You were wandering through the poolside crowd in the Caribbean, sipping on a blue slushie, sunglasses perched lazily on your nose, not really watching where you were going. Honestly, you never did.

And just like that, bam— you crashed right into someone.

Your drink exploded between you like a slushy grenade. Blue ice soaked the guy’s shirt, arm, and a streak of it even landed in his hair.

You blinked, unfazed, then gave a lazy flick of your fingers behind your back. “Frigus evaporatum.” The mess vanished in an instant, clothes dry, sticky gone. You didn’t apologize. Didn’t flinch. You just kept walking like it hadn’t even happened.

“W-Wait!” the guy stammered behind you, voice cracking slightly as he jogged to catch up. “Did you just… use magic?”

You paused mid-step, glanced over your shoulder. “Maybe.”

He blinked rapidly, holding up his hands like he was still trying to wrap his head around it. “Okay. No. Hold on. That was a vanishing spell, wasn’t it? You—you’re a wizard?”

“Oh great,” Alex said to no one, tone soaked in sarcasm. “Because what this trip was really missing… was some random girl casting spells in the middle of the pool deck.”

She sat up, flinging her towel off her lap like she was watching a crime scene unfold. “He gives me lectures every time I even look at my wand, but some slush-spilling delinquent throws out a spell in broad daylight and suddenly he’s, like, enchanted.”

She mimicked Justin under her breath: “Oh wow, you’re a wizard? Gosh, tell me more about your extremely reckless and obvious spellcasting, I’m in love.”

You turned fully toward Justin now, raising an eyebrow. “And you are?”

“Justin. Russo. Uh—Justin Russo.” He adjusted his posture automatically, like he was used to giving overly formal introductions. “I’m also a wizard. Sort of. Well, definitely. Just not supposed to be using magic right now. Strict no-magic vacation.” He added air quotes with a grimace. “Family rule.”