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Most of the students chuckle, causing my face to flush hot.
“No, Professor. It won’t happen again,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady. Shit. What was this professor’s name again? Ulrich or Uriah … fuck.You’ve got to pay attention!
“We’ll see. Because of your tardiness, you’ve just volunteered yourself to go first. Please step forward.”
My stomach falls all the way to the Underworld. This can’t be happening, can it? I pinch my arm, hoping I’ll wake up beside Zeke and realize this is all just a terrible nightmare. But nope. This is real.
As I stand in front of the class full of Pure and Fallen angels, all I want to do is disappear. A very tiny part of me — the hopeful, optimistic part — keeps repeating that maybe I won’t need to show my wings. Maybe all I need to do is answer some questions and put this all behind me.Or maybe my life’s a hot damn mess and I’m about to ruin any shot at normalcy I hope to have.
“As I was saying,” the professor continues, running a hand through his mousy brown hair, “in this class we will learn the basics of our greatest asset. Our wings. Not only do they provide us with a quick getaway option in times of need, but they can also serve as a shield or a weapon.”
Hope grows inside of me as he speaks. I can do this. I know countless facts about wings and feathers. Hell, it’s always fascinated me because I’m different. I’ll show off my knowledge and then sit the fuck down and never be late to this class again.
“Hayliel, please open your wings for the class.”
“Erm … Say what now?”
The class chuckles again, but the embarrassment I expect to feel doesn’t come. How can I feel embarrassed when my fight-or-flight response begs me to run? Every atom in my body screams to leave, to make an excuse, anything to let me keep my secret a little longer.
Faking my death sounds damn good right about now.
“Professor Uriel, I believe Hayliel needs you to say it in fewer words in order for her to understand,” a flat-faced angel says, causing the rest of the class to burst out laughing.
“Quiet,” the professor demands. “Today’s lesson is on the individuality of our wings. We all have them, but that does not mean each one is the same. Our focus today will be on comparing the difference between things such as width, angle, length, and color to see if we can find any similarities. Each of you will get the chance to come up and reveal them to your classmates before we take a closer look.”
I almost laugh. Not because what he’s saying is funny, but because he truly picked the worst topic for class if he wanted me to go first. “Professor, I’d really rather not have everyone staring at my wings …”
“If you are uncomfortable now, Miss Hayliel, then I suggest you pack your bags and leave. Otherwise, show us your wings so we can move on.”
I can’t swallow past the lump in my throat. Leaving isn’t an option for me. Not when I have absolutely nothing outside of this school. All I ever fucking wanted was to be normal. To have friends who like me for who I am and don’t avoid me because I’m different. But even I’m not that stupid. I can either stay and be the school’s freak show or leave and end up a lonely freak instead. At least here I’m closer to finding out what having gray wings even means.
I take a deep breath, then center myself as I close my eyes. Eventually I’ll find people who can see past my quirks, but if I continue to run from who I am, then I never will. How can I expect others to accept me if I don’t even accept myself?
At my command, the wings burst free from my back, and I open my eyes amidst a flurry of shocked gasps. Everyone stares, their faces a mixture of shock and disbelief. Some even look horrified, as if I just whipped out my vagina and started using it to bash cymbals together.
Whispers grow louder throughout the arena as everyone continues to gape, and my confidence falters.Well, there goes my chance at a normal school year.
Looking at the ground, I tuck my wings in against my side and wish to be anywhere but here.
“Is this a joke to you, Miss Hayliel? Do you think rolling around in ashes and soot before class is a good way to make friends? Dust it off immediately.”
Now it’s my turn to stare. He can’t seriously think I rolled around in the dirt to pull some stupid prank, can he?
“These are my true wings, Professor.” I flap them hard, whipping up a breeze to prove it. The ground beneath my feet is dry packed dirt, but I’d flapped hard enough to whip up the loose particles around me. Dust coats my tongue as I breathe through the discomfort of being on display.
As the air settles around us, most of the students are still staring at me wary eyed, and some even have their slates out. I flip them off, infuriated with them for reacting so poorly, even if I’m not surprised.
And, as always, I’m annoyed with myself too. Why do I have to be so fucking different?
“You leave me no choice but to take you to the principal. Students, I’d like you to please continue with the scheduled lesson. I’ll be back momentarily.” To me he says, “Retrieve your things from the locker and meet me at the main hall.” He frees his milky-white wings and points me toward the exit.
I look back at my classmates once more, feeling their eyes on me like a weight. No one smiles or sends me reassuring looks like I’d hoped, so I turn and head back to the locker room.
It’s time to find out if I can stay at Silver City University or if I’ll be stuck as the lonely freak after all.
6
“Therehasbeenagrievous slight played on me today, Principal Cael. Not only did Miss Hayliel show up late to my class, but she then attempted to prank me by covering her wings in soot.” Professor Uriel turns to me, his eyes accusing. “You thought I was too stupid to notice, did you? Well, let me tell you—“
