Chapter 12
August Fifteen - Morning
The annoying scream coming from my alarm wakes me up way too early, to remind me that the first day of school is today.
I set my alarm for about an hour sooner than I’d normally need to be awake, so I know I only have myself to blame.
I sink back down into the softness of my bed, watching the orange glow of the sunrise dance across the walls.
My life has already changed so much since coming here, especially after finding out about my magic and the possibility we are related to the royal line.
Marsh and I decided we weren’t going to tell our dad about it until we find out more.
We just told him the basics on the phone call we had.
The professor was right, the news did travel pretty fast. No one seemed to really know how to handle the news of our magic.
We are still waiting to find out what the school wants to do about our power assessments.
Flopping over on my back, I go over my classes that are on a block schedule:
No one has class on Fridays, since they give you the whole day to work on homework and projects.
So honestly, the schedule isn’t too bad, and I’m actually excited for today.
I’m still feeling super anxious about having to go to classes with so many new people, especially because mine and Marsh’s classes are pretty much flipped, so I won’t have him with me other than lunch and the elemental and mental magic classes.
It will be the most time we’ve spent apart, but I’ve spent a lot of time with Malise and it’s going well.
She is amazing and fits in great with me and my brother.
We got into a routine the past few days where we would go eat in the dining hall and explore the grounds together but we have also spent a lot of time in our dorm room, playing card games, watching movies and just spending time relaxing before classes start.
My second alarm starts blasting, jolting me out of my thoughts.
I grab my phone to silence it, not wanting to wake Marsh or Malise.
It’s seven thirty, and I’ve been just laying here daydreaming for about half an hour.
I really could have gotten up at eight and still had plenty of time to eat, take my meds, and everything else before class but at least this way I won’t feel like I’ll end up late.
Dragging myself out of my bed I decide I’m going to take a hot bath to soothe my nerves, shooting off a text to Marsh to let him know before he gets up.
He’ll most likely sleep until the last minute, though, since he was up late.
He never sleeps well the night before the first day of school.
It’s the only real sign of anxiety he ever shows.
I take my time and shave everything. Even though I just did a couple days ago, it’s starting to get prickly again.
Who knows? Maybe I’ll actually end up getting lucky thanks to all this self-care.
After I get out of the tub I put lotion everywhere, and slap on my normal make up; mascara, SPF moisturizer, and some tinted lip gloss.
I actually like not covering up my freckles, so I rarely do foundation.
It’s also site change day so I go through the routine of changing both my sensors, putting my dexcom on the back of my left hip, and my omnipod on the right side of my stomach.
My matching stickers for these are a cute cartoon bear.
After that, I start packing my bag, making sure I have plenty of snacks and juice, as well as the books I need for today's classes.
After double and triple-checking I have what I need, I pull on my favorite pair of ripped jeans, Bad Omens t-shirt, and white Doc Martens.
I leave my curly hair down and wild, but grab a hair-tie for later, just in case.
My chest is starting to feel fluttery with nerves again despite the bath; I’m anxious about what's to come but there is also this simmering sensation under my skin like the tides are changing and I’m just along for the ride.
By the time I get out to the kitchen, Malise and Marsh are sitting at the bar.
“Good morning Mags! I made you an omelet, just how you like it, with bacon and cheese.” Marsh pushes a plate and cup towards me, which I accept happily as my stomach chooses that moment to give an appreciative rumble.
The plate not only has an omelet but also a sliced banana and toast with peanut butter.
He poured me Sunny D to wash it all down with, which is one of my favorites.
“Thanks, Bubba, it looks great! I was starving.” I take a bite of the omelet, and as always, it's fantastic. If there is one thing my brother can do, it’s cook.
Hungrily devouring my breakfast, I take in his appearance, concerned if he got enough sleep.
He’s dressed in black jeans and a red short sleeve henley with black Converse.
At some point, he also reshaved the sides of his red hair so the curls on top are styled in a short curly mohawk. “Are y’all ready for the first day?”
Malise gets up from her chair to take her dishes to the dishwasher.
“You know, I think I actually am. I know we get taught basic magic in the lower grades but I am so excited to finally learn more about divination, and my air magic.” Her bouncy personality is infectious.
She’s like a mix of Enid and Wednesday from the show.
Her dress is a pink and black checkered print, layered over fishnets with embroidered spiders and platform boots.
With her long black hair up in space buns, she looks like an adorable emo Barbie.
Marsh is packing up his bag on the counter, doing a last-minute double check that he has everything, like he always does.
“Honestly? I’m excited too, though I would be more so if they had figured out what we are supposed to do about our Nexus witch classes.
I still don’t understand what's so difficult about it. I’m sure there are instructors who can teach at least some aspects of it.
” He still seems nervous, and I know normally he puts on a brave face in front of me.
However, I know he always gets like this before we start anything new, second guessing everything.
It doesn’t help that we didn’t really go out and meet any of our classmates since we wanted to give the news of our magic time to settle and were worried about how other people would react.
I’m sure once he actually gets to class and meets people, he’ll flourish like he always has.
My phone beeps again, the alarm reminding me of the time.
“It’s eight-thirty; time to go. I don’t want to be late.
” I grab my bag and head towards the door, with Marsh and Malise following me.
The hallway is packed. I guess everyone else decided to leave early, too.
I notice people giving me and Marsh looks as well as a wide berth.
He’s walking next to me like always with Mal walking a couple steps in front.
When we make it to the elevator, it’s packed like a tin can of sardines.
There is just enough room for the three of us to squeeze in.
Marsh steps in before me and Malise so he’s in between us and the crowd.
It’s so quiet you can hear a pin drop in here.
I don’t know what that says about how this school year is going to go.
I’ve been doing a lot of reading on telepathy recently, and I know how to send thoughts to my brother so I decide to try to include Malise, since she knows everything going on and I feel in my bones that we can trust her.
Why do I feel like everyone was talking about us? Marsh doesn't show any outward reaction to me speaking to them, but I assume that’s because he’s used to it, whereas I feel Malise jerk slightly next to me.
I made sure to leave the channel open so they can talk freely to each other, but Marsh responds first. Yeah, I got that feeling as well, sis.
Mal squeezes my hand. We will discuss the mind speaking thing, when we get home, but I agree it definitely got quiet very quickly when you both stepped in.
Okay! Marsh and I reply at the same time.
Before any of us can say anything more, Marshall is shoved forwards, knocking me and Malise into the doors of the elevator, and causing me to smack my face on the metal.
You have got to be fucking kidding me. This is college and people are still acting like children?
I look over and Malise’s head has a small cut she’s bleeding from.
She wipes her finger over it and heals herself.
“Oh look. It's the Nexus twins. They don’t look like anything special to me.”
The elevator fills with laughs and snickers. We turn and face the asshole, but Marsh is standing in front of me and Malise, blocking the view so I can’t see who the voice belongs to. I step up beside him after pushing some healing magic towards my nose, because fuck that hurt.
“I’m sorry, is there a fucking problem?” Marsh growls out, stepping up slightly more so he’s in the face of the guy I’m assuming pushed us.
It’s honestly comical, since Marsh is six foot one, and about two hundred twenty pounds of pure muscle.
This guy? Stands at maybe five foot nine, and one hundred and sixty pounds.
I don’t really know what he thinks he’s going to accomplish.
Even without magic, he wouldn't stand a chance against Marsh.
“Yeah, there is. Two freshmen show up and it sends everyone in a frenzy. Why? You don’t look like powerful witches to me, just a couple of loser rednecks.
So what is it? Did your daddy pay off the Headmaster just to make you seem like you’re both more important than you are?
” Chad sneers. Is his name Chad? No idea, but he looks and acts like a Chad.
The doors to the elevator ding open, and Malise grabs our shirts, slowly pulling us backwards through them.
“You want to know why we send everyone in a panic?” I ask, cocking my head.
“This is why.” I wave my hand and start pulling the air out of his lungs.
He might have actually been attractive if he wasn’t such a dick.
He has a sharp jawline, short blond hair, green eyes that are now rimmed with red due to the lack of oxygen.
Too bad he had to be a bully. Marsh has made a shield over us to prevent anyone from attacking me.
I pull faster making sure to only focus my power on the troublemaker.
Right when his eyes start to roll back, I release my hold on him.
I step back through the doors so I can crouch down next to him, not bothering to whisper to make sure anyone else watching this encounter hears my message loud and clear.
“I wouldn’t try your luck again. I’m not dealing with this shit any more. ”
I stand up and walk out of the elevator, Marsh and Malise following behind me. Marsh grabs my shoulders as we walk. “Oh. My. Gosh. I can’t believe you did that! You never stand up for yourself like that!” He’s not wrong, and now that the adrenaline has worn off I feel like I’m going to puke.
“I can’t either, I just… Malise was bleeding, and I just snapped. I’m tired of these rich entitled assholes always wanting to bully others.” I sigh. “I’m going to class now. Hopefully things can only go up from here.”
Marsh gives me a hug, “You’ll be great, sis! See you at lunch.”
Malise waves, heading off to her own classes. “I’ll see you both at lunch.”
Thankfully, the walk to History of Magic isn’t bad, and no more assholes start anything.
All the classes except the elemental or specialty ones are on the second, third, or fourth floors of Manor Hall.
My history class is on the second, so not too far of a walk.
I head in, still a little early, so it’s just me and a couple of students who are talking in the back.
I glance over to Professor Barlow’s desk.
Damn, he’s so attractive there should be some kind of rule against it, however Marsh has called dibs.
The professor looks up and smiles. “Good morning Magnolia. Feel free to take a seat anywhere. Are you ready for your first day of classes?”
The room is set up with five desks in rows on each side of the walkway in the middle of the room; the side opposite of the door is next to a wall of windows, with the Professor’s desk in the corner and all the desks facing a whiteboard.
I walk over to the desk in the front row, closest to the windows. “I actually am. I’m excited to learn more about magic and the history of it than what we are taught in the lower grades.”
“Well, then, I hope you enjoy my class!” He turns to greet the other students walking in.
I’m bent over getting my textbook, notebook, and pen out of my bag that I've set between me and the wall when someone sits down next to me. Setting everything in front of me, I turn to introduce myself. When I look over, I’m struck speechless.
The guy next to me is the most stunning man I’ve ever seen with his long inky black hair.
There is a strip of pure white in the very front, a pair of deep emerald green eyes, and with his features I’d guess he’s Native American.
He smells like the ocean; a blend of sea salt and ozone, with a hint of coconut.
He clears his throat, and it’s clear he was checking me out as well.
When I manage to make eye contact, I feel a tugging sensation in my chest.
He sucks in a breath, we are frozen in place staring at each other. I can’t explain it, but I feel drawn to him like a moth to flame. Something slams, causing both of us to jerk out of the trance we were in.
“Um, hi, I’m Magnolia.” I look at him shyly.
“Rehan.” His voice is deep and smooth. He gives me a small smile. God, how can someone be so freaking hot? The pulling in my chest intensifies, and I see him subtly rub at his as well. Oh boy. I don’t know what it means but I’m sure something is going on.