Page 36 of Mistaken Magic

Chapter Seventeen

Somehow, when history let out,Imade it to my next class - biology - all on my own.Ieven beat not only the bell, but also the teacher.Proudof myself,Iwas standing at the large desk, my tablet in my hand, whenhewalked in.Torianglided past me without a word and snapped his fingers once.Obediently,Ilooked at him, but the command wasn't for me.Alean, dorky-looking guy grabbed his things and vacated the table.

"That'skind of you,Jeff,"Toriantold him, flashing the kid a smile.

Hebeamed in response. "Sure,Torian."

Thenthe arrogant-but-beautiful guy crooked his finger, looking up at me.Mymouth opened to protest, and the finger bent again. "Ms.Stewartis always late," he assured me. "Isaved you a chair."

"Morelike evicted the previous owner,"Icountered.

Hismouth twitched. "Youmake it sound like a bad thing."

Huffingout a breath,Iobeyed his command, dropping my things beside him before sitting on the rickety stool. "Youmake it sound like you deserve it."

"Ido.It'swhat happens when everyone calls me the king."

Iwas about to snap something else at him, but the complete confidence in his voice made me shut my mouth.Itwasn't sarcasm, at least it didn't sound like it.Thearrogant bastard actually thought he had the right to push people around?Well, that made hima lotless attractive.Itdidn't matter how pretty it was on the outside, when it was rotten in the middle, the best idea was to stay as far away as possible.

"Wow,"Idrawled, turning to glare at him. "Doesit hurt to be such an ass?"

Amoment of surprise flashed across his face before he stopped it. "Onlya little.Don'tworry,I'mused to it, so you don't need to kiss me and make it better."

"Keepdreaming."

Iturned back to the front, but from the looks being tossed at us, everyone had heard the exchange.Toriandrummed his fingers on the polished surface of the table, and whileItried to ignore him, a giggle slipped out.Thisguy was completely baffled by my lack of hero-worship.Thesound made a few more heads turn.Ilet my eyes close and reminded myselfI'dsurvived things so much worse than this.Iwasn't trying to be cool, just normal.No,invisible.Mygoal was to not get in trouble for long enough to proveIbelonged here.

"Youknow that's my line, right?"Torianasked softly, leaning closer.

"Which?"

"Aboutdreaming.I'msupposed to tellyouthat, not the other way around."

"Yeah?"Ifinally turned to look at him, then leaned back whenIfound his face closer thanIexpected. "Youdo realizeI'mnot here to impress anyone, right?Especiallynot people who'll be little more than memories in a few years.Certainlynot people who don't give a shit about me.See,Imay not know a lot of things, but there's one thingI'msure of."Iflicked my eyes overhim. "Noneof this actually matters to people like you.Itkinda does for me."

"Andthat's where you're wrong," he told me, those strange green eyes almost as intense asAspen'sblue ones. "Yousee, the whole time you thought you had the world figured out, you were so very wrong.Youthink this place is about an education?It'sso much more than that, and it does matter to me.It'sgoing to change everything."

"Mhm,"Imumbled. "Iguess even 'fairy' boys have ego problems."

Ms.Stewartfinally walked into the class right afterIsaid that.Unfortunately,Torianmanaged to get the last word.Leaningright up to my ear, he breathed, "Idon't rule the school,Rain, andI'mnot here to impress these people either.Oh, and the word you wanted is 'fae.'I'mnot gay."

Irolled my eyes and pushed out of my chair, heading for the front desk.Foronce,Ihad no problem standing before everyone while they gaped at the new girl, because it meantIwasn't sitting beside him.Itwould've been nicer if the biology teacher had taken a little longer to add me to her roll, but at this point,I'dtake whatIcould get.Eventually,Ihad to go back, butIdawdled as much asIcould without being obvious.

"Niceeyeliner,"Toriansaid whenIreclaimed my stool.

Ididn't even bother replying.Afterall, what couldIsay that wouldn't make me sound desperate?Prettymuch nothing.Thesimple fact this guy had called me "fresh meat" in first period was just a little too recent.Itwas a big mark against him.Thathis girlfriend was my suitemate was a second one.Well, sinceIwas pretty sure this was his version of flirting, it was.Thearrogance a minute ago?Yep, the best idea was to accept he was gorgeous, and then forget all about him.

Theself-proclaimed king wasn't used to being ignored, though.ThemomentMs.Stewartwas done talking, he turned his attention right back to me. "Answerone thing for me?"

Ididn't have a good reason not to, andIkinda didn't want him to tellAspenIwas a complete bitch, soIgave in. "Ok?"

"Howdid a very human foster kid end up at an elite trade school for the fae folk?" he asked.

Nowthat was easy. "Ihave a really cool foster uncle."

"Liam," he breathed. "Well, well.Seemslike the little brother is still playing by the rules.Goodto know."

Thatwas odd enough to capture my attention. "Howso?"

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