Try it out on Monica

“There’s not enough for a test,” says Xabar. “There’s only enough here for two doses, and you’re going to want to use both.”

“Both? I just want her to fall in love with me — not give herself a heart attack,” replies Hager.

“Exactly. The first dose will last for about a day. That will just barely be enough time for her to get to know you. After all, there’s only so much conversation you can have with a girl when she is intent on jumping your bones every few minutes. Once the first dose wears off, you give her another. If she isn’t head-over-heels in love with you after two days, then it obviously isn’t meant to be.”

Hager looks dubious. “You make it sound like a relationship can be based on nothing but sex.”

“Hager, now you’re just being plain silly. Of course a relationship can be based on nothing but sex. What else do you base it on?” asks Xabar.

“I dunno... How about trust, love, and respect?”

“Well, trust me: you’ll love the way she respects your cock. Now are you gonna help me with this or do you want to debate the morality of the situation and let this chance with Monica slip away forever?”

Hager reluctantly agrees. “Give me the Elixir,” he says, reaching for the bottle.

“Not now!” says Xabar, clutching the vial in his hand. “If you put it on now, it will wear off by the time you get to her room. I’ll keep it safe until the time is right.” With that, he put the vial safely in his shirt pocket.

The boys leave Hager’s room and head toward Monica’s. As they walk, Xabar says, “So here’s the plan. When we get there, I’ll put a few drops of the Elixir on you right before you knock on the door. When she opens the door, the full effect should hit her.”

“What if she isn’t in her room? What if someone else opens the door?”

“Good point,” admits Xabar. “We’ll listen at the door first and make sure all is well.”

They arrive at Monica’s door, and Hager nervously wipes his palms on his pants.

“Don’t stress, Hager,” says his friend, reassuringly. “This can’t miss! What could go wrong?”

“Do you realize how many times those were the last words I heard you say before all hell broke loose?”

“Nonsense. You are imagining things. Now, just put your ear to the door and see if she is in.”

Hager reluctantly leans against the door. After a moment, he says, “I hear voices. Someone is in there with her.”

Xabar steps behind his friend and listens. “Hmmm... It sounds like a dude. She’s two-timing you! We got here just in time.”

Before Hager can respond, the boys hear the voices grow louder, and they hear approaching footsteps and the sound of the doorknob being turned.

Abruptly, they throw themselves back and duck behind a large potted fern in the hallway. No sooner do they do so than the door opens and they see Monica and a male student. She reaches up on her tiptoes and plants a kiss on his lips. With a few brief parting words, the male student turns and leaves.

Monica steps back into her room and is about to close the door, when she stops and looks toward the potted plant. “Is there someone there?” she says, stepping into the hallway and approaching the boys’ hiding place.

“Who’s there?” she asks. “I can see you, so you might as well come out and explain yourself.”

Hager slowly steps out from behind the plant, and with an awkward smile, he says, “Um, hi, Monica. We were just admiring your bush.”

Groaning, Xabar thinks for the millionth time that he needs to teach his friend a few good pickup lines. Fortunately, they have the Elixir. He pats his shirt pocket and freezes. He examines his hand and sees it glistening with wetness. In their haste to back away from the door, Hager must have smashed into his pocket, spilling the contents. He looks up in alarm at his friend and sees a wet patch on the back of his shirt.

“We?” asks Monica. “Who else is back there with you?”

Sheepishly, Xabar steps out from behind the plant. He tries to think quickly about how to salvage this situation.