by ERIN BEDFORD
“But you really should think about what you’re going to tell Callie. She’s really the only person that will notice you’re gone. I mean, besides your dad and me.” My mom put a basket on the counter where a way-too-normal-looking lady checked us out.
“Cash or card?” the woman asked.
My mom handed her a credit card as normal as can be.
I gaped at her. “What, no gold doubloons?”
The woman behind the counter raised a brow at me, and my mom held back a laugh. “No, nothing that old school. Really, Maxine, you shouldn’t believe everything you watch or read. The magical community is pretty up to date on modern technology. They don’t even require you to write your essays on parchment anymore.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, you can bring your laptop and cell.” My mom took the bags the lady handed her, not at all noticing my sarcasm. “I think we’ve got everything you need. If you come across something I missed, just let me know, and I’ll get it.”
“Is there a uniform?” I asked, following her out of the store and back to our car. “I mean, like do I need to wear robes or a plaid skirt?”
My mom’s face sobered, and she said with a completely straight face. “No, we wear blue jumpsuits with pointed hats. You’ll get your own when you arrive.”
For half a millisecond, I believed her and then frowned. “Not funny, mom.”
“What? You asked.” My mom grinned, sliding behind the steering wheel. “You can wear whatever you want. Though I’d stay away from plaid skirts.” I gave her a questioning look, and she added, “You know, fetishes.”
“Oh God, mom,” I whined as my face scrunched up in disgust. “I don’t need to know what you and dad do in the bedroom.”
“Your dad’s more of a whips and handcuffs kind of guy than a school girl kind.” She laughed as I groaned in pure agony.
Thankfully, my phone buzzed again, reminding me that I hadn’t answered Callie’s message. Suddenly, my parent’s sex life wasn’t at the top of my lists of things to forget about. Though, it was a close race. It was time to talk to Callie.
Chapter 4
I was a coward. That’s the only explanation for why I didn’t tell Callie at the beginning of the summer that I wouldn’t join her at Brown. I waited until the week before we were supposed to leave for Brown and also the exact moment that I arrived at Winchester Academy to send her a text.
Me: Hey Callie. I hate to do this over a text, but I can’t make it to Brown. My grandmother has fallen ill, and with my parents overseas it’s up to me to take care of her. Hopefully, I’ll see you next semester.
Okay, I was the worst friend in the world. I wasn’t the flea of best friends. In fact, I didn’t even deserve to be called a best friend. On top of beating myself up about texting her the news of not going to Brown with her, I had to lie to her. The grandmother I told her about lived in California, so I knew she couldn’t check up on me, but still, it killed me.
“Everything okay there, Max?” my mom asked. Also, my parents weren’t overseas yet. Dad was, but mom was waiting until I got settled into school before joining him in Cairo for his newest expedition.
“Yeah, fine.” I tucked my phone into my pocket and climbed out of the car. Meeting my mom at the trunk, I began to unload my bags onto the curb. Winchester Academy looked bigger than in the pictures. More ominous too. That also could be because of the iron fence circling the premises with sharp pointy tops.
My mom placed her hand on my arm as I tried to grab the next bag. “Are you sure? You don’t have to do this. We could go home. You could go to Brown, and you could have a normal human life.”
I stared at her for a moment. Yes was on the tip of my tongue but I couldn’t make myself say it. I shook my head. “No, I’m good. I want to do this.”
Mom nodded. “Okay, if you’re sure. But remember, you can always call me. I will come back right away and get you.” She pulled me into her arms and hugged me. I placed my hands on her back and held her tight. Hearing my mom say that I could change my mind, that I could fail if I wanted to make everything easier.
I gave mom one final squeeze before letting her go. Stepping back before I told her to take me home, I smiled. “Thank you for everything. I can’t wait to hear all about Cairo.”
“Well, at least let me help you get your bags up to your room.” My mom tried to grab one of my bags, but I stopped her with a tight smile.
“I got it, mom.” I patted her on the shoulder. “Please don’t make me cry.”
Seeing my struggle, mom nodded her own chin tight and quivering. “Alright, honey. I’ll call you later tonight?”
“Yeah, I’ll talk to you then.”
I watched as my mom climbed back into the car, shut the door, and drove away, not once looking back. I sighed heavily when she was out of my view, glancing back at my bags and groaning.
“Need a hand?”
I spun around at the question and came face to face with an Adonis. Seriously, were there any ugly guys at in the magical community? He had light brown hair and chocolate brown eyes, his lips curved up into a grin. His blue t-shirt was stretched across his broad shoulders and clung to his chest like a second skin. I forced myself to keep my eyes up and not scan the rest of him like a drooling fangirl.
I did look down enough to see his finger pointed toward my pile of bags before I nodded. “Uh, yeah. Yes. I would love some help. My mom, she ...” I trailed off, looking toward where my mom had driven away.
“I get it,” the Adonis answered with a grin that had my knees weak. “It’s always hard when you leave home for the first time.”
My eyes widened, and I stumbled over myself. “How do you know this is the first time? I mean, I could just have a bad mom, all too ready to kick me out of her house.”
The Adonis chuckled a sound that had my inside curl deliciously. “I highly doubt that. Your mom seemed to love you a lot from where I was standing.”
My lips ticked up at his words. “You were watching me?”
Unlike the guys from my high school, he didn’t even blush at being caught. He only lifted two of my bags like they were nothing (and I knew they weighed a ton) before gesturing with his head toward the school. “You’re in the first year’s wing, right?”
“Yeah.” I nodded, grabbing my other two bags which were thankfully quite a bit lighter. I followed after him as he made his way through the crowd of students, most of who moved out of his way without having to be asked. The females however stopped and stared just as I had, making me feel a bit better about my reaction.
“So, where to?” he asked finally when we arrived at the end of the hall.
“Uh ...” I dropped one of the bags and dug through my pocket, searching for my room assignment. “It’s one fifteen.”
“Alright, one fifteen it is.” The Adonis moved through the hallway like he owned the place until he stopped before a closed door. “Here we are. One fifteen.”
I stopped next to him and stared up at the numbers. An awkward silence filled the space between us before I realized he was waiting for me to open the door. I tried the handle, but it was locked.
Confused, I looked down at my room assignment paper again, but it didn’t have any instructions on getting a key.
“You have to say your name to open your room,” the Adonis next to me whispered in my ear.
I jumped slightly and then giggled a bit more than I should have before tucking my hair behind my ear. “Oh, right.” Leaning forward, so my mouth was close to the door, I said, “Maxine Norman.” This time when I tried the door handle, it opened for me.
“Ladies first.” The Adonis nodded toward the dark inside.
Stepping into the room, I reach beside the door and found a light switch. I half expected to have to light a candle or a fireplace to light the room. I was beyond ecstatic to find out my mom hadn’t been wrong about the college being up to date on modern technology.
Two twin beds sat on either side of the room with ni
ghtstands and desks on their respective sides. It looked like an ordinary dorm room. And I was worried. I laughed inwardly at myself.
I sat my bags next to the bed on the right and turned to see the Adonis set the other two bags on my bed. I stood there with my hands in my pockets as silence fell over us once more.
“I’d tip you, but I don’t have any cash,” I said for some reason and inwardly smacked myself.
The Adonis threw his head back and laughed. “That’s alright. Learning your name was payment enough. Maxine Norman.” He smirked at me and started for the door.
“Max!” I called out, stopping him in his tracks. “My name is Max.”
Grinning once more, he inclined his head. “Alright, Max. I’m Paul. See you around.”
“Okay, see you,” I called out as he disappeared around the corner leaving me alone in my room. Shaking my head to get rid of the need to chase after him, I turned to my room. So, this would be my home for the next nine months. Well, it wasn’t home, but it could be with a few touches.
I spent the next hour or so unpacking my bags and getting myself settled. When I was done, I collapsed on my bed, closing my eye briefly. Turning my head to the side, I opened them to see the empty bed next to me.
My roommate still hadn’t made an appearance. I wondered what kind of person she was. Would she be my new best friend? Or would be enemies at first sight?
Thinking about best friends made me pick up my phone, which I’d put on silent. I had about a dozen messages and calls, all of them from Callie. I should look at them. Callie was probably freaking out. Wondering what the hell I was thinking, no doubt.
Before I could look at them and ease her worries, there was a sound at the dorm room door. A muffled feminine voice muttered something unintelligible before the door opened.
A pretty, petite girl walked in, her dark hair a curly afro on her head topped with a cute blue headband. She wore a pair of blue jean shorts and a yellow tank top covered by a blue vest. She struggled to get her bags in behind her, cursing as one of the bags caught on the door frame.
“Here,” I said, hurrying to the door to help her out. “Let me help.”
The girl looked up and saw me, relief washed over her face. “Thanks.”
I helped her bring her bags in from the hallway and sat them on the left side of the room. “I hope you don’t mind. I took the right.”
“No, no. That’s totally fine.” She tossed her bags onto her bed before turning and offering me her hand. “I’m Trina.”
“Max.” I smiled and shook her hand. “So, you’re a first year too?”
Trina ducked her head. “Is it that obvious?”
I chuckled. “Well, we are in the first year’s dorm. So, it was fairly obvious.”
“Oh, right.” Trina smacked herself on the forehead. “I swear I’m not this helpless. I’m just all ...” She waved her hands in front of her.
“Disoriented? Completely out of your element?” I grinned harder.
“Yeah. That.”
“Me too.” I tucked my hands in my back pockets. “Actually, until a few months ago, I didn’t even know I was a witch.”
“Really?” Trina’s eyes widened. “How is that even possible?”
I shrugged. “A mother who wanted to marry a human and give me a normal life.”
“Then how did you end up here? Shouldn’t you be at a human college?” Trina asked. I could tell she sincerely wanted to know and wasn’t being malicious at all.
“I was supposed to be at a human college. Brown actually.” I sighed and moved back over to sit on my bed. “I didn’t find out about my witchy heritage until my powers couldn’t be contained by my mom’s repressor spell.”
“Wow, a brain and a badass. Color me impressed.”
I chuckled. “Don’t be. I thought I was a mutant or some kind of alien.”
“How’d you find out?” Trina asked, leaning against her bed as well. “I mean, what triggered it?”
I shrugged. “A jack ass ex-boyfriend and nerves wound way too tight.” I sighed and tugged on my hair. “Let’s just say things were burned, and I almost checked myself into an insane asylum.”
“That blows.” Trina puffed out. “Well, I’m glad you figured it out and ended up here. I’d have hated to get a weirdo for a roommate.”
“Well, I can promise that I’m not that.” I paused and thought for a moment. “At least, I don’t think so. So, what about you? How long have you known you were a witch?”
“Since forever really.” Trina pounced on the bed a bit, her face scrunched together in concentration. “I mean, I’m sure there were a specific date and time, but I don’t remember it. I was too young. But the moment I started showing signs of powers, my mom began teaching me. Then, like all the others, I went to Winchester Prep for grade school, and now I’m here.”
“There’s a Winchester Prep?” I arched a brow.
“Well, yeah. I mean, there are other schools for minor witches and wizards, but around here, most go there.” Trina stood and clapped her hands on her thighs. “I’m starved. Want to find the cafeteria and then scope out the local hotties?”
Her mention of hotties made me think of Callie once more and my smile wilted. “Uh, yeah sure. Give me a second. I need to use the bathroom first.”
“Sure,” Trina said, and we both headed out of the room.
Trina waited at the door of the bathroom down the hall as I headed inside. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and took a deep breath before braving the hysteria that was probably Callie.
Not only were there a dozen or more messages most of them an array of ‘what the hell’’s and ‘really? answer me’’s. There were a few threats on my life that I didn’t take too seriously, but the voicemail really got to me.
“Max, this is Callie. You know, your best friend and life partner? If you could even call me that anymore. I can’t believe you are leaving me here to take on the Brown hotties all on my own. I understand families important, but you know, I’m important too.” Her voice broke slightly, and I felt my eyes welling up. “I need my best friend here. I need you.” She took a deep breath and let it out into the phone. “Please, Max. Just call me. Call me back.”
I didn’t call Callie back. I couldn’t if I tried. I knew if I did, I’d break. I wouldn’t be able to lie to her, and I’d be breaking one of the biggest rules of being a witch. I’d only just learned about it all I couldn’t lose it already.
Shoving my phone back into my pocket, I washed my hands before heading out the door.
Trina looked up from her phone and smiled at me. “Ready?”
“Yeah, sure. Let’s go.” I’d smooth things over with Callie later when I was alone. I had to go into this head first and not think about my previous life even if it meant lying my butt off.
Chapter 5
Winchester Academy was a virtual maze. One minute, Trina and I were walking down the hallway toward the front of the building, and the next moment we were staring at a row of creepy doors with no one in sight.
“Maybe we should have grabbed the campus map?” Trina suggested, turning around in a circle.
“There’s a map?”
“Oh, yeah. In the welcome packet. Didn’t you get one?” Trina frowned, her brows furrowed. “It had a map, our class schedule, where to get your I.D., and everything.” I just looked at her with even more confused. “You really didn’t get one?”
I had no clue what she was talking about. If I had gotten a welcome packet, my mom would have said so. I certainly would have memorized every word of it before coming. Overachiever right here. The fact that I was missing it did not bode well for the start of my college career.
“No, I didn’t. I thought I’d get all that when I arrived,” I explained, placing my hands on my hips with a sigh.
“Well, you’ll have to go to the administration office to get it then ... if we can find the place.” She searched around us once more, trying to figure out which way we should go.
&nbs
p; After a few moments of nothing changing, I dug into my pocket and pulled out a quarter. “Maybe we should flip for it? Heads, we go straight, tails, we try and go back the way we came?” I glanced at Trina for confirmation. She nodded, and I flipped the coin in the air. We watched it fly up, turning over and over and I prepared to catch it, but then suddenly it flew out of the air and straight into the hallway where it landed in the hand of a beautiful girl.
“Lost, are we?” the girl said, closing her hand over the quarter and grinned.
“Uh, yeah.” I cocked my head to the side as I assessed the blonde girl who was flanked by two others female students.
“Not surprised,” she said with a flip of her long silky blonde hair. The beautiful girl strutted down the hallway in a pair of pink high heels. Her pleated black skirt swayed with her every movement. If I’d been into girls, I’d have definitely been drooling. However, since I was more into the male of the species, I could only look at her with stars in my eyes.
The two girls by the blonde’s side followed as if they were of one mind. One was also a blonde with a chest so large I wondered how she stayed upright, her blue eyes vacant and empty of emotion. The other one had brown hair that fell in waves down her back with a kind of half smile on her lips. They each wore their own version of the first girl’s outfit, complete with pleated skirts and high heels.
Jerking my attention back to the first girl who had started talking again, I pretended I wasn’t developing a girl crush.
“It’s just like you nobodies to end up where you don’t belong,” she said with a disgusted tone. She waved a finger in the air around us. “This area is for people who matter, and that doesn’t include you.” She held out her hand with the coin, and I reached for it, but she dropped it before I could take it. The coin landed on the ground with a clink. “Oops, sorry,” she crooned, not at all sincere.
“Oh, it’s fine,” Trina quickly said, bending down to pick up the coin, her voice a higher pitch than before. “We’re sorry. Didn’t mean to overstep our bounds.” She grabbed my arm and started to pull me in the opposite direction. “Come on, Max.”
