He makes it back to the food court uninterrupted.

Eric went as fast as his heeled feet could take him, as his thoughts were punctuated by the sickly-sweet 'Erica' thoughts, interrupting him.

"I've got to get back to Kyle be~cause being away from him has been ****... No!" Eric picked up his pace as he rushed towards the food court.

Spotting Kyle at a table, Eric rushed over and sat down across from his friend.

"Wow..." Kyle said, taking a sip of his drink. "That's definitely a new look. But it's totally you."

"Thanks," Eric said sarcastically, while he involuntarily blushed at the compliment.

"Here, I got you some fries, figured you'd be hungry." Kyle pushed his tray across the table.

"You're right, I'm starved." Eric started stuffing his face.

'He's so thoughtful...'

Eric slowed down as the saccharine thoughts started to make him queasy.

"You okay?" Kyle asked.

"Uh, yeah, I just ate too fast." Eric said.

"So, what do you think we should do? Hole up at your aunt's house until the lady from the shop calls with the reversal spell?" Kyle asked.

'That would be delightful, just Kyle and me, alone, curled up on the couch...'

"No!" Eric shouted, eliciting some stares from other mall-goers. "I mean... maybe I oughta stay there alone. So we don't cause any other magical problems."

"Are you sure?" Kyle asked. "What if the spell does something else and you need help?"

"Then I'll call you for help, I just... it's really hard. The spell is doing something to my thoughts..." Eric said. "I'm totally fine unless I'm around you or think about you and then something takes over. It's scary to lose control like that."

Kyle looked sad, but nodded with a look of understanding.

"I get it. The spell made you my dream girl, so it's probably best if we stay apart." Kyle said. "But I can still drive you back, right?"

"Of course." Eric said. "I wouldn't trust myself on the bus like this."

"Let's get out of here." Kyle said, holding out his hand, before retracting it. "I'll try to stop doing that."

"Thanks." Eric said, yet felt a pang of sadness.