When Mazarine was twelve and Elijah was fifteen years old.

Since the disastrous event that happened on my sixth birthday, a lot of things were changed. Zendaya told my parents about the message ball. So, I and Elijah were forced to confront them about the magic experiments we do every day.

Instead of them scolding us, things ended up surprisingly well.

I was promoted to two classes and now am studying a class below Elijah. It took me a while to get accustomed but since Elijah was the one who taught me things, the whole catching up was very fun.

He was patient and taught me all the things I needed to know. Ever since I came to the middle school with Elijah, we spent all the free periods together. Me, Elijah along with his best friend Greg.

Greg's very intelligent. He could detect lies far away. Greg is one of my sweetest friends of Elijah. Maybe that's why Elijah doesn't mind Greg spending time with us.

When I asked Elijah why he didn't learn magic with the seniors since he is already too good for his class, he simply shrugged it off saying he didn't want to do it fast. But I know the real reason why.

He didn't want to be treated like a stranger and he didn't want to leave me.

The more powerful you are the ruder people here are. I felt that myself. Ever since I was promoted, the people in my class are anything but nicer. They find every chance they get to mock me or prove to me that I am here just because I was a princess.

And that suck.

The only better thing is that after every class is over, I get to spend a lot of time with Elijah. I don't have to sit with my classmates for lunch. I always sit with Elijah, Greg, and his sister.

His sister is a year older than me but she is a class below me. Though she doesn't mind that. She's been very warm to me just like her brother.

At present we are sitting for lunch. The menu today is garlic bread with red sauce pasta. Since they don't provide milk here, I bring it with me. Mom always packs me two bottles of milk and a bottle of water every day. She also packs some delicious snacks for me just in case I don't like the food.

She wanted to pack my lunch too. But I rejected it since I wanted to eat the normal food, they provide just like every other student here.

"So, tell me about your day Green?" Elijah asked as he plopped a piece of bread in his mouth.

"Nothing, just the regular spells class, and Ms. Martha's potions class."

"Cool," Greg laughed. "What did Ms. Martha teach today?"

"How to create a portion to cure a common cold." I gagged my mouth. That portion looked indeed like some disgusting vomit.

"Aww poor Green," Elijah ruffled my hair.

"So, tell me about your day."

Before Elijah could start, Penny sat next to us. Penny is one of Elijah's classmates who always makes fun of me.

"What are babies doing at senior's table?" Penny raised her eyebrow.

Not wanting to start another argument with her I kept eating my pasta.

"What do you want Penny?" Elijah growled not liking her presence here.

She took a box of cookies from her lap and kept it on the table. The box was wrapped with ribbons and a small gift card.

"Read it."

Elijah opened the card and read it silently. "Read aloud." She smiled.

He shook his head.

"Why?" her whole face looked disappointed.

"Because I already asked someone to go out with me."

My face widened at his words.

When did he ask someone out on a date?

Aren't we supposed to share everything?

Isn't he the one who said that we are going to spend our whole life together like Mom and dad?

Disappointment swirled inside me as I tried to keep my face straight.

"Who?" Penny frowned. "No one from our batch told that you asked them out."

Oh. Penny knows everything that's happening around us. If she is saying so then it is right too.

He shook his head again. "That's because I am going to the junior year prom with Mazarine."

I heard a lot of gaps around me. One of them includes mine. He didn't ask me to go with him to the prom. I mean, of course, I would've said yes. But. But.

"What the hell Elijah?" Penny spat out.

"What?" he spat back with the same force.

"You know, you don't have to lick her foot all the time just because she is a princess," Penny huffed making me flinch.

People around me gasped at that.

That was very insulting. Princess or not, you have no right to insult someone like that.

"You do know that you could be suspended for this right?" Greg spoke in a low warning tone. He is pissed off. Like literally.

"Moreover, princess or not, I will still worship her. Do you have any problems with that?" Elijah growled before dropping the bomb none of us were prepared for. "What is your problem with me worshipping my girlfriend?"

As soon as he said those words, Greg choked on his pasta when I heard more similar sounds all around.

What the hell?

He never asked me to be his girlfriend. But I mean, that would have happened eventually.

"Mazarine."

"Elijah."

We heard our names being called simultaneously by our moms.

Wait.

Our eyes widened as we saw them standing outside the cafeteria.

Holly shit.

We are done.

"Out." My mom turned her head towards the door.

Taking a breath, we followed them silently inside a room. Elijah held my hand tightly in his as we stood close.

Mom whispered the silencing spell before looking at me with hands crossed.

"Okay, what was that?" She looked at me and Elijah.

"What?" I stuttered.

"What are you asking? We didn't do anything." Elijah spoke way too soon.

"Yeah totally." I followed him.

"Hmm..." Zendaya looked lost in thoughts but she was also equally amused. "Was I the only one who heard Elijah calling Mazarine his girlfriend Elena?"

"No, I heard that too." My mom hummed in agreement.

Elijah sat on the chair groaning.

"Penny asked me out for prom dance. I didn't want to go with her. I wanted to go with Green. So, when I told her that she insulted Green. So, I have to show Penny her place. That's why." Elijah spoke so fast that I felt out of breath.

"What did Penny say?" Zendaya asked frowning.

"She said, 'You know, you don't have to lick her foot all the time just because she is a princess.' And I lost my cool."

"She will be suspended for insulting the princess," Zendaya said as my mother nodded.

"Mom, no." I groaned not wanting to make this a bigger issue. "Everyone out there already hates me. I don't want to mess this up even more."

"Then I need an official apology from her, read in front of the whole school."

That would do.

"And about the girlfriend thing, are you guys together?" Mom asked me.

Elijah took his hands into mine. "I still haven't asked her out. But I am planning to spend the rest of my life with her."

My heart skipped a beat at his words.

Our moms gave a soft smile as if they couldn't hide the fact of how adorable we looked.

"Remember that. Always." Zendaya nodded her head.

Wait, what?

I frowned at her words. Why is she talking as if we wouldn't be together?

"You guys aren't against this?" Elijah wondered out loud.

They shook their head. "But we needed it to be a secret until the right time. Will you do that for us?" My mom asked Elijah.

Why is that?

We heard a knock on the door three times.

Zendaya nodded her head. "Everyone's memory has been erased. They no more remember Elijah telling everyone that Mazarine is his girlfriend. All they remember is that Elijah defended her because she is his best friend."

"Why?" I asked.

"For your safety Mazarine." Mom ruffled my hair.

At that point I didn't understand why. It's only years later I realized the reason.