The light rain showers that riddles the area enhanced the smell of all the things that riddled the grungy ground of New York. But these smells seemed like a nostalgic perfume to the few that roamed the streets day in and day out. One of them, Credence, a boy with short black hair on top of shaved sides.
He knew and recognized every smell they encountered on their way to Tina's apartment. He recognized the strong stench of maggot infested garbage and fresh puke from a night of drinking. He held the knowledge of the grim reality that some say is magical, and because of this it is acceptable that he became what he saw everyday. A piece of garbage discarded by someone else, without a thought and without the cares of any passerbys.
However, Tina is but polished coal. She see him, an orphan without a true family as potential for a blossoming beauty. She wanted them to walk side by side, but he naturally drifted behind her, following her towards her apartment like a lost duckling looking his mother.
Tina's purplish-grey over coat billowed slightly and her short brown hair bounced as they walked. The trip itself wasn't long at all, but with each step, Tina became more fearful. Maybe Credence was rubbing his feelings off on her, or maybe she was feeling regret, but she could not deny the way her heart pounded against her chest and her fast burned in the cold air.
In her mind, she was bringing a non magical boy into a magical home where she could be tarnishing the very thing that her and the other wizards in America have been trying to protect: secrecy. For all she knew Queenie, her sister, could be using magical the second they walk in and she would have to obliviate Credence's memory of them meeting and going into their apartment.
Credence on the other hand, couldn't stop himself from looking back to make sure his mother, or anyone that knows them wasn't watching. He feared her and everyone she knew. He feared her so much that he bundled up everything inside him that made him different than her; better than her.
In reality, eating dinner at an acquaintance's house is nothing out of the ordinary, but to both of them, it had the potential to ruin everything they hoped to stay secret.
The changing colors of the trees in New York became a marvelous distract for both parties. They enjoyed watching the colors sway in the slight breeze. In both of their mind, they hoped that their worries and fears were mere leafs of a tree, ready to be whisked away and forgotten.
When he wasn't looking at the leaves and checking behind himself, Credence wondered what Tina's apartment would look like. He had only ever know houses filled with empty people and empty hearts. A bleak existence in a place meant of joy and bonding. He wondered if she had a fireplace, and what her plates looked like. It had been years since he sat next to a fire.
"We're here," Tina announced joyfully, hiding her fear behind her smile.
Credence looked up at the apartment building. It was very tall, taller than anything her had been in. He wondered if it got harder to breath the higher you go up in an apartment. In his wandering, he forgot to speak or acknowledge Tina's statement.
She smiled anyways. She couldn't let him know that she was scared.
"Well, Credence, I would like to warn my sister that I have brought a guest over. Do you mind waiting out here while I go tell her?" Tina wasn't prepared for any answer other than okay.
Credence nodded and watched as she entered through the buildings doors. He waited and waited, but it felt like no time had passed. He was used to waiting on people.
Tina ran up the stairs and hoped that when she came back down Credence would still be waiting outside. She worried that he would have gotten scared and left without a word. She worried that he would see his mother and be taken away. But with all that fear and worries, she still held onto hope in her heart that everything would be fine. That no matter what happens, everything would be okay.
![TOGETHER AGAIN [NEWTINA & JAKWEENIE] by malfoygoldstein](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/170523187-80-k862061.jpg)
Credence didn't like being outside of his comfort zone, he had never been to that side of town. She continued to look around and wait, but he couldn't help but hate the change.
When Tina entered into her apartment she was joyful to see that her sister wasn't doing anything magical, other than stirring a spoon in a cup of tea and milk. Queenie sat in a rocking chair reading a book called: No Maj and Their Fascinating Free Time. Queenie loved reading and learning about Non Magical people, it seemed to become her own past time. Tina would always joke that Queenie might as well marry a No Maj if she loved learning about them so much, but both of them knew that marrying a No Maj was impossible.
"Oh Tina, you came back early," Queenie folded up her book.
"Ah yes, uh Queenie I have a question."
"You brought a No Maj over for dinner," Queenie said while walking over to greet her sister. "Well where is he?"
Tina sighed. At least her sister's powers meant that she had to do less explaining. "He's standing outside. I just don't want you to do anything magical, at least not in front of him. He can't know that he are wizards."
Queenie was putting away her cup to tea while her sister talked, but instantly paused. "He's a new salemer. That boy you tried to save. Credence."
"Yes and-"
"Hmm, it's okay Tina. I like learning new things. What shall we eat?" Queenie walked over to the kitchen followed by Tina.
"How about a Calzone?"
"With sausage, onions, tomatoes and tomato sauce? Sounds delicious. I'll start now, but I have to warn you I may have to use magical if you want it to taste good."
"That's fine, just don't do anything around him, I can't have another reason for the council to use against me."
"Okay," Queenie responded in a sing-songy voice as she prepared the Calzone with her wand. Taking the time to prepare the food and bake it would have take at least an hour, but with the help of magic she was able to have it made in only ten minutes.
"Good, okay, I'm going to go get Credence now." Tina exited the kitchen, and rushed out the door of her shared apartment.
Credence was becoming more and more agitated and anxious from his new environment. Until the door to the apartment building opened and Tina gestured for him to follow her.
"She's really excited to meet someone new, but I do want to warn you that she's really good at," Tina paused in speech as they were walking up the stairs. "Reading people."
"What does that mean?" Credence asked quietly.
"She's really good at...picking up on facial expressions and body language. She normally knows what you want to say before you say it."
Credence paused, but Tina didn't notice because she was a few steps ahead. He didn't want Tina to figure out about his secrets. He had chained them up in his heart and threw the key away long ago. He wanted Tina to like him, and he feared that if her sister figured out his secret then his only friend would leave.
Even with the doubts and fears of meetings Queenie, Credence continued walking up the stairs to Tina's apartment. Tina opened the large door to her apartment and walked in with Credence trailing behind.
"Welcome to my appartment, I know it's a little messy at the moment. I have Queenie to blame for that, but I hope you can find yourself at home Credence. I'm going to go get-" Then she left the room to grab a table cloth.
The first thing he noticed was the warm scent of baking. It was a scent that he could barely remember. His mother would make them soup which was mainly just broth with a scarce amount of vegetables and meat. Sometimes he would go weeks on end without eating any meat, but he knew what would happen if he complained.
