Page 132 of Mistaken Magic

Iflicked at the screen to open that app. "Aren'tyou takingHistoryofFaerie?"

"Testedout," he explained as he scanned the list of what would be on the test. "Andit'sMs.Rhodes, so this will be long-answer stuff.Aparagraph, written or typed.So, how about we start here?"

Thegirl across from him groaned. "Canyou do it quieter?I'mtrying to study for my own classes."

Torian'seyes immediately jumped to her. "Thendo it somewhereelse."Thewords came out as a snarl.

Igrabbed his arm. "Incase you missed it, this is thegirls'study hall.Thisis where she should be studying."ThenIgrabbedmy tablet, cord, and papers.Pushingto my feet,Igestured pointedly at the door. "Ifwe're talking, thenwecan leave."

"Thanks,Rain," the girl said.

Ididn't have a clue who she was, but she looked like the same person who'd saved my notebook that day in the halls - although it didn't really matter.Thiswas a communal space, which meant communal respect.Toriangroaned likeIwas putting him out, but he stood to follow.Assoon asIheaded for the door,Jacktook off, wanting to beat me.Heswooped through near the top, but still low enough to make someone rounding the corner squeak in surprise when he barreled out.

"Damnit!"Shit, that wasHarper'svoice.

Evenworse, she came into view just asTorianandIwere about to step through.Weall stopped to keep from hitting each other.Twoother girls were behind her,Elyssaand the new one,Sierra.Theyflinched back, butHarper'seyes went right toTorian.Fora moment, they glared at each other, and then she turned her attention to me.

"You'refuckingthisnow,Tor?Takingyour sister's sloppy seconds?"

"BetterthanKeir's,"Imumbled under my breath, unable to help myself.

Butthat was more thanHarpercould take.Shestepped right into my face. "Whatdid you say?"

SoIleaned into hers. "Oh, you heard me.What, amInot supposed to know you've been throwing yourself at the pure-bloods?Doyou even care if they're nice guys?"

"Doyou?" she asked. "Becauseyou're building up quite the little collection there, aren't ya?"

"Enough!"Toriansnarled, pushingHarperback. "Letme make this clear.We'redone,Harper.I'mnot about to become some quiet and submissive piece of arm candy for you to bragabout.You'renot about to shut your fucking mouth, and unless there's a dick in it, no guy's interested - so move on already."

"Youwent from me to her?" she asked him. "I'malmost as strong as you, and her?What, she takes it up the ass or something?"

"Oh,Ican bang three at once,"Isaid before she could try to pull all the typical slut slurs. "Goingfor the group play, you see."ThenInudged her shoulder, pushing her back.

Sheturned to me and pulled in a breath, butIpushed at her shoulder again. "Trycalling magic on me, andI'lluse my fist next time.Andif you do it a third,I'llpull out the iron.Burnsyou too, huh?"

"Fuckingcunt," she grumbled.

Butall of my pushing had nudged her out of the doorway, effectively removing the barrier.Juston principle,Ishoved her one more time - a little harder, simply because it felt good - then kept walking.Aheadof me,Jackcawed out his approval, andTorianhad to stretch his legs to keep up.

Harpersimply stood there, sputtering in frustration.Thegirls with her looked confused, as if they weren't sure how to handle me, but that was kinda the point.Bulliesexpected their targets to always cry, whimper, or run away.Asa foster kid,I'dlearned early on how to protect myself.Ifit didn't seem to hurt me, then it lost all appeal.Itwas as true for bullies as it was for foster siblings and parents.

"Youshould've let me get that,"Toriansaid as we turned for the stairs.

"Andhave her thinkI'mhelpless without some big strong fae around?Don'tthink so,"Itold him.

ButInoticed he held the door a bit wider soJackhad a straight shot.Thatwas a little endearing.Still, there was something about this guy that made me feel likeIneeded toprove myself.Almostlike he was constantly judging me - and pretty much every other person around him.

"So," he said when we reached the bottom of the stairs, "the founding of the currentSummerCourthappened in what you'd consider the mid-fourteen hundreds.Iwant to say fourteen thirties?Wekeep track of time by the reign of the monarch.Inour case, that was the first year ofTitania.TheWinterCourtwould've called it the seventeenth year ofOberon."

"Soyou're from theSummerCourt, huh?"Iasked.

Hisface stilled. "Iwas.NowI'mfromEarth."

"Ok, so amIcrazy,"Iasked as we reached the first floor and stepped out in view of the atrium, "or are there ethnic differences betweenSummerandWinterfae?"

"Whatdo you mean?" he asked.

"Race,"Isaid. "LookatHarper.She'sclearly from theSummerCourt, with her pretty blonde hair and peaches-and-cream skin.ButAspen, on the other hand, is definitelyWinter, right?"

---