“Seriously?” a guy with short black hair across from the girl asked.
Their names were Denise and Joseph, or at least I thought they were. I didn’t try very hard to remember everyone’s names. What was the point?
“What?” the girl asked innocently. “He’s cold, dangerous, and gorgeous. Who doesn’t want that at a Halloween party?”
“You’d just stand there all night hoping he would approach you,” he quipped, causing a scowl from the girl.
“Yeah, yeah.” Sydney waved a hand at her and rolled her eyes. “He’s a total heartthrob.”
“It doesn’t matter if he or his friends go.” April brought the attention back to me. “You have to—” She was about to say more but stopped and put her hand in the air, flagging someone over. “There’s David!”
All eyes went to the handsome blond boy who’d just finished going through the food line. It wasn’t just our table whose attention he had caught but practically the entire cafeteria, and since it was dinner, there was an abundance of the student body present. He waved one black-gloved hand while the othergripped a food tray, and he started making his way toward us, his boots clanking on the walnut floor.
Newbies caught attention, like my sister and me, but thankfully he overshadowed our spotlight. David had arrived yesterday—the seventeen-year-old boy who killed his parents because he couldn’t control his fire magic and was shipped off to Fives Academy, or so the rumors said. On the contrary, April had mentioned the council had sent him. He was an orphan.
No one knew the real reason why Viv and I had suddenly appeared at the academy—and I planned to keep it that way.
David reached our table and I sank lower in my wooden chair, not liking the attention he brought. April had to besofriendly. It’s not like David would’ve had trouble finding friends—he could’ve started his own table.Why did I sit here?He was easy on the eyes, had beautiful dimples, and his magic was apparently strong. Elementals liked power. People liked good-looking people. In books, schools were about popularity wars, and unfortunately, reality turned out to be the same way.
I spared a glance at thepopulartable of the strongest students, mostly seniors: Ivy Jade, Gwen Campbell, Nick Hughes, and Ender Hart. April had discussed their skills—and appalling attitude—at dinner yesterday. My breath hitched when my gaze met Ender’s bright, hazel eyes. He was the only one at that table that wasn’t gawking at David—but was staring directly at me. I looked away, an unfamiliar, unnerving feeling settling in my stomach.
David wasn’t the only one with rumors about them.
The cardboard water bottle was something I hadn’t seen before. It was environmentally friendly, but its thick walls were deteriorating thanks to my anxious fiddling. Add in a dash of extra magical flair, and the party seemed like a typical teenage Halloween party in the middle of the woods, but I much preferred celebrating Halloween at home with Mom and Viv.
Floating lanterns lit the area, using a mix of fire and air enchantments. A student must have taken a sound bubble spell from class to prevent any guards or teachers from hearing the blaring music and teenage babbling. Food, drinks, and cutlery were stacked on foldable tables next to a line of trees. Where they had obtained all the non-age-appropriate drinks while residing in a dome in the middle of Alaska was beyond me.
No one had paid much attention to me besides my roommate. I only slightly felt bad for her and her failed attempts to get me to talk. The only reason for my presence was for Viv’s pleasure.
“I’m going to get some food.” Sydney nodded toward the bowls and snacks. “Do you want anything?”
“I’m good,” I said, not wanting to move from the shadow of a tree I stood next to.
Sydney nodded and headed over to the chips, loading a plate with an orange creamy dip.
“Hey.” David walked my way, a red paper cup in his hand. “It’s quite the scene, huh?”
“Yeah.” I glanced at everyone’s costumes and then at Sydney’s. She had chosen to be a dragon, which suited her fire magic. “You didn’t want to dress up?”
“This isn’t dressing up?” David waved at his jeans and buttoned-up shirt, which were nicer than my workout clothes, then held up his nearly full cup. “Would you like me to get you something to drink?”
“Not a chance,” I said without holding back my disgust at drinking random liquid from who knows where. He frowned,and I realized how my social awkwardness had struck. While Vivian was a natural extrovert, I wasn’t. “Sorry. I don’t mean it like that.”
“Nah. It’s okay.” David laughed and scrunched his forehead, glancing at his drink and making a repulsed expression. “Thisiscompletely horrid.”
I smiled, then looked toward the fire where Viv sat with April and her friends. She hadn’t smiled this much since we were kids making castles on a sandy beach. With her soon-to-be-classmates, she was happy. In private, when we were alone, she showed her grief. It was brief and consisted of some tears, but it was there.
“April informed me that there are no sports at the academy, since finding a nearby school to play would be difficult.” David nodded in her direction. “So these parties, training sessions, and the occasional events the academy holds are the main source of excitement for students.”
“Doesn’t seem too exciting to me,” I commented and David laughed, his blue eyes brightening.
Nearby chuckling caught my attention, and I looked over to see a group of girls, all with cups in their hands, giggling and pointing at David.
Uh-oh.I’d better make my exit before they bring their ogling eyes over here.
David’s gaze caught what I was looking at, and he frowned. The three girls made their way toward us, as if his seeing them was an open invitation.
“That’s my cue.” I winked at David. “Enjoy your delicious drink.”
