“When’s dinner?” Tsukiko asked.
Frances reached into her bag and pulled out a granola bar, handing it over to Tsukiko who immediately devoured it. Wolves had huge appetites that made them snack constantly. We’d learned to keep snacks on hand for our friend or she got a little testy.
“I think dinner is around midnight,” I answered.
“That’s so far away,” she groaned around a mouthful of granola and chocolate chips.
We took another step forward.
“At this rate, we won’t even make it to any of our classes,” Frances said with a sigh.
“I’d be okay with that,” I replied.
Looking around at the other students, I saw most grumbling to each other as well.
I started to turn around when I saw a handsome jawline and a prominent nose. Bogden. He was mostly human looking, except for his yellow eyes with a slit similar to a cat's. I tried to blame it on being a reaper, and having a love of cats who were half in and half out of this world, but it was more than that. Bogden was kind and would stop to help another student pick up dropped papers, even if it meant he was late to his class and got in trouble.
He was also completely out of my league, and my dad hated immortals, so, just like my idiot friends, I was also crushing on an unobtainable man.
No, I wasn’t crushing. I was just admiring. I could admire from afar. And I totally never thought about kissing him.
Almost never.
Rarely.
Not often.
Okay, daily.
“So, we’ve now confirmed that all three of us are hopeless?” Tsukiko asked with a knowing smirk.
I turned back around and lifted my nose. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just looking around. I’m allowed to look.”
“Yeah, but that blush on your cheeks says you were doing more than looking,” Frances said and poked my cheek.
I smacked her hand away. “Reapers do not blush.”
Both of my friends rolled their eyes at me.
“Jerks,” I muttered.
“Just admit it,” Frances said.
“Nope,” I replied and crossed my arms.
“Okay, but he’s about to come over here,” Tsukiko said.
I spun, eyes wide, to find out she was a liar.
I hissed at her. “You’re such a brat.”
She doubled over in laughter, and Frances joined her.
I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”
Another step forward.
“Won’t the doc be asleep?” I asked Frances.
She shook her head. “She rarely sleeps.”
The doctor was so weird. It wasn’t just that she was immortal, but that she was definitely insane. It made her a great evil scientist, but super kooky.
After what seemed like hours, we made it to the front and got our schedules.
We shuffled off to the side to compare our classes and the three of us looked up with wide smiles.
We were in all of the same classes together.
“I owe your dad a batch of my famous chocolate chip and stardust cookies,” Frances said.
“Only if you make a batch for us, too,” Tsukiko said immediately.
I nodded my agreement. Her cookies were the best.
We looked down at our watches, and Tsukiko said in a super chipper voice, “Dinner time!”
She skipped off in front of us, her tail high and ears perked.
“I’m pretty hungry, too,” I admitted.
Frances nodded. “Yep. Same.”
We jogged to catch up to Tsukiko, locked arms, and hurried to the cafeteria.
There was already a long line of students waiting to get food, which made Tsukiko whine and her tail droop.
“At least we are here ahead of all those other students who still have to get their schedules,” I said to try to cheer her up.
“Yeah, I’m sure we will get the best food,” Frances added.
“You think they’ll have dessert?” I asked.
Frances shook her head with a smirk. “You’re such a sugar addict.”
“I’m not an addict. I can stop after one more cookie,” I said and pouted.
“You’re going to get fat if you don’t stop eating all that sugar,” Frances said.
I glared at her. “Just because you and Tsukiko don’t gain weight no matter what you eat.”
“Don’t be mad at us,” Tsukiko said, tossing one of her braids over her shoulder.
“Any idea what the meal options are like here?” I asked and looked around the room to try to see what those already eating had on their plates.
Tsukiko tilted her head as she raised her nose in the air and inhaled. “There are too many smells for me to differentiate. So, hopefully, that means there are several options.”
With so many different species in one place, I assumed there would be lots of options, but that didn’t necessarily mean that there were several options for those like me who ate more human-like food.
“Hey, what are you girls up to after classes?” Bogden asked behind me.
I tensed, my heart pounding fast in my chest, and a bit of my dark magic seeped out of my fingers before I shoved them in my pockets.
“We aren’t sure yet,” Frances said, glancing at me for a moment before smiling at Bogden. “Why?”
He walked around me so I could see him and said, “A few of us are planning on having a get together tonight.” He looked around to make sure no adults were near. “Just some light fun, of course.”
“Where?” Frances asked. “Maybe we can stop by.”
Bogden held out a folded up piece of paper to me with a smile. “We’ll start at five. I hope to see you there.” He glanced at Frances and Tsukiko. “All three of you.”
I swallowed and took the paper, basically snatching it from him so he wouldn’t see the black smoke leaking from my hand. “Thanks,” I breathed.
He smiled and walked away.
I slouched forward, my body feeling exhausted after having been tense for so long.
Tsukiko patted my back. “If it makes you feel better, you only looked slightly terrified when facing him.”
I groaned softly and put my head in my hands. “Crap.”
Frances took the note from my hand and read it. “You guys want to make an appearance?”
Tsukiko shrugged. “Why not? It should be fun.”
I shrugged, too. “Sure.”
Tsukiko smirked. “Don’t act like you aren’t dying to see as much of Bogden as you can.”
“Oh, I want to see him as much as I can, but I don’t want to see all the girls that will be hanging off of him tonight,” I whispered.
Frances narrowed her eyes. “Yeah, I’m not sure I can control my anger.”
“You’ll have to,” Tsukiko said. “Because we are going.”
“Are you going to be able to suppress your jealousy when girls flirt with Rathik?” I asked and folded my arms across my chest.
She growled. “They won’t.” Her ears flattened to her head and her tail twitched behind her.
I arched a brow as she had just proven my point for me.
“Whatever, let’s just get some food and worry about what club we’re going to choose,” Tsukiko snapped and spun away from us.
Frances and I smiled at each other.