Chapter Six - Classes
CHAPTER SIX
Classes
I CHECKED MY phone to find an earlier “Good luck on your first day” text from my uncle. It was a relief to see it was already lunchtime.
“The Herbology professor was nice,” I said to Blythe as we made our way to the dining hall. I was starving after not grabbing dinner yesterday when settling in, then sleeping through breakfast. Suspicion rose that maybe Levi was right and Blythe had also slept through breakfast when I could hear her stomach rumbling with mine all through Herbology.
“Earth’s not my strongest element, but you seemed to enjoy it. Professor Scarlette’s class was definitely more pleasant than Mr. Ares’ class. I mean, he’s usually serious, so I didn’t know what I was expecting. It’s weird if the rumors are true and she’s been seeing Mr. Ares since this summer—according to my mom. They seem so different,” Blythe said as we walked through the courtyard, heading to the dining hall.
It was hard to imagine someone who had such a sunny disposition with Mr. Ares. I didn’t know why it got under my skin to hear they were together. Professor Scarlette was effortlessly pretty, with cascading red hair and soft hazel eyes. A few of the students in her class were making comments that she ignored, just as Mr. Ares did. The strangest bit of anger bubbled up within me, remembering how the class this morning went. His class was everything I had been fearing.
“That is a little weird,” I replied.
Blythe was right, the class went well. I loved Herbology, though I did get doubtful looks from the students who were with me in basic magic. The professor didn’t have us use any magic just yet, which I would have been more prepared for. She went on describing common plants, their use within potions, and what we would use this year. My mind wandered often through the class as I eyed the same spot in the greenhouse where Caleb had me pinned between his hard body and the garden bed.
Wow, day two on campus and I was already crushing.
While one class was decently enjoyable, it was still overwhelmingly embarrassing about how the fire magic went. Everyone quickly figured out I didn’t grow up here. I was the odd girl with no control of her magic, clearly not meant to be here. Other than a few encouraging words from Blythe, she didn’t comment on it and focused on taking extensive notes. It was comforting to not be judged about it around her.
When I found out her family was the Valentine in Ares-Valentine Academy, I decided not to press with too many questions. When she found out my parents were two of those who died on the council thirteen years ago, she didn’t ask many either, but had a hard time hiding the shock from her face that I came from a well-known family and still left the Realm. Leaving never bothered me. I liked growing up with my uncle. With his magic being mostly gone and the memories we left behind, he preferred raising me there.
Her lack of judgment was unlike the look from Mr. Ares that made me want to just leave. He got under my skin more than anyone else.
Clearly, off to a bad start with my Basic Magic professor, but maybe not completely irredeemable. It looked like he reveled in being an asshole. I didn’t care about students commenting the whole time about how hot the professor was. That stopped when he shut them down with a detention warning. What irked me was the stare he gave me when he saw how much I truly didn’t belong here. The way he looked at me like I ruined his whole year and just my appearance made him sick. At least it was only the morning class.
I’d never been good at fire magic or light magic. It felt like those elements wanted as much to do with me as I wanted to do with them, that was going to make this year really difficult. I’d rather my fire magic not show up at all than to become out of control. It was a part of the reason I didn’t want to come here in the first place. I breathed out, I told my uncle I’d give it a chance.
Blythe spoke, pulling me back out of my thoughts, “Who knows? They were just seen having drinks in the town. I still can’t believe he brought up shadow magic so casually. It gives me the chills that there are witches going around practicing mind reading and using shadows. It’s such an abuse of magic. I’m glad I can’t even call on the element.”
My breath hitched. I avoided eye contact, staring at the rain-spotted stones below me. “Sorry, what town?”
“Oh, right! You just got here yesterday. We will have to stop by there one of these weekends. The lake night party is in two weeks, and you’ll be able to see it from there.” She fidgeted with the sleeves of her blazer.
I stopped and tipped my head. “Lake night?”
“Oh, you poor thing! You’re lucky you met me when you did. It’s a tradition, and the first-years have to go. It’s kind of a way to let loose after the stress of the beginning of the year. From what Levi said about last year, the staff knows, but pretend they don’t. We totally have to go, it’ll help us fit in better with the other students too.” She got a little shy again at that last part. I realized with her name, she probably had her own fears of fitting in here, too.
Two students got quiet walking past us. “Princess Valentine and her free pass,” one murmured under their breath. The other one shushed her.
I turned my head back to them, catching one glaring.
“Don’t,” Blythe said. “I know them from our secondary school.”
“I don’t mean any offense, but they don’t give you the star-struck looks they give Mr. Ares.” The question lingered in my tone.
She shrugged. “My parents own half the academy, not me, and some of the students grew up with me. I’m not as mysterious as Mr. Ares, I suppose.” She laughed to herself. “His parents were considered the most powerful of their generation. He did well too, graduating after only three and a half years with extra tutoring. He also owns the small town nearby.”
“And he wanted to teach here?”
She blew out a breath. “I suppose he likes teaching?”
We both gave each other a look and started laughing.
We headed for the large, square building, made of dark brown wood that Caleb had pointed out was the dining hall. Students were already gathered all around it, coming in and out of the doors.
Once inside, Blythe groaned, “I’m so hungry, and that’s such a long line.”
“So, you really don’t get any special treatment for your family owning half the academy?”
“No, our families founded it centuries ago. My parents fund money in and get some back, make all the big decisions, like rebuilding, closing it or keeping it open. They’re not really involved with how it runs or what students are allowed in or not, that’s mostly up to Chancellor Lastrada. Sometimes the council has recommendations.” Her shoulders dropped, she sighed while tying her pink hair in a short ponytail. “Which means we will have to suffer in line.”
Across the room, someone staring at me caught my attention. Caleb was already seated with Trevor beside him, who was completely focused on his phone. On his other side sat none other than the two women who were in front of me in Basic Magic. Christina and Ruby.
Caleb smiled when he saw that I noticed him staring, a big playful grin. My dumb cheeks blushed.
Instantly Christina turned to see where his gaze went. A pout pulled at her pink-glossed lips before she turned and laughed about some silent joke with Ruby.
I turned, avoiding looking at the right side of the room, not caring about whatever that was, and beyond ready for lunch. Turning quickly on my heel and heading forward, my face slammed straight into a solid body.
Lifting my gaze, green eyes holding a fiery hatred stared down at me. His body stiffened and he exhaled clear frustration.
“Oh, sorry. My bad,” I said.
It looked like he was about to ignore me, but instead he greeted me. “Ms. Solace.”
“I didn’t know professors would be in here,” I mumbled, mostly out of nervousness. I hadn’t seen a professor in the less than five minutes I’d been in here, which was dumb now that I thought about it. I was just shocked to run into him after my thoughts had lingered on him since first period for way longer than necessary.
“Where else would we acquire our food?” he asked flatly.
It felt really weird to suddenly be talking to Mr. Ares about this of all things while it still felt like my very presence ticked him off.
“I don’t know, a staff room?” It came out a little annoyed, since I could only handle so much of his attitude in one day .
He sighed, his hands shoved into his pockets, emphasizing his broad shoulders that I definitely shouldn’t have been looking at—again. Why was it assholes that were always so hot?
“It’s a live-in campus, and this is the only place food is served.” He lifted one hand to glance at his watch and headed to the buffet without looking at me. Clearly the staff got a pass because within a minute he was cutting the line, already paying for his food.
“Yikes,” said Blythe from behind me. “He’s always been kind of like that. Not exactly as angry but still pretty short with people. Don’t take it personally.”
The moment I opened my mouth to reply, the dining hall doors opened abruptly next to me. Levi ran in as if there were an emergency. Creasing my brows, I tilted my head when the frantic look in his eyes locked onto me.
A feeling in my gut told me this wasn’t going to be good.
“Here, take this! My cauldron—I left it going. I can’t—” He shoved something so awful into my hands that it stunned me in place, afraid to even look down. Slime trickled between my fingers. It took everything not to suddenly scream. The smell alone had me gagging.
He was already running out another door while tugging up his pants. “Don’t eat that, it’s an ingredient!” he shouted to me from over his shoulder.
“Why would I—?” The words barely left my clenched teeth when I turned to Blythe for help. “Is this a rotten fish?” My eyes started to burn from the smell .
She lifted the blue scarf to cover her nose. “I think so. Levi’s in advanced classes. I think he meant to bring it with him to his cauldron but panicked. He does that sometimes. His mind is everywhere when under pressure.”
I blinked at the rotting lump of flesh and looked up for somewhere to put it. As I did, I found the professor who hated me the most on my first day walking toward the exit behind me. He glowered at the ingredient in my hands, then narrowed his eyes at me in clear confusion.
My lips parted, trying not to be more of the freak at school, before I realized I had no explanation for this. What was I supposed to say? One of the only people who had been nice to me so far handed it to me, so I took it.
I straightened my back. Who really cared if he thought that this might have been what I ate for lunch? He already hated me.
Mr. Ares turned his head away, frowning and leaving the dining hall quickly with his tray in hand, headed toward where Caleb mentioned the professors resided.
“Here.” Blythe came out of nowhere with paper towels. She wrapped it before setting it on one of the tables. Her nose crinkled and she raised a hand. A small amount of bubbly water washed over my hands before evaporating into steam.
“Thank you,” I said.
She shrugged. “No problem. That was one of the first things I learned.”
Levi towered over the other students when he ran back in, immediately spotting the fish on the table .
Blythe laughed. “It’ll still be there when we’re done with lunch. Trust me.”
We started heading for the line, grabbing a tray, when Levi said, “Wait. Don’t go for that stuff, it’s bland.”
He took us around the line and to the side, back where fewer students waited. I wouldn’t have bothered exploring this much of the lunchroom if not for him. I would have just grabbed the first edible food and been done with it.
When we rounded the corner, the detour paid off. Steam rose from hot trays filled with macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, fried zucchini, and brownies.
“Yes!” I cheered to Levi.
“They hide the good stuff toward the back to push the healthier options. New students end up thinking this is all just for the staff.”
We filled our trays and headed off to sit back at the table with Levi’s ingredient.
After lunch, I glanced down at the crumpled-up paper in my pocket. Aura Reading was next. A missed text shone on my phone. The contact lit up as Caleb Thorne.
CALEB: Want to meet up after dinner tonight and fill me in on your first day?