliness so much...she pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes. I need someone, she told herself; I need Tsu.

So she got out of bed, grabbed some sandals and a sweatshirt, and snuck out the fire escape at her window.

A few pebbles tossed against the third story window to Tsu's room was enough to wake the light sleeper inside.

"Star?" She called down in a whisper, sliding the glass open. "What's wrong?"

Star climbed up Tsu's fire escape and told her what had happened, showing her the letter.

Tsu read it several times before saying anything.

"You should go, Star, Don't let me be the reason you hold back." Star tried to argue, tried to tell her she couldn't be without her, but Tsu's lips silenced her. "I'm serious, don't skip out on this because of me." She took Star's face in her hands and looked at her for a long, long moment. "Damnit, Star, I always thought you were magic, but I didn't know you were real magic..."

"Huh?" Was Star's very intellectual reply.

"Earlier today..." Tsu smiled shyly, letting Star go. "My grandmother used to tell me stories about people with special powers. She used to tell me she could tell who was magic and who wasn't, she said she could even see what color their power was...today when you crossed the street to me, I think I felt your magic." Tsu kissed Star again. "And it was red...and smelled like fresh caramel."

Tsu's kisses melted into Star, making her feel warm and strong. After much arguing, Tsu managed to get Star to agree to attend this magic school.

"I won't have that on my conscience," She said, smiling wryly. "You never belonged in my school, anyway."

Tsu had always had a deep feel for magic and the power of the human spirit. For her, the belief and understanding for real magic came much faster than it had for Star. Star could tell Tsu wished she could go with, if not to be with her, but to take some courses herself.

So then it was decided. Star was to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy.