A/N: I made a mistake last chapter, when Nick said that he'll walk Rose to lunch. Rose's study/training is 6th period, while Lunch is 5th. I'm sorry I forgot this detail.

Chapter 12

October.

Some leaves on the trees are changing colors, and the temperature is dropping to a nice mid-seventies.

I've learned quite a few things from Agamemnon, and from the Hex too. Speaking of Hex, we're great friends. He is always eager to help. Unfortunately, more often than not, he tries to stow away in my backpack before I leave for school. Luckily I always manage to catch him in time; I can't have a flying book in the school. He could easily get caught.

Of course, Alex and Jimmy have met Hex too. Hex was at first skeptical of them, but soon after I reassured him that they would not tell anyone about magic (I was sure to include that Jimmy was half-Kanay, himself) and that they were trusted. After being told that, he welcomed them with open pages.

Nick and I haven't stopped dating, we've never even been in a fight. He's a great boyfriend; he's attentive and caring. He's kissed me quite a few times, but none of them were ever as passionate as I wished. I won't dump him just because he can't kiss all that well. Also, he's still clueless about magic.

Whenever Darren and I happened to be by each other, and after making sure no one was listening, we would talk about magic and spells. Currently, he was trying (along with Aggie) to help me with my tele-transporting problem. He says that he's very experienced in magic, and with a teacher like him, I'd learn in no time.

That doesn't mean that I told him about Hex. No, the only people who know about him are my parents, me, Alex, and Jimmy. It's not that I don't trust Darren, it's just...I don't trust him completely. Yes, I know he did a lot of things for me, and I know he cares about my well-being, but it's just...I don't know. Maybe it's just that for once I finally know something that he doesn't. Is that it?

...

"Come on, Red. I know you can do this, we've been practicing for two weeks."

"I'm trying, Darren!" I growled, frustrated. "I'm sure it took you awhile to learn some spells."

"Not as long as this."

I snapped my gaze up to his, an angry glare on my face and mouth open to hurl a retort, only to see a teasing smirk on his lips. The insult that was ready to be thrown at him faded away; he wasn't being serious. I've grown used to his teasing with all the time we've spent around each other, and it was obvious that he never meant anything he said.

He smiled. "Listen, Red. I'm a patient person, I will help you for as long as you want me to. However, it's just that I know you can do this spell, you're coming along great when using magic. I just don't understand why it's such a problem for you. I know it's more complex than making things levitate and reversing other spells, but this should still be easy for you. You're smart, and I know you can figure this out."

I could feel my cheeks start to slightly burn. This was one of the consequences of spending too much time with him; whenever he gave me a compliment my cheeks would heat up. Luckily, he never commented on it.

"Thanks."

"Now, try again. Remember to picture the place you want to go to in your mind while saying the spell aloud."

I nodded, closing my eyes. "This empty classroom is quite the bore, send me to a town in Singapore!"

Splash.

I groaned in disappointment, swimming out of the pool. Darren appeared next to me just as I was getting out, extending a hand for me to grab.

"Don't worry, you'll get it," he promised.

I shook my head like a wet dog, hair flying everywhere. "It's obvious that I'll never get it, why can't I just give up?"

Darren turned to me, shock written on his features. "Rosalyn Novoa, giving up? I don't think I've ever heard you say those words in my life...which is why I'm not letting you give up now."

I groaned, "Darren. It's impossible. Maybe I'm just not meant to do it, can't we just move on to something else?"

"Not until you learn that spell, it's going to be very useful."

"You're not even my guardian," I pointed out, "why should you have a say in whether or not I move on to something else?"

His voice lowered, he was staring deeply in my eyes. I fought back a nervous intake of breath. "Believe me, I have a lot of say in things. You're not moving on until you master that spell, I'll be sure to tell Agamemnon. Understand?"

I narrowed my eyes, "you're a jerk, you know that?"

He leaned back, a smug grin on his features. "So you've told me."

After he tele-transported us back to the empty classroom, I walked back to the cafeteria to spend the last ten minutes of lunch with my friends and boyfriend. I've been skipping lunch these past couple weeks, going to train with Darren with the excuse of going to tutoring lessons with Fraulein Schneider. I didn't starve though. No, everytime when I'd step in that empty classroom, there'd always be a delicious lunch served à la magic.. Darren and I would eat for about fifteen minutes, then we'd train.

"Hey, babe," Nick greeted with a smile, kissing my cheek after I took my place next to him.

After the usual greetings, we started talking.

"How bad is your German that you need to go to tutoring everyday?" Alex questioned, looking sorry for me.

"Very bad," I answered, while thinking of my pool episodes. It was embarrassing, really. Darren's probably laughing at me right now.

If you're wondering why I'm keeping my magical tutoring a secret, well, the answer is simple. Jimmy and Alex aren't exactly too chummy with Darren; they'd immediately disapprove. I didn't even want him helping me at first, but I realized that if I wanted to conquer this spell, then I'd need his help.

I adjusted my red leather jacket, zipping it up halfway.

"And you never eat lunch either, Rose you gotta eat something during lunch, you'll be weak without it," Jimmy warned.

I already am weak. "Don't worry guys, I just bring my lunch to Fraulein Schneider's everyday and eat it there."

My two best friends and Nick nodded at me, Alex looking at me from her place next to Jimmy. She used to sit by me, but Nick has taken her place.

"So, what are we doing for Halloween?" I asked, trying to move on to a different subject.

Judging by the way everyone's eyes lit up, I'd say that it worked.

"Actually, I've heard of this great haunted house that we could go to. It's called, 'Black Arts Haunting.' From what I've heard, it's really scary, we should go there!" Nick suggested.

"Cool!" Alex excitedly replied, "let's do it!"

"I'm in," Jimmy added.

Everyone looked at me.

Truth is, scary houses made me uneasy...and scared out of my mind. I could do haunted hayrides, but an area that you actually have to walk through? I know it's all fake, but still.

Oh well. I was going to have to swallow my fear; I wasn't letting them down by being a baby.

"Sure, why not?"

The month went by as normal...with my still not mastering the tele-transporting spell. It was taking too long, so Darren removed his previous decision; I was allowed to study new things. Although, he still trained me regularly on the spell.

Halloween eventually arrived, and that meant that I had to go to that haunted house attraction.

I might be a bit scared.

I flattened the pink, sparkling skirt that went to just above my knees. I repuffed my sleeves, then fixed my small, sliver tiara in the mirror. In my right hand, was my silver wand. You got in for half-price if you came with a costume on.

Anyway, I figured it'd be kind of ironic that I'd be going as Glinda from The Wizard of Oz, since we're both witches. And I just might have a secret enjoyment for glitter.

Nick is supposed to go as a vampire, Alex as a gothic fairy, and Jimmy as Superman. Safe to say, we're all going to look ridiculous.

Alex and I decided to do some trick-or-treating on the way there, since it wasn't that far away. When she first saw me, all she could do was snort and say, "Glinda the good witch...really?"

When we were close to the Black Arts Haunting, we met up with Jimmy and Nick. My boyfriend looked great in his costume, and I told him so. He chuckled, said I looked beautiful, and gave me a kiss on the cheek. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jimmy making a gagging motion to Alex. She started giggling in amusement.

"You ready?" Nick asked us.

We all responded that we were. Before we entered the gate, I took Nick's hand in mine.

However, when we were in the parking lot...no one was there. There were no cars, no people, and the house was dark.

"Where is everybody?" I wondered aloud.

"Is it closed?" Alex asked.

"Aw, man," Jimmy complained.

Nick grinned, "it's not closed, it's just that everyone is too scared to show up."

"Are you sure?" I questioned, "it looks like we're the only people here. There aren't even lights on in the house, and no noises."

"I'm sure," Nick stressed, squeezing my hand.

"Ow, Nick, you're squeezing too hard," I winced.

"We're going in, come on," he said, ignoring my previous statement. Although he did loosen up a bit.

I looked to my best friends for a decision. They shrugged their shoulders at me, a sign that they were going to go in. I gulped, and let Nick walk me to the door, Alex and Jimmy in tow.

Nick opened the front door, then led us all inside. It was pitch black.

"I don't think this is a good idea," I spoke nervously.

"It's gonna be fine, this is the attraction. You gotta make it out of the house, that's where everyone is. They're waiting at the end for us, come on," Nick answered, pulling me forward.

Nick stopped. I heard the creak of a door opening, then he pulled me forward. The banging sound signaled that the door was slammed shut.

All of a sudden, no one was holding my hand.

"Nick?" I called out in confusion.

Silence.

"Jimmy? Alex?" I tried, panic rising.

Nothing.

"Oh no," I groaned to myself. "I can't be lost, how did we get seperated? Nick! Alex, Jimmy!" I shouted out their names.

The only response was my echo.

I was the only one here. My heart began to beat faster with fear, my breathing quicker.

"Guys? Come on, this isn't funny! Please answer!"

As I suspected, silence.

"She's here..." A voice whispered.

Finally! Somebody! "Hello? Do you work here? I'm lost, and was seperated from my friends, can you help find the way out? It's too dark and I can't see!"

"Finally, she's here..."

"Now's our chance..."

"H-hello?" I stuttered. This all has to be part of the act, right? They're just trying to scare me.

"He'll be broken without her..."

"Yes, he'll give up."

"And we will win!"

"Funny, how this insignificant witch is such a big deal to him..."

I started trembling, taking tiny steps backward. The voices, I was beginning to think that it wasn't all an act.

A firm hand gripped my wrist.

I screamed.

A/N: Woah, looks like Rose is in trouble!

lovethatignites: At first, I didn't really have a plan for this story. However, around chapter 5, I got the idea and wrote with it in mind from there ;) Thank you about the movie comment, I'm glad that my writing seems to be that good :) Thank you! Lol you're not annoying, and I'm still gonna have that PTA meeting chapter :) Haha, yeah, I love irony ;)

tierrayaoi: Thanks!

JustAnotherDae: Haha, thank you XD

EmmaCanno: Lol, that actually means a lot, that my story can sometimes make you do that XD Thank you :D

delightisadream: That's good :) 'I've missed him so much even though I didn't notice he was there' X'D Thank you :)

xDreamingAtMidnightx: Lol, I'm happy you like him so much XD Thank you!

ILoveEWW: I know, cheek kissers are horrible!

alessandramottam: Thanks!

CelestialTitania: I meant for him to say, 'you have pretty eyes.' Yeah, I know google translate isn't the most reliable, but it's the easiest! But that's awesome that you know French :)

TotallyCray-Cray: Maybe...

Every witch way jemma fan: Thank you!

Guest: Thanks!