“Well, for sure, the person to talk to is Ms. Cain for almost everything. She’s a strange duck, for sure, but she’ll know how to point you in the right direction. I swear, she’s a walking encyclopedia.”
“Good to know. Can you point her out when we get inside?” he says, his breath billowing out in clouds in the chill morning air. Even the tip of his nose has begun to turn pink.
“You can’t miss her. She’s the main admin. We have to go to her to first,” I say, reaching for the handle of the massive door.
“Cool. Makes things easy,” Wade says, grabbing hold of the door as it opens and shooing me through. He gives me a sideways glance and shakes his head. “That’s my job, woman.”
My lips curve upward and I step to the side, allowing people to go around us. “I know how to open a door, Angel.”
“I’m sure you do. That’s not the point,” Wade says, giving me a knowing look.
“Hey there, guys,” a familiar voice rings out.
I look up, surprised to see Cat bounding down the hallway and heading toward us. Her black hair is twisted into a bun on the top of her head and she’s dressed up like one of the head mistresses you’d see in Harry Potter or something. Regardless of all of that, she looks good. Like she’s finally gotten the rest she desperately needed so her body could heal after the car accident and everything that followed.
Trailing behind her is Colton, dressed in a grey suit and a tie that doesn’t exactly look uniform. Despite his obvious attempt at also dressing up, he remains ever the same when his gaze locks on the floor as he shuffles toward us.
When Cat reaches me, she wraps her arms around my neck and holds on tight. My eyes widen as I look at Wade, whose eyebrows rise into his hairline. I wrap my arms around her, returning her embrace.
“Cat, why are you here? You don’t need orientation. Besides, shouldn’t you still be in bed?” I ask, pulling back. “I thought the doctors were giving you a couple of weeks more before your system was back to normal?”
“I couldn’t spend another day in that room. I was about to climb the walls. Besides, Ms. Cain asked Colton and me to help with new student tours, so…here we are.” She beams, turning back to Colton. “What are you doing back there? Yeesh, you’re so awkward.”
Colton juts out his chin, but his lips slide into a sideways grin.
“Yeah, uh, sorry guys. Good to see you both,” he says, glancing between me and Wade before his gaze drops back to the floor.
My insides clench, and I bite my lip. I haven’t spoken to Colton since the day we resurrected Cat—and the day he kissed me. It’s just been too weird.
Clearing my throat, I step forward, sweeping my hand out to the side. “Guys, you remember my boyfriend, Wade, right?”
Cat grins broadly. “Yep, sure do. We didn’t get much time to chat, but I feel like I know everything about you. Autumn is absolutely enamored.”
Shooting her a sideways glance, I mutter under my breath, “Cat.”
She takes a step backward, shaking her head. “I, uh… I meant to say, I’m totally looking forward to getting to know you, Wade.” A big, cheesy grin erupts on her face and she raises her eyebrows. Then she shifts her gaze back to me like whatever she just said totally made up for the humiliation I feel coming my way.
I run my hand over my face.
Wade chuckles, turning from me to Cat. “The feeling is mutual. Autumn’s told me a lot about you both. I’m looking forward to being around more.” His eyes float to Colton, who glances up just in time to catch Wade’s discerning gaze. The tension between the two of them settles between us like a heavy fog.
Inhaling sharply, I take Wade’s hand and say, “Well, on that note, we better get moving. We have to go see Ms. Cain and get Wade to his orientation session. See you guys around?”
“Okay, catch ya around. If you end up in the Elemental Magic wing, stop by and say hi. It’s where we’ll be,” Cat says, spinning around on her heel as I drag Wade past them and down the hall.
“Sounds good. We’ll come find you,” I say, waving.
Cat waves back, but Colton grabs hold of her arm, dragging her down the hallway in the opposite direction. He leans closer, whispering something in her ear, and she glances back at us with a confused look.
Shaking it off, we walk through the open door to the admissions office and get in line. There are a lot more people here this semester, and a lot less panic going on in the halls. It’s a nice change. My spirits lift a little bit.
Maybe this semester will be different? Maybe I’ll finally get into a groove, learn more about my powers, and get to have my boyfriend by my side. Maybe…all of my worries are completely unfounded.
Leaning in to Wade, I whisper, “I promise you, I have only said good things to Cat.”
A soft chuckle escapes his lips. “I’m not worried about that.” He shifts to his other foot and itches his eyebrow. “I am, however, still concerned about her brother.”
I swallow hard. “Why?”
“I read people pretty well, and there’s something going on with him,” he says.
“Well, his twin sister recently died and came back,” I say under my breath. “I’m sure that messes with a person.”
Wade shakes his head. “No, that’s not it. I mean, maybe it’s some of it—but he’s not weird with her. He’s weird around you. Or maybe just me. Either way, it tells me he’s still got a thing for you. He hasn’t tried anything, has he?”
My eyes widen and my pulse skyrockets. This is hardly the time or place to explain everything that happened. “I uh, what do you—”
“Next,” Ms. Cain calls out in her bored drawl.
“I think she means us,” Wade says, leaning in and tilting his head toward the desk.
Surprised, I twist around him to have a look. Ms. Cain’s eyes blink slowly behind her thick-rimmed glasses, and she waves us forward.
“Oh, yeah. Hi. Hello, Ms. Cain. How have you been?” I sputter, trying to reign in my racing pulse.
She quirks a mousy-brown eyebrow over the top rim of her bold, black glasses.
I clear my throat. “This is Wade. Wade Hoffman. He’s a new student and taking part in the festivities today.”
“Festivities? Haven’t quite heard it put that way before. Are you trying to be humorous, Ms. Blackwood?” Ms. Cain says, narrowing her gaze.
I sit there for a moment, trying to decide if she’s messing with me, or if she’s serious. It’s so hard to tell.
“Don’t get your knickers in a twist. Breathe—you’ll live longer,” she finally says, passing a packet of information over the granite countertop. “Mr. Hoffman, if I could get your ID and signature on the top form, I’d greatly appreciate it. It allows us to bill the card on file for tuition.”
Wade’s complexion pales and he licks his lower lip. “Uh, sure. Absolutely.” He reaches into his back pocket, pulling out his wallet and sliding his driver’s license across to her.
“Thank you,” she says in her slow lilt, taking the ID and running it through a tiny scanner on the side of her desk. “Should all hell not break loose, you’ll be taking pictures today for your student ID. Just in case, and until it’s ready, this will help me put a face to your name. Plus, if we need to hunt you down, it has your address on it.”