Summoned By Magic by Lexie Scott

Chapter 11

The headmaster instructed us to head to our fourth-period classes, then dismissed us. Hannah stuck with me as we merged into the crowd leaving and headed down the path toward the literature and language building. Students spread out, walking on the grass and crossing to the other paths, but we stayed right in the center of the bricks.

“Today is basically just information about the class and what we’ll be doing this term. After we’re done, I’ll take you over to the library so you can get all the textbooks you’ll need. Tomorrow, bring a backpack or bag and notebooks.”

“Thanks.” I moved out of someone’s way as Hannah waved to someone else. She said I was going to be claimed by the popular kids, but it seemed like she was one of them. We didn’t make it three steps before someone called her name or waved.

Someone bumped into me as they hurried past, and she called out to them. “Watch it, Theo!”

The guy stopped mid-step and spun around. He grinned back at us, revealing two perfect dimples on his smooth, tan skin. He looked to be of Asian descent, with shiny black hair in a tousled style achieved by either running his hands through it to keep it out of his face or by using a ton of product and a blow dryer. There was no way of knowing without asking, but he was beautiful. Handsome. Stunning. “Oh, hi there, Hannah.”

She stood her ground with her hands on her hips. “You need to apologize to my friend. You can’t just bulldoze into everyone smaller than you.”

That would include pretty much everyone. He was at least six-four with wide, muscular shoulders and biceps that strained the confines of his white T-shirt.

His attention turned to me, and his grin widened. I swear my knees shook as he stepped closer. I fought to keep my eyes on his and sweep them down to admire his bulky form. I was a sucker for athletes, and he was clearly built like one.

“Sorry, gorgeous. I should have been paying more attention. I have no idea how I could have missed you.” His deep voice sent a shiver down my spine. I was melting. And there were witnesses.

“Oh, stop flirting. She’s my friend, so she’s off-limits to you.”

He turned to glare at Hannah at the same moment I did. Off-limits? No thank you!

She returned his look with a scathing one of her own, and he finally sighed and stepped back. “Fine, but can I at least get your name?”

“I’m Saige.” I high-fived myself mentally for keeping my voice steady.

He took my hand and placed a quick kiss on my knuckles. I swear I felt a zap of electricity and snapped my hand back.

His eyes flashed. “Sorry, did I offend you?”

I shook my head, not sure what just happened. Had he not felt that?

“Just go. You’re being weird.” Hannah waved him off, and he shot us both a wide smile, making those damn dimples appear again before turning around and jogging off.

“Sorry, Theo’s nice and all, but he’s also a player. I don’t want him thinking he can use his tricks on you.”

“Tricks?” I watched him disappear into the crowd, already missing the sight of him.

“He’s fully aware of how good looking he is and uses that to his advantage. Plus, his other abilities.”

“Like what?”

She pursed her lips. “I’ll tell you later.”

Her eyes drifted around the crowed path. She didn’t want to tell me out in the open?

“Okay. Thanks for watching out for me.”

We got to the Lit building without running into anyone else she knew or getting tripped by racing shifters which was a relief. She led us up the main staircase to the second level and down the hall to our classroom. It was nice having someone with a clue of where we were going to lead me along. Most of the desks were open, and she headed down the center aisle toward the back but stopped a few rows from the end and sat before patting the one next to her.

“Most classes don’t have assigned seats, but some teachers make us sit alphabetically,” she explained.

I nodded and glanced forward just as Niall, a.k.a. Mr. Friendly, walked in. He scanned the room, his eyes moving over me as if I didn’t exist before walking to the very back and taking a corner seat.

When I faced back around, Hannah was watching me with a sly smile. “So, Niall caught your eye?”

“Mr. Haddon had him show me where to sit before the assembly. He disappeared as soon as he pointed to the row.”

She chuckled. “Yeah, he’s not really a people person.”

“Where is he from?” I asked, fighting the urge to look back at him.

“What do you mean?” She cocked her head.

“I thought I heard an accent, but I couldn’t place it.”

“Oh, right, he grew up in Ireland, but his parents moved to the States when he was like ten or something so his brothers and he could go to school here.”

“Why did they move? Couldn't they just send the boys here?”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure. Maybe they wanted to be closer so they could come home during the holidays.”

I wanted to know more, but she didn’t seem to have the answers. The brooding boy scared off our classmates. At least I assumed that explained the two-desk radius around him. He caught me eyeing him, and his face darkened. I jerked my gaze forward.

“He’s kind of a loner. He used to be friends with a group of guys, but in our second year, he just stopped hanging out with them. I never bothered asking why.” She shrugged. “I’ve been in several classes with him, but he never talks. Just sits in the back and glares.”

Strange. Now I was really curious. Not that I could explain why. Maybe I had a weakness for the mysterious type as much as athletes.

“Welcome to Literature IV for witches, class. I’m Ms. Martin, and I hope you are as excited as I am to begin this term.” A short woman with a platinum blond pixie cut strolled into the room and handed out stacks of papers to each person in the first row. They each took one and handed the rest to the person behind them. When the stack made it to me, I took a packet, then glanced back. No one was behind me, but the girl next to me didn’t turn around. She either chose to ignore Niall behind her or was just oblivious.

I turned out of my seat and walked back, handing him a packet. Mr. Friendly took it from me without glancing up, so I spun around and went back to my desk and passed the extras forward.

Ms. Martin started reading through the syllabus and I followed along, dread growing in my stomach at how much went over my head. She referenced books we should have already read, and I rushed to write them down.

“We will not only be reading and breaking down spells to understand how they are constructed, but we will learn how to write our own. By the end of the year, you will have gained the understanding necessary to choose the perfect words to fulfill the purpose of your spells.”

I couldn't believe this was my life. I was in a literature class with the promise of learning how to not only read and practice spells but come up with my own? How quickly my life had changed left me dizzy.

Drexel didn’t have a bell system, but Ms. Martin dismissed us at ten till noon, and Hannah stretched as she stood. “Time for lunch.”

“Does everyone have their lunch break at the same time?” We followed our classmates out of the room and down the stairs. It was like a herd moving together, but it seemed like we were all going to the same place.

“Years one and two are together, then years three and four. The older students’ courses aren’t on the same schedule, so they just eat when they have time,” she answered. “Have you seen the other buildings yet?”

“Mr. Haddon pointed them out this morning,” I replied as we merged onto the path that cut in front of the lab building.

“Good. I was going to take us the long way to show you if you hadn’t.”

As we walked, I took in the people around us. I still couldn’t tell who was a witch, vampire, or shifter. That was something I wanted to ask her at lunch if no one else was around. I didn’t want to embarrass myself around new people if that wasn’t an appropriate question. Then again, how was I supposed to know unless I asked? I doubted anyone would be offended if I asked the wrong thing. I had ignorance on my side.

“How’s the food?” That seemed like a good distraction.

She shrugged. “It’s usually pretty good. There are normally three to four options per meal. Like this morning, there were eggs, French toast, fruit and yogurt, and oatmeal. You’re allowed to take as much as you want, too. They rotate the options, so you can usually find something you like each time.”

That was reassuring. At least I wouldn’t have to eat gross cafeteria food for the next year. Or longer. I still hadn’t quite accepted that I might be here for a lot longer than I expected. It all depended on how quickly I learned what I needed to know.

“This way.” She pointed to the line forming near the entrance of the enormous room. A buffet stretched on one side, and lines of long tables filled the length of the space. She handed me a tray before taking one for herself. We shuffled forward as the line moved, and she stood on her toes to look ahead.

“I think there’s salad, burgers . . .” She pursed her lips in concentration.

“Chicken tenders and fries,” a voice finished behind us.

I turned around and smiled at Daniel.

“Yes!” Hannah did a little happy dance. “The chicken tenders are my favorite.”

“You’re a child,” Daniel teased.

“No, they’re delicious.” She looked at me. “Trust me. You’ll want those.”

I laughed and nodded.

“The ranch is the best part.” Malik appeared next to Daniel. “The chicken is merely a vessel to get ranch to your mouth.”

Hannah raised a brow. “And I’m the child?”

Daniel laughed and elbowed his friend. “How was your first class, Saige?”

I let out a small sigh. “It was fine, but I’m already feeling overwhelmed. I have no idea how I’m going to catch up.”

“Hey! No freaking out. You have us,” Hannah reminded me. “We won’t let you fail.”

The guys agreed, but I didn’t think I would feel any better until I started doing something.

We made it through the line, and Daniel led us to an empty area of the furthest table. We sat, and I took a bite of the chicken and groaned. “This is so good.”

Hannah laughed. “I told you!”

Daniel rolled his eyes and took a huge bite of the massive bacon cheeseburger he assembled.

Malik was sitting across from me, and after finishing off a tender, he looked up. “So, are you going to tell us about yourself, or do you want us to go first?”

Hannah tossed a balled-up napkin at him. “Don’t pressure her.”

I watched them and laughed. “It’s okay. I’m from a town just outside of Pittsburgh. I have a little sister and brother. I don’t play any sports, but I like watching them. I––”

“She has two affinities,” Hannah cut me off with a mock whisper.

“Hot damn!” Daniel shouted, and several people turned to look at us. He ignored them and leaned forward. “That’s crazy, new girl.”

I narrowed my eyes at the nickname.

“What are they?” Malik asked.

“Earth and Water,” I answered. He asked me directly, so maybe that was okay. I seized the chance to redirect their attention off me and ask the question that had been on my mind. “How can you tell what someone is?”

Daniel and Malik shared a look, and Hannah tilted her head. “What?”

“Is there a way to tell if someone’s a shifter or vampire or witch or do you have to ask?”

All three of them went silent, and I knew I said something wrong.