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His expression doesn't change.

“You're wearing a name tag.”

Oh.

Right.

I look down at the little gold badge pinned over my left breast.

PROFESSOR AGATHA DANIELS

ALCHEMY

“Yep, I sure am.”

Excellent work, Aggie.

Really showing off that advanced education tonight.

“People call me Aggie.”

“Aggie.”

The way he says it shouldn't do anything to me.

It's my name. Two syllables.

I've heard it approximately nine billion times in my life. But his deep voice curls around those two syllables like they belong in his mouth.

I swallow.

“And you are...”

I let the question hang there.

His brow furrows.

“I just told you.”

“I got the name. I meant, what are you doing here?”

“Oh.”

Now he's amused. I can tell.

There's the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth.

“Back to School Night.”

“Yes.”

I wait. He doesn't elaborate.

“Are you someone's parent?”

“No.”

“Guardian?”