A/N. Thanks for the reviews

Chapter 4 – Lacy

As I tried to move my chair close to Ryan, under the pretence that I couldn't see the work, I let my mind drift to earlier today. Aunt Paige, the twins and Warren had orbed over, all scared stiff. A demon, a really powerful demon, had attacked them. None of their powers had worked on him and according to Holly he looked really familiar. When they searched the Book Of Shadows they realised the demon had looked like Belthazor. Yep, that's right, Aunt Phoebe's ex husband Cole's demon half. Of course, that freaked Mom and the Aunts out. They all think it could be Belthazor back from the dead, but I doubt it. Cole was a load of different beings after Belthazor and before he was vanquished, so why would he come back as him? Why would he come back at all?

"So, pi over 13.5 is…"

Oh, that's right. I'm supposed to be listening to Ryan. I tuned back in and pretended to understand what he had just calculated. But the truth was, I didn't and I probably wouldn't even if I had been paying attention. I'm not stupid or anything, I get As and Bs in all subjects – except maths. That's more a C and D area. I get why they teach normal subjects at Magic School, so witches can fit in with society, but I don't get why I need to study maths. I want to be a journalist, nothing to do with maths.

Not that I'm complaining about the extra tuition. Ryan is really, really hot. And intelligent, funny, sweet… Uh, stop drooling! I wish I could just ask him out already, but for some reason those stormy grey eyes of his turn me into a gibbering wreck. It's not like I'm shy; I'm one of the most popular girls in school and most of the guys want to date me. Unfortunately the one I want to date reduces my brain to mush. Pathetic, isn't it? Eighteen years old, the most powerful witch in the world ever and I can't even ask a guy out.

"Lacy, are you listening to me?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah."

"Really?" Ryan's face split into a grin that made my heart flutter. You see, when he smiled he didn't just smile with his mouth. His eyes lit up too.

"Uh… no," I admitted a bit sheepishly. "I was… trying to figure out why you divided pi by thirteen point five," I lied.

"Oh, okay. Lacy, when you don't understand something just tell me okay? It's what I'm here for."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Okay-"

Ryan was just about to re explain when the raised voices of my brothers floated into the room.

"Wyatt, I did not touch Charlotte."

"Of course you didn't," Wyatt agreed sarcastically. "You were just drooling all over her."

"Oh no, I, unlike you, have some morals."

Ouch. Harsh.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Wyatt demanded.

"I saw you with that slut Britney."

Ooh. Even more harsh. I had to do something. Wyatt really liked Britney, and he would kill Chris for saying that. I flicked my wrist discreetly under the table and Ryan froze like a statue. I slid out of my seat and into the hallway.

"Do you two mind, Ryan is in there," I told my brothers.

Neither of them heard me. Wyatt was advancing slowly, threateningly, towards Chris and Chris was backing away.

"Hello!" I practically yelled.

"Lacy," Chris kind of whimpered.

"Lacy," Wyatt echoed, spinning around.

Chris took his chance and orbed off to God knows where. At the sound of his orbs Wyatt looked back.

"Great, now he got away," my eldest brother fumed.

"Good. You looked like you were going to kill him."

"I was. Did you hear what he said about Britney."

"I heard," I replied. I didn't mention that what he said was true: Britney was a slut and everyone at school knew it.

"And you expect me to let him get away with it?"

"Well… to be fair she does have a reputation-"

"Britney is not a slut!" Wyatt interrupted harshly. "She's just… had a lot of boyfriends."

"Most of them were at least two years older than her," I muttered under my breath.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," Wyatt said darkly.

"Good, I'll just go back to my room then," I said brightly.

"And I'll go get Chris."

I shook my head as I turned back into my room. Once I was in my previous position I unfroze Ryan.

"Well, we want to get to this number here and the only way to do that is to divide pi by thirteen point five," Ryan continued as if no time had passed. And for him it hadn't. "Hey, weren't your brothers arguing a moment ago?"

"No, I didn't hear anything," I lied. Again. Great way to start a relationship. If I was ever going to, that is.

"Oh. Never mind." Ryan shook his head and as he did so the light caught his dark brown hair. His fringe flopped slightly over one eye: not too long, not too short. Just the way I liked it. My heart fluttered again. What was it about Ryan that had me hooked?

A/N. Please review!