Witch, Please (Not Your Basic Witch Book 1)

by A. J. Macey

  Nodding, I wandered around the room, tossing a bunch of random things into my bag. I made sure to grab a dry pair of clothes for tomorrow, figuring I could change into my pajamas before leaving. When I was clothed in dry shorts and a shirt for bed, I made quick work of the windows scattered around the circular room, the cool air brushing over my face as I opened each one. The breeze should dry at least some of this.

  Hopefully.

  September 2nd

  Monday Night

  Aris

  Caspian took my bag from me and led the way downstairs, pausing for a moment so I could lock my door. The halls were empty now that it was getting late, only a few notes flying through the air instead of the hundreds that had flown overhead all day. My heart sped up a bit as I followed Caspian to his room. I shouldn’t be nervous after everything we had been through today, but the thought of staying the night seemed so big. Once he opened the door and the lanterns overhead flared to life, I stood there awkwardly as I took it all in.

  Caspian’s room seemed fitting for what I knew of his personality so far. The bed was made, a simple blue comforter adorning the top. His wardrobe was closed, and the room tidy, the only mess on top of his desk where a few papers were strewn about. I was quickly drawn to a small table to the side. Jars and bags of ingredients lined the top and a hanging shelf above it. A stone mortar and pestle was set to the side, and several empty potion jars sat around a mini cauldron. My fingertips grazed over the jars as I read them, half of them things I hadn’t heard of before. I was quiet as I wandered around his room, taking in his space while I mulled over what had happened upstairs.

  “You’re not getting shy on me now, are you?” Caspian teased as he slipped his shirt over his head. I turned abruptly on my heel to give him privacy, looking around for a place to drop my bag. Warm arms wrapped around me as I dropped the bag on a chair and stood there, waiting for him to finish. “You wore me out. You ready for some sleep?”

  His voice was low and husky in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. He pulled me with him to the bed, settling down and positioning me so my back rested against his chest. The awkwardness slipped away slowly as we laid there, relaxing bit by bit to the sound of his breathing evening out and the feel of his breath on the back of my neck.

  Caspian slept peacefully behind me, but for some reason, my body refused to let me join him, despite how exhausted I was. After what felt like hours, my stomach went from a dull hunger to a near-constant growl. Sighing in defeat, I decided to get up and head to the dining hall for a snack.

  “Where you going?” Caspian slurred sleepily as I gently moved his arm and tried to slip out of the bed.

  “I’m hungry, I’m going to sneak over to the dining hall for a snack. Want anything?” I whispered back, half expecting him to fall back asleep and not answer.

  “Get me a funkle cake with green furry unicorns,” he mumbled into his pillow.

  Well, no idea what a funkle cake is, so I’ll just grab him whatever I find. Grabbing my slippers from my messenger bag, I smiled at the fuzzy bunny ears that flopped as I walked out of his room, grabbing his key on the way out.

  The halls were empty and quiet, the only sound the shuffling of my steps on the stone flooring as I made my way down the main staircase and out into the courtyard. When I glanced up from walking down the path, I immediately stopped, completely enthralled by the crystal clock tower. The structure practically glowed in a radiant haze of light purples, blues, and iridescence as the moon’s rays bounced through and off the multi-faceted crystals. Barely breathing, I didn’t want to disturb the magic I felt flowing through the air as I walked closer. The pull that had been plaguing me all day when I was near Caspian flared, only this time it had a sense of peace and... rightness, almost filling me.

  A loud, rumbling growl from my stomach broke the moment, startling me enough to jump slightly. Shaking my head to rid the odd sensations, I continued my trek to the dining hall, my hunger nearly all-consuming since I hadn’t had dinner. I was pleasantly surprised to find the building and the dining hall doors unlocked. Since I hadn’t had a chance to read through all the rule book, I wasn’t sure what the hours or regulations surrounding late-night snacking were. The main space was empty, but a sliver of light peeked out from under a door I hadn’t noticed before, catching my attention. When I drew closer, I saw a metal plaque saying ‘Student Food and Drink’ next to it. Humming softly, I opened the door and came face-to-face with my broody guide from this morning, Kyelerian, sitting on the counter, stuffing a handful of Sugary Sweet Hex Mix into his mouth.

  We both froze for a moment, his handful of frosted treats stopping midair. His eyes slowly moved down my body, a slight quirk to his lips at the sight of my favorite slippers before looking back up. A blush bloomed across my cheeks, and I couldn’t stop myself from blurting out something random. Why do I do this?

  “Did you know that eye of newt explodes at six hundred degrees?” I blurted out, my blush deepening at my own ridiculousness.

  “Huh,” he hummed, looking at me like I was crazy as he shoved the bite into his mouth.

  Well, now that I feel like a complete idiot... Trying to redeem myself, I switched tactics, putting my smile back in place.

  “How was your day?” His eyes flickered back to mine at the question, giving a half-hearted shrug in response. Not one to give up easily, I continued. “Those look tasty, where did you find them?”

  “I took the last one,” he replied bluntly, not even looking sorry as he took another handful. A flash of humor swirled in his hickory depths as if he took pleasure in rattling me. My smile turned into a pout as my eyes roamed over the selection of sweet treats. Now that I knew I couldn’t have the Hex Mix, nothing else sounded good, and an exaggerated sigh fell from my lips. His eyes narrowed on me, his hand slowing on the way to his mouth the longer he stared at my pout. My eyes drifted from the handful of sweetened cereal and nut mix to his face, putting extra curl to my lip.

  “Ugh, fine,” he ground out, holding out the bag. “Just don’t eat all of it. I’m hungry too, you know.”

  I perked up and practically skipped over to him, hopping up to sit on the counter next to him. He scooted over slightly before I snatched the bag out of his hand and grabbed a handful. I offered the bag to him as I tipped my handful of sweets into my mouth, a moan of pure food happiness coming out before I could stop myself.

  “Do you do anything like a normal person?” he asked, exasperation coloring his words. I just gave an unapologetic shrug as I reached for more. I loved that the school stocked my favorite treats.

  “Do you ever give real smiles?” I shot back, raising an eyebrow.

  “No,” his answer was quick as he snatched the bag away from me while I was distracted. “Can’t you go get some moon cookies or something?”

  I narrowed my eyes, reaching for the bag again, but he extended it above his head, keeping it out of reach.

  “That’s just mean. Don’t you feel sorry for me? It’s my first day,” I whined dramatically, poking out my bottom lip again.

  “I feel sorry for me. I’m the one getting manipulated by a tiny pink witch,” he said pointedly, bringing the bag back down to grab a handful, side-eyeing me the entire time, dodging my attempts to snatch it away.

  When he popped another handful in, I successfully snatched the bag back, taking a few bites before tossing a piece at him. I couldn’t help the boisterous laugh that bubbled out of me when the almond hit him square in the forehead.

  “You seriously did not just throw that at me.” He gaped as if trying to process I did, in fact, do just that. “You’re wasting my late-night snack. Give it back.”

  He lunged toward me, his arm outstretched to take the half-empty bag away from me, but I laughed and spun off the counter until I stood on the other side of the little snack room. A hint of a smile played across his lips, and a tiny glimmer of playfulness lit up his hickory eyes as he stared me down. We both froze like little kids caught being naughty
when the door swung open, and a guy stepped through.

  Kyelerian froze, shutting down at the sight of him, a scowl moving back into place. My eyes slowly took in the new arrival. He was taller than Kyelerian but a bit shorter than Caspian at around six foot. He had shiny black hair, just long enough to fall into his eyes but perfectly styled. His eyes were a deep, rich brown, framed with long lashes, his face set in a serious gaze, not looking angry but definitely stoic.

  “What’s going on in here?” he asked, his deep voice echoing in the room. He had the kind of voice that could command the attention of a room without effort. Something stirred in me as I took him in, though I couldn’t pinpoint if it was from my snack buddy, the newcomer, or my own nerves after today’s events. “I didn’t expect to see you in here playing around, Kyelerian.”

  “It’s Kye,” my brooding companion gritted out. His eyes flickered to my face, and I gave him a teasing smile, trying to brighten his mood. The way Kye was acting had me wondering who this guy was. Whatever. We weren’t doing anything wrong, I thought, shrugging off his harsh tone and serious gaze.

  “Hey! I’m Aris,” I greeted, giving him a bright smile before heading back to the spot next to Kye. “Open up,” I teased, holding up a pretzel. Kye’s face was comical as he worked through the change in mood—a mixture of shock, disbelief, and amusement dancing across it. He opened his mouth obediently, much to my surprise, and I tossed the pretzel in. He gave a small grin as he closed his mouth and chewed it. I did it! I made the broody boy smile!

  “Xanthius,” the newcomer added. His tone, while still commanding attention, held a hint of curiosity as his eyes darted between the two of us. Turning on his heel, he continued on his original path to the shelving unit filled to the brim with snacks and treats. Without hesitation, he grabbed a box of Cackling Crackers, my face scrunching up at the boring choice. Who eats just plain crackers? Nope, he needs something better.

  “Open up!” I yelled, choosing one of the sugar-coated almonds and holding it up. He stood there for a moment, looking unsure before his eyebrows crinkled, and he opened his mouth, tilting his head ever so slightly. I took the opportunity to throw the treat, lacing my magic into the action, so it landed perfectly in his mouth. His mouth snapped closed, and he chewed, mumbling out a ‘thanks’ before abruptly turning and rushing out of the room. The moment the door clicked behind him, Kye burst out in laughter, big belly laughs that had tears streaming down his face.

  “You... just threw… food at him. You have no clue who he is, do you?” he wheezed out. I gave a shrug, not really caring who he was.

  “Nope, but that doesn’t change the fact he needed something better than fucking plain crackers. I mean, seriously, who eats Cackling Crackers? For fun.” I shuddered.

  “Why do I feel like you’re going to cause chaos on this campus?” he asked, shaking his head as he tried to compose himself. He jumped gracefully off the counter, snatching the bag from me.

  “Thank you,” he sang out, walking toward the door. Stopping just inside the doorway, he turned to me, and looked me right in the eye as he shoved a huge handful of the stolen treat into his mouth. He tried to smirk with his chipmunk cheeks, which only made me laugh. The door closed behind him, leaving me alone to peruse the snacks and wonder about who exactly this Xanthius was while I made sure to grab a few different choices for Caspian. Nope, no funkle cake with green furry unicorns here. When my arms were completely full, I followed Kye’s route and headed back to Caspian’s room, my stomach and heart full from all the bewitching encounters today.

  September 3rd

  Tuesday Morning

  Aris

  “Cupcake, it’s time to get up,” Caspian whispered, giving me a gentle shake. I peeked over at him before pulling the blanket over my head again. He laughed as I snuggled in deeper, starting to drift back off to sleep within seconds. The cover was ripped away moments later, forcing my eyes open so I could glare at him. “If you want breakfast, you have to get up and get ready.”

  “Eating is overrated,” I mumbled as I scooted up to sit against the headboard.

  “That’s just the sleep talking. Get ready, and we can get coffee,” he sang out, heading for his closet to grab fresh clothes and his shower caddy.

  “Fine. I’ll meet you back down here when I’m done showering,” I mumbled, grabbing my stuff and heading for the girls’ bathroom. The halls were still empty, so it must have been early. The prospect of a shower that wasn’t overcrowded had me hurrying.

  When I stepped inside, only one other girl was getting ready, combing her hair at the mirror. I recognized her as the girl Torryn called on the day before, so in an attempt to be friendly, I gave her a quick smile and wave before stepping into the closest shower stall.

  The moment the hot water hit me, I knew Caspian would be waiting for a while. It felt too amazing, properly waking me up. A flash of the conversation I had with Torryn last night had me giggling to myself. Oops, I mean Professor Callahan... he’s going to think I’m a crazy witch, showering with clothes on. Well… let’s be honest, I doubt he believed me.

  Once I rinsed out the last of my candied strawberry conditioner, I finally turned off the water. I half expected Caspian to be waiting not so patiently for me when I stepped out, but instead, it was filled with other girls waiting for their turn. Not wanting to hog the bathroom much longer, I quickly braided my hair to the side and put on my makeup.

  By the time I made it back to Caspian, he had fallen asleep again, snuggled into the covers, looking way too peaceful for the guy who had forced me to get up early. Standing at the far wall, I put a mask of pure innocence on my face before using my powers to yank his cover away. He mumbled in his sleep but didn’t fully wake up. Using my powers once more, I rolled him out of bed and onto the floor. The poor guy hit the stone with a thud and startled cry before jumping up and looking around for the culprit. His eyes locked on mine, narrowing slightly as a mischievous smile played on his oh so kissable lips.

  “Payback’s a witch, Cupcake,” he warned, rubbing his ass where he hit the floor.

  “How could you accuse me?” I gasped in mock offense, holding back my laughter. “I’m standing way over here, waiting on you to wake up,” I reasoned, holding out my hands. He rolled his eyes and grabbed his school bag, ushering me out the door ahead of him.

  “I need Witch’s Bean. Now. It’s too early to function without it,” he mumbled, locking the door behind us, then grabbing my hand. A flush burned my cheeks as a smile curled my lips. Unable to stop the giddy feeling, I floated on cloud nine through breakfast and to my first class.

  Who would have thought little me would have a friend already?

  Too bad my parents couldn’t be here to witness it.

  I wandered through the stacks in the library, my fingers brushing lightly over the leather-bound spines of the manuscripts lined up on the research shelves, inhaling the intoxicating scent of parchment and leather. There’s nothing like the smell of a well-loved tome. Caspian had said research, so here I am, but what in the wing of bat am I looking for? I spent the next little while pulling off random books I thought might have answers, but since I wasn’t even sure what I was looking for, I came up empty-handed each time. The clock tower chiming throughout the building startled me out of my wandering and had me redirecting my steps toward the library front doors. Unfortunately, I turned the corner and ran straight into another student.

  “Oh, my broomstick, I’m so sorry!” I squeaked, scrambling to pick up the strewn papers that fluttered from his arms.

  “No worries,” the guy’s smooth voice came out, making him sound way too chill for someone who just got slammed into by a distracted witch.

  “Here you go,” I squeaked out, handing over the papers as I took in his bright hazel eyes. His mouth was pulled up in a lazy grin as he checked me out, his eyes roaming over me as he reached out to take back his fallen supplies. My mouth went dry as my eyes trailed over the corded muscles that teased me from underne
ath his Henley. Our fingers brushed as his hand wrapped around the papers, and the moment his skin touched mine, a gentle wave of magic flowed over me, light as it moved over my skin, like a soft summer breeze. My eyes widened and flickered up to his at the sensation, but the mossy depths didn’t show any reaction.

  “Be careful, wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself,” he warned lightly, tucking the papers under his arm, sauntering off, further into the library. With one last glance his way, I walked through the doors and off to lunch, trying not to think about yet another weird magical encounter.

  Too many other things to deal with right now.

  Lunch passed quickly, Caspian and I easily falling into our routine before we broke off from each other at the crystal clock tower with Caspian heading to his room since he had a free period while I veered toward the Summoning and Potions building.

  Thanks to my interactions with Caspian, I no longer felt as timid and scared as I walked into new classrooms. He’d helped me to find my footing here even if it was all still new. With a deep breath, I walked in with my usual smile. The Potions classroom had an odd scent to it—a mix of plants, sulfur, and the odor of animal waste. I tried to discreetly wipe my nose to hide the wrinkle that scrunched my face, but it was no use. Thankfully, no one was paying attention to me as they were focused on pulling out their book and other ingredients at their designated cauldrons.

  I took the chance to look around, taking in the high stone ceilings and huge windows. I could see why they chose this room—though someone should probably open a few more of the windows to ventilate this smell. Each workstation was essentially a long table with a cauldron and fire stone underneath and to the side, a row of sinks and several shelves piled with jars and baskets full of strange and intriguing things. I held back an excited noise at the prospect of doing new magic as I stood awkwardly to the side, waiting for the professor while more students filtered in.