“Shoot.” I abandon Ana to help this combustion-prone girl. Even once Dr. Davidson gets up from his desk to intervene, finally roused from his email-induced stupor, I’m pulled away for more club duties. The sophomore I spoke to earlier wants feedback on his Chameleon potion now that it’s started working, and there are various people who have questions for me about the Illusion Dust they’re brewing. Because of the whole “potions genius” thing, a lot of the club members will ask me for my advice before they ask Dr. Davidson, a man with a literal PhD in potionworking.

While I help them, I can feel Ana watching me; she wears a private little smile that turns my heart into a puddle of sentimental mush. It makes me hopeful that everything, somehow, is going to work out for the two of us.

Chapter 32

The US Magic Corps. Build a Better Future.

Being a Soldier has its rewards. On top of the unmatched benefits package and competitive salary, the US Magic Corps will provide educational and career support both while you serve and afterward. After five years of service, all Magic Corps service members are eligible to enroll in the United States Magic Corps Academy, where they will earn a magical license that will boost their career to new heights.

—US Magic Corps recruitment pamphlet

When Mom picks me up after potions club, she takes one look at me giggling over a text from Ana and arches an eyebrow. “Ana?”

A garbled sound of surprise comes out of my mouth. I blink and try again for a sound that resembles human speech. “Yeah.”

“Are you two together yet, or you going to keep mooning over her until you drop dead?”

I’m so dumbfounded that I actually choke on my own spit. Mom looks up to the sky, as if asking for patience to deal with her foolish daughter. “This child thinks she was being subtle,” she says to the heavens. She clicks her tongue and flies the car out of the school lot.

“We’re, um, we’re dating now,” I say, my cheeks flaming.

“Well, you bring her over for dinner soon,” Mom says.

“Okay,” I say meekly.

Thus begins what is arguably the best week of my life. At first, I tell myself that I’m not going to be one of those people who becomes completely insufferable once they start dating someone. That idea only lasts until the next morning, when I wake up to a text from Ana.

ANA: good morning to my favorite enemy ♥

At the sight of that little purple heart, I bury my face in my pillow and scream. Then I spend a good five minutes selecting the best color of heart emoji to send with my reply. I settle on red because that’s romantic, right?