“But he’s sure been to enough parties,” Maeve grumbles.
Aric shoots her a look, then levels me with his bright hazel gaze again. “So, what do you say?”
I want to tell him no. I’m barely brave enough to speak up in class, and I’m certainly not a teacher. Besides, Maeve just said he doesn’t take studying seriously. And what if he laughs at me? What if he’s embarrassed to be seen around the academy with me? Everyone knows who Aric Vandermere is, but I fade into the background like a wisp of incense smoke. He didn’t even know my name, and we’re in the same class. That says all it needs to.
“I—” I start.
“I’d work hard,” Aric says. “I swear.” The sparkle in his eyes dims. Now he’s staring at me intently, and my body feels frozen to the spot.
I need to tell him no. Maeve already did it—multiple times. It’s just one small word. My mouth opens.
“I’ll . . . think about it.”
Ugh. That isnotwhat I was supposed to say!
But Aric smiles at me, just a little, and something in my stomach flip-flops. Charming boysneversmile at me like that.
“What?” Maeve asks, her sharp gaze finding me and making me want to vanish. Alina has been playing around with an invisibility spell, and it’d sure come in handy right now.
My face heats up under her scrutiny, and I scramble to explain. “I just—I mean, it wouldn’t hurt to think about it...”
Maeve’s eyes narrow. “You know he’s going to drive you crazy, right? He’ll show up late, forget his books, get distracted by pretty wit—”
“I won’t!” Aric interjects so vehemently that the cupcakes I gave him almost fall off the plate. “I’m serious about this, Maeve. I need to pass these classes, or I’m done for.”
There’s a desperation in his voice that I recognize. I’ve felt that same panic before, that fear of disappointing everyone, of not being good enough. It makes me soften to him and his plight.
Maeve must see something in my expression because she lets out a long, dramatic sigh. “Fine, think about it. But if he wastes your time, Pops, just say the word, and I’ll hex him into next week.”
We’re not supposed to use hexes at school, orever. They’re frowned upon in the magical community.
Not that Maeve is being serious . . . right?
“Noted,” Aric says quickly, his smile returning—brighter this time, more hopeful. He doesn’t look nearly as frightened of Maeve as he should be.
“Okay, she said she’d think about it. Now it’s time for you to go,” Maeve says, getting up from the couch. She reaches to take the cupcake plate from Aric. He snatches one of the cupcakes first, and then she’s pushing him toward the door—or trying, at least. I don’t think she could even budge himif he didn’t let her.
“I’d be a good student,” Aric calls back to me as Maeve ushers him toward the door. He pulls his boots on with one hand, holding his cupcake in the other. “I promise. I—”
Then Maeve closes the door behind him, and his voice is muffled through the wood, unintelligible.
She lets out a long sigh, then casts a look at me, her gaze softer now that Aric’s gone. “You don’t have to help him, you know. You’re busy enough this year. I don’t want you to overdo it and stress yourself out.”
“I-I know.” I look down at the romance book still held in my hand. “Thanks for looking out for me.”
“Always, Pops. And if you need me to tell him no for you, just say the word.” Maeve pulls me in for a quick hug, being careful not to spill my now-lukewarm tea. “I like making the big brute pout.” She grabs the cupcake from the plate she snagged from Aric and takes a bite, getting vanilla frosting on her lips. Then she brushes past me and climbs the stairs back to the loft, leaving me standing there in a patch of sunlight, wondering what I’m going to do about Aric Vandermere.
Chapter 4
Poppy
“YOU REALLY DON’T NEED TO help him,” Maeve says that night as we’re getting ready for bed. I’m already in my soft cotton nightgown, tucked into bed, with the romance book Alina gave me propped open in my lap. Alina is with Raelan tonight—even though she’s not supposed to stay in his room, per Headmistress Moonhart’s rules—and Lyra is down in the sitting area, writing a letter to Cairn while Juniper sleeps in her lap.
“I know,” I say softly.
Maeve turns from the vanity, where she’s brushing her long purple hair by candlelight. “Are you actually considering it?”
I shrug. “Maybe.”
