# Episode 3: The Crush
805 Words
The next morning, Heaven woke up feeling like she hadn't slept at all.
The strange symbol from the night before wouldn't leave her mind.
Neither would the voice.
He's coming.
Who was coming?
And why?
She had questions she knew she couldn't answer.
She packed her books and headed to school.
She decided she wouldn't tell anyone.
Especially not Conrad.
She had already told him too much.
When she reached the school gate, she immediately saw him.
Conrad was standing with a basketball beneath his arm, laughing with a few other students.
He looked completely normal.
Like nothing strange had happened.
Then he noticed her.
His smile appeared instantly.
He walked over.
"Morning."
"Morning."
"You look tired."
"I am."
"Couldn't sleep?"
Heaven hesitated.
"Something like that."
Conrad studied her.
"Everything okay?"
"Yes."
It was a lie.
He seemed to know it was a lie, but he didn't push.
Instead, he pointed toward her glasses.
"You know, I like those."
Heaven blinked.
"My glasses?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"They suit you."
She touched the frame nervously.
"Thanks."
He smiled.
"You're welcome."
Before Heaven could answer, a group of students walked past them.
One of the girls looked at Conrad, then at Heaven.
Her expression changed immediately.
Heaven noticed.
So did Conrad.
"Come on," he said.
"Where?"
"Class."
He started walking.
Heaven followed.
She couldn't explain why his presence suddenly made her feel safer.
But it did.
That was the problem.
She was getting comfortable around him.
And Heaven knew better than anyone that comfort could become attachment.
Attachment could become feelings.
And feelings could become heartbreak.
***
During lunch, Heaven sat alone beneath a tree with her notebook.
She was trying to study.
She really was.
Then a shadow covered the page.
She looked up.
Conrad.
"You again."
He sat beside her.
"You missed me."
"I saw you three hours ago."
"Exactly."
Heaven laughed despite herself.
Conrad looked pleased.
"There."
"What?"
"You smiled."
"So?"
"I like it."
She looked down at her notebook.
"You're annoying."
"But you smiled."
She shook her head.
He leaned back against the tree.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
It was surprisingly comfortable.
Then Conrad asked quietly, "Do you ever get tired of hiding?"
Heaven looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"Your magic."
Her expression changed.
"I told you not to talk about it."
"I know."
He looked toward the school building.
"But you shouldn't have to be scared of yourself."
Heaven didn't answer.
Nobody had ever said that to her before.
She had always been taught to control herself.
To hide.
To stay careful.
Conrad looked at her again.
"You trust me, right?"
Heaven swallowed.
"I think so."
He smiled.
"That's enough."
Something warm spread through her chest.
She hated how easily he could make her feel things.
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
He shrugged.
"Maybe I like you."
Heaven froze.
Her heart seemed to stop.
"What?"
He smiled.
"I said maybe."
"You can't just say things like that."
"Why not?"
"Because—"
She stopped.
Because she liked him too.
The thought terrified her.
Conrad leaned closer.
"You were saying?"
Heaven looked away.
"Nothing."
He laughed softly.
"You're blushing."
"I'm not."
"You are."
She covered her face with her notebook.
He laughed again.
For the first time in a long time, Heaven didn't feel like the strange girl.
She felt like a normal teenager.
A girl with a crush.
A girl who could laugh.
A girl who could like someone.
Then the wind suddenly changed.
The leaves above them began moving violently.
Heaven's smile disappeared.
Her fingers tingled.
Conrad sat upright.
"What's wrong?"
She looked around.
"I don't know."
The air felt different.
Heavy.
Charged.
A golden glow appeared around Heaven's wrist.
She quickly pulled her sleeve over it.
Conrad stared.
"Heaven."
"I know."
The school bell rang.
Students began getting up around them.
The strange feeling disappeared as quickly as it had come.
Heaven breathed out.
Conrad stood.
"That wasn't normal."
"No."
He looked at her seriously.
"Something is happening."
Heaven nodded.
She knew.
She could feel it.
The magic inside her had been quiet for years.
Now it was waking up.
And somehow, Conrad was connected to it.
She just didn't know how.
As they walked back toward the classroom, Heaven glanced at him.
He was looking straight ahead.
For a moment, she wondered what he was hiding.
Then he turned and caught her staring.
"What?"
"Nothing."
He smiled.
"You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Looking at me."
Heaven rolled her eyes.
"I wasn't."
"Sure."
She smiled.
But neither of them noticed the faint golden mark that had appeared on Conrad's wrist.
And neither of them knew that their lives had already begun to change.
The crush had started.
The magic had awakened.
And the heartbreak was closer than either of them could imagine.
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