Times like this, I love having magic powers and witch friends, because when I get home, I call Elise for her spell to clean up messes. "Hey, Elise. Remember that spell you told us about that cleans up things like, say, glitter covering every inch of your body?"

"Yeesss," she draws out. "Why?"

"I had another fireball mishap."

"Uh-oh. What happened?"

Up until now, I was doing okay with what just occurred with Seth. Probably because I was trying too hard to breathe with glitter in my nasal passages, my anger was still winning over my heartbreak. But the tide just turned, and a sob escapes before I say, "I think I just broke up with Seth."

"Oh, honey. Where are you?"

I wail out, "Home."

"Hold on." I hear Elise call for her husband, Ian, in the background and then muffled conversation before she returns. "I'll be right over."

"Thanks," I manage to croak out before we hang up. And then I let myself fall apart. I sink down on the floor, and glitter scratches at my cheek when I try to swipe away tears. How ironic is it that I always wished I was the cool girl and now that someone loves me because he thinks I am, I'm not happy at all?

I remember the way Seth tripped over apples and how it made me fall for him a little bit more. Seth being a warrior was never what made me love him. It was the way he made me feel as if I was the most important person in his life. I sniff and then sneeze, making glitter spew out my nose. I swear I'm the only witch I know who would shoot glitter out of her fingers in anger, and it's embarrassing. And the thing is, Seth thought it was funny. He has never been embarrassed by me or the quirky things I do.

When Elise finally knocks and lets herself in, I'm a snotty mess, but I manage to get the tears to stop.

My friend gives me a big hug, clearly not fazed by the fact I'm covered in purple glitter. "First, we'll clean you up."

I follow her as she marches into the kitchen, and the cabinet door under the sink clicks open as she tugs it. She pulls out the garbage can and sets it before me. Then she chants and waves her hands. A slight tingle skitters over my skin as the glitter leaves my body and swirls up in the air to gather like a tiny tornado. It flies over the garbage can and drops inside like sparkly rain.

I inspect my clean hands. "Nice." I flash to what Seth is probably trying to do to deal with his apartment full of glitter, and a small smile forms on my face.

"Exactly where did this glitter bomb go off?" asks Elise.

My smile becomes sheepish. "Seth's."

She nods. "Start talking and tell me everything from the start."

The front door creaks open, and when I see Sammy, I assume Elise called her to come home too.

Elise continues, "Then I'll determine if I should offer him my services."

"Who are you going to service?" asks Sammy as she enters the kitchen.

Elise points to the garbage can. "Nina glitter bombed Seth."

Sammy chuckles, and I tell the two of them about finding out Seth is a kindergarten teacher and not a warrior. And then I say, "On our first date, he introduced me to his friends, and when I found out they were warriors, I made the assumption he was one too. Seth said I seemed so impressed he was afraid if I found he wasn't, I never would have hung around long enough to discover we were soul mates."

"So he's insecure," says Elise.

I nod. "Which is fine. My god, nobody gets what that's like better than me. But the thing is he has no reason to be. The man is a wealth of knowledge about almost everything. He even trains the warriors on tactical maneuvers. And the receptionist at the school told me he's a gifted teacher. He's shaping little minds and giving them a love for learning. Do you have any idea how important that is?"

"You know I do," says Sammy.

"Wonderful things, Nina," says Elise.

"I know, right? So why did he think I'd find him less attractive than a warrior?"

Elise shrugs. "I have this friend. She's got pretty amazing abilities too, but somehow, she doesn't see it that way."

I squint at her. "Why no—oh. But—" I let out a sigh. I know she's right. And I think about my latest discovery about my powers. "I do know I have unique gifts. I think I can communicate with Seth the way I do animals."

Elise and Sammy exchange a smile. "We figured," says Sammy. "Now can you see what we've known about you all this time?"

I shrug.

"Do you realize what your talent means?" Elise asks.

"I think so. I bet I can talk to all werebear."

"Yes. And it makes you very valuable," says Elise. "It's why I couldn't wait for you to find a soul mate. Although I wish he was in my clan of LeRoux instead of the Veilleux."

Sammy slaps her arm. "I bet you still don't think you're that special, though. Do you, Nina? Even though you realize your merit."

"Well…" I shake my head.

Elise reaches down into the garbage can and lifts up the bag to tie it. "So, let's see if I have this right. You think Seth is amazing for gifts that aren't necessarily considered cool. And you think he's a fool for not seeing them."

"Exactly."

"Frustrating," says Sammy as she crosses her arms and gives me her stern-teacher look.

I roll my eyes because I get her point. "Fine. I can understand why he might not see what I do. But he let me believe he was a warrior for a while. Who knows when he was going to tell me the truth? Lying isn't a good way to start a life together."

"Hang on," says Sammy. "He told you he worked at the school when you went apple picking. Maybe he thought you knew."

I shake my head. "No. I kept asking him what it was like to be a warrior, and he kept avoiding the question." I close my eyes and sigh at my stupidity. "And I didn't really listen to what he was trying to say. Did I?"

Sammy touches my arm with her cool fingers. "I wouldn't exactly let him off the hook. He should have made sure you understood. You are completely valid in being angry he let you believe he was a warrior all this time."

Elise says, "But I think we can give him a little leeway considering he's dating a potential asset to his clan. One who is probably already being talked about for how she saved that bird. I can see how he might be a little intimidated by your awesomeness."

I chuckle when I think about how I can't even kiss him without bumping our noses. "I'm pretty sure I don't intimidate Seth. If you could have seen what happened when I got mad earlier—" Seth. "Oh my god. You guys." I cringe as I think about the amount of purple glitter in his apartment right now.

Sammy squints at me. "How much glitter, Nina?"

I start walking toward the door. "A lot. Come on."

I march us out to my car, and when I open my door, my seat shimmers in the sunlight.

"I've always been annoyed by this stuff," says Elise as she brushes glitter off the passenger seat. "But I may raise that annoyance to hate."

"You and Seth both," I say. "When I got mad and tried to think about something harmless so I wouldn’t hurt him, I looked at his table and saw craft supplies. The next thing I knew, an uncontrollable stream of glitter was flying out of my fingers. And it didn't want to stop."

Sammy laughs, and Elise and I join her. But once we get to Seth's house, the whole situation is no longer funny. I get out of the car to confront him once again.