I smack myself on the forehead. Tim and Ialwayshang out on Sunday night. I read through his messages.
At 6pm:Hey Mags, we on for tonight?
At 7pm:Hey Mags, check your phone
At 10pm:Maggie where are you? Call me
They continue like that, his tone getting increasingly annoyed. I usually text him back right away! A pit of anxiety forms in my stomach. I told him that I was starting at the school today - well, not Elmwood Inclusive Magic Academy, but the made-up transitional program I used as an excuse. He must have forgotten.
Heart racing, I pray that he’s not too upset and I dial his number. My reception isn’t too good and the call drops at first. On the second try, it goes through, and he picks up.
“Maggie!” he groans. “Where are you? I called you, like, twenty times. We’re driving around Houndsville.”
I’m so relieved I got a hold of him. “I’m really sorry, babe, I’m at my transitional program, like I told you about, remember?”
“What? I thought that wasn’t a big deal. Can’t you come out? How far away is it?”
I might have under-described the program slightly. I feel so bad that I can’t be honest with him. Luckily, it sounds like they’re close, Houndsville is only 45 minutes away. Just becausemy moms dragged me out here, doesn’t mean I can’t still see Timothy. There’s no way he’ll be able to wait a whole year for me.
“I’m so, so sorry, babe, I’ll make it up to you. I’m actually really close, can you pick me up? I can come out.”
“Ugh, well, James and Joey have to leave, it’s getting late. But I can come pick you up, I guess.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “That’s great! I’ll send you the coordinates. Um, it’s in a bit of a weird spot, so I’ll walk to you. You can pick me up on the road.”
“Yeah, whatever, Mags. You just have to make this up to me.”
“I will! I love you, I’ll see you soon.”
“See you soon.” He hangs up. I toss my old cardigan on the bed and rush to find my make-up bag in my luggage.
“You could do so much better, you know,” Pan says. He’s perched on the untouched second bed in my room.
“Be quiet, Pan!”
We creep out of the castle, down the driveway, and along the dirt country road. It’s empty now, I guess everyone else is at the “midnight hunt” or whatever. There are thick forests all around us, and no streetlights. I use my phone as a flashlight, since I can’t cast any light charms in front of Timothy.
“You have no idea how much negative energy I have to cast away when we go on these little misadventures,” my familiar whines.
“No one invited you, Pantalaimon.”
I wait anxiously by the side of the road, worried that Tim will change his mind, decide I’m too much trouble, and go find a normal girlfriend with normal parents. Someone who never has to sneak out of secret magic castles at night. I smooth my hair and check the time again.
“He’s fifteen minutes late…” Pan groans.
“Shh!” I hear a sound from down the road, and smile at the sound of Tim’s car. He drives up and rolls the windows down. I open the door to the car.
“Whoa, there’s all sorts of vermin out here, huh,” he says, spotting Pan by the road. Pan gives me an offended look, which I ignore.
“Yeah, it’s so remote, it’s such a pain,” I complain, shutting the door. I feel a pang of guilt leaving Pan by the side of the road, but he’s a demonic spirit in the form of a fox, so I’m sure he’ll survive. What’s more important right now is preserving any chance I have of a normal future with a normal boyfriend.
I lean over and kiss Tim on the cheek. He’s wearing a white T-shirt and old pair of jeans, with a baseball cap covering his messy dark hair. He smells like beer and hickory. He doesn’t seem happy with me, but I try to smooth it over.
“I’m so sorry, babe,” I say, genuinely, “I thought I told you, my mom is making me do this transitional program…”
“Yeah, whatever, it’s fine,” he shrugs, driving down the road. “It’s just such a pain to have to come get you. How long is this program for?”
“It’s…until April…”
