Things between Kate and me were complicated. She hadn’t spoken to me since she found out I cheated on Quentin. My humiliating secret was revealed during a girls’ night out in Central London. As usual when I drank too much I started talking about things I shouldn't and told her what happened between me and Nathaniel while I was still seriously involved with Quentin. That night Kate told me I had no brain and she was officially done with me. Okay, fair enough. I already knew I was an idiot for stepping in the same shit with the same left foot a third time. No one ever understood why I couldn’t say no to the drop dead gorgeous Nathaniel La Caz and just push him away once and for all. Out of all my friends, I thought Kate would understand, but no, she was hurt that I’d been lying to her for months.
At work, she asked Rufus to change her shifts, so they wouldn't clash with mine, and whenever she had to work with me, she always referred to me as Miss Taylor. I tried explaining things to her from my perspective, but Kate refused to even acknowledge that we used to be friends.
Tonight, was my last attempt to talk to her. Next week she was leaving with her family to attend the biggest gathering of witches and wizards since Salem, and I was certain I would have no chance of reconciliation after her return. Tonight, I was determined to put things right between us.
The past few weeks were really tough for me. My magic and the nightmares about the fire had been keeping me up at night. A few months ago, I nearly died. One of my best friend’s ex-boyfriends wanted to take over my power, which I frankly thought was useless since I couldn’t control it. For months and months, he tricked me into thinking that I was murdering people with my temperamental magic. In the end I had to make a decision, and I chose my own life over his. Since then I’d been staying up late, not wanting to fall asleep. My focus at work deteriorated; I’d been cranky and annoyed about everyone and everything. On top of that my parents were going through a divorce. Dad had become a shadow of himself, barely speaking to me or Mum, while she was going through her partying phase.
The last few months had been tough. I was in a relationship with a giant named, Quentin and we were happy together. I mean, everything was great until I started sleeping with my ex-boyfriend, Nathaniel behind Quentin’s back. Even now, I regret that I managed to hurt so many people because I couldn’t stay away from the man I thought would never commit to me. Then, me, my mother and Kelsie were nearly burned alive. Kelsie’s ex trapped us inside my parents’ house, and I really thought we weren’t going to make it out of there alive. I passed out when the fire became too much, and the acrid smoke consumed me, but then Nathaniel saved me. He barged inside with the help of Tron and managed to get us out. I’d already given up and thought I was dead.
While I was in the hospital Quentin showed up, seeing Nathaniel at my bedside and put two and two together, realising I had been cheating on him for months. I was unconscious, but I wished that I had been awake because I wanted nothing more than to make amends. He didn’t deserve to find out that way. He was a decent man.
After everything that happened, Nathaniel and I finally confessed our true feelings for one another other.
At the same time, I wanted to apologise to Quentin. I didn’t want to leave the situation unresolved. However, he’d changed his phone number and became unreachable. I tried several times to go to his home, but it was as if he’d just disappeared. He must have moved away, because no one had heard from him. He made it impossible for me to apologise to him, to explain myself. I honestly couldn’t blame him after everything and the way he’d found out.
Nathaniel mentioned that things with Meredith were unresolved as well. She moved back to Geneva. She didn’t want anything to do with him and even mentioned that she wouldn’t just hurt him if he were to try to contact her again. After a gruelling few weeks of trying to put things back to rights, I decided it would be best for Nathaniel and me to remain friends. We’d just hurt too many people in our horrific attempt at trying to be together. Nathaniel said that he would fight for me, but if he could only have me as a friend for now he was fine with that.
On top of everything else, Tron had disappeared with no word or even a phone call. He was completely unreachable, and I never even got a chance to thank him for helping save my life. If not for his magic, Nathaniel never would’ve been able to enter the house. The fact that he was gone weighed heavily on my mind. I wondered if something might have happened to him or maybe the royals had come looking for Alex, and they left together. I honestly had no idea, but it was worrying all the same.
Yes, instead of sex I was getting driving lessons. Since I refused to sleep with him, he had been pushing his way into my life, trying to show me that sex no longer mattered, and he was there for me no matter what. Despite the lack of sleep, constant stress and putting up with my crazy mother, I passed the driving test, thanks to him. Straight after that I bought an old Ford Focus and saved a great deal of money on taxi fares.
While driving my car to Kate’s house, I used a spell that boosted my concentration. An hour later, still alive and still convinced that driving through London just after six was a bad idea, I reached Kate’s house.
Her family liked me, so it was just a case of getting her talking to me again. I missed her like a sister and hated that we weren't talking.
I parked my car outside and pulled my handbrake, peering through the window. It was the beginning of November, so it was pretty much already dark, and a light mist had settled around the neighbouring houses. A strange hollow feeling arose in my stomach when I saw that Kate’s door was wide open.
I chewed my lip for a little while looking around, wondering if maybe a spell or a charm went wrong, and she had just forgotten to lock her door. After some silent contemplation and going over the pros and cons, I got out of the car. From the moment I stood up, I had this odd overwhelming feeling that someone was watching me, although her street was completely empty. A thick intimidating fear began spreading inside my gut. As I approached her door, something didn’t feel right. My magic started crawling up my spine, sending a cold shiver all over my body. I could feel it in my bones.
"Hey, Kate, are you there? Mrs. Bloomfield," I cried, aware of the strong currents of magic in the air. I slowly walked into the living room. The house seemed empty. I checked the kitchen and a few bedrooms upstairs. All the furniture was in the correct place, rooms were tidy, and there was no sign of struggle or a fight. I took out my mobile phone and scrolled for Kate’s number. The phone started ringing somewhere on the table. It was Kate’s mobile and it looked like she had forgotten it. The hollow feeling in my stomach didn’t go away. It was strange that Kate and her parents just left the door wide open, but they were a bit eccentric.