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I’d never tell anyone here to save myself from hearing their laughter, but it was a lot like baking. Once I made that connection, it seemed a lot less intimidating.
By the end of our two hours, I had a large bottle of deep conditioner better than anything money could buy because it was specific to exactly what I wanted and needed. I thanked her profusely, and she waved me off after she made me promise to keep studying and working during the week.
As I walked back to my dorm room, I couldn’t help but feel Mrs. Hedging liked me more than she wanted to admit. She tried to act strict and direct and no-nonsense, but she and I chatted easily. I caught her looking at me with something in her eyes. More than a teacher’s pride in a student’s learning. No, it was like she cared. Really cared for me.
Maybe I was imagining it. Maybe I was desperate for acceptance and support from any adult right now. I missed my parents and Masie and just wanted someone I could rely on. I shouldn’t project onto Mrs. Hedgings because she was tutoring me.
This was my first weekend at the academy, and I wasn’t sure what to do. I went back to my room to drop off my creation, but Natasha was gone. Was she at breakfast? Was there some activity going on?
I sat on my bed and sent a text to Hannah asking if she had plans. I didn’t want to be clingy, but she was my only friend so far, and it seemed like I was her only girlfriend. If she didn’t want to hang out, she would either let me know or ignore my message. That was fine.
It wasn’t like I should be wasting time today. I should be in the library studying. But I’d already had a two-hour class. I wanted a break. A brain break. I needed it.
After five minutes of resting my eyes, I jumped off my bed and headed outside. There had been more people out on my walk back. Maybe I would run into someone I knew. Or maybe I would meet someone new. I could always use more friends.
Feeling braver and far more extroverted than ever before, I took the stairs and headed out the front doors to the open area in front of the dorms. There were some people throwing a frisbee. A couple of girls lying on a blanket and reading. A couple of guys set up a hammock between the trees, and I could hear their laughter. That looked like fun. I wanted to march over to them and ask them about how they set them up, but the thought alone made all my bravery disappear.
I was the new girl. The weirdo. The one with more abilities than I should have.
“Hey?” A voice called, and I tried to look around casually. I was pretty sure they weren’t talking to me, but just in case, I didn’t want to be rude.
Two guys were jogging toward me. I stepped to the side of the path to give them room, but they stopped in front of me.
“You’re Saige, right? The new fourth year?” the tall one asked. He had black hair buzzed close to his head and very light skin.
“Yeah, I am.” I offered them a smile.
His chubby blond friend beamed. “We figured. We don’t get very many new students after first year.”
“We heard you have two affinities. That’s nuts.” Buzzcut said.
I wasn’t sure what to say to that.It was nuts.
“You’re probably really powerful too. Huh?” the chubby one asked.
I shrugged. “I’m not––”
“Can you make us a potion?” Chubby asked.
“We’ll pay you of course.” Buzzcut winked. “We’re vampires so we can give you whatever you want. Hair, eyelashes, nail clippings.”
I tried to hide my revulsion to that idea. “Um.”
“We need something that will keep someone asleep for like at least a day,” Chubby said.
“Closer to two days.” Buzzcut corrected.
I narrowed my eyes. This didn’t sound like a good idea. “Have you tried normal sleep medicine?”
Chubby roared with laughter. “Oh, that’s such anormthing to say.”
He said that like it was a derogatory word. Something gross, beneath him.
I didn’t like either of them, and I was ready to leave.
“Sorry, I can’t help you.” I stepped back, but Buzzcut followed.
“Come on, you’re obviously the most powerful witch in our year.”
