ATTICUS

We had gone around in the car for two hours through the town. Everything was strangely calm. Perhaps some of the covens had made a spell to influence people to go home. It wouldn’t be the first time.

I looked back through the rearview mirror. Rose and Fenix were in the rear seats, speaking and laughing like old friends. I almost couldn't bear it.

"Then you can see magic, and how is the magic?" she asked him in a friendly tone.

"Depends, different types of magic produce different effects, colors, textures, and patrons. For example, it's like a soft red light when Atticus uses Domination, and Lucas has his spirit around him with a bear shape, although it isn't always visible."

"Wait a sec, you said that you can see from childhood. Then, did you know that I'm a werebear?" Lucas said,

"Well, not at first but your aura grew with age and I noticed when you were 8 years old."

"And why did you say nothing?" Lucas furrowed although I didn’t understand why.

"Firstly, for my grandmother. She didn't want me near supernatural things, he almost had a heart attack when she noticed that you were a shapeshifter. I'm sorry to disappear, but she was having a very bad time and I didn't want to hurt her more," Fenix said.

"And what do you do to change your mind? Are you not worried about your grandmother anymore?" I asked.

Lucas hit my leg and shook his head with an angry face. I looked at Fenix again. His expression was broken with sorrow.

"Well, she passed away six months ago. I had tried to not get in trouble but I dunno, I saw alarm spells in the forest when I was coming home, and I was dying to know what you were doing."

Rose put her hand over his shoulder. "I'm sorry for your loss. If you want, I can help you to contact her."

He smiled at her, not a true smile. It was the kind of smile that someone had learned to use when they wanted to convince themself that they were not sad anymore.

"Thanks, but I prefer to let her rest. If she sees me with a witch, well, she will never go to the other side. I think I made all of this for another reason," he said.

"Why?" Lucas asked.

"Well, this is going to sound a little stupid, but I felt alone. I couldn't speak with anyone about the world, my world. We should change the issue. I don't wanna kill the mood," he looked at Rose. "Although I don't want the seance, there is a favor that you could do for me."

"Tell me," she answered.

Rose's sweet attitude with him was driving me crazy.

"Kevin, he did his job well, but concealment spells are easy to avoid if you can see them. You should let him cure appropriately. I felt a little bad about it"

"What the hell. Rose knows how to treat her people. You don't have to tell her what to do," I said, raising my voice, almost yelling.

All of them looked at me. Rose furrowed and put on her assassin expression. "Of course, I know, and I'm going to pay attention to Fenix's recommendation. Being harsh is not the same as being unfair,” she said, marking the last word.

"I'm hungry," Lucas yelled suddenly. "I'm going to park in the hamburger joint next to the school and take something, okay?" He said this part more calmly. We were silent until he parked, "Fenix helps me with the order."

"Okay, but what do you want?" Fenix said, looking at Rose and me.

"A strawberry milkshake," Rose said, still angry.

"And you Atticus. Can you eat normal food?"

"Of course, I can. So smart and don't know the difference between myth and reality."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."

"Whatever. I don't want anything."

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He got out of the car and closed the door. Lucas looked at me upset.

"Dude, not cool. We give you some space for you to fix your bullshit," he whispered.

He closed the door strongly. And Rose and I were alone in the car.

ROSEMARY

Atticus hadn't spoken since Lucas and Fenix left. I could see through the rear-view mirror his face, he had a depressed expression and his lips pursed. He did the same when we were kids and he was mad at me. His attitude was so childish.

"What is happening to you?" I finally asked because I was sick of waiting for him.

"Nothing," he groaned.

"Really? Usually, I'm the cold and inconsiderate, and you're the calm and nice, your attitude with Fenix is being rude."

"Perhaps, we change roles," he said, crossing his arms.

"What the hell does that mean?" I yelled at him. I'd put up with too much nonsense from him for one day.

"No means anything. Today has been a long day, I'm tired."

"Go here," I shouted to him.

"What?" he said while turning back and looking at me.

"Go here, NOW!" I ordered him.

He thought for a moment and then he used the space between the front seats to move back. He sat with his back against the door. He has puppy eyes. I looked at him intensely. I was clear that he had to take the first step.

"Stop looking at me in this way," he begged.

"Stop behaving like a child," I answered without reducing the insensitivity of my look.

He looked down. "Do you like him?" he asked.

"Who?"

"Fenix."

I almost started to laugh. I had spoken with Fenix three times until that day. I have to admit that he earned my respect quickly. Only a small group of people had managed to play in my league and an even smaller group had managed to beat me. Besides, I saw something of myself in him when he came to tell me off. But, I didn't feel anything for someone that I almost just met, obviously.

"If so, it's not your business. Atticus you broke up with me, I can date who I want."

For a second I thought to tell him that I didn't feel anything about Fenix because I didn't like to see him suffer in that way. But every word that came out of his mouth was getting me mad as hell. He broke up with me and still thought he could opine about my relationships.

"Yeah but, why him? He isn't good for you."

I wanted to break each bone of his body. He couldn't say who is good for me.

"Well, he's very smart and maybe isn't the most handsome guy but he has cute dimples and his sun-tanned skin is very sexy." I made a malicious smile while I enjoyed Atti's expression. "Ah, and he'd be bold enough not to break up with me without an explanation. Then why shouldn't I go out with him? "

I closed my face to Atticus' face. I could feel his breath but he still avoided my eyes.

"He's not good for you. He's, I don't know but he's not for you."

He looked up and our eyes met. I sat on his lap, putting my hand on his chest. I felt both of his hearts beating one after another. "Atticus Santoro, your problem is not Fenix, your problem is that you are dying of jealousy, isn't it?" He tried to talk but I avoided it by putting my hand over his mouth "You're jealous because you love me madly."

His eyes were open and I could feel his passion, his wish, his lust for me through them.

"Rose," he said, and then he kissed me with fervor. I had missed these kinds of moments with him so much because I love him. I had a crush on a lot of girls and boys but never did I feel something like I feel when I'm with him. I was willing to forget everything and start again. I had really forgotten it with the first touch between our lips. But, he suddenly pushed me away gently with his hands.

"Stop, Rose, we cannot make this," he said.

I moved into my seat with a lump in my throat.

"Why?" I asked with frustration in my voice.

"I cannot tell you," he looked at me with this awful puppy look again.

"Why not?"

He looked down "I can't. I'm sorry,"

"This is all you are going to say. You're a dumbass, a dickhead, and a fucking asshole." I yelled while suppressing the urge to cry. I don't usually lose my composure, but he was more than I could support at that moment.

"I'm so sorry," he said again.

At this moment, all my sadness turned into rage. "Fuck you!" I said at the top of my lungs, but I didn't raise my voice at this time.

Then Lucas and Fenix enter the car rapidly. "Guys, we found it," Fenix said while Lucas started the car.