with a million texts during her first week of classes.
Finally, the Friday after the infamous alley hookup, I get a call from her.
“Hey!” I say, forcing cheer into my voice. I’ve just gotten off work, and I’m kicking my shoes off and closing the door behind me as I answer the phone. “How’ve you been, little sis? You fitting in okay? Liking your classes? What’s your room like?”
“Amazing!” Maddy gushes. “All of it’s amazing, Ellie! Oh my God, you would love it. My room is great; I’m sharing with another girl named Sharon, and she’s been introducing me to people. She went to one of those magical summer camps, so she already knows a lot of people. All the students and teachers here are water elementalists like me, and it’s just—it’s amazing. I can’t even begin to describe it. You kind of have to see it to believe it, you know?”
I do know. I watched Mom do magic often, but I never really spent a lot of time socializing with the magical community after she died. Ajax frowns on people using magic at the bar since it generally only happens when there’s a fight, so even though magic users drink there, I don’t see a lot of it in action.
Maddy must be in heaven right now. Getting to meet a ton of other people her own age, practicing magic, making friends she doesn’t have to lie to about her family past or her powers just to fit in… I can tell she’s on cloud nine.
“I’m happy for you,” I tell her honestly. “So stinkin’ happy, Mads. You’re right where you’re supposed to be.”
My heart aches, though. Hearing her voice makes hot tears prick my eyes as it hits me like a sucker punch just how much I miss her. The apartment’s small, just one bedroom, but it feels so big and empty without her in it.
“How are you doing?” Maddy asks softly, like she’s read my mind. Of course. I forget sometimes that all this time we’ve spent together doesn’t just mean I know her. It means she knows me. “You okay? Are you going out, making friends?”
She sounds worried. I hate that. I’m the older sister; I’m supposed to be worrying about her, not the other way around.
“Of course,” I lie, putting a cheery tone into my voice. “I’m living it up big time.”
“Okaaay…” My little sis sounds doubtful.
“Don’t you worry about me, Mads. That’s not your job. Your job is to have fun and to learn. I’m doing just fine, and if anybody’s going to be doing any worrying, it’s going to be me about you and those college boys.”
She groans. “Elliiiiiie. I’m fine!”
I grin. Now we’re back on track. “Uh huh. If you say so…”
“I do say so. Geez.” I can practically hear Maddy rolling her eyes at me—with love, of course. There’s a pause, and then she says hesitantly, “Look, um, I gotta go, we’re doing a thing…”
“Go, go!” I say, waving her off and then realizing a second later she can’t actually see my hand because I’m an idiot. “Have fun, okay?”
“I will. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
The apartment feels like it gets ten times colder and emptier once I hang up the call.
Flopping down on the couch, I blow out a breath, stirring a few stray strands of dark hair that’ve fallen over my face.
You know what? Maddy’s right. I should go out.
I can’t just mope around my apartment forever or work at the bar until I die. I need to have some fun, live a little. I haven’t really let loose since before Mom died. I’ve been the responsible adult this whole time; the alley sex with Tall, Dark, and Handsome was the first crazy, impulsive thing I’ve done in years. Maybe now’s the right moment to change all that, to find my wild, fun-loving side. I mean, I must have one, right?
Heaving myself up from the couch, I head to the bedroom closet and rifle through the back of it until I find an outfit I haven’t worn in ages. I’m shocked it still fits, since I think I’ve grown a little since I last put it on. Tight black pants, a sparkly silver tank top with a lacy black bra underneath that you can see just a peek of, and strappy black high heels: the classic clubbing outfit.
My hair’s another thing I haven’t done in forever. I usually pull it back into a ponytail for the bar, and at home I