I’m not sure I want him to.
Nolan pulls me in front of him and braces his hands on my shoulders. I feel like a human shield when the woman scowls at me, finally noticing I’m there.And triple gross.For the sake of my breakfast, I pray this is a one sided infatuation, because if Nolan has--Yep, I can taste the scrambled eggs now.
He gives my shoulders a tight squeeze, almost as if he can read my mind. “My new friend, Callie…”
“Santiago,” I supply.
“Santiago,” he continues, “is starting her first day here at our fine school and is in need of her schedule. I offered to show her around.”
Ms. Martinez gives me a sharp, dismissive look before turning back to her computer and typing what I hope is my name for my class schedule. After some unnecessarily hard mouse clicking, the printer on her desk starts up. She grabs the printed sheet, then gets up and retrieves a folder that has the school logo on it from a cubby on the wall, before returning to us at the counter.
“Miss Santiago,” she pronounces it SAN-ti-Ego, even though both Nolan and I pronounced it correctly moments ago. She opens the folder and pulls out a few papers. “This is your class schedule, calendar for the block scheduling, map of the school, and parent forms that need to be signed and returned to the office as soon as possible-- since you’re starting the school year so late.”
That last bit is said with snooty, judgement about why a student would start school so late. Telling her it’s because my father is in prison for abducting a woman probably won’t help.
I collect the papers and folder, pinch my lips together to keep from laughing at this insane, perverted woman, and mutter, “Thanks. I’ll be sure to do that.”
As soon as we’re out of the office, Nolan swipes my schedule, not bothering to explain what the hell happened in there, and holds it to the side so Felix can see it too.
“She’s a smart one, our Callie,” Nolan praises to Felix. “Pre-Calculus, AP Chemistry, AP English,andAP Psychology.”
I fidget, rubbing the edge of my sleeves between my fingers. With a shrug I hope looks casual and therefore won’t inspire more inquiry, I mutter, “I didn’t really do a whole lot outside of school, before I came here”
I leave out that the Pre-Calculus class I left was an honors course and likely harder than the class I’m transferring into.
“At least she isn’t Kaleb level of crazy and has some lighter electives: Jewelry 1 and Food and Nutrition,” Felix adds with an approving nod.
“I actually do need the Food and Nutrition class,” I grumble, somewhat defensive. “I don’t know how to cook.”Please have electric stoves.
Nolan beams. “We’ll happily be your food testers.”
I snort. “I’ll be sure to remember that.”
Felix looks intently at my schedule, and my heart sinks realizing what Nolan’s innocent comment means to him.
Felix glances up to me, his natural smile still firmly in place. “It looks like Pre-Calculus is your first class. You’re on your own there. I’m definitely not sitting through a math class that Mr. Harris teaches if I don’t have to. I’ll meet up with all of you at lunch, yeah?”
Oh good, sounds like I have one of those boring math teachers.
“Happy haunting,” Nolan replies with a wave.
Felix rolls his eyes and disappears.
“Where do you think he went?” I ask with concern.
“Either to sit with one of the others, or more likely, went back to your place.” He shrugs. “It gives him a chance to be on his own.”
I nod, aching for Felix. It’s selfish of me to not want him to move on just so I don’t feel alone. I remind myself to ask more about Felix’s death, and what the guys have so far on who they think did it. I’m a witch and that should help somehow, right?
Nolan hands me my schedule back and offers me an arm. “Escort the lady to her first class of the day?”
I smile and loop my arm through his. Maybe I won’t be alone after all.
∞∞∞
Nolan leaves me at the door for my math class with a promise to find me at lunch. His easy acceptance of me leaves me somewhat stupefied. Here I was afraid that I was unable to make friends, and now it feels a little like being in kindergarten.Hi, I’m a witch. You’re a something. Wanna be friends? And then we eat lunch together and color at recess.
Nearly every girl watches Nolan swagger down the hall before turning to see who he was talking to. Some look with open curiosity, but too many look like they want to stab hot pokers in my eyes.Okay, that’s a bit different from kindergarten. Joke’s on them. Soon as they pull out the pokers, my eyes will just grow back.
