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     Alyssa entered class with Justin beside her as she did every day. His warm eyes glanced at her as he softly smiled sitting beside her. Alyssa’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes or her heart.  She just felt a little withdrawn since the date with Charlie last week and wasn’t sure what she could do to fix it. Since then Justin was nothing but sweet and thoughtful just as he always however as much as she loved him she couldn’t fully engage in the things they did wholeheartedly.

        “Darling, you’re daydreaming again,” Justin said bringing her attention back to the test on her desk.

        “Thanks,” She sighed, trying to focus. It seemed no matter what her thoughts kept returning to that night and the cold look in his eyes as he let her go.

        The shrill of the bell signaled the end of class and Alyssa’s immediate knowledge that she had not paid any attention to the test at all. Shaking her head she sighed deeply standing to take her paper to the teacher’s desk.

        “I’ll take it for you. You should go and enjoy your lunch with Dana. I’ll see you later.”

        “Alright,” she replied, walking out of the room without so much as a glance backward.

        Dana waited for her in hall by the art room. “So the beast let you go I see.”

        “Dana, don’t call him that.” Alyssa said defensively.

        “It’s true. I haven’t eaten with you in three days. It’s like we picked this place to hang out and he drags you away before we can even enjoy it.” Dana complained walking into the empty classroom. “Anyway, I refuse to talk about him anymore. A perfect topic is Philip. I barely see him and when I do it’s for healing, I just feel like we should be advancing.”                  

        “I thought you’d given up on him?” Alyssa asked siting on a table.

        “Give up?! I could never give up on the person I love!” Dana exclaimed passionately. “How could you even think it?”

        Alyssa held up her hand. “Alright, I’m sorry. I know how much you love him.”

        Dana sighed as she paced the room while eating her pudding cup. “I have a feeling he’s hiding something. I’m just not sure what it could be. So I have a plan! Will you come with me after school?”

        From the wild excited look in her eyes, I can tell things are going to get a little crazy, Alyssa though before replying, “Of course, Dana.”

               “Dana, what are we doing?!’  Alyssa asked as she stopped a few parking spaces behind Philips car behind the diner.

        Dana quickly silenced her with a determined look under her dark hoodie. “He’ll be leaving any minute now so keep quiet!” she whispered.

        Alyssa sighed. Stalking wasn’t something I had ever planned on experiencing. Be it the stalked or the stalker but here I am waiting for Philip to leave Charlie’s place, she thought causing her annoyance to disappear as she had a flashed back of her date night with Charlie.

        “There he goes Alyssa! Hurry up and follow!” Dana exclaimed pointing down the street.

        “Got it,” she said quickly leaving the parking lot.

        “Not too close behind.” Dana instructed as she turned on the radio.

        “Dana what if he’s going to work?”

        “He’s off today. That’s why we’re following him.”

        “What if he’s going home?”

        “That would be perfectly fine with me,” Dana said, “if he lived in Nell Valley!”

        “Nell Valley?”

        “Yes, in a few minutes we’ll be right in that area. I wonder if he’s going to meet someone there or something.”

        “Maybe vampire hunting and in that case I am going home.”

        “He’s not at this hour. He usually waits until late to do that.” Dana informed with a worried tone. “I just don’t understand why he would come here at all. I mean I suppose he really has a life of his own but it’s usually just Charlie and me that he’s around.”

        Alyssa glanced over to see Dana’s expression. As cool and laid back as Dana was she was at this moment very frightened. Alyssa wasn’t sure how to reply as they followed him to a residential neighborhood and watched as he pulled into the drive way of a charming white single family home. She was sure to drive past the drive way and pullover on the opposite side of the street. After cutting the engine and the lights they both turned to watch him walk up to the front door and ring the bell.

        A girl quickly opened the door and gave him a hug. Although they couldn’t hear her, Alyssa assumed she invited him in as he walked past her and into the house.

        Dana turned around without saying a word.

        “Are you okay?” Alyssa asked softly.

        “Let’s go,” Dana said avoiding eye contact.

        They drove in silence back to Covington Point. Alyssa was too nervous to say anything at all.

        “Selina. That’s that tramps name!” Dana suddenly exclaimed loudly and angrily causing Alyssa to hit the breaks in surprise.

        “Don’t do that you terrified me!”

        “She’s the waitress from the restaurant who was flirting with him that night!”

        That’s why she looked so familiar. That means Dana was right, Alyssa thought to herself.

        “I told you she was and did you see how she just threw herself into his arms like that?!”

        “Dana calm down,” Alyssa said firmly. “Just talk to him tomorrow and-“

        “Just take me home please.”

        Dana’s coolness sent shivers down Alyssa’s spine reminding her of her so called bonding day with Aviva at the mall but she could understand. Dana does feel her and Philip are destined for each other, the same way Justin feels about me, she thought before gently shaking her head. No, I don’t’ want to think about him right now. Not tonight.

                “Justin, what is it?! You’ve barely spoken a word all day. You’ve been like this for a week now. I’m getting tired of it!” Aviva complained sitting beside him in the living room. “Tell me this doesn’t have something to do with Alyssa.”

        Justin didn’t bother to look at her as he replied. “She’s distant.”

        “Then kill her.” The eye contact she received from him wasn’t comforting in anyway. “I was just joking.”

        “That’s not like you at all.”

        “Let me offer you some advice. If you pull her she’ll eventually leave you. Give her some time to do whatever she needs to do. Let her come to you.” Aviva said sweetly as she stood behind his back massaging his shoulders. Her golden hair fell over his shoulder as she leaned over to whisper into his right ear. “I’m still here for you for whatever you need.”

        “I told you before I’m in love with her. There’s nothing you can do for me.” Justin told her passively with eyes glowing while thinking about her suggestion. She could be right.  Alyssa just needs a little time. I’ll give her the space she needs then watch her begging to come back to me. “I’m going out.”

        He left quickly leaving Aviva trembling in the darkness behind him.

                Dana had gathered all that she needed from her room and walked quietly into the woods. Her usually warm welcome was replaced by a cold breeze. “Now let’s get started.”  It was easy enough to call the dark thing that lived in the woods. All things that wander in there she has been able to sense her whole life. “I call you Mistress of the Woods to come to me and do my bidding!”

        The wind suddenly went from a gentle breeze to fierce in the matter of seconds.  The winds swirled strongly into a dark tornado right in front of her.  Two small golden lights appeared in the center of it to start then all over lit up and shaped into the form of a woman with body. . “This was certainly unexpected of you, child.  Why have you called on me?”

        Dana spoke confidently although her body trembled with each breath. “I need a deed done against someone.”

        The shadow Mistress leaned closer. “Why should I even consider it? I know all about what goes on in these woods. You’re a child of nature who hasn’t laid a hand on a single insect that dwells within it.”

        “I hold more power than what you’ve seen and can easily end your existence since you were born out of darkness. “

        That statement caused the winds to roar before she spoke again. “You dare to threaten me?!”

        “I will do anything to get what I want!” Dana yelled back. “I want her to pay!”

        The Mistress stilled the winds.  “She will. I will give you want you want.”

        “I want Selina punished. Do whatever you need to keep her away from Philip. Scare her good.”

        “Until we meet again,” She smirked mischievously before charging into the depth of the woods.

        Dana could finally feel the adrenaline fade away with her absence. Smiling she walked back to the house only to find Alyssa standing between her house and the woods. “Alyssa, why are you here?”

        Startled by her joyful appearance Alyssa stumbled over her words. “I was- you just seemed so upset.”

        “I feel fine now. I just needed time to center and meditate.” She noticed Alyssa’s skeptical look then added, “Believe me everything will be just fine. Go on home. Goodnight.”

                Alyssa snuggled into her pillow with thoughts of Dana still haunting her. Dana’s recovery was far too quick from her devastating discovery today. I wonder what she’s planning, Alyssa thought closing her eyes.

        “Alyssa, we need to talk, can I come in?” Justin asked causing her to pause with fright.

        That was an unexpected reaction. Did it frighten me to hear him just now? she asked herself before replying. “Sure.” After opening the window, she quickly hurried back to her bed drawing her knees to her chest.

        Justin walked over to the bed but didn’t sit or make any attempt to touch her. “I thought it would be best to say what I have to say in person.”

        “What is it?” She asked urgently noticing he avoided looking at her.

        “I think we need some time apart.”

        Her heart sank to her stomach. “You’re breaking up with me?”

        “I’m not breaking up I just think that we need some time apart. “

        “You told me you loved me, and I was everything to you and now you’re just casting me aside?” Alyssa asked angrily. "After everything I went through. After all of that this is what you have to say?"

        Her emotion caused him to momentarily second guess himself. “That’s not what I’m doing. It’s for the best.”

        “It’s the best for you because I didn’t agree to this!”

        “Alyssa-,” He moved to touch her.

        “Don’t touch me. Get out. Get out now and don’t ever come here again.” Instantly he had gone just as she expected leaving her completely alone with tears streaming down her face.