My phone beeps again, the alarm reminding me of the time. “It’s eight-thirty; time to go. I don’t want to be late.” I grab my bag and head towards the door, with Marsh and Malise following me. The hallway is packed. I guess everyone else decided to leave early, too. I notice people giving me and Marsh looks as well as a wide berth. He’s walking next to me like always with Mal walking a couple steps in front. When we make it to the elevator, it’s packed like a tin can of sardines. There is just enough roomfor the three of us to squeeze in. Marsh steps in before me and Malise so he’s in between us and the crowd. It’s so quiet you can hear a pin drop in here. I don’t know what that says about how this school year is going to go.
I’ve been doing a lot of reading on telepathy recently, and I know how to send thoughts to my brother so I decide to try to include Malise, since she knows everything going on and I feel in my bones that we can trust her.
Why do I feel like everyone was talking about us?Marsh doesn't show any outward reaction to me speaking to them, but I assume that’s because he’s used to it, whereas I feel Malise jerk slightly next to me.
I made sure to leave the channel open so they can talk freely to each other, but Marsh responds first.Yeah, I got that feeling as well, sis.
Mal squeezes my hand. Wewill discuss the mind speaking thing, when we get home, but I agree it definitely got quiet very quickly when you both stepped in.
Okay!Marsh and I reply at the same time. Before any of us can say anything more, Marshall is shoved forwards, knocking me and Malise into the doors of the elevator, and causing me to smack my face on the metal. You have got to be fucking kidding me. This is college and people are still acting like children? I look over and Malise’s head has a small cut she’s bleeding from. She wipes her finger over it and heals herself.
“Oh look. It's the Nexus twins. They don’t look like anything special to me.”
The elevator fills with laughs and snickers. We turn and face the asshole, but Marsh is standing in front of me and Malise, blocking the view so I can’t see who the voice belongs to. I step up beside him after pushing some healing magic towards my nose, because fuck that hurt.
“I’m sorry, is there a fucking problem?” Marsh growls out, stepping up slightly more so he’s in the face of the guy I’m assuming pushed us. It’s honestly comical, since Marsh is six foot one, and about two hundred twenty pounds of pure muscle. This guy? Stands at maybe five foot nine, and one hundred and sixty pounds. I don’t really know what he thinks he’s going to accomplish. Even without magic, he wouldn't stand a chance against Marsh.
“Yeah, there is. Two freshmen show up and it sends everyone in a frenzy. Why? You don’t look like powerful witches to me, just a couple of loser rednecks. So what is it? Did your daddy pay off the Headmaster just to make you seem like you’re both more important than you are?” Chad sneers. Is his name Chad? No idea, but he looks and acts like a Chad.
The doors to the elevator ding open, and Malise grabs our shirts, slowly pulling us backwards through them. “You want to know why we send everyone in a panic?” I ask, cocking my head. “This is why.” I wave my hand and start pulling the air out of his lungs. He might have actually been attractive if he wasn’t such a dick. He has a sharp jawline, short blond hair, green eyes that are now rimmed with red due to the lack of oxygen. Too bad he had to be a bully. Marsh has made a shield over us to prevent anyone from attacking me. I pull faster making sure to only focus my power on the troublemaker. Right when his eyes start to roll back, I release my hold on him. I step back through the doors so I can crouch down next to him, not bothering to whisper to make sure anyone else watching this encounter hears my message loud and clear. “I wouldn’t try your luck again. I’m not dealing with this shit any more.”
I stand up and walk out of the elevator, Marsh and Malise following behind me. Marsh grabs my shoulders as we walk. “Oh. My. Gosh. I can’t believe you did that! You never standup for yourself like that!” He’s not wrong, and now that the adrenaline has worn off I feel like I’m going to puke.
“I can’t either, I just… Malise was bleeding, and I just snapped. I’m tired of these rich entitled assholes always wanting to bully others.” I sigh. “I’m going to class now. Hopefully things can only go up from here.”
Marsh gives me a hug, “You’ll be great, sis! See you at lunch.”
Malise waves, heading off to her own classes. “I’ll see you both at lunch.”
Thankfully, the walk to History of Magic isn’t bad, and no more assholes start anything. All the classes except the elemental or specialty ones are on the second, third, or fourth floors of Manor Hall. My history class is on the second, so not too far of a walk. I head in, still a little early, so it’s just me and a couple of students who are talking in the back. I glance over to Professor Barlow’s desk. Damn, he’s so attractive there should be some kind of rule against it, however Marsh has called dibs. The professor looks up and smiles. “Good morning Magnolia. Feel free to take a seat anywhere. Are you ready for your first day of classes?”
The room is set up with five desks in rows on each side of the walkway in the middle of the room; the side opposite of the door is next to a wall of windows, with the Professor’s desk in the corner and all the desks facing a whiteboard.
I walk over to the desk in the front row, closest to the windows. “I actually am. I’m excited to learn more about magic and the history of it than what we are taught in the lower grades.”
“Well, then, I hope you enjoy my class!” He turns to greet the other students walking in.
I’m bent over getting my textbook, notebook, and pen out of my bag that I've set between me and the wall when someone sits down next to me. Setting everything in front of me, I turn tointroduce myself. When I look over, I’m struck speechless. The guy next to me is the most stunning man I’ve ever seen with his long inky black hair. There is a strip of pure white in the very front, a pair of deep emerald green eyes, and with his features I’d guess he’s Native American. He smells like the ocean; a blend of sea salt and ozone, with a hint of coconut. He clears his throat, and it’s clear he was checking me out as well. When I manage to make eye contact, I feel a tugging sensation in my chest.
He sucks in a breath, we are frozen in place staring at each other. I can’t explain it, but I feel drawn to him like a moth to flame. Something slams, causing both of us to jerk out of the trance we were in.
“Um, hi, I’m Magnolia.” I look at him shyly.
“Rehan.” His voice is deep and smooth. He gives me a small smile. God, how can someone be so freaking hot? The pulling in my chest intensifies, and I see him subtly rub at his as well. Oh boy. I don’t know what it means but I’m sure something is going on.
Ican barely focus on a word the professor says. I was so excited for this class but now I’m going to tank it because I can’t function like this. I'm crawling out of my skin sitting next to Rehan. I have never felt such a strong urge to reach out and touch someone before. It’s like a compulsion. He keeps brushing his arms and legs up against mine, sending chills through my body.
“Miss Sutherland, do you know the answer?”
At Professor Barlow’s words I jerk my eyes up. “Uhh, no, I’m sorry Professor. I don’t.”Know the answer? Fuck I don’t even know the question.
Pursing his lips, he glances around the room. “Does anyone know how we got our magic?”
Rehan quietly clears his throat and raises his hand. When the Professor nods at him, he answers, “The current theory is that magic comes from the Gods. According to the lore, when they created Earth and the other realms, the Gods wanted to make creatures to take care of who worshiped them. When the Gods came to Earth they would fall in love with their creations and the offspring would have characteristics of their God parent. Thosetraits were passed on to create what we call witches, shifters, and all the other things that go bump in the night.”
Professor Barlow hums appreciatively under his breath. “Correct, mister…?”
“Rehan Stone, sir,” my sexy desk partner mumbles, ducking his head like he’s embarrassed to be acknowledged for knowing the answer.
