“What?” Taya squeals in a high pitch scream; my head still hurts from the change, and I wince at the sound. “How can you say something like that? We’ve got so many ideas for the future. The power we have here can be transferred to the council, and ultimately we’ll lead that one day. You and I alongside the King. He’ll listen to our every word about how to run the magical world. I thought that’s what we both wanted. You’re trying to tell me all that’s changed, just because Little Miss Sad and Dowdy has returned to school. Jesus, Jacobi, you’re an idiot, and you’re going to throw everything we’ve worked for away. I won’t let you do it. I mean it. You will sit beside me at lunchtime, and we’ll show everyone just how powerful we are. If you don’t, then I might just have to hurt that little witch, badly. I mean it, I’ll see her ruined and destroyed. I won’t fail in my power.”
I take one look at Taya. She’s pretty, probably a lot prettier than Juniper if you go for the fake hair and nails type of thing, and I’m sure her boobs aren’t real. But inside the package, the facade of innocence and caring she portrays, there’s a woman dead set on stepping over as many people as possible to get to the top. I believed in it once, but not anymore. I know a power far greater than the one she desires, I hold it within me…life or death.
Without answering her, I turn on my heels and walk away. She screams after me but I ignore her and her pettiness. She couldn’t do anything to Juniper. Taya’s no match for her.
Making my way to the spells class, I stop again when I see Emmie and Juniper talking to two male students from the class, Sebastian and James. They are laughing and joking together, James close to Emmie and Sebastian watching Juniper intently. I feel it inside my chest, my heart breaking, as I continue to observe them. Neither of the guys are popular. They’re the sort who show up and do their work but endeavour to stay out of any cliques. Sebastian holds his hand out when Juniper pulls her books from the locker. She hands them to him and all four of them walk off, Sebastian carrying Juniper’s books.
All I can do is stare after them.
The only way to stop me changing is to keep away from Juniper.
For her to fall in love with someone else.
Without further thought, I turn around and head out into the car park where I left my car last night. I pull my keys from my pocket and unlocking it, I get in.
And the only way for me to stop wanting her is to leave the one place I’ve always felt at home.
I pull out of my parking spot, and putting the car into drive, I take off. Destination unknown as long as it’s anywhere but Caspian Academy.
I haven’t seen Jacobi all day. I shouldn’t be actively looking for him; in fact, I should be avoiding him…actively. Still, when I don’t see him in my last class of the day, which happens to be our spells class with Miss Bell, I’m worried.
“With or without your partner, Juniper, I expect the work to be done,” Miss Bell tells me as the class comes to a close and I’m preparing to get the hell out of school for the day.
“Yes, Miss Bell,” I reply, happy that Jacobi and I have already completed half the work, and seeing as we managed that in about forty minutes with thirty-five of those minutes spent arguing, I’m sure we’ll be fine.
Smiling to myself as I think about us arguing, I walk out of the classroom closely followed by Emmie.
“Hey, you look happy to see me,” Sebastian chuckles, stepping up to me as I walk through the door.
I keep the smile plastered on my lips. “Yeah, plus it’s the end of the day,” I add, doing a silly little jig.
“End of the week, so it’s even better,” Emmie singsongs as James slings an arm around her shoulders.
“You want to head over to Nando’s and grab something to eat?” Sebastian asks, looking around at us.
“Sure.”
“Sounds good.”
“Erm, I’m not really hungry but happy to tag along,” I answer with a smile.
In truth, it’s the last thing I want to do, but for Emmie, I will. Also there’s the little fact that I need to try this relationship thing with a different boy. I need to see if I can develop feelings for someone other than Jacobi.
Sebastian grabs my hand in his, and I feel awkward. Unlike only yesterday when Jacobi held my hand, this feels unnatural. Is my hand sweating? Is he squeezing my fingers too tightly? His hand is cold. Ugh, no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to stop being stiff around him.
“Do you want me to let go of your hand?” Sebastian asks, a genuine look of concern in his brown eyes.
I glance down at our joined hands as we continue walking behind James and Emmie towards James’s car, and I remember I’m supposed to be trying with someone else. I’m supposed to be forgetting about Jacobi. It’s the healthy thing to do. I have to remind myself his draw to me is only because of his Guardian powers. In fact, I’m pretty sure his Guardian side likes me and his witch side hates me. I can’t let Jacobi make a mistake because he’s unnaturally drawn to me. If he loved me… for me, we could try to figure this kissing thing out, but I can’t sit around pining and end up feeling like my heart is being ripped out of my chest. I look at Sebastian again. No, this is the right thing to do.
“No, I’m just not used to it. I don’t really date,” I explain.
He smiles softly at me. “Well, I’ll be honest with you right now. I hope you continue not to date, unless it’s with me.”
I force the smile to stay on my face. I know I can’t keep dating Sebastian if I don’t develop true feelings for him, but I also know sometimes feelings take a while to develop, so it’s only right to give this a shot.
Sebastian doesn’t let go of my hand when Emmie tilts the passenger seat forwards, allowing us to climb in the back. She raises her eyebrow at me before sinking into the front seat next to James. I roll my eyes at her, and luckily Sebastian is looking out of the window.
We stuff our faces full of chicken. Well, I don’t as I’m still not hungry. My mind is wholly focused on where Jacobi could be. Before we leave the restaurant, I pull my phone out and check, for about the tenth time, I have no messages.
“Why are you glued to your phone tonight?” Emmie asks with a frown.
“My mum,” I reply. It’s a lie which she accepts completely, and I know no more will be said.
The problem is Jacobi hasn’t sent me a single message, and I really want to be near him right now.
“You wanna watch a film?” James asks, nodding towards the cinema as we walk out of the restaurant doors.
I open my mouth to say no, but everyone else jumps at the idea. I need James to take me home unless I want a three bus journey or to travel by spell, which will no doubt get me into more trouble than it’s worth. So, dutifully I go into the cinema with the others. They debate for a moment what to watch and end up choosing a romantic comedy. Honestly, at this moment I would have preferred the horror. Sebastian goes to pay for my ticket and I stop him.
“I’ll pay for my own.” The crestfallen look on his face makes me feel bad, but I stick to my guns and pay for my own ticket. Emmie frowns and shakes her head at me, clearly trying to communicate something. I turn back to Sebastian. “Sorry, I’m weird about that sort of thing.” Lie two. I have a feeling my lies are going to spiral around this guy.