Page 35 of Mistaken Magic

Shegrinned impishly. "Followme, meat."

Lookedlike that one little phrase was going to haunt the next few months of my life.Rainwasn't bad, but meat?Itwouldn't bother me at all if they forgot that joke as fast asTorianhad made it.Still,Ifollowed her down the hall, looking at numbers as we passed.Thebell rang while we were still walking, butAspenturned into a classroom like she didn't care at all.

Ifollowed, feeling a bit like a lost puppy, but while she moved toward the desks,Iheaded to the teacher.Outof the corner of my eye,Isaw her gesture, and some kid got up and moved.Clearly,Aspenwas the queen ofSilverOaksInstitute, and she'djust evicted someone from the chairIhad a feeling would become mine.Theone right beside her.

Thatdidn't mean she talked to me.AfterIwas checked into the class,Isat down beside her.Aspenheld out aPixyStix.Witha smile,Itook one.Thepaper called it orange, but they all tasted like sugar.Itwas the last attention she gave me, butI'ddone this enough to know everyone else around us had noticed.Icould almost feel their eyes on me.She'djust made me "interesting."

Thatwas math, and when it was finally over,Ibraced myself to deal with the stairs again.Thiswas the class in roomD117, but it was on the far side of the school.Iwas scanning the map, trying to figure out the most effective way to get from here to there without getting turned around again, when the smell of honeysuckle drifted to me.

"HawkeandWilderare inHistorywith you,"Aspensaid, leaning over my shoulder from behind me.

Hervoice was soft, right beside my ear.Shiversran up my spine at the lyrical perfection of it.Duckingmy head,Itapped my tablet. "Youhappen to know the best way for a newbie to get all the way over there without running into anyone else?"

"Yep."Steppingaround, she offered me her hand like she was going to help me up. "Iowe you forLondon, right?I'llshow you."

"No,I..."Whena crease appeared on her perfect brow,Ipaused. "Youdon't have to do that.Liamwas trying to explain, and you kinda proved his point.I'mjust trying not to ruin my first day."

Thosepale blue eyes of hers watched me intently, almost like a falcon about to swoop. "Youmean that.Sowhy didn't you touch the flowers?"

"Theplant you gave me?"Ialmost slapped my head, because what else would she be talking about? "Um,Iwas a little overwhelmed -ama little.Alot."

Soshe looped her arm in the one holding my tablet and tugged, all but forcing me up.Igot out of the chair and let her tow me back into those halls.Strangely, people didn't jostle her.Theymoved, like a tide parting ahead of her sheer presence.

"Ifyou pet the plant, it will like you," she said as if there hadn't been a pause. "They'regood ones.Also, don't letHawkecall you a burner.Idon't think you are."

"WhyamIinteresting?"Iasked.

Shejust shrugged like that wasn't important. "Dunno.Theydidn't want to let you come, huh?Saidyou were too normal?They'rewrong, butI'mnot sure why yet."Thenshe turned, angling for a set of stairs on the other side of the atrium. "Wilderwill be nicer to you now.Ifhe's not, tell me, ok?"

"Yeah, sure,"Iagreed as we began heading down,Aspenstill linked with my arm. "Andso you know,Ireally owe you one.Well, a few."

"Nodebt," she assured me. "It'snot a deal.Youjust make me happy."

"Isthere any wayIcan pay you back?"Iasked.

Thesmile this girl gave me could've lit up the entire atrium.Itwas so bright, likeI'djust saved her puppy or something. "That'swhy you're interesting,Rain.Theysay you're normal, butIdon't think so.You'redefinitely not a burner, but you aren't quitecaradileither.You're..."

"Interesting,"Ifinished for her just as we came out on the first floor. "Well,I'lldo my best to keep doing whatever it isI'mdoing naturally, then."

"Please," she said softly. "Youmake everything shine a bit better."BeforeIcould ask what that even meant, she pointed. "That'swhere you belong.Oh!Givethis toWilder, would you?"Andshe passed me anotherPixyStix.

"Promise,"Iassured her, lifting my hand as she turned and headed the other way.

Yetas soon as she was looking away from me, everything about her changed.Hershoulders lifted, and her posture became almost aggressive.Acouple of students jumped out of her path with worried looks.MaybeI'dmisjudged her, or maybe she was putting on an act, but either way,Iwas gladIseemed to be on her good side.

Then, just like with my first two classes, whenIstepped intoHistoryofFaerie,Imade sure my teacher knewIwas there.Thewoman who looked up at me this time, however, had a faceIrecognized.Ms.Rhodesdropped her eyes to the candyIwas holding, then looked back at my face.

"Findan empty seat,Rain."

"Yes, ma'am,"Isaid, heading to one on the same side of the room asWilder.WhenIpassed him,Ioffered the purple straw. "Aspensaid to give this to you."

"Awell-trained puppet," he teased.

Ijust sighed and kept going to the first empty chair in that row.Ms.Rhodeswatched me the whole way, but the moment my rump hit the seat, she moved to the front of the class.

"Forthose who haven't met her yet, we have a newLegacyhere atSilverOaksInstitute.ThisisRainBrooks.Rain, you will need to catch up on your own time, becauseI'msure most ofthishistory will be completely new to you."

Inodded, doing my best not to draw any attention to myself whatsoever.Itdidn't really work, but so long asIdidn't look each time someone turned to stare at me,Icould pretend like it did.Icould almost pretendIwas just another typical girl in aFaeHistoryclass.

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