“So, how’s your day been so far?” he asked.
Pleased by the interest, “It’s been better than expected.”
“Better now that you know you have a class with me?” he teased, his cocky nature new to his set of personality flaws.
I huffed and laughed at the same time. “Aren’t we quite the presumptuous one?”
Shaking his head, “No, not at all. I just meant it…all hell, it came out wrong.” He stopped himself, the accent thick.
He turned and started heading to the locker-room.
“No, wait. I didn’t mean it that way, either.” I found myself following him.
God, what was I now? A puppy dog? The mere idea appalled me as I fumbled down the bleachers.
“I didn’t either. I’m sorry.” I repeated, “I’m glad we have a class together.”
His head seemed to bob once in agreement to what I had offered as an apology.
“So what lunch do you have?” the moment he asked one of the boys called out his name from the boy’s locker room door.
His head turned and I realized it was time to say goodbye.
“I have B lunch. A few girls said I could sit with them, they seem nice.”
“Oh yeah, what girls?” his curiosity peeked, he turned back to face me.
“A girl named Lisa.”
His eyes rolled instantly at the sound of her name. “Well, you have fun with that.”
He turned around and made a jog towards the locker room. Heaven help me but I watched the boy run. The way his calf muscles flexed at every step made my stomach do a little flip.
Was this the attraction my mother had once warned me about?
Mom…I wish I could tell you about all of this.
Silly me, I knew the moment the bell rang; I would have to check in with my fourth period teacher. I had decided that as a senior I would take photography. Ideally, as a creative junky, the class seemed like a no brainer. Problem with taking an elective half way through the semester is that you have missed all the essential knowledge so subsequently you have to play catch up. All of this was explained to me within the first 5 minutes of checking in.
Mrs. Ashby assured me that if I was committed to the class, it would still be possible to make it through but I would have to do quite a bit of reading in the mean time.
Turning from her desk to find myself a seat I noticed a girl in the back of the class waving at me and calling my name.
Curious if this too was a friend of Lisa’s; I walked to the empty seat and sat down.
“Hi, my name is Trisha. I’m one of Lisa’s friends. She sent me a text to look for you.” Immediately, I began to think of Lisa as my Fairy God Mother.
“Thanks, she’s been really nice to me.”
“Of course she has, she is a great person. I think she really likes you too because she sent the text to all of us.” Trisha marveled.
Curious, “Does she do this sort of thing often?” I asked. And she said, ‘all of us’, the idea that I had a bunch of people on the lookout for me was a little unnerving.
“Well, every once in a while she does, but not really since she started dating Justin. He’s a senior on the swim team.”
So, Lisa has a jock boyfriend. That means she is part of the popular crowd. I suppose the picture of my new friends was starting to make sense. A girl with tons of friends making sure the new girl wasn’t singled out on her first day of school.
Mrs. Ashby addressed the class and I understood what she meant about needing to catch up. A lot of the vocabulary she used was lost on me. Before I left she handed me a list of books to check out from the school library.
Trisha and I walked towards the cafeteria and I realized how grateful I was for Lisa’s new friendship. The moment the doors to the enormous room opened, I noticed there were hardly any free tables. Groups of kids sat, eating and talking.
“Let’s get something from the line. Lisa already saved us a table.” She boasted with a grin from ear to ear.
We ended up going through the line quickly because we’d wasted so much time walking across campus that we were one of the last one to pick up our food.
“It seems like we have the bad pick of the lunch draw but in actuality they put out new plates and snacks half way through lunch. It works itself out.” Trisha stated plainly as she carefully selected a salad and tater tots.
Let me state clearly, school lunches, no matter how balanced and thought out, are completely disgusting. You would think that someone would make an effort to create meals that kids would actually like, but it never quite works out that way.
I took a salad, mostly because you can’t lose with a salad.
I took in what she said and followed her lead. I couldn’t manage to look around to the faces in the cafeteria but I could feel the eyes in my direction.
“Yay, you made it.” Lisa beamed as we sat down.
“Thanks for the help today.” I said again, but she shrugged and waved it off like it was no big deal.
The girls began to gossip about their day. Every now and again someone would look at me but I just listened for the most part.
I caught Lisa laughing with Cassidy about a girl named Wanda.
“She never realizes how rude Evanna is being to her.” Lisa whispered loud enough for me to catch.
“Who’s Evanna?” I asked, totally interrupting their private conversation.
Lisa turned her head my way, and slowly placed a chip in her mouth. “She is someone we really don’t associate with.” She said slowly, her words lined with a clear disdain for the girl.
I could feel my face change, scrunching because what Lisa was saying wasn’t much to go off of.
“Lets just say, she is a mean one, and no one really has time for that.”
Immediately, Cassidy perked up in her seat, put her finger up in the air, and with clear fun attitude sassed, “Ain’t no one got time fo dat.”
All the girls around us, me included, began to giggle at her impression of the Youtube sensation.
At one point, I noticed half the kids leaving the cafeteria and a new set of students making their way through the line. In the mist of it all, Dmitri walked in with a bunch of boys. He stole my attention away from the girls the moment he glanced at me.
For only a second, I felt something inexplicable. Like a burst of colored lights behind him, and then they vanished, leaving a trail behind him as he walked by.
I broke the connection and turned back to Lisa, who must have caught the silent interaction.
“He is good friends with my boyfriend, you know.”
I nodded and looked back to my food.
“He’s new to our school, too.” She added, not wanting to drop the subject.
“Who’s new?” Anabel asked, oblivious of what we were talking about as she had been talking about her brother, Tyler, to one of the other girls at our table.
Lisa snapped to her with an annoyed expression. “I was only telling Celia that Dmitri is new to our school too and that he is friends with Justin.”
Funny how talking about boys can cause a ruckus between girls; every head at our table was at our attention and leaned in to hear our conversation.
“He tends to keep to himself.” Cassidy commented, her bottom lip seemingly puffed out. I made the connection that she had a little crush on him.
“We bumped into each other last week. It was a little weird, I suppose.” I added considering I didn’t want them to think I was intruding on their territory or anything.
The boys came out of the lunch line, all with smirks on their faces and walked towards us. I did my best not to make eye contact with any of them.
One of them leaned over Lisa and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. The broad shouldered blond must be Justin. The rest of the boys sat at the very end of our long table and continued their conversation.
I made eye contact with Lisa, briefly, who merely smiled at me and turned her face in their direction. She stayed like that for a few moments,
obviously making her own observations.
“You must have made an impression Ms. Celia.” She commented innocently.
“Oh, why is that?” I asked with equal innocence.
“Because he hasn’t stopped staring at you; He didn’t even notice I was watching him.”
Her words forced me to look over at him. Just as she said, he was looking at me. He tilted his head and turned only when he couldn’t hide the smile that had formed.
“It’s nothing I’m sure. He probably only wants me to feel welcomed like you have.”
“Well, he never smiled at me like that.” Anabel interjected. The statement creating several girls to burst out in quiet laughter.
Lisa stood up and most of the girls followed her lead. Lunch was over before I even had a chance to learn more about my new acquaintances.
I was on my own for 5th period, which was probably a blessing in disguise. The class went by so much faster not having to worry about appearances. It was next period I wondered about.
I was going to sit next to Lisa for an entire class about British literature. The idea alone felt a little intimidating.
She met me in the hallway with a grin spread across her face.
“Okay, so prepare yourself to meet the most incredible individual on the planet.” She began. “Our teacher, Mr. Hamric’ is from Europe and is unbelievably handsome.”
So basically, I was taking a class filled with girls who Only take his class to gawk.
Disgusting!
Just then, another figure drastically stole my attention. A tall lean male, who looked vaguely familiar, walked past us and disappeared into the room we were heading to.
“Who was that?” I asked Lisa, absentmindedly.
“Oh, that’s Kyle. He is a history freak. Of course he only takes this class to learn more about a topic he is practically an expert in.” she complained. “Anabel might have had a chance to get transferred in had there been any vacant seats at the beginning of the year, but, Whatever!”
We walked into the classroom and almost immediately I realized one thing. The class was basically all female, our teacher was appealing, but most of all, I knew Kyle from the store. He’d been one of mom’s regulars.
Walking to our seats, I noticed how he glanced at me a few times but would then stare down at his journal. Almost as though he didn’t want me to make the connection.
Mr. Hamric’ announced my presence in the room and everyone greeted me enthusiastically. The group was working on Austin’s influence in British literature. The current novel: Pride and Prejudice.
At least I could say I’d read the novel and wasn’t completely lost on the subject.
“Who is your favorite character, Ms. McOwens?” Mr. Hamric’ asked, his tone genuinely curious.
The amusement of the question came from recalling all the characters and their qualities. The good, the bad, and even the in-between qualities that ultimately changed the readers views on initial impressions.
“I’d have to say I really enjoyed Mr. Darcy.”
His expression shocked, his body moving back a step, implying I’d surprised him, “Why would you choose Darcy over Elizabeth?”
“He learned something about himself, and changed.” I paused, “Well, tried to change. He learned the errors of his ways and made a real effort to correct his behavior to own the right to have valid emotions for Elizabeth.”
“But don’t you think Elizabeth did this as well?”
“Not at all.” I stated firmly. “Even at the end of the book, I didn’t feel she deserved him. She didn’t love him as much as he loved her.”
“What makes you say that?” Kyle interrupted from across the room. All eyes shifted from my side of the room to his.
“He risked everything to lose. She didn’t.”
“So, basically, you’re saying that people of different social classes shouldn’t or can’t love a person who is not on their level?”
It wasn’t what I was saying, and it made me realize how silly I had always been for believing Elizabeth unworthy of Darcy’s affections.
“Good Point, Kyle.” Mr. Hameric’ took control of the discussion once more.
Observing my fellow classmates after that took a whole other level of concentration. They hung on every word Hamric’ said. I have yet to decide on if they are paying attention to the content or if they are all daydreaming about having their own British romance with him. Either way, the class was interesting. Kyle’s presence and all.
When the bell rang, everyone, begrudgingly, left the room. I was the last to leave.
“Celia” Mr. Hamric’ called out, halting my steps.
“You have my condolences for the death of your mother.”
My interest was piqued, “You knew my mother?”
With a nod, he sat at the corner of his desk. “Yeah, I spent some time in her shop. She was helping me on my dissertation. She had a breath-taking smile, and honestly it captivated me.”
His words brought an easy smile to my face. “She did have a way about her…” it trailed off as I watched him look over my face.
“You have her smile, too.” He added.
“I am my mother’s daughter, sir.”
“Indeed you are.”
Just then, a bubbling red head walked into the classroom and began to speak to him, oblivious she was interrupting a conversation. Taking my leave, I didn’t even say goodbye, only nodded at him as I left.
Lisa stood by the door, waiting with her pink cased iPhone in her hand. The moment I reached her she sighed, “I’m sorry about your mom, I didn’t even know.” The tone in her voice left me a little withdrawn.
“I don’t talk about it because I don’t want or need anyone’s pity.” While I hadn’t meant for it to come out sharp, by the time I finished, I realized I had all but snapped at her for eavesdropping on my conversation.
“Note to self, no sympathy slinging.” She sassed, smiling while walking towards her next class.
“Lisa” I called out to her, feeling like a total jerk.
“No worries, Celia. I didn’t take any offense.” She mused as she walked away, her smile not disappearing.
It stuck with me the last hour of the afternoon. When the final bell rang I felt the urgency to find her and smooth things over. My intentions, however, were halted as I reached the outside lockers of building 29.
“So you made it through your first day.” His voice was smooth and direct.
When I turned around I was standing face to face with the boy from Mr. Hamric’s class, Kyle. His tall body leaning up against a locker and it almost seemed like he’d been waiting for me to pass by.
“Yeah, I guess I did.” I responded, apprehensively of course.
“I’m Kyle, by the way,” He hesitated, “but I’m sure Lisa did a good job informing all the basic information about me.” He added.
“All the important details, I suppose.” I repeated, looking him over.
He pulled himself off the lockers and came too close for comfort, forcing me to take a step back.
“She didn’t tell you one crucial detail about herself, however.”
As if he’d pitched a fast one, “Excuse me?” I asked, lost by where he was going with it.
“She needs you…and I’m sure when she realizes that I’m talking to you she will jump to make all sorts of explanations, but what you really need to know is that they are nothing... at least whilst you’re not in their little circle.”
“Kyle…I have no idea what you mean.” I stated frankly, my spine straightening a little to counter his intimidation tactic.
He laughed, the ominous sound echoing against the metal lockers behind him.
“They think they are witches, Celia.” He declared, the amused expression making him seem a little crazy.
The absurdity of his statement generated an equally amused laugh to escape my mouth. “That’s insane, Kyle.”
At my response, Kyle closed the previous safe distance between us and s
poke directly at me. “Is it though, Celia? I bet your Aunt Olivia would have a difference of opinion on that.”
“What does my Aunt have to do with this?” I asked, now completely lost by his meaning.
He turned around and walked along the length of the lockers, knuckle tapping a few as he walked past them. I followed, needed to know his response to my question. I wasn’t fast enough to keep up. Eventually, just as he turned the corner I shouted, “Fine, I’ll find out on my own!”
Out of breath and annoyed, I didn’t even notice Lisa and the girls walk up behind me.
“Find what out on your own?” she asked, looking from me back to the girls.
Recalling Kyle’s words, I shook my head, “He says you guys are witches.”
The look on their faces mirrored each other, Distraught and embarrassed.
“We don’t talk about things like that in public places, Celia.” Lisa stated, her tone hushed and grave.
So it’s true. They think they are witches. All I could do was shake my head, confused and bewildered, and laugh. Why on Earth would anyone in the modern age want to play a witch?
“I need to get home; my Aunt is waiting on me.” I informed, not wanting to play into their game of make believe.
Lisa held out her hand in pause, “Celia, please. Let us explain.” She asked, her voice much softer than before.
“Explain?” I started to walk away from them. They of course followed step making it difficult to keep any distance.
“We didn’t want you to think we were strange, it’s just a hobby we keep to ourselves.”
The statement, an intention to soothe over any objections, only in fact created more objections to the surface.
“Hobby?” I countered, picking up the pace reaching the end of campus.
“Yes, a hobby.” She admitted, placing her hand on my shoulder, insisting that I stop walking and turn towards her to hear her out.
“I have this book that I found in a garage sale a few years ago. We were curious and tried to do some of the spells written in the book. Sometimes they work but most of the time nothing ever comes of it. There is this theory of spells working with groups of 9 to 13 people but we only have 8 right now and because nothing really ever comes of it...”
Broken (The Immortal Coven Book 1) Page 3
