(Ailis POV)

I fumble into the bedroom carefully after my shower. I felt fresh, the water washing away my guilt of gambling once again. I knew I needed to stop. There was no reason for me to keep at such a dangerous habit. I wanted to forget about it all but somehow Rumple always seemed to drag me back in. Once I was finished with this project I would get away from it. There would be no reason for me to need the gold anymore. I'd have unlimited magic.

I cursed my teacher under my breath as I walk up to the sleeping girl on the floor. Emerson was a young beautiful girl and there was no reason for her to be this difficult. Nathan wasn't that important and I honestly saw nothing between them. Except for the fact that he had stayed in the restaurant waiting for her for over forty minutes. Even if that was just because of the magic.

I waddled through the room, my short legs having a difficult time in the long carpet. This room was horrendous and if I had the magic to fix it, I would. What poor college girl would want to live here, especially alone. I wondered if Emerson would ever get a roommate. Glancing around the dump once again. "She better hope she don't," I mutter to myself in my best voice.

I needed to practice my words. I had a hard time talking so Emerson could understand me, this would just lead to more frustration in the future. I hadn't traveled to school with her today so that I could get some work done on my very own projects. I crack my knuckles leaning forward to search my tiny Leprechaun computer.

The buttons were too small as I tried to type the words needed for the assignment. How in the world was I supposed to write 20,000 words about this girl. She was boring. All she did was go to school, hang out with her mom, steal my rice krispy treats. I paused for a moment to think of their delicacies. How dare she not return them, does she just expect me to waste the extra magic traveling with them?

I shook my head trying to get the delicious treats out of my mind. I needed to focus. If I didn't get a start on my paper soon I would never be able to finish it. Scoffing I searched through the documents in my drive rolling my eyes at how mundane human technology was. It was just as boring as their personalities.

A pang of regret rocketed through my chest.

Maybe I should slow my roll on the crap talking. Emerson was providing me with lucky charms and that was a bonus on any planet. Why couldn't we have that same old American food where I come from, the field are perfect, the houses are perfect. Everything is perfect except they don't have those damn lucky charms.

I shook my head once again, I really needed to focus on my paper.

Emerson is a strange creature. I've come to find this out the last week working with here. I know my deadline for this assignment is shorter than on the last ones, but I really feel this is going to be the one. She has met this boy, Nathan I think is his name. He seems to be taking an interest in her as well. I'm not sure if I like this. I feel like it could cause some problems with the assignment.

There's still lots that could go wrong in her life. We've made one major mistake and I'm working on helping her fix it. How was I supposed to know her father was dead? I can hear you reprimanding me now as I was supposed to do more research. When you've had four projects before this one, it's kind of hard to remember who is messed up and who we messed up. Why do we do these assignments again?

All I want to do is finish my schooling and be on with my life, my gambling hasn't even been an issue...

My heart felt ill for a second just typing that out. I shook my head before deleting most of the text. There was no way this would fly in the classroom. I needed to focus more on Emerson and less on my emotions.

Once the words were erased I began writing again.

There's still lots that could go wrong in her life, and I'm doing my best to make sure they don't. Though there might have been some minor setbacks in the beginning I'm starting to think we are really getting along now. We've learned how to work together but I feel the subject growing too attached to my help. I'm wondering if I need to lay low for the remainder of the assignment. She seems to have a good handle on things already. How was I supposed to help her if there wasn't anything wrong? She was dealing with the same issues every other twenty-something year old girl was.

Boys! Boys! And a boy!

That was all they thought about and frankly I want to get this assignment done just so I don't have to think about another boy every again.

I scoffed exiting out of the page. That was horrible. This essay was going to be harder to write than I thought. Slamming the laptop shut I placed it back on the floor by the desk I was sleeping on. I wished Emerson would have put my stuff closer to the floor. I crane my neck upwards so I can see the very edge of my towel hanging over the corner of the desk. I needed to get up there so I could get my things down.

Before I could make my move I heard a noise outside. Two voices mumbling as they make their way down the hallway. I needed to hide. I pushed my feet as hard as I could running across the carpet. I ran until I was safely under the bed out of sight from anyone who would be entering the room.

A slight knock echoed on the door before Emerson opened it slowly glancing around the room.

"Why did you knock before you entered your very own dorm, I thought you said you lived alone?" I heard Nathan's voice from the other side of the door frame. Emerson nods her head, a slight blush rushing over her skin. It flattered her pretty brown hair.

"Just in case they threw a roommate in here without me knowing," She smiled the best she could but I could tell she was trying to fake it. I praised her for knowing how to keep a secret. Even if she wasn't the best at it. Her telling Nathan would ruin this entire project and I would fail out of my schooling for the very last time.

I watched as Nathan wraps his arms around Emerson pulling her closer into him as he kisses her gently on the lips. I want to vomit as I watch the two mingle in eachothers arms for a few moments longer. Covering my eyes I hoped to god they didn't continue this for much longer. Finally once they broke away I felt the air coming back into the room. I let out a sigh only to realize that I was supposed to be quiet. The two froze looking around the room for the sound. I quickly cover my mouth backing further into the shadows of under her bed. The dustmites down here were ridiculous, but they were good company for a steakout.

Was Nathan even a good guy for Emerson? I searched his body language as they continue to chat. He didn't seem off, he didn't seem shifty, but it was my job to make sure she didn't mess things up. I needed to follow him to get some insight on who he really was. In that moment I decided that was what I was going to do. I perch low to the ground waiting for my chance to bolt out the door. Maybe I should try sneaking out so I could get a head start. I searched my pocket for any ounce of magic left. I had just enough for an invisibility cloak for a little over an hour. That would come in handy, but I needed to save it until it was absolutely necessary.

Finally what felt like four hours later they finally finished their conversation with one more quick kiss. Emerson was smiling from ear to ear and it looked like she was really enjoying herself. Nathan says goodbye as she closes the door behind him. Shit, I needed that left open. I shake my head, I would be able to handle this but the magic I had wasn't going to last as long in this case.

Once Nathan was gone Emerson trudges over to the bed before collapsing on top of it. She was humming a tune which told me she was about to turn her music on and take a nap. Thankfully this is exactly what I needed her to do, I just needed her to hurry.

Once I could hear her snoozing I decided my legs wouldn't be fast enough to catch up to Nathan, I would need to teleport their. Throwing a small amount of green magic onto the floor to engage it I thought of Nathan and stepped into the glow.

Next thing I knew I was standing under Emerson's car, Nathan was leaned over the hood of it. What was he doing? I threw a little bit more of my magic onto the ground before thinking of being invisible. Walking into the glow this time I transformed me into something humans couldn't see. As long as I was careful Nathan would never know I was around.

I carefully began to climb onto the hood of the car so I could watch to see what Nathan was doing. He was writing on something. Was he writing a note? He quickly finished it off with a little heart before placing it under the windshield wiper of her car. My heart was racing in my chest, was he going to break her heart with a note. Did he not have the heart to tell her in person? But they had just kissed, did that kiss mean nothing to him? I found myself fumbling through emotions trying to figure out what I truly felt. I wanted to break Nathans nose for hurting Emerson, but why did I care so much? Nathan slipped away after placing the note. He trudged through the parking lot towards the bus stop.

He wasn't fooling anyone.

I placed my hands on the edge of the note trying my best to read his scribbly handwriting.

You are so beautiful and I've always thought this. I've loved you since the very first day I met you. - Your Secret Admirer.

I shook my head after reading the note. Anger boiling in my body. I was slightly relieved he wasn't trying to hurt my dear Emerson, but frustrated that he was going to drop a bomb like this on her. This could ruin everything I've been working towards.

Emerson didn't need to know that he loved her yet. He was the one thing that really made her happy, if you take him out of the picture the only thing I've done is ruin her mothers life. I rip the paper from the windshield glancing around at a group of girls as they stare at me pointing.

Glancing down at my skin, I realize my pigment is coming back. They must be able to see me. "Shit!" I grumble grabbing the rest of the paper before throwing my last dash of magic at the car. I needed to get out of here before anyone else saw me. Stepping into the glow I landed safely back in Emerson's dorm.

"That was close," I mumble wiping the sweat off my forehead.

Now to destroy this note.