Snow turned the world white, except where it was a dirty gray along the road. The plants were all asleep, and Aiden imagined he could feel them waiting under the earth. Or could he actually sense them with his powers?
Toby and Tina waved to him from the corner.
“What classes did you get?” Toby asked.
It was the start of a new semester, and Aiden was nervous all over again. His good mood faded at the reminder. “I got moved into the intermediate class for Major Magical Control.”
“Oh, wow.” Toby’s eyes widened. “With the sophomores?”
Aiden nodded.
“You must be really good,” Tina said.
“Normally I’d be excited to get advanced placement, but this is the one class I don’t want it in.” He was also worried about Minor Magical Control. The shift in classes might mean he wouldn’t have it with Maggie anymore, and he didn’t know what he’d do without her help.
“You’ll do fine,” Toby said.
The bus pulled up and they got on. Toby slid in beside him.
“Lemme see your list.” Toby pulled out his, which was crumpled from being shoved in his pocket.
Aiden took his from where he’d tucked it carefully in the front pouch of his backpack.
“Oh! We have homeroom together.” Toby smiled, then stuck out his tongue. “Yuck. Math first thing in the morning.”
“I like math. Numbers always make sense.” Not like magic. Not like the weird life he’d been sucked into.
Toby leaned his head back. “Math is borrrring.”
Aiden laughed and shook his head.
“Do you have any classes with Dylan?” Tina asked.
“Major Magical Control.” Aiden’s stomach jittered. He’d forgiven Dylan for burning him, but he wasn’t eager to see his friend throwing flames around. “And bio.” They’d compared classes the day the schedules arrived in the mail.
Tina smiled. “If you got moved to the intermediate class, of course he did. And bio, that’s nice. You know who your lab partner will be.”
“Yeah.” At least he was starting out the semester along with everyone else, not late like at the beginning of the school year. If he worked hard, he might earn advance placement in one or two classes for next year. English, probably, and maybe math.
The first two hours were a blur of syllabi, books being passed out, grading systems, and class expectations. Then Aiden walked across the snowy school yard to the annex building. Dylan was already waiting in the locker room, tying his shoes.
“Hey,” he said with a slight smile. Today’s T-shirt had a grinning skull with the words Five Finger Death Punch written across it. Considering all his other shirts had been music related, Aiden assumed that was a band name. How charming.
“Hi.” Aiden forced a smile.
“God, I can’t wait.” Dylan finished tying his shoes and rubbed his hands together. “Matches with the sophomores.”
Aiden went to his locker. “Oh, goody.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll do fine.” Dylan slapped him on the back and left.
When he was gone, Aiden leaned his head against the cool metal. He’d never been afraid of Dylan before. Well, Dylan had never hurt him before.
He took as long as he could, risking being late. Walking into the gym, he saw Dylan standing in the middle of the floor just like usual, and he felt a little better. Among the unfamiliar faces on the bench, he spotted the fox sisters, and that made him feel better too.
That all ended when Ms. Yang walked over with her clipboard and said, “Welcome to a new semester. We have a few ninth graders joining us who are exceptionally skilled. Dylan and Aiden, why don’t you start us off?”
Aiden’s stomach dropped. A match with Dylan? That was the last thing he wanted. “Um… I don’t…”
Dylan smiled. “C’mon. Let’s give ’em a show.” Fire flared around his clenched fists.
Sweat broke out over Aiden’s body and he got dizzy. “I don’t feel so good.” He swayed and stumbled toward the bench. His chest tingled where he’d been burned.
Ms. Yang hurried to help him sit. “Okay, just relax. Are you sick?” She looked closely at his face. “You do look really pale. Sit here for a few minutes, and I’ll have someone take you down to the nurse.”
“I’ll do it.” Dylan appeared beside him, frowning with concern. The fire was gone.
Dylan was the reason he was so afraid. It would be better if he went away, but… his worry was real, and he was Aiden’s best friend. So Aiden didn’t protest when Ms. Yang said, “Okay. Thank you, Dylan.”
Dylan sat next to him on the bench. “What happened?”
“I just didn’t feel good all of a sudden.” The lie made him feel worse. But if he said anything, it would just make Dylan feel guilty. It had been an accident.
“Let me know when you think you can walk. I’m not carrying your ass.” Dylan gave him a slight smile.
After a few minutes, Aiden took a deep breath. “I think I’m okay.” He felt a little weak, but not dizzy anymore.
“All right. Come on.” Dylan stood and offered a hand.
They stopped in the locker room for Aiden’s coat and then walked across to the main building. Dylan was missing out on his favorite class, the only class he cared about. Aiden’s chest squeezed with guilt, and he shivered as the sweat cooled on his skin.
When they got to the nurse’s office, Dylan waited outside while the nurse checked Aiden over. The nurse found nothing wrong, just like Aiden suspected, and let him go with instructions to come straight back if he had another dizzy spell.
By the time they got back, class was almost over, so they changed out of their gym clothes and headed to lunch.
“Is something wrong?” Dylan asked. “I mean, do you know what happened with you?”
“No.” Aiden kept his eyes on the floor as they entered the lunchroom.
“Okay. Just… you know, be careful.” Dylan grabbed a tray
He won’t hurt me. He never meant to. It was an accident. Things will be better tomorrow.
After a few minutes, Hanna joined them at the table, shaking Aiden out of his worried thoughts. “Hi,” she said, smiling at both of them.
Dylan gave a grunt that was almost a word.
“How are your classes so far?” she asked. “I wish I could have classes with you guys.” Hanna was a year older.
“Fine,” Aiden said.
Dylan gave him a questioning look, then shrugged and nodded. “Yeah, fine.”
“What about you?” Aiden asked.
“Well, on the bad side I have Senses first thing in the morning, but on the good side, it’s not with Conner’s pack. On the other bad side, that means I’m stuck with the ghouls.” She wrinkled her nose.
Dylan’s eyes lit with interest. “Let me know if he gives you any trouble.”
“I will.” Hanna cut into her pork chop and scooted a few inches over until she brushed shoulders with Aiden. The contact sent a little tingle through him. “I’m not scared with you two protecting me.”
Aiden’s face warmed. “Thanks.”