Chapter 2
Elsie
The academy had become a disaster. Ever since the ridiculous months of love-potion chaos, nothing felt quite the same.
Strangely, I was okay with it. Most of my professors had relaxed their deadlines and instead encouraged us to do our best in these challenging times.
It was almost amusing that during the attacks, not a single member of staff had acknowledged what was happening.
Personally, I suspected they were too embarrassed by their own involvement to address it.
Now, though, professors seemed eerily aware. Aware of just how dangerous the actions of Professor Aster truly were. How those actions still had effects that would last forever like a bruise that refused to fade.
“Let’s try to have this essay finished by the end of the month.
I’ll assign extra credit to those who get it to me before the twenty-fifth.
” The slamming of books and the zipping of bags were the only responses Professor Karigan received after her last statement.
Students streamed out of our Early Wand Usage class, none too concerned about the ten-page essay assigned. I certainly wasn’t.
Shuffling my things into my bag, I left with the rest of the students. Sunlight barraged my eyes, forcing a sneeze out of me as I walked down the cobbled path to my favorite spot on campus.
Between the main buildings of Forrestbriar was a large courtyard with trees, benches, and tables scattered about the area.
Personally, I always sat on the grass—so long as it wasn’t soaking wet from rain or dew—and enjoyed the weather.
Since the sun was out and a breeze flowed, it made for the perfect afternoon.
Before the attacks, I had a Gothic literature class I would have walked to.
However, I’d completed all the work for the rest of the semester, and my professor granted me excused absences. I would never return to that class.
“Knew I’d find you here, Elsie,” Lena said, dropping her bag beside mine before collapsing against the tree rather aggressively. I simply laughed at her, taking the chocolate she was already offering me. The girl went nowhere without a treat, and I didn’t mind one bit.
“How could I miss out on this weather?” I put the entire piece of chocolate in my mouth, not caring to savor it. “Besides, I—”
“I’m skipping arithmetic. Wait, did I tell you about Andrew Westerfield?
I don’t think I did! Basically, yesterday when I was in Analytics, he kept asking me to help him with the problems, right?
” Lena interrupted me as usual, turning fully so she was facing me.
Her brown hair lifted in the wind as she continued to eat her chocolate bar while telling me about the guy she had been in love with all semester.
During the potion attacks, she would seek him out, only never to find him.
For her sake, I’m glad she never did. Once she couldn’t find the person of her affection, the potion always wore off. That had been a blessing for her.
While she spoke, a familiar figure passed nearby, catching my attention over her shoulder. I glanced away, face burning as I tried to pay attention to Lena. But as the person drew closer, surrounded by a few friends, my eyes had a mind of their own.
Just as he was passing by, he stopped. And stared at me.
Yes—stared. Openly and unashamedly. My heart stumbled in my chest. I couldn’t help but stare back, and even Lena stopped talking to look.
His gaze flickered to Lena and then back to me before a smirk appeared on his face.
With a slight nod of his head, he turned and kept walking.
His friends lingered, also looking as if trying to determine why he would even stop to look at me.
I, however, didn’t turn back to Lena. Instead, I continued to stare at where he had just stood.
Snaps in front of my face jolted me back to reality. “Elsie? What the hell?”
I turned to look at my best friend, my cheeks on fire.
“Why was Lukas Bristol staring at you? And was he smirking? I didn’t even know you two knew each other?” The pitch of Lena’s voice rose with each question, and I quickly shook my head.
It was stupid—what I did. There was no reason for me to talk to Lukas Bristol at the recognition banquet, but I did.
I probably should have known better than to speak to Noah Lawrence’s best friend.
But I was already nearby, and his face was truly one for the books.
If I had any talent for drawing, I would have found the dictionary and drawn his facial expression next to the word furious.
I wasn’t sure why he was so mad, but it had felt natural to tease him.
But teasing turned into taunting him, and I said far too much, letting my mouth run faster than my brain.
“Explain!” Lena grabbed my wrist, scandalized.
“I stole his champagne at the banquet last week,” I said casually, as if it hadn’t been an idiotic decision.
“Excuse me?”
“I ran into him, and he grabbed a glass from the tray when I was standing right there, so I took it from his hand before he could have a sip. I certainly shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t exactly give it back, so I followed through with the action. He probably doesn’t care much for me after that.”
“With the way he just stared at you,” Lena said, eyes wide, “I beg to differ.”