Nah.

The fact is that my -stomach- was practically possessed for that entire lecture; if my hunger pangs didn't sound like a demon calling from beyond our reality, then I don't know what would.

"Sorry, Rose, but I've -got- to get something to eat," I say, this time me being the one to look guilty.

"Oh, it's alright," she replies happily, "Don't sweat it. I'll seeya back at home, okay?"

"Okay."

Hours go by as I start to get worried. We left that class at 2pm, and it's 9pm now, plus Rose isn't picking up her cell phone. I thought that I was used to being by myself, but these few days with my roommate have shown me how precious a close friend can be. No person should be an island, and I certainly don't want to be one again.

Which is why I'm so glad when the prodigal roommate finally comes home...dragging her heavy-set book bag in with her.

"Hi, Alex!" she says cheerily, "The straps broke."

With all the books she crammed into it, Rose's backpack looks less like a bag and more like a fat little retarded child, clutching its mother's hand and hobbling faithfully behind.

"I called you, but you didn't pick up," I tell her, "Were you in the library this whole time?"

"No, not all the time," she replies breathlessly, finally leaving the bloated baggage to rest at the corner of her bed, "I also went out looking for herbs and stuff."

"Well why didn't you pick up your phone?"

"Oh, I couldn't get reception. Mountains."

"Mountains!?" I cry, "Why were you in the mountains?"

"To get the herbs!"

"Well I thought you went to a shop or something."

Rose chuckles like I'm so ridiculous. "No no I needed some -real- herbs. I needed Crook Root and Moth Tail for the Destiny Spell."

"The what?"

"I'm going to summon a Spirit of Time, which will tell us about our destinies! Isn't that exciting?"

At this point I'm totally incredulous at her. Rose just spent seven hours in the library looking up dusty old books about magic tricks and rummaging through the dirt for weeds? Now I'm really glad I didn't go with her.

"I thought you said you didn't believe in this stuff!" I exclaim.

"I don't," she answers, not really looking at me, "But I just thought it'd be fun to try...you know...just in case. After all, there's no loss whether it's true or not, right?"

"I...I guess not," I mutter.

"Great! So you'll help me?" she asks, catching me totally by surprise.

"Help you!?"

"Yes. Just help me this one time. If nothing happens, I won't bother you again.