The next morning, I awoke early to Jasen gently tapping my shoulder.

I blinked. He was so close, I could feel the warmth of his air across my cheek. Quickly, I shoved him away, pushing with my hands at his shoulders.

"I was just waking you up!" He protested, but he backed off. Or rather, stumbled back against the bed beside me.

Slowly, I sat up. The sun was barely awake outside of the window. It was a small window, just to the right of the bathroom door. Outside, it was still dark; but I could see the creeping glow of orange above the line of buildings in the distance.

Jasen spoke again, "We have to leave a bit early today if you want to stop by the lab and pick up your bag."

My bag. I'd completely forgotten.

Slowly, I climbed off of the floor, my back still aching from having slept there. I turned and glanced at Jasen, who stood just next to the bed, something in his hands. He handed them to me; clothes, dark in colour.

"I thought these would fit you," he said.

"Oh," I said, taking them from him. I laid them on the edge of his bed, pulling up the shirt to study it. It might have been a size too big, but I could wear my hoodie over it. The pants — black jeans, and Jasen was right; my size.

"I figured that I still had some clothes from highschool," Jasen said, although I hadn't asked.

"So you're telling me these didn't belong to your ex-girlfriend?"

He scoffed, "Why? Would that make you want to wear them more?"

"Honestly, probably."

I folded the clothes over my arm, heading to the restroom to change. I could feel it, the tug in my chest. I only hoped the curse would be lenient enough to allow us to attend our separate classes for the day. I did share a few classes with Jasen, and although I didn't know his schedule, I had seen him in the halls often enough to know his classes would have been just on the opposite side of the hallway; but the classrooms were large, and depending on seating arrangements, it could easily put us at 50-60 feet apart, or more.

But if we could manage through the dizziness for at least an hour or two, then it shouldn't be enough space to knock either of us out.

I hoped.

This spell was coy, playing with us. I didn't really know what to expect.

I quickly got dressed, and then walked back into the main room.

"Do you want to try that reversal spell real quick?" Jasen asked as I approached.

"Sure," I said. "Just... stand there." But he already was.

Carefully, I raised two hands; trying to focus on the spell, and not on the Werewolf in front of me. I thought about it, hard. Spell-casting wasn't an exact science; we didn't have to verbally say anything for a spell to work. I only had to think the right things, focus the right amount, and my body would do the rest for me.

I felt the power, a familiar warmth rising through my arms to my fingertips. There, it glowed a pale white, twirling a bit like smoke; and then it faded into the air.

I sighed.

"Didn't work?" He asked.

I shook my head, "No. I'm sorry." I hadn't expected it to work, but I still felt hollow about it. If only this could be fixed that easily. Still, I stared at the floor; unable to bear whatever look of disappointment he certainly wore.

He reached out a hand to pat my shoulder, but I recoiled, and his hand hesitated, then fell. I hadn't even meant to do it; given the failed spell, my first instinct was —

"Cade," he said, and the tone was sharp. I pulled back further, a small step, carefully enough that my foot didn't make a sound against the carpet. Though with Werewolf ears, he certainly heard it, anyways.

"Cade," he repeated, and I dared to glance up at him; but his expression was soft, achingly soft. "I know I'm a Werewolf, but I'm not going to hurt you."

I hesitated, "I know."

"Then what is it?" He asked.

"Look, I'm sorry," and it was all I could manage. "It won't happen again."

And his tone was slow, almost endearing. "That's not what I'm saying at all. If you don't like people touching you, you can just say that."

I'd never been confronted like this before. I'd never been told that before. And it wasn't as if it had ever been an issue; I didn't care if someone patted me on the back, or the shoulder, or offered a high-five. It had happened thousands of times after winning competitions or while attending meetings with my dad.

"No," I finally said, "It's fine." I didn't give him the chance to say anything else; as if my body reacted on its own, I pushed past him to the door, pulling it open. Not bothering to see if he was behind me, or even if he was ready to leave yet; I needed air. I needed to get out of that dorm.

But the second my foot stepped into the hallway, my vision faltered, my pulse running thin. I leaned against the doorway, holding myself up. I couldn't have gone more than 5 feet this time around; so what had changed? Why did the curse demand I turn around?

The grip on my lungs eased as he stepped up beside me.

"I felt that, too," he said. "Think the spell is getting worse?"

"No," I hissed. I didn't even want to admit it, but if it was going to be like this, then he needed to know. "It's a mind-altering spell. It's affected by emotion." I straightened up, and we stepped into the hallway. Jasen closed and locked the door behind him, then turned to face me expectantly. I continued, "I noticed yesterday that while I was watching you in your game, the spell didn't care how far away you were from me. But then... well, now, it doesn't even want us more than a few feet apart."

He looked more confused than anything, "So what does it mean? What was the difference?"

"I think the difference is I wasn't angry while watching your game."

I watched as a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, "So you're saying you enjoyed watching us play?"

"No, definitely not."

"That's what it sounds like to me."

"It was... interesting."

And that was enough for a full-blown grin, "I knew you'd enjoy it."

I scoffed, "Don't get cocky about it. The moment I break this spell, I'll be happy to never watch another game of Packfall in my life."

"Sure," he said, the word drawn out in a smug way. Already, I could feel the tension ease as we fell into a banter that had already begun to grow familiar.

We walked down the hall, and there was a beat of awkward silence as our steps fell into unison.

"So what is it that you were angry about?" He asked, abruptly. It was early enough that the long hallway was empty, so for now, it was just us. "Were you angry at me?"

"No," I said. "I wouldn't even call it anger. It's more like..." like fear, but I couldn't say that. I couldn't even think it. Because Werewolves were intimidating, but there was no way in hell I'd let someone like Jasen scare me.

Yet here I was, the scars reopening into fresh wounds at my surface. I thought I'd manage to forget; being here on campus and away from home, it was easy to pretend like the memories had never existed at all. It was easy to never get close enough to anyone in which they resurfaced.

"Like what?" He asked, and I almost jumped, having forgotten we'd been talking at all.

"I'm not mad at you," I said, simply. Hoping that would put an end to it. Pushing the dark coils of weight down my throat in a heavy swallow.

"But you're afraid of me," he suggested, almost tentatively.

"I'm not afraid of you," I said. Then I scoffed, "It would take a lot more for you to ever scare me."

He didn't say anything after that, as if my words had given him some sort of confirmation. I half-expected him to make a snide remark in response; but all he did was breathe gently as we walked in step.

He led me down the stairs, and eventually, we made it outside; the sky overhead was still dark, but the orange glow on the horizon had turned vibrant, casting a warm glow over the edge of the trees, sidewalk, and buildings ahead. We'd walk the same route as yesterday, through the courtyard on this neatly paved path; but in the rich colours of the early morning, it felt different from walking it in the evening. For a moment, I could hear the chirp of birds too early to rise; the wind was a slow, steady sweep in the air around me. For a moment, there was peace.

It was a long walk, but we made it to the doors of the main building before the sky had even cleared of navy.

"Think the spell will let us go to our separate classes?" Jasen asked, breaking the silence as we entered the building.

"I think as long as we leave on a good note, it will be fine," I said.

"A good note? Is that even possible for you?" He chuckled, like he'd just cracked the best joke in the world.

"Only if you decide to stop being an ass," I retorted.

"Oh, never. It's too much fun to see the look on your face."

I scowled in his direction.

We made our way up the winding flight of stairs; then, back down the long hallway. It was strange being here this early, seeing it this empty. The place almost felt abandoned. And even stranger was remembering the previous day as we walked on; less than 24 hours ago, and everything had changed.

But if I could just figure it out, then in another 24 hours, everything could go back to the way it always was. With Jasen mocking me — but at least from a good distance away.

We made it to the lab, and the lights were off, the classroom black as I opened the door with a shallow creak. I felt for the light switch along the wall; finally finding the nub, I clicked it on, and suddenly the fluorescent lights overhead were blinding. I had to blink to readjust.

My bag was right there where I'd left it. I walked across the room, picking it up off the floor and swinging it over my shoulder.

That was the moment I realised. With a sinking feeling, I knew that I was forgetting something.

"I left the book at your dorm," I said, shaking my head. How could I have forgotten it? How was I supposed to figure out how to crack this spell today if I didn't have the one book that could help me? It was a stupid mistake.

"We could stop by and pick it up after class," Jasen said. "It's not a big deal."

"It is a big deal," I hissed, turning to glare at him. "Without that book, there's no way I'll be able to figure out how to undo the spell today."

He blinked at me. "We can go back and pick it up if you want."

I shook my head, "No way. Then you'll be late to class."

"Then it'll have to wait until after class. Like I said, it's not a big deal." He took a step towards me. "I'm fine waiting another day, as long as you aren't sick of me by then."

I felt the tension ease. "I'm already sick of you," I said, but this time, I couldn't deny the smile that crept to my lips. I wasn't sure how he was able to do it, being as arrogant as he was, but Jasen had managed to find a way to make this all seem like not a big deal. Like it was casual; like it was fine if it waited until this evening. Although I knew he was just being nice about it — although it was a little hard for me to believe that he could be nice in any capacity — he was right. There was no point in stressing about it; it would simply have to wait.

"Walk you to class?" He offered, as if it wasn't already a given.

I readjusted the bag slung over my shoulder before walking towards where he stood by the door. From there, we walked down the hall and he led me to my classroom.

This was where we had to part ways. His classroom just across the hall; and yet, it would be the farthest we'd been from each other since this entire thing started. I was dreading the moment I collapsed in the middle of class, certainly too far away from the one I was now magically tied to. The spell was like a thread between us; pulled too taut, and it would retract.

And yet, he smiled and waved a gentle goodbye. By now, the hallways had slowly begun to fill with students. The sky outside — although I couldn't see it — was certainly aglow with morning light.

I made my way to my classroom.

This time, it wasn't immediate. I could still feel the hum beneath my skin, the way my chest felt heavy. The spell, trying to lure me back; but it was weaker than before. Barely there.

Seemed like the spell would allow us to attend our separate classes, after all. At least for now.

The morning was slow. I found myself unable to focus on our professor's lecture; my mind was still running with ideas to try and break the spell. The steady drum in my chest grew louder as the lecture wore on, completely drowned out.

I was usually prepared for these classes. Excited, even. But as the morning drug on, I found myself ready to head to my shared class with Jasen.

The lecture ended. The professor dismissed us. I was one of the last students to fall into line by the door, piling out into the hallway with some loud, excitable chatter. I had a few students walk up to me, asking questions here and there about several upcoming competitions. I hadn't even had a chance to think about those yet; to plan my best course of action in order to finally beat Jasen and win my dad's scarce approval.

I could barely think of responses; but not only was I top of my class, the strongest Witch at this college; but I was also born to a family of extremely wealthy company owners. My face appeared on billboards across the city, right next to both of my parents, their smiles sterile. I never wanted to be a celebrity, but that didn't stop everyone from knowing my face, name, and GPA.

But among the chatter and the lingering crowd, a familiar face approached. Layla, wearing soft white hues to match her platinum blonde curls. She was ethereal in every step that she took. It was no wonder why Jasen liked her.

"Cade!" She said as she approached, my name a warm greeting. I smiled at her as she stepped up to me; the crowd had finally begun to disperse out into the hallway. "Hey, do you know if Jasen is okay?"

I blinked. That wasn't what I had expected her to ask at all.

"Uh, yeah. Why wouldn't he be?"

She propped a hand up on her hip, "You already forgot that he passed out yesterday? Weren't you the one who took him to the nurse?"

Oh, I recalled that all too well.

"Oh, yeah. I did. She said he was just dehydrated. No big."

She sighed, "Well, that's a relief." We began to walk towards the door together. I held it open for her, and she thanked me with kindness before stepping out into the bustling hallway. "I also wanted to ask..."

"What is it?" I asked.

"Are you free after your next class? I have a gap and I like to get lunch around that time. I thought we could go together."

I blinked, almost not believing what I heard. Layla and I had always been friends, but asking me to lunch? It almost sounded like a date. I felt my heart jump to my throat; finally, finally something I could have that Jasen couldn't. I should have said yes. I should have jumped for joy and enthusiastically asked her if she wanted to go on a date — a real date.

But even though he wasn't here, he still had to ruin everything. I faltered, my gaze falling to the floor. I couldn't stand to look at Layla's expectant, glossy expression as I inevitably broke her heart.

"I want to," I said, "But I'm sorry, I just don't have time to today."

I watched as her smile fell just barely.

"Oh, that's okay! We'll go some other time then."

I smiled back at her, "Definitely, we will!"

With that, we parted ways, heading to our next classes. It was a short walk down the hallway.

I took a deep breath before opening the door.

As I stepped into the large lecture hall, I could spot Jasen almost immediately; as if my eyes were unknowingly drawn to him. I'd never once thought about him during this class, except perhaps in passing insults. And I had definitely never searched for his face in a crowded room before.

It was a new routine, but already, it had begun to feel like instinct. As I walked through the desks towards where he sat at the back, I had to remind myself that this was temporary. After I'd reversed the spell, he'd be back to spewing insults, and we'd forget about all of this.

I felt the invisible force draw me over to him, and even from across the room, we locked eyes with each other. Beside him was an empty seat. I hesitated.

But he gestured, and I walked over to sit beside him. I almost felt something like relief wash over me, as if I could finally breathe now that we were together again.

I couldn't make sense of it; whether or not that was the spell, or myself.