No matter how often Cole encouraged me to dream bigger when I was a kid, I couldn’t imagine going to school someplace else. And years after he made good on his promises, the other students at Luminary haven’t gotten any more welcoming.
All that’s really changed is I don’t fit in anywhere now.
Not all of my former classmates see me as an intruder. I spot Jesse trotting down the steps and raise my hand to catch his attention. His answering smile settles my nerves.
Idostill belong somewhere, even if it’s not where my brother wanted me to be.
Jesse says something to the girl he emerged with and heads over to join me. He’s wound his usual afro into thick twists that sway with his energetic strides.
“Nice style,” I tell him.
He grins and pats his head. “It’d better be. Took way too fucking long. My mom’s been badgering me to give it a try, though, so at least this gets her off my back.”
The casual way he talks about his mom sends a twinge through my chest. I haven’t quite gotten overthateither, even though it’s been twelve years since my parents died.
Other people have moms and dads. I have an older brother who keeps track of every breath I breathe.
But I can’t complain, because where would I be without him?
A couple more students walk by, shooting hostile glances my way. I roll my shoulders inside my crested sweater as if I could shed it like a snake does its skin.
“Are you up for training today?” I ask Jesse. “A few rounds and then grab a coffee or something?”
Sometimes I worry he’ll think the only reason I stay in touch is to keep up on the stuff they teach at Beacon but not atLuminary, but I look forward to shooting the breeze with him just as much. Even if there’s a whole lot I don’t feel comfortable talking about anymore.
Jesse shakes his head with an apologetic grimace. “Sorry, man. My little bro has this project due tomorrow that he’s stressing his ass off about. I told him the teachers don’t even care that much, but you know what he’s like. I promised I’d help him finish it up.”
My spirits deflate, but I don’t let my disappointment seep into my smile. I should know as well as anyone how important family is. “No problem. Maybe we can get together on the weekend?”
He laughs. “Got a need to do some slaying, huh? I’ll shoot you a text. My schedule’s not that busy.”
“Sounds good.”
“And hey, sometime you’ve gotta pass on some tips fromyourbrother. He knows all the fancy-ass shit, right?”
The trace of awe in his voice when he mentions Cole niggles at my gut.
Why wouldn’t he talk about him that way? It was at Beacon that my brother made himself a legend, before his skills landed him the spot at Luminary—which only added to the mythos.
Not even my closest friend expects that I’d be able to come up with anything equally “fancy-ass” myself.
I spread my hands awkwardly. “He’s not really into combat.”
And he’d blow the roof if he found out how muchIam.
Jesse rolls with my answer with his usual ease. “No worries. Can’t help shooting my shot.”
I open my mouth to say my goodbyes and get out of his hair, but my attention snags on a trio of students ambling across the parking lot. My voice halts in my throat.
It’s a girl and two guys a few years younger than us. The guys flank her, each holding one of her hands.
Bare hands, no gloves in sight. The air of rebellious bravado to their smirks confirms what I’d already guessed.
Jesse follows my gaze, and he adjusts his own creased leather gloves instinctively. “A bunch of the younger seniors decided to have a gloves-off party last weekend. Those three sparked their matches. One of the guys has a knack for fire—I hear the whole party had to flee the building while it was burning down. Not that they seem to care now. Idiots.”
The first spark of a glim can cause a disaster even when you’ve had the full training. I curl my fingers within my own knit gloves.
The teachers at Beacon Prep deliver all the same warnings the professors at Luminary Academy do… but when you don’t have a family legacy and huge bank accounts behind you, taking a gamble on coming into your deeper innate power early can seem like a reasonable risk. A better chance at getting a good placement or more authority once you’re sent into action.
