by Erin R Flynn
“Yeah, thanks, just getting the scoop now.”
He gave me a confused look. “Didn’t your witch advisor tell you?”
I smirked at him, knowing what he was trying to get me to say, the dragons clearly interested in the answer as well. I popped a piece of bacon in my mouth and smirked at him. “Have a nice morning, Mason.”
I picked up my tray and walked away. I wasn’t going to play that game, no way.
Especially when I knew some supes could tell if people were lying, like that falcon shifter.
I finished loading my tray and glanced around the cafeteria for the best spot to sit. I picked an empty table not far from the door. It was the most cleared out area as it was probably still early for most when classes hadn’t started yet.
Moments after I started digging in, I noticed Mr. Panty Soaker sitting two tables over, his gaze on me.
Odd. He’d been sitting three tables over yesterday at breakfast doing the same but I was in a different spot with Darby. Well, if he wanted to stalk me he was definitely the hottest one I’d ever had.
Hell, I was already fantasizing about him doing very naughty things to me on the table I was sitting at.
“Oi, what’s with ditching me for breakfast, Tamsin?” Izzy demanded, pulling me out of my dirty mind.
I blinked up at her. “We need thicker curtains. I go for a run most mornings.”
“My gods, why?” she asked, actually scrunching up her nose like I’d just said something crazy.
“It keeps me less violent,” I drawled. I was going to say more but frowned when I saw someone coming down the same way Izzy just had and Claudia was behind her. I stood, holding a finger up to Izzy.
“Thank you,” Claudia said to the woman who must have showed her the way. “Good morning, Tamsin.”
“Morning, I was going to call you after breakfast.”
She pressed her lips in a line and gave a firm nod. “Yes, we didn’t discuss a few of the pressing matters yesterday. I apologize for that as the list is rather long.”
“Yeah, no, I get it,” I accepted. “You have other clients besides me too.”
She gave me a look that said I was clearly one of the bigger—if not biggest—accounts given what I’d inherited. “Morning run?”
I snorted as I sat back down. “Yeah, never had a bear tackle me before so that was terrifying.” I winced at the look of horror on Izzy’s face. “Claudia, Izzy, my roommate. Izzy, Claudia, my attorney.”
“Nice to meet you,” Izzy said, quickly shaking hands with the woman before focusing on me again. “Why were you in the territory bears use to shift and do bear things? Didn’t the witch advisor or one of the dorm ones warn you and outline how campus is broken up?”
I shook my head when Claudia looked like she might say something, giving her a warning look that we were about to have issues. Understanding filled her eyes and the woman must really be a fantastic attorney as she was quick on her feet.
“I think it admirable you won’t be declaring what species you are,” she said firmly.
Izzy glanced between us, frowning. “But you said you’re a witch. You’re in the witch dorm.”
“I didn’t say that,” I corrected. I shrugged when she looked like she might argue. “I didn’t. I’m not going to no matter how many ask or try to get me to answer.”
“It’s smart,” Claudia cut in, gesturing around the cafeteria. “Look at the division, everyone sitting with their species. The whole purpose of our excellent and integrated education is to help stop that. You’ve been our world not even a week, a clean slate to make your own way instead of being influenced by the divisions.”
“What’s the big damn deal?” someone demanded from another table. I glanced over to see Blake jump to her feet with a growl. “Just tell us what you are. You’re not a vamp like us, we know that, so just tell us and stop with the drama.”
“If it’s not a big deal then it’s no problem if you don’t know,” I threw right back, folding my hands in front of me and setting my chin on them. I batted my eyelashes on her. “Are you sure I’m not a vamp? You can tell I’m not like you but not what I am so are you sure I’m not?” I waved off what whatever snide comment she was going to reply. “I’m not declaring. It’s stupid that everyone wants to know that first.”
Claudia turned enough to see Blake but I could still see her narrowed gaze. “She’s a supe, that’s all that matters. She’s not human and that makes her one of us. There’s your answer that you seem to believe you deserve to have.”
I snorted, liking her snark. “I’m not slapping a label on myself. People will just have to get to know me if they want to learn who I am, not what I am.”
Blake opened her mouth again and I sighed.
“You interrupt again and you’re going to foot the bill for this meeting with my attorney. Do you need to ask Mommy and Daddy if you can first?”
Izzy went a bit pale, muttering under her breath she was going for food.
I nodded and gestured for Claudia to have a seat. “Or should we do this in my room?”
“No, it’s not a secret that your assets would be transferred to the bank we all use to keep the humans in the dark,” she answered, sitting down and pulling out several folders from her briefcase. “I started the process when I realized you needed to buy supplies—books and whatnot to start.”
“Yeah, I came to the same realization pretty late last night. Or it was on one of the lists.” I took the folder from her and saw it was typical bank account forms to open a checking and savings account. “How much will they know with the transfers?”
Her eyes told me she understood again. “Nothing. Everything is being routed around already so you’re not hit with human taxes for the full amounts. We’ll handle all of that when the time comes.”
I nodded, eating while filling in and signing what I needed to. “Are we using that as my main address then?”
“I think it wise given you’ll be here for six years. Is there another residence you’d prefer?”
I slowly shook my head. No, I wasn’t going to pull Mel into this part. She had run from her parents for a valid reason and I wasn’t going to risk her being outed because the house was under her name and I used it as my mailing address.
But someone could still recognize that address as once having been part of the Townsend estate. I jotted Claudia a note that worried me and she agreed, saying she’d handle it with Geiger and set up a supe PO box through their office for me.
Once I finished with that she handed me another folder with power of attorney forms. I frowned at that one.
“It’s a limited power of attorney that very specifically states I am to clear all decisions with you before acting on your behalf,” she said gently, understanding my worry. “It also lists what I can and cannot do and in no way states you’re incompetent or I control your medical care. It’s so I can finish the bank forms on your behalf after you’ve signed. Same with real estate and navigating what I can for you.”
I worried my lower lip. That still seemed like a lot of control to hand over to someone I barely knew.
I bit back a yelp as the folder was taken from me. Turning to chew them out, I swallowed what I had wanted to say when I saw it was Dr. Craftsman. He pulled a pen out of his pocket and leaned over the table.
“The wording needs fixing here, and clarification of ‘time-sensitive issues’ needs to be made. That’s way too open for rushing to get out the door and it’s time sensitive for her, not a reasonable twenty-four hours or business day.”
“That’s fine and she shouldn’t have any of that. It’s only for me, not the firm, and I’m limited as an associate to make a range of decisions without partner approval, so it’s checks and balances that way,” she explained, glancing between us.
“Claudia, this is Dr. Craftsman, the guy who abducted me and my Runes 101 professor,” I explained, not shocked when he let out a heavy sigh.
He thought I was poking him with that but I was ho
nestly explaining why he would feel the need to interject and I wasn’t blasting him.
“She has an emergency contact,” he muttered as he kept reading. “The headmaster for sure but she mentioned a best friend that’s one of us.”
“Wait, I need to check with her before I pull her into any of this,” I cut in, glad when they both nodded. He made a few other small changes that Claudia seemed fine with.
“Thank you for acting on her behalf,” she said to him as she took back the folder. “It’s good you are now as she was tackled by a bear shifter this morning to prevent her from entering wolf shifter territory on campus. I realize being an unknown isn’t common, rare for Artemis University, and unheard of for a non-human to refuse to declare their species, but I would think the university would be more careful.”
His flinch was subtle and then he looked like he was swearing without making a sound. “I understand, yes, I’ll make sure it’s handled and she’s updated like a species or dorm advisor would.” He gave me a tired look. “How can you be this much trouble before classes even start?”
I snorted. “I went for a run, very careful not to step one toe off campus without a babysitter like you demanded. I got another rush from the pills and needed to burn off the energy. Do you have a better suggestion of how I should use that energy?” I winced as several people at the next table coughed, not realizing the inuendo. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Did you at least go to the guard station and handle your phone?”
“I did but I need a new phone for them to even do it,” I grumbled.
“I will handle that. What would you prefer?” Claudia asked, already writing something down.
“I was thinking of getting an Apple Watch as my Fitbit is seriously dead.”
She nodded. “I’ll make sure to get the right type of iPhone and plan that keeps your number.”
“I’m not worried about that,” I assured her. “There’s not a lot of people who would need the new one.”
“Even easier. Get me a list of the other supplies you need.” She waved off my arguments. “It’s why we have interns, and trust me, they get more done faster than us normal people can so it’s worth it when you have this much on your plate.”
Dr. Craftsman snorted. “Not like you can’t afford it.”
That was true but he reminded me that he’d seen the house and been there. “Right, I let him in the house since I need a babysitter.”
She nodded. “I’ll let Mr. Geiger know so Dr. Craftsman is liable if there’s a problem.” Well, dayumn she was serious about protecting me. “Do you have a preference on computer or other basic supplies you’ll need for school?”
I blew a raspberry and sat back in my seat. I hadn’t even thought of that.
Izzy rejoined us and sat down across from me but leaving an empty seat between her and Claudia. It might seem weird but to me it was respectful and making it clear she wouldn’t snoop.
“I’ll help you pick out the tech you want,” Izzy said easily. “I know what’s what and what will help with this tier of school.” She shot me a worried look. “We could use a dorm fridge if you’re making a list of supplies.”
“Can I get thicker curtains so I can sleep in on weekends?”
“Sure, as long as they’re not ugly,” she answered, shrugging it was no big deal.
I snorted at the visual of something frilly or gaudy. “Yeah, fridge, microwave, and whatever else you want, I don’t care. Help me figure it all out and we can add anything the room needs.” I waited until she nodded before looking back to Claudia. “There were additional instructions at the house for guidance on the belongings. Do I need to tell you?”
“Only if you donate it.”
I winced. “Like officially or I gave some scholarship students some suits and gowns for the ball?”
“Some?” Dr. Craftsman snorted. “More like a few dozen and shoes.”
“I need a list so we can use it for your taxes if needed,” she answered. “And especially any artifacts or non-human items. I hope you know not to sell any of that.”
I nodded, filling her in on what I found and gave over to the headmaster already. She seemed pleased with that. I didn’t blame her. It was probably a relief to learn I wasn’t some asshole client and I cared about all of this.
It was nice to think that at least some people might like me.
10
Claudia was able to make the changes to the power of attorney so I signed it right there along with several other things. She promised to get me what I needed and soon, mentioning that list again.
Izzy said she’d help me but we were waiting on the debit card for the bookstore.
We got a lot done and I felt better settled when Claudia left and Dr. Craftsman went to get his breakfast.
“What was that about?” I asked Izzy as we walked back to our room.
She shrugged. “You have money, that doesn’t mean you have to waste money.” She glanced at me seriously then. “Magic always comes with a price and the price tag is high when people use their magic for you or portal to here. So it might not be the expensive billable hours for their interns or whatever, but the magic of getting it here will be. Plus it draws more attention.”
“Smart, thanks.”
“No problem, roomie,” she cooed at me with a smile before drinking from the iced coffee she made before we left the cafeteria.
I had done an herbal iced tea, not even having noticed that section yet.
“Set up an Amazon Prime account. A hundred and twenty dollars for a whole year is about one portal trip from most law firms.”
I gaped at her. Damn. I mean portals are cool and the convenience awesome but it made me wonder what else was going on.
“And I can use my family’s Sam’s Club so consider it my paying off that fridge.”
“Deal.”
She did even better after I got out of the shower, having pulled up a few lists of what people needed for college dorms.
Awesome. Seriously, awesome.
Not so awesome was the room we shared a bathroom with. Mary and Claire gave us some fake smiles and placating promises to not leave so much of their stuff in the bathroom.
I got annoyed and after they went back in their room, I wrote down a note telling them to clear out half of the bathroom space before night or I’d throw it all out.
And I left the note on their bathroom door with a knife.
“You are so extreme,” Izzy snickered, shaking her head at me.
Hey, it worked and left out all the middle bullshit.
I got overwhelmed with the list and what to do, worried I would handle it all wrong and crash before I even started. Izzy was awesome, taking the laptop from me like she didn’t notice what was going on with me.
“I’m going to find us some light blocking curtains,” she said easily. “You put away the rest of your stuff so we know the room we’re working with. I’m all unpacked.”
“Thanks, Izzy,” I mumbled and jumped up to keep moving.
“No problem, it gives us a chance to plot out our room together.” She blew out a harsh breath. “I was really nervous when I didn’t get a roommate sheet with my packet. People talk too much and I was sure it would be like my roommate requested to ditch me and a strike against me.”
“Well, I no longer feel bad I crashed you having a single,” I chuckled, some of my nerves easing.
“Yeah, no worries, you don’t snore and you’re nice about when I’m sleeping.”
Fair enough. Yeah, that would be perks for me too.
She started simple with what we needed. Fridge, microwave, and after a moment I agreed to get a Keurig. I might not drink coffee but it had tea and hot chocolate K-cups.
“What’s your biggest agitation?” she asked me. “What’s something that just irks you no matter how unfair or petty?”
I thought it an odd question, frowning as I looked at her. “A mess. I grew up around too many messes. I suck at cleaning but it’s just a
thing with me. I like some order.”
“Everything to have a spot it belongs?” she checked, nodding when I did. “Good, then we’ll start with organization and storage.”
And did she ever. By the time all my stuff was put away she had everything I needed, from under the bed storage to over the door hanging storage for my closet and our bathroom door.
The closets were pretty large, and each on our own side. It made sense since we had rooms on either side of us too so they probably had one on the same wall I did as well.
“Thoughts on a vacuum or cleaning supplies?”
“One of those robot ones? Oh, those Dyson cordless sticks.”
“Expensive taste,” she teased me.
I tried to hide when my face heated. “I’ve always wanted them. I like clean.”
She shrugged it off like it was no big deal.
We opted for two storage benches for the end of our beds and two of those super big beanbag chairs. I was thrilled how much we aligned, especially when she tossed the idea of getting a TV and entertainment stand.
“If we feel like we’re missing out then we can think about it later but we’re going to have enough distractions,” she explained.
Made sense to me.
We did end up moving our desks away from each other instead of sitting together under the window. They were just desks though, no real storage, so down that rabbit hole we went next.
I blew a raspberry when she added surge protectors and mentioned a shelf for under the window.
“Sorry, I got lost in my dream dorm room,” she admitted sheepishly.
“No, yeah, go ahead,” I assured her. “I just feel…” I realized there was something I needed to tell her. “I only finished freshman year of high school. I’m out of my league here, Izzy.”
She swallowed loudly, worried for me and seeming like she was dying to ask me more. “You’ve got me and you’ve got your tutor. We can do this. The key is to get into good study habits from the beginning. I plan on doing the same so we’ll keep the other from slacking off.”
“Okay, yeah, I can do this.” I still needed a moment, deciding to take the rest of my new-used clothes down and do more laundry.