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  “Welcome, Miss Kyler. We’ve been expecting you. Why don’t you introduce yourself to the class?” He sat down at his desk so I would have the center stage.

  As I took my place at the front of the class, Nova took her seat at the back. I scanned the rest of the students and paused when my eyes landed on the familiar face of the boy from the restaurant.

  They all looked at me expectantly. Should I do a nice introduction or the one I wanted?

  “The name’s Kyler and I couldn’t care less to get to know any of you, so stay out of my way.”

  My confession was met with silence. The students shot me weird looks and a couple appeared to be nervous. It took me a bit to realize that I was glaring maliciously at them. The teacher cleared his throat and rushed to my side.

  “Um, thank you, I think.” He cleared his throat again. “How about you go take the empty seat in front of Remy?”

  The only empty seat I saw was in front of the guy from the restaurant and far from Nova. A groan left my lips as I took my seat. Who had I already pissed off at this school to be having such bad luck already?

  A few eyes lingered on me as Mr. Callahan addressed the class again. “We’ll pick back up on Chapter Twelve of The Scarlet Letter. Kyler, have you read this book yet?”

  “Never heard of it,” I admitted.

  “Well, we’re so far into it, but do you think you can catch up?” he questioned.

  “By catch up you mean read the book?”

  He nodded his head and looked at me expectantly, as did the students. It was ridiculous that he was giving me the option. Reading a book was so elementary and not worth wasting a class on it in the elemental society. Humans were dumber than I’d anticipated.

  “I’m pretty sure I’m capable of reading a book.” My tone held attitude in it, but I didn’t regret it. It was as if he thought I was too stupid to be able to catch up.

  Mr. Callahan swallowed visibly. His eyes shifted between the students before refocusing back on me. The students were watching to see what he was going to do.

  “I’m not sure what school you attended before here, but at Easterly, we don’t tolerate that kind of attitude. You need to address me with respect.” He nodded his head like he was proud of his response.

  My eyebrows rose. Who did this human think he was? “Well, at the school I came from before here, the teachers also respected their students. I don’t appreciate you making it sound like I’m too dumb to read a book. I’m neither fragile nor daft, so don’t treat me as such. Now, do you have a copy of this book or is it something I need to go get?”

  He blinked at me, just blinked at me, frozen where he stood. His jaw was rigid from clenching his teeth. Stiffly, he grabbed a book from the bin beside his desk and handed it over to me. “You can start it in the principal’s office.” He pointed out the door, gesturing for me to leave.

  “And where’s that exactly?”

  His face was so red with anger that I could almost see steam coming out of his ears.

  “I can show her,” a male voice said behind me.

  I turned and of course it would be him. He kept his attention on Mr. Callahan, not even meeting my eyes.

  “Please do,” Mr. Callahan muttered.

  I gathered my belongings quickly and followed the boy out the door. His walk was relaxed, like he didn’t have a care in the world. Staying behind him, I was able to take him in without his knowledge. For a human, he was pretty good looking and I realized he wasn’t a boy at all. He was more manly up close than I’d anticipated. His body was lean with taut muscles in his arms. His hands were in his pockets of his jeans and the sleeves of his blue button up were rolled up to his elbows. His skin was tanned, like he spent a lot of his time outdoors. His russet hair was a mess, unlike the last time I saw it.

  “You shouldn’t antagonize Mr. Callahan like that.” His deep voice caught me off guard as it penetrated the silent hall. “You also shouldn’t walk around with that air of superiority around you. I’m not sure where you’re from, but you won’t make friends by thinking you’re better than them.”

  “Says the guy who enjoys picking on timid waitresses with his friends,” I retorted.

  He slowed until I was at his side and had a smirk on his face. “You saw that, did ya? Watching me, were ya?”

  “Anyone with eyes could’ve seen that. You have no right to lecture me. At least I don’t prey on the weak that won’t stand up for themselves.”

  “But you did just that when you picked on Mr. Callahan.”

  “That’s not the same thing at all,” I argued. This guy was insufferable, or was that the thrill that went through me when he looked at me? “I was standing up for myself. Besides, if he’s weak, but still a teacher, then it’s no wonder why your society is stupid.”

  “What makes you smart enough to judge all of us?” His eyes were narrowed, but they weren’t hostile. Instead, they were more curious. He was trying to read me. Too bad for him I wasn't an open book.

  I tried collecting my thoughts before answering. I guess I was judging them, but I didn’t like the idea of associating with humans. To me, they were weaker and not as smart in comparison to elementals, but I couldn’t tell him that. He couldn’t know what I was. The better question was why were we still talking? Something about him was alluring though and made me want to talk to him. I chalked it up to my girly hormones that were attracted to his features. I didn’t realize humans were so good looking.

  “I guess I just don’t care to get to know any of you,” I finally answered as we stopped in front of the office where I’d gotten my schedule.

  “Well that makes for a sad and lonely life.”

  “I’m neither sad nor lonely, so I think I’ll be just fine,” I quipped.

  “And I’m neither stupid nor boring, so hit me up if you change your mind.”

  “Hit you up? You want me to punch you?”

  He chuckled at my question. “And you think I’m dumb? It means come talk to me.”

  I bristled. “I never said you specifically were stupid, and just because I’m not up to date with your lingo doesn’t mean I’m stupid. Besides, wouldn’t it be easier to say what you mean instead of making people guess it?”

  “This is a very strange conversation. Where are you from, again? I don’t detect an accent, but you can’t be from around here.”

  Man, I was sticking out like a sore thumb. So much for trying to remain invisible. My mind blanked on the response, forgetting my cover story.

  “Nevermind,” he added after I didn’t say anything. “I have to get back to class. Mrs. Hildebrand is the principal and she’s located straight towards the back of the office. She should be expecting you. Later.”

  With that, he left and I shamelessly watched him leave. That was the weirdest encounter I’d had and unlike what I’d anticipated at all. Humans were going to be harder to blend in with than I expected. Apparently, they had their own set of sayings too.

  Chapter Five: Remy

  My footsteps echoed in the quiet halls as I meandered back to class. How could I be attracted to her? She thought she was above everyone else. She had no right to act that way no matter who or what she was in this world. She didn’t even look at me like I was a person and it bothered me that I was so entranced by her every move when she didn’t even acknowledge my existence.

  I’d thought it was fate when she walked into the class. Now, I understood that fate was laughing in my face. It was like some cliche teen movie and I was the fool.

  The class was silently reading when I returned. They all looked up at me and their eyes lingered as I took my seat. Probably to see if I would give anything away about what happened with Kyler. My seat was cold when I slid into it and I opened my book. I even actually started to read, but Ethan had to break what little concentration I had.

  “Dude,” he whispered as he slapped my back from behind. “So, what happened? Did she get chewed out?”

  I shot him a hard look over my shoulder. “I
don’t know. It’s not like I went into the principal’s office with her.”

  “Well, you didn't eavesdrop or anything?” he pushed.

  “I already said no. Now, shut up before you get us in troub—”

  “You boys have something you’d like to share with the class?” Mr. Callahan glared down at us in warning.

  “No, sir,” Ethan answered with a smirk.

  “Then, I suggest you two get back to your silent reading or I’ll pull out a pop quiz for the class,” he threatened.

  The class responded with angry muttering, but Mr. Callahan shut them up with one look. Ethan stopped pestering me after that. I was happy about that because both he and I probably would’ve flunked that quiz along with the majority of the class. This book was hard to follow. I got the gist of it, but it was the little details that managed to slip by me. Those things were what Mr. Callahan loved to pick out for the quizzes and tests.

  I held my book in front of my face and tried my hardest to read the words, but couldn’t process a thing. I was frustrated by the way Kyler was acting. It was as if she thought she was better than humans. If only she knew I was more like her than she thought. She would be acting differently if so.

  My parents warned me that other elementals weren't as accepting about humans as my dad was. My dad was an elemental, but my mom was a human so I was a half-breed. Now that I thought more about it, Kyler would probably still scowl down at me because I was part human. What did she know? We weren’t that bad.

  I looked around at the class. From what I’d learned, we’d come a long way considering we used to be cavemen who knew nothing and had discovered fire. This was a stupid thing for me to think about. If that was how Kyler would be then she would just miss out on a lot of amazing things in life.

  I refocused on the book, but the words had grown blurry. I rubbed viciously at my eyes. These contacts were getting drier and drier and it was about time for a new set. They were sticking to my eyes and it was irritating. Blinking did nothing to help either. If only I didn’t have to wear these dang things, but it was the only way to hide my golden eyes.

  Class let out finally and I was more than ready to get out of there. Ethan waited for me with a bemused expression while I finished packing my bag.

  “Man, that new girl is feisty. You think I have a chance with her?” he mused.

  “Probably not. She’s a little too feisty even for you. I personally think she has an antisocial disorder.”

  “I can work with that. She’s hot enough that I can look beyond her attitude.”

  “Who do you think you’re kidding? You only want to get her in to your bed for one night and then ditch her.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. So, you think I can?”

  “Doubt it.”

  “Ugh,” he groaned and left it at that.

  He wasn’t going to let it go that easily and I would enjoy watching him fail. It would be highly entertaining and I hoped he would make his move when he was around me. I wouldn’t want to miss that show.

  On my way to my next class, I found myself wondering how Kyler made out in the principal’s office. Ethan was right about one thing. She was gorgeous. She had that elemental grace and flawlessness that my dad always had. It was hard to think of a grown man as graceful, but he was.

  Thoughts of Kyler made me forget Isabelle was in my next class and I had to mentally prepare myself when I saw her sitting in the desk next to mine. How this girl managed to stay in our group of friends was beyond me.

  She batted her eyelashes at me as I approached and I mentally groaned. This was not going to be a fun hour. I hoped it would fly by, but luck wasn’t really on my side these days.

  Chapter Six: Kyler

  The lady who’d given me my schedule smiled at me encouragingly as I walked passed her. Was I supposed to be nervous? This principal was just another human. How bad could she be?

  Mrs. Hildebrand stood as I entered. She had long brown hair that went past her shoulders and bangs that stopped at her eyebrows. Her dark brown eyes were kind but held authority. It was astounding how many temperate humans I’d run into.

  “Please, take a seat, Miss Yates.” Her voice was stern and she sat back in her chair after I sat in the one placed in front of her desk. “I’m sure you’ve already heard that I’m Mrs. Hildebrand, the principal. I expected to see you sent to my office, but not this quickly. Your mother has already warned me that you were going to take some time to adjust since this is the first public school you’ve ever been to. Just keep in mind that we are here to help you, not hold you back.”

  I wanted to argue that making me read as a class was the definition of holding me back, but I remained quiet as she continued. I hoped that silence would get me out of here faster.

  “Mr. Callahan told me that you were rather rude to him, when he was simply making sure you’d be able to catch up with the rest of the class.”

  “Like I wouldn’t be able to catch up with reading a book,” I interrupted sarcastically. “A pointless class like that holds me back.”

  Dang, so much for holding my tongue. I need to work on that.

  “It’s not only about reading. It’s also comprehending what you read,” she explained as if that made it more beneficial.

  “If you need help comprehending it, then you’re stupid and deserve to sit through that class. If not, then we shouldn’t be forced to waste our time.”

  “You didn’t have literature at your previous school?” She clasped her hands together and leaned forward.

  “No, we didn’t. We read in our spare time.”

  “Well, they have a good bit of faith in you guys. I don’t see the majority of the students here reading if they weren’t forced to.”

  “That’s just sad.”

  I wasn’t going to admit that I didn’t particularly enjoy reading either.

  A bell sounded and I looked around for the source.

  She grunted. “That’s the bell for your next class. Miss Yates, I want you to go to your remaining classes with an open mind and actually try to participate in them. They are there to guide you to a better future, not weigh you down. As for your English class, I expect you to exceed in it since you do so much reading. The next time I see you in this office, there will be punishment. Got it?”

  I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and instead, nodded my head, and she shooed me out.

  The hallway was buzzing with people hurrying to get to their next class. I felt my pockets and groaned when I realized I’d never gotten my schedule back from Nova. Instead of freaking out, I decided to walk around aimlessly. Maybe I would run into her or maybe I would miss my next class altogether. The latter seemed more likely, but to my surprise, Nova found me in the main hallway.

  “I was looking for you,” she exclaimed and sounded out of breath. “I have your schedule. Your next class is algebra and it’s down the three hundred wing. I’ll show you real quick before going to mine.” She walked briskly and motioned to a room when she stopped. “This is it. Your class after that is science, which is just down the hall. You should be able to find that one on your own. Good luck.”

  She darted off and I entered the room. Numbers and letters were written all over the board. It looked like some other type of language. The teacher was a broad lady who had glasses sitting on her nose. Her curly red hair was pinned up and her teeth were crooked when she smiled.

  “You must be Kyler. Mr. Callahan has warned me that you’ve already caused some trouble in his class, so how about you take an empty seat in the back? You stay out of my way and I’ll stay out of yours. Whether you pass or fail is entirely up to you.”

  Liking her reasoning, I took the seat in the back without saying anything in return. This was my type of class. Nobody said anything as I passed and the teacher began her lecture without making me introduce myself. Whatever she was talking about confused the heck out of me though. She was referring to different formulas that helped you get different numerical answers. We hadn’t lea
rned anything like this at Westville and I wondered how this was meant to benefit my future. We only learned basics like addition and subtraction to get by. There wasn't a need for formulas in the elemental society.

  Deciding not to care about this class either and ignoring Mrs. Hildebrand’s instructions, I spaced out and my thoughts took me back to the sword. It was strange that I found myself wanting to hold it again. What could’ve it meant that the power of four is what I’d have? Was it a look into the future or did I have a lapse in my sanity?

  Jeremiah would hopefully know something about it. I’d have to call him once I got home. I’d forgotten to tell him about it last time. I was hoping he’d check out the secret room again too since I wasn’t there and didn’t get a good look last time. The sword and that room meant something. I had no idea what it could be and my partner-in-crime wasn’t around to help me figure it out either.

  My hands clenched into fists. I wanted nothing more than to start playing with my flames. They always helped me clear my mind. That was just another thing to add to why I missed Westville. We weren’t meant to be forcing our element to remain hidden. It was an energy that was part of us and needed to be freed every now and then, and now was definitely one of those times.

  I looked at my white knuckles. The clenching did nothing to help. The room was closing in on me and the air was growing thicker. My anxiety was surging and I needed out of this class. Raising my hand, I asked if I could be excused to the bathroom. The teacher didn’t even bat her eyes at me as she waved me out and I realized she’d never told me her name.

  I remembered Nova showing me the bathrooms that were at the beginning of each wing and burst through the door. Peering under the stalls, I was grateful to see that nobody was in here with me. A shaky breath left my lungs as I held my hands out in front. With palms up, I generated fire into the palms. The reddish-orange flames licked my skin and I felt my tension slowly leave as they swayed.