Seduction by Janet Faye lounged on the couch, holding an eggplant-colored wine glass. She would prefer something a little more elegant, but she needed something to hide the electric lime of champagne and assorted other ingredients. She hadn't expected the drink to turn a color only three year olds would find appetizing. Diana sat at the other end of the couch, relaxed in her faded jeans and oversized sweater, chatting about her first semester of college and sipping from her glass. "Any cute guys?" "A few." "Any potential boyfriends?" Diana sighed. "I've tried, Faye, really I have. But no one..." "Measures up?" "Exactly. And it's not fair to them to constantly compare them to Adam, but I can't help it." "What about Nick? You two had a fling, right?" "Is that why you invited me over?" Diana moved closer, resting her hand on Faye's shoulder. Her face was flushed, her pupils dilated more than the dim lighting could explain. "I know you two had an arrangement, but neither one of you is really interested. And I figured after his thing with Cassie, it was over between you." Faye smiled, resting a comforting hand on Diana's knee. "Don't worry. I'm not mad. I'm just trying to figure out why you're having such a hard time. You need to move on. A fellow witch didn't work, local boys didn't work, and older college boys didn't work; maybe you need to try something different." Faye leaned closer, smelling the apple scent of the potion on Diana's breath. "I have." Diana blinked back tears. "We talk, go on a few dates, and I realize he's not Adam. I'm happy for Adam and Cassie, really I am, but I feel so alone. I've never been alone before." "You don't have to be. You just need a change." Diana shook her head, moving back. "I've tried everything." "You need someone who's so different, you'd never think of comparing them to Adam. Someone different from every *boy* you've dated." Diana leaned back in, her gaze slightly unfocused, lips parted. "Do you have any ideas? You're so much better at this than I am, Faye. Tell me what to do." "Of course. But first, maybe you should take off your sweater. You're starting to look a little flushed." Faye stroked a scarlet tipped finger down Diana's cheek. "Yeah, I'm a little warm." Diana stood up and pulled the sweater over her head, revealing a long-sleeved, robin egg blue t-shirt underneath. Faye cursed the New England winters that made dressing in layers a necessity. Diana stumbled, and sat down suddenly. "Whoa. Dizzy." She looked at Faye, eyes glassy. "There's two of you," she slurred, before flopping backwards. Faye shook her, but got no response other than a sleepy murmur. "Wonderful. Dense as a brick, and a lightweight." Faye lifted Diana's legs onto the couch, tucked a pillow beneath her head, and blew out the candles. There were still nearly three weeks of winter break. And her Book of Shadows had an interesting spell involving a love potion and mistletoe that she'd been wanting to try. "Sleep tight," Faye whispered. "We're going to be very busy very soon."