Gaz was woken up by the soft sunlight peaking in through his curtains, he tried to turn away, get some more sleep, but his familiar, a white crow named Zeus, had a different plan for him. The bird flew down to Gaz, hopping around his bed until he got to Gaz’s face. Zeus pecked him in the forehead, waking Gaz right up. “Jesus Christ you couldn’t give me five more minutes?”

He sighed, rubbing his eyes, throwing his legs over the bed, stretching his body. He looked down at the bird on his bed, eying the tattoo on his arm. Gaz sighed, tracing the vine tattoo that creeped up his arm. He was a witch who specialized in plant and earth based magics, and this was the conduit of his spells. He rose up from the bed, washing himself and getting clothed. He looked in the cupboard for any food and the only thing he had was a bagel. He sighed, popping it in the toaster. He grabbed his text books and stuffed them in his bag, poured himself black coffee into a thermos. When the bagel popped out he held his bag in one hand, thermos in the other and the bagel in his mouth.

“Oi! Zeus! We’re gonna be late!” He called out to the crow. The bird flew to him, perched on his shoulder as they made their way down to the courtyard. He had a secret route, one that only his best friend and crush knew. It led them to a secluded spot, it was beautiful, white flowers dotted the area, tall pine trees and rose bushes hid them from the others, one day he’ll ask them out there, one day. But today was not one of those days.

He found them sitting there, staring at one of their books. God did she look beautiful, the prettiest girl he’s ever seen. A small blush crept up on Gaz’s face before he made his way to them. He sat by them, watched as their furrowed brows and contemplative face relaxed and softened, his frown turning into a soft smile when they saw him, his heart skipped a beat. “What you got there, huh?”