"Reggie! Becca! What are you guys doing here?"

Ah, the poor stumped Cupid-in-the-making fumbled for words as she wiped her soured mouth clean. Yup, she definitely should have avoided that breakfast this morning.

If only it hadn't been for Mr Sultan insisting she eats a 'hearty meal' of toast and scrambled egg, for he truly believed no one should fly on an empty stomach. Or learn on an empty stomach. And boy, did Cammy have a lot to learn. Like how to keep her face straight in front of her target, a.k.a, the love of her life.

Currently, she was looking like she was sucking on a lemon gone off, pretending it was fine. It wasn't fine. None of this was fine by her. She had been excited—and somewhat terrified, what with her non-existent shooting skills—that her first coupling was near. That the 'intended' pair were from school had already been a point of anxiety, but to know that the two people staring at her as if they had seen a ghost—Reggie and Becca—were the ones she had to cast a spell on. It would no doubt lead them to have many smooch sessions—all loved-up—because she, the Cupid, had deemed it so. Well, that fact was absolutely unfair, especially for her to have to do it, utter those words that would forever mean Reggie was taken.

Cammy's stomach rumbled uneasily again. Not that she had anything else to bring up. At that moment, she hated Goddess of Fate, Bhagi—even though she'd never met the old grouch. Yup, that's how Cammy was going to think of old Fate, as a wrinkled prune who could barely button her shirt because her fingers were mangled—provided Goddesses wore shirts—and her bones brittle. It was mean; she knew it, but so was this. Getting her to fix her crush with her best friend as her first task, a task she was likely never to forget because it was a first—was cruel. The cruellest thing to ever happen, other than Reggie asking Becca out, of course. That too was cruel. But at least the boy hadn't known how Cammy felt. But Fate surely knew. Right? Right?!

"What you mean what are we doing here?" Becca laughed and flung herself at Cammy, squeezing the living-bejebus out of her—aka, breath. "What are you doing here? When did you get back and why the hell hadn't you told me?"

The squeezing tightened—if that were possible.

Watch the wings! Cammy had only barely got a handle on her wings. She shut her eyes tight, hoping to God they wouldn't open—an odd thing to think about now that she knew they actually existed—was God listening? And if so, what did he look like? Or what did she look like? And why were they cruel?

Cammy felt a flutter beneath her blades and squeezed her eyes shut tighter—if that were possible, too. Please don't open. Please don't open.

"Hmm!" Becca let out a moan and her arms loosened around Cammy's taut body. "What's up with you? Seriously! Are you okay? How's your grandma?"

My grandma? Cammy wondered for a moment before she heard Aziz whisper. "Remember, you were visiting your sick grandma and only just returned last night..."

"My grandma? Uh..." Cammy's eyes flitted to Mr Sultan hovering behind Reggie and Becca with a giant grin plastered on his face and two of the bendiest hitchhiker-thumbs up in the air.

"Uh, yeah, she didn't make it."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Your poor dad!" Becca squeezed Cammy again in a deadly hug.

"Dad?"

"Yeah, dodo. Wasn't it your dad's Mum? Or was it your mother's?" Becca pulled away to arm's length and stared at Cammy with concern.

Oh, right! Cammy nervously smiled as she recalled the lie. "Yes, poor dad. He's upset. You know how it is..."

"I'm so sorry for your loss, Cam." Reggie awkwardly laid a hand—there, there—on her shoulder. She welcomed the touch, but not the manner of it. In fact, Cammy wouldn't have minded a rib-breaking squeeze from Reggie...

"Outstanding work, Miss Kamdev. Now ask about them? How are they going? Lay the groundwork for the spell!" Mr Sultan, visible and audible only to Cammy, eagerly hot-footed about. Excited wasn't even the word to describe how he was feeling. From where he stood, this was going swimmingly and it wouldn't surprise him if Cammy had the match fixed and set in concrete by the end of the day!

Ha! And he had been, for a while, worried she'd pass none!

"So? Tell me about you two? How are you going?" Cammy forced herself to ask, though it was the last thing she wanted to hear about. Please don't say you've already had sex! Please don't say you've already had sex!

Becca blushed. "Reggie and I are good. So good..."

Eww. Eww. Don't tell me! Cammy nodded with tight lips.

Reggie grabbed Becca's hand in his and gave it a squeeze. "It's going to be nearly two months next week."

"Two months?" Cammy sounded very surprised. She knew it had been a month at least—of hand-holding and smooching, no doubt—but two months?

Reggie smiled. His cute dimple showing. It took everything Cammy had not to ogle the guy. "Since that bus ride back from camp."

Fudging-fudge-camp! Cammy nodded. "Oh, that's right, you kind of asked her out then..."

Am'ma vomit again...

"I'm so glad you're back. We have so much to catch up on. I can't wait!" Becca whisked around and looped her arm through Cammy's, pulling her out into the courtyard where they had been headed. "I'll come over after school. See your dad—poor guy—but then after that..."

Becca leaned in as Reggie reached the door ahead of them and held it open. She whispered, "I need advice! Reggie wants to do a sleepover if my folks are okay... but... I'm so nervous. I think I know what it might be about and I don't know if I'm ready..."

'Love is in the air' suddenly floated in the air about them as clear as a bell. Cammy looked around to see if some asshat had the worst timing in the world with their little portable speaker. She saw no one nearby. It was still fairly early in the morning. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Reggie asked.

"You don't hear that song?" Cammy blushed under Reggie's direct gaze. She wasn't used to it, Reggie finally seeing her. Not that it mattered anymore.

We're just friends. We're just friends... Cammy feigned a smile as the song got louder, yet no one seemed to hear it. That's when she turned around to spot Aziz Sultan, possibly the worst Cupid at reading the room, holding up the odd pen-like device in his hand, out towards the trio. A grin arching up like a Cheshire cat's on his stupidly Cupidy-face she couldn't get mad at.

The song was coming out of his device—magically dialled into the supernaturals.

Cammy glared at him. If only the man could read the glare. Instead, he increased the volume and smiled, yelling after them, "You got this Miss Kamdev! You GOT THIS!"

No, I don't got this! Cammy wanted to yell back, only she would look like an idiot. She pulled Becca ahead in a rush, Reggie followed behind them in a hurry.

"I'm starving. Let's grab a coffee and something to eat before the bell goes."

"What's our first period again?" Becca asked her usual question. The girl could never remember her timetable. If it weren't for Cammy, she'd barely get to the right classes.

"Geometry, I think." Cammy volunteered. Glad that Aziz Sultan had ceased to follow them around with his obnoxious, ill-timed music. Was it meant to help her or motivate her?

Well, it's not helping! Cammy was afraid nothing would, and all she wanted to do was scream. Noooooo!!!

Instead, she was having to drag herself to the stupid cafeteria, to the stupid counter, and order her usual, stupid lactose-free cap, as if it were any other school day. It freaking wasn't!

"And the double-choc muffin too, please!" She added. She could use the sugar, and the choc... today was calling for a bit of self-love and care, and she really, really wanted that damn chocolate muffin.

If she could never have Reggie, it was a wee consolation to think she could still enjoy the occasional treats.

"You know what, make that two!"

Yup. Today called for two treats: breakfast and lunch!

So unfair!

WC: 1412              TWC: 12,966

[A/N: I have to say, I love writing the mentor. Aziz is so quirky and at the same time naive, I love it. The song bit was my fav for this chapter and so unplanned. 😂

Well, now that plan is underway, how do you think Cammy is going to go with this task? Any guesses whether she will fail or succeed?

Thank you so much to those that are still reading! You are awesome and I really appreciate the support!

And now, time for bed. G'nite folks. Enjoy!]