Professor Alaric Thorn hated potions.
They bubbled, they stank, and they always seemed
to backfire in the most inconvenient ways.
"Third time this week," he muttered,
eyeing the
pink mist curling out of his cauldron.
It was supposed to be a simple truth serum.
Instead, it hummed like a love song.
"Great," he said. "Just great."
The classroom door slammed open.
A mountain of a man in a letterman jacket storme
d in, football tucked under one arm.
His name was Jax Holloway.
Star quarterback. Brooding heartthrob. Walking h
ormone storm.
He froze midstride.
Sniffed the air.
And stared at Alaric like he’d just discovered t
he meaning of life.
“Professor Thorn,” Jax said, voice low and rever
ent.
Alaric took a cautious step back.
“Yes?”
“I… I think I love you.”
Alaric blinked.
“You what?”
"I think I love you."
Alaric glanced at the potion.
Pink mist. Check.
Uncontrollable romantic declarations. Double che
ck.
He groaned.
“I knew I should’ve stuck with transfiguration.”
Jax took a step closer.
"You're so smart. And wise. And your
glasses—God
, the way they slide down your nose…
"
Alaric adjusted his glasses.
“Stop that.”
“This isn’t a phase,” Jax whispered. “It’s desti
ny.”
Alaric pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Destiny? You're on the football team,
not a soa
p opera."
Outside, a scream echoed through the hallway.
Then another.
And another.
“Oh no,” Alaric muttered.
He peeked into the hall.
Students were swarming toward the classroom.
Eyes glazed. Smiles dreamy.
And all of them chanting one thing.
"Professssor Thornnnnn…"
“Okay,” he said, stepping back inside. “This is
a problem.”
Jax reached for his hand.
“I’ll protect you.”
“From what?”
“From the other suitors.”
Alaric closed the door.
“Is that what’s happening right now?”
He turned to the blackboard and began scribbling
ingredients.
“I need a reversal potion. Fast.”
Jax leaned against a desk, flexing abs that shou
ld be illegal in twelve states.
“You know,” he said, “we could skip the potion a
nd just skip town.”
Alaric shot him a look.
“Are you even listening to yourself?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
Alaric sighed.
“This is exactly why I don’t teach romance magic
.”
The door rattled.
A chorus of voices called from the other side.
“Open up, Professor Thorn! We just want to talk!
”
“About us!”
Alaric looked at the bubbling pink potion.
“I should’ve retired.”
Jax stood.
“I’ll hold them off.”
“How?”
“I’ll tackle them.”
Alaric grabbed a vial of blue liquid from the sh
elf.
“No. We’re doing this the right way.”
He tossed Jax the vial.
“Drink this. It’ll neutralize the potion’s effec
t.”
Jax eyed it.
“What if it’s poison?”
Alaric rolled his eyes.
“If I wanted to kill you, I’d just let you stay
in love with me.”
Jax drank it in one gulp.
His eyes cleared.
He blinked.
“Wait… what just happened?”
Alaric pointed to the door.
“Group love spell. You were under it too.”
Jax looked horrified.
“I told you I loved you?”
“Twice.”
“I’m so sorry.”
Alaric shrugged.
“Don’t worry. I’ll fix it.”
The pounding on the door grew louder.
Jax stepped forward.
“I’ll help.”
“How?”
“I know the team. I can keep them distracted.”
Alaric nodded.
“Good. I’ll brew a reversal potion.”
Jax paused at the door.
“Just so we’re clear…
I don’t actually love you, right?”
Alaric smirked.
“Right. Unless the potion works again.”
Jax groaned.
“Great. Just great.”
Alaric got to work.
Chopped, stirred, muttered incantations.
The potion shimmered.
Then turned gold.
Perfect.
Footsteps echoed down the hall.
Jax returned, out of breath.
“They’re all in the gym.”
“Good,” Alaric said. “Let’s go.”
They arrived to find the entire student body gat
hered.
Eyes glazed. Hearts full.
Of him.
Alaric stepped onto the stage.
Cleared his throat.
“Attention, students!”
No response.
He raised his wand.
Blasted a spark into the air.
That got their attention.
“I know you’ve all been affected by a potion,” h
e said.
Jax stepped beside him.
“And we’re here to fix it.”
Alaric held up the vial.
“This will reverse the effects.”
One by one, students came forward.
Each one sipping the potion, blinking in confusi
on.
“What just happened?”
“Why was I in love with Professor Thorn?”
Alaric fielded the questions with grace.
By the end of the night, the spell was broken.
And Jax was back to normal.
Mostly.
He stopped Alaric outside the gym.
“I just wanted to say…”
Alaric braced himself.
“You were under a spell.”
Jax smiled.
“Yeah. But maybe… maybe I still like you.”
Alaric raised an eyebrow.
“You really need to work on your pickup lines.”
Jax grinned.
“I’ll take what I can get.”
Alaric shook his head.
“Goodnight, Jax.”
As he walked away, he muttered to himself,
“Next semester, I’m teaching math.”
