The Chrono Witch

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Chapter 4 NOT YOUR SISTER

KAYLA

I couldn't believe I was doing this. Out of all the favors he could ask of me it had to be helping him get to Rhea's window like some lovesick maniac. I tried to hide my annoyance as he stared at me expectantly, waiting, as if I had the answers to the universe.

"I can't believe you're literally trying to get us into trouble," I said, glancing at the two-storied house then back at him.

"We're only in trouble if we get caught." He winked. Like actually winked. I couldn't believe this was still my best friend standing in front of me.

I was so used to the quiet, cautious boy who had avoided me through tenth and eleventh grade before eventually leaving town that I'd forgotten back when we were kids, Zayn was always the mischievous one who got us into trouble. A pang of jealousy rose in my chest that Rhea accepting to be his girlfriend could bring this side of him back out.

"I'm not sure my spell would work," I said, searching for a reason to talk him out of the whole absurd idea. "You could fall."

He shrugged. "So? It's just two stories, a fall from that height won't do much damage."

"But—"

He stepped closer, taking my hand in both of his, brows drawing together. "Please don't back out now, Kayla. I just want to surprise Rhea. Plus we haven't had this much fun in a while. I thought you'd appreciate the chance to use your magic."

"Yeah, but not like this," I argued.

"Why not? Don't you want to test how strong you are? If I were in your shoes I'd have been experimenting already. That's what I'm here for, to be your lab rat." He flashed one of his dimpled smiles and nudged me with his elbow. "And luckily for you, my powers make me tougher than the average guy, so you don't have to worry about a thing."

I let out a long sigh. ‘It's not that I'm worried, you birdbrain. It's the fact that I don't want you talking to any other girl but me,’ I said in my head, wishing I could say it out loud.

I retrieved my hand from his and his smile brightened, but I stopped it halfway, pointing a finger in his face. "Five minutes. That's about how long I can hold the spell."

He yanked me into a hug before I could protest. "You're awesome, sis. I promise you won't regret this."

"I already do," I muttered under my breath, trying to ignore the fact that he'd actually called me his sister to my face. It hurt more than I wanted to admit.

Zayn didn't notice my hesitation as his attention was already back on Rhea's window, hands rubbing together in anticipation. I almost felt like turning around and leaving him there, but I knew he'd never forgive me. And even though this wasn't how I'd pictured this day going, it was still better than the version where he was dead and I never got the chance to say goodbye. I swallowed down the sob threatening to surface and straightened, extending my hand toward him.

"Levanta," I muttered, feeling my power travel up my arms and to my fingertips, reaching for Zayn.

He lifted off the ground and glanced back at me in shock, as if he'd half doubted I could actually do it. "Whoa, I can't believe I'm actually—"

"Five minutes," I reminded him, guiding my hand upward toward the window, willing myself to stay focused and not think about the blade in my chest driving deeper the closer he got to her.

He was going through all this trouble for a girl who had only recently joined his class. Less than a year and he'd already crushed on her hard enough to ask her out. How had I not seen it before? Maybe that was why it had been so easy for him to pull away from me, because he'd already found someone else to fill that space.

I waited until he grabbed onto the window ledge before letting my hand drop, watching as he knocked and Rhea appeared almost immediately.

I couldn't make out what they were saying, but at some point Zayn glanced down at me and Rhea leaned out to wave. I gave a small wave back, my chest hollowing out with every passing second. This was torture.

Rhea laughed at something he said and leaned in, pressing a kiss to his cheek. Even from down here I could picture those dimples coming out in full force, his face going a faint shade of pink. My fists clenched at my sides and I turned away, unable to watch anymore.

"Psst, Kayla." I turned back to find him dangling from the ledge of the now closed window, legs kicking in the air. He looked absolutely ridiculous and still annoyingly attractive. "Now would be a great time to do your thing," he whispered, the night air carrying his voice down to me.

I bit my lower lip and raised my hand, guiding him back down. The moment his feet touched the grass I turned and started heading home.

"Hey, wait up. Some of us are still getting used to gravity again," he called, jogging to catch up. He stepped into my path and walked backwards to face me since I refused to slow down. "Wasn't that amazing? And I got kissed for the first time!"

I stopped walking. Anger flickered through me before I could stop it.

He seemed to catch his mistake and slowed too, chuckling softly. "Well, unless you count what happened back at the formal." He shrugged. "I'm assuming that was just a you know, spur of the moment thing."

I held his gaze. "Is that really what you think?"

"Yeah, I mean, I know you, Kayla. Remember that red haired shy kid in kindergarten you kept going on about? You couldn't even be in the same room as him without losing it. You'd literally pass out."

My hands flew to my face. Sometimes having a childhood best friend meant they had front row seats to every embarrassing moment of your life.

"That was kindergarten! I'm going into ninth grade, I don't act like that anymore."

"Sure. But I've seen you with your celebrity crushes too and you go completely red in the face. There's no way that kiss meant more than it was when you didn't even flinch." He rubbed the back of his neck while I tried not to bore a hole through his skull with my stare. "I'll admit it was good though."

My brow shot up.

He shook his head quickly, waving a hand. "Not that I have anything to compare it to so what do I know."

I didn't know whether to confess everything or just smack him upside the head. I chose neither and brushed past him, resuming walking.

"You know, Kayla, we'd make such a good team. I'll be the muscle and you can be the fairy godmother. Just imagine the fun we could have." He nudged my shoulder and I shot him a glare he didn't seem bothered by at all, wiggling his brows back at me. "You can't tell me that wasn't a pretty solid team effort back there."

"Maybe," I said, finally looking at him. "If you count me playing guard dog while you get all cozy with your ‘girlfriend.’"

I air-quoted the word.

"And for the record, I am not your sister. Never have been. Never will be," I snapped, the jealousy that had been building all night finally spilling over.

"Kayla—"

"Why can't you see that trying to date someone who isn't like us is only setting yourself up to get hurt? Why not someone else?"

His expression hardened. "In case you haven't noticed, we're literally the only gifted ones left in Shadow Ridge. Everyone else like us moved away, so what other options do I have—"

"Me!" I snapped before I could stop myself.

We both went still at the same time. Zayn's face drained of color, like someone had dunked him in ice water, but it only lasted a second. Then something shifted behind his eyes, something quieter and more serious, and just like that every trace of the mischievous, carefree boy who had been walking me home vanished completely.

I swallowed hard, already knowing I'd made a mistake.

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